If Mallet were to flame out, wouldn't Savage be the next guy up while the rookie sits the bench? I think that's a plan. May not be a great plan but it sure beats what we've had.
I wouldn't bet on a fourth round quarterback. I'm not sure why he beats what we've had.
Let's just look at every round from 2002-2012.
2nd round
Good - Dalton, Kaepernick
So-So - Kolb, Stanton, Henne
Not Good - Brohm, T. Jackson, Beck, Clausen, Clemens
TBD - Geno Smith, Osweiler
3rd Round
Good - Wilson, Schaub, Foles
So-So - McCown, McCoy
Not Good - Edwards, Frye, Simms, Whitehurst, Croyle, Walter, Ragone, O'Connell, Greene
TBD - Mallett
4th Round
Good - No one
So-So - Garrard, Orton,
Not Good - 7 guys
TBD - Cousins
5th - 7th Rounds
Good - No one
So-So - Cassell, Fitz, Derek Anderson
Not Good - Dozens
So the moral is, go ahead and pass on a QB in the 1st round. And hope the tooth fairy puts one under your pillow. Because that's about the only way you're going to find one. Or, be one of the teams that gets it right and takes a good QB in the 1st round. Don't draft scared. Draft well.