It is possible no one understands how important a quarterback is to an NFL team's success as completely as Bobby Wade.

The Vikings' wide receiver is playing his sixth NFL season. And he has been in a regular-season huddle with 17 quarterbacks.

There undoubtedly is a correlation between the number of quarterbacks Wade has worked with and the success his teams have had. Wade never has finished a season on a team with a winning record.

"It tells me a lot of things," Wade says. "First and foremost, that is the No. 1 position you need to have to win a championship, or even to be able to win games and compete. And it's the toughest position to play."

Wade often dreams of what it would be like to play with a premium quarterback during a long period of time.

"You watch guys like Peyton Manning make players like Ben Utecht and Dallas Clark," Wade says. "He makes those guys great because they are similar to me. They run to their spots, get open and catch the ball. It would be great to be able to play with a guy like that.

"But I love the experience I've had because it has helped me be more resilient and understand the game more."

Here are Wade's comments on each of the quarterbacks he has played with.

Kordell Stewart, 2003 Bears: "The Bears had just brought him in and everyone was excited about him, but it was a flop. That was the end of his career, no doubt. But he was a great leader."

Chris Chandler, 2003 Bears: "One of the savviest quarterbacks I played with. He taught me a lot as far as understanding the game and being where quarterbacks expect you to be."

Rex Grossman, 2003-2005 Bears: "He really competed, and was kind of a maverick. I remember in a preseason game he used a check we didn't have. He completed the pass to me for a first down, but he really caught it from (then-offensive coordinator John) Shoop. That's Rex."

Chad Hutchinson, 2004 Bears: "We literally picked him up off his couch. I think he was surfing somewhere. But he was a competitor."

Jonathan Quinn, 2004 Bears: "He was a basket case in the huddle. He had a hard time getting the plays out of his mouth. A heavy-footed guy, with no mobility at all."

Craig Krenzel, 2004 Bears: "A quiet guy who never really said much. He had a beautiful deep ball. He could throw it over your shoulder really well."

Kyle Orton, 2005 Bears: "Our offense was so simple when he was in the game. Ron Turner wasn't comfortable throwing more than about 10 passes a game. He has a big arm and is smart. He doesn't make any mistakes. But he's more of a rhythm guy who drops back, hits the guy he's going to with accuracy, and that's all you're going to get. He isn't the kind of guy to create something if the first read isn't open."

Jeff Blake, 2005 Bears: "He would tell you he threw the best deep ball in the NFL. He was a good player who I caught at the end of his career."

Steve McNair, 2005 Titans: "He was a really good player who was really playing well at the time. It was his offense. But he never practiced."

Billy Volek, 2005 Titans: "One of the smartest quarterbacks I've played with. He knew where everybody on the field was and how to get the ball to them."

Matt Mauck, 2005 Titans: "He was kind of a nervous case, real young."

Vince Young, 2006 Titans: "He was the most competitive of everybody I've played with. He would literally take the offense into his own hands, change plays, make stuff up, and ad lib in a game to our benefit."

Kerry Collins, 2006 Titans: "In the beginning I wasn't really big on him, but when he came in he made plays. His release seemed so long and open that I thought it would give corners and safeties time to jump routes. But when that ball comes off his hand it has a lot of velocity."

Tarvaris Jackson, 2007-2008 Vikings: "He has one of the strongest arms I played with. I think he'll be good in the future. He just needs to sit back and learn."

Kelly Holcombe, 2007 Vikings: "I liked Kelly, but he's smaller than Rex, and Rex is a small quarterback. He played well for us when we needed it."

Brooks Bollinger, 2007 Vikings: "A smart quarterback. But he was about Kelly's size."

Gus Frerotte, 2008 Vikings: "He is extremely accurate and playing with confidence. He has a lot of fight to him. He stands in the pocket and takes a lot of serious shots."

Supply and demand: When the Cowboys agreed to trade the Lions draft picks in the first, third and sixth rounds for wide receiver Roy Williams and a seventh-rounder, you could hear jaws dropping around the NFL.

Of course, there were extenuating circumstances. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, known for his love of the deal, was involved. The Cowboys were stung by the suspension of Adam Jones and the injury to Tony Romo. Williams is from the University of Texas. And the team is trying to sell suites and seats for its $1.1 billion stadium, opening next season.

But beyond that, maybe we should not have been so surprised at the high price of a Pro Bowl wide receiver.

Look around the league and you will see very few teams have what you would call a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver, the kind of player who can change a game. There are maybe 10 of them for 32 teams — Anquan Bolden, Larry Fitzgerald, Marvin Harrison, Greg Jennings, Andre Johnson, Chad Ocho Cinco, Brandon Marshall, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens and Steve Smith. Williams has the capability to develop into one of them, as do a few others like Braylon Edwards, Calvin Johnson and Roddy White.

"An elite wide receiver is the toughest position in football to find," says Ravens college scouting director Eric DeCosta.

Vikings wide receivers coach George Stewart has been around a lot of receivers in his 21 seasons in the NFL, including Owens, White and Jerry Rice. He has an interesting theory on why there are so few elite receivers.

"A lot of college coaches put their great players on defense because the 20-hour rule came in," Stewart said of the limitations on the amount of time players can spend on football. "Colleges get their best athletes on defense and make do on offense because you win on defense."

Among the NFL cornerbacks who might have made great wide receivers: Antonio Cromartie, DeAngelo Hall, Nnamdi Asomugha, Champ Bailey and Charles Woodson.

Scout talk

Many NFL teams are cautious about taking interior offensive linemen high in the draft because they believe they can get by with less talent at guard and center. But those who have holes can find some interior linemen in the April draft who can contribute quickly. Here, based on conversations with NFL scouts, are the top senior interior linemen.

1. Max Unger, Oregon. He has played tackle, guard and center and probably will be a center in the pros. He has size (6-5, 305), quickness and athleticism, and is smart and tough.

2. Herman Johnson, Louisiana State. This guard is thick and powerful, but he doesn't move real well. In the right system he could be a star.

3. Alex Mack, California. Center prospect is tough, strong, aggressive, smart and reliable. He has good feet and can move.

4. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas. Has size (6-4, 314) and athleticism to run block and pass block. Could be considered at guard or center.

5. Andy Levitre, Oregon State. He plays tackle but probably is an NFL guard. Is technically sound and versatile. Doesn't have great range.

6. Duke Robinson, Oklahoma. This is a high-end talent who doesn't always play like it. Uses poor technique and loses focus. Has size (6-5, 325) and strength to be a very good guard.

7. Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati. Hard-nosed road grader-style guard who has size (6-5, 305), strength and instinct. Is not the most agile blocker.

8. Ray Feinga, Brigham Young. Mountain of a man with a wide body and plenty of strength. Is not the most athletic guard.