Team power rankings and individual list of previews for each team, it’s time to rank the QB’s heading into the new season. Who is top of the list? Who is too low? Too high? Who is the worst QB in the NFL? Find out…
#32: Matt Flynn, Oakland Raiders
After being beaten out of a starting berth by Russell Wilson last year, Matt Flynn is expected to be beaten out by Terelle Pryor this year. Can’t keep a job as the starting QB for a team that is looking at bottoming out for the #1 pick? Not good.
#31: Blaine Gabbert, Jackonsville Jaguars
Named as the starting QB for another year, much to the exasperation of Jaguar fans. Chad Henne is a better prospect at this point, as Blaine Gabebrt may not even be a NFL QB in the next two years.
#30: E.J Manuel, Buffalo Bills
A bit of an unknown quantity at this point. E.J Manuel has to prove he can play like the first QB picked out of the draft(admittedly in a weak QB draft) at Buffalo. He has inconsistencies, but the job is his for the taking.
#29: Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans
Placed at #29 because of his athleticism, Locker has to prove that he can actually throw in the pocket first. He has a decent arm and great legs, but he needs to be more balanced if Tennessee are going to keep him long term.
#28, Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
Two years on from the rave reviews Sanchez was getting for his “clutch” play that you “couldn’t see in the numbers” the US public has finally woken up to the fact that Sanchez is a below average QB who was lucky enough to have a great defence and a good offensive line en route to the play-offs. The numbers don’t lie.
#27: Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings
Aside from E.J Manuel, Ponder has the most upside of all the QB’s so far, and has shown good pocket presence, movement and awareness at times in Minny. Having Adrian Peterson in the back-field means the Vikes could have a great play-action game if they worked at it and if Ponder needs to cut down on bad decision making then he can be a franchise passer.
#26: Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns
It’s been hard to analyse Weeden because the Browns have been awful, but Norv Turner’s arrival should be QB friendly and BW’s play in the pre-season so far suggests that his play can be dramatically improved.
#25: Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
Wasn’t as bad as he should’ve been in Oakland and should be even better with an improved Cardinals o-line. Losing Jonathan Cooper to injury is a huge blow, but having Vincent Jackson as a target means Palmer could be a long-term solution in Arizona.
#24: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
Another developmental guy who will be under the microscope this year, Tannehill has the tools he needs to become a great player. Losing Jake Long is big however, so RT’s movement out the pocket may have to be depended upon a little more this year.
#23: Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Like a few guys on this list, Freeman has no excuses left in a contract year. Tampa Bay are one of the most improved teams in the NFL in the off-season and many are tipping the Bucs to be a wildcard contender. If Freeman can cut down on the dud throws then that could happen and JF will get a long term deal.
#22: Sam Bradford, St Louis Rams
Bradford’s inconsistencies under centre have an even more frustrating reverberation around St Louis as could-have-been-a-Ram Robert Griffin shows his talent in Washington. Bradford has Tavon Austin and Jared Cook this year. No excuses.
#21: Philipp Rivers, San Diego Chargers
A disappointing fall from grace for Rivers who has gone from a sure-fire elite thrower to a guy that has failed to adapt to changing scenarios in San Diego. If Rivers continues to try and force throws in bad coverage while running for his life, then he will continue to slide.
#20: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
The ultra-conservative Dalton needs to improve his deeper game and look to spread the ball around if he is to become the exciting, franchise guy he and the exciting young Bengals franchise want him to be. Tyler Eifert should give another target to Dalton who will look to prove his credentials as a play-off calibre QB.
#19: Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
Dogged by injury and poor organisational decisions, Michael Vick is still one of the most outrageously talented throwers in the league and should thrive in Chip Kelly’s up-tempo Eagles attack. Probably the best thrower on the run in the NFL, Vick should prove his ability this year once again.
#18: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
The former #1 draft pick isn’t a QB that will get you off your seat, but Smith is a very accurate, ultra-efficient QB who is good enough to lead a side into a deep play-off run and won’t throw many picks. He’s perfect for Kansas City.
#17: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
Unlike many of the QB’s lower than him on this list, Cutler has proven that he has elite ability. Probably the strongest arm in the league matched with underrated pocket presence, Jay’s development has been hampered by awful O-lines, receiving core and a defence first organisation that thus far had not prioritised their guy under centre. All that changed this summer, and Cutler should display the talent that brought him to the Windy City.
#16: Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions
Amazingly still 25, Stafford arrow is still pointing up and a 5,000 yard season last year with only one guy to throw to is evident of MS’s ability as a passer. Until Detroit give him more weapons they probably won’t be a play-off contender, but that’s not their QB’s fault.
#15: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
A lot of folks have already put Kaep closer to the top of their rankings after the former 2nd string quarterback debuted against the Bears and guided San Fran to the Superbowl. But I can’t call the guy elite after 10 games. He has a lot of talent, but we’ll see how he does when teams prepare for the read option.
#14: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
For the same reason that Kaepernick is lower than most expect, Cam Newton’s two years of talent means I can’t put him any lower. If he gets slightly better with his accuracy he’s a top 10 QB, easily. People forgot about Cam while the rookie QB’s of 2012 lit up the NFL, but Newton quietly had a decent year.
#13: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
A third-round pick that turned the Seahawks into championship contenders overnight, Russell Wilson’s superb arm and calm presence in tight games(see his game winning drive - the Bears) mean that Wilson is right on the cusp of the best QB’s in the game, if he can keep his performance levels up. He’ll spend his sophomore year leading the Superbowl contending Seahawks, and you wouldn’t put it past him to take them there.
#12: Matt Schaub, Houston Texans
Quietly one of the most accurate and reliable passers in the league, Matt Schaub is a very efficient, reliable QB. 4,000 yards a year and about 65% accuracy over the last three years. Not bad at all.
#11: Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
Not as pedigreed as some of the guys he’s above of, but RGIII has all the talent to be league MVP contender every single year. Blessed with a great arm, brilliant pocket presence and pace to burn, RGIII’s knees are the only thing that could slow down the 2012 ROTY on his ascent up the QB ladder.
#10: Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Too soon? I don’t think so. Andrew Luck is the purest thrower to join the league since Aaron Rodgers, but hasn’t spent his formative years on the bench learning slowly. Luck was thrown into a Indy team that looked lost without Peyton Manning and has provided the leadership and talent to take them to 11-5.
#9: Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Don’t listen to those folks who are putting him higher than this. He’s a great QB under pressure, but his years of above-average-but-not-great-play should mean that one play-off run shouldn’t make him on par with Brady, Brees, Manning etc. Top 5 of 2013, yes. All-round? No.
#8: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
In a reverse of Flacco, don’t let the poor play-off record blind you from the fact Romo has been a genuinely great quarterback that has been let down by the fact that Dallas have just not been a play-off worthy team. An excellent thrower on the run, good awareness in the pocket and a consistent performer despite his awful offensive line.
#7: Eli Manning, New York Giants
Expect an improved year from the Giants Superbowl king, who was the dominanting thrower he was in 2011. That said, Eli is the best QB under pressure in the tight situations, and his mechanics are much improved from that 2007 winning drive too. With his receiving core intact, expect Manning to pass 4,000 yards for the fourth time in five years.
#6: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Almost a forgotten man when listing the upper echelon of quarterbacks, but don’t sleep on Big Ben. Experienced, tough and a leader of the Pittsburgh offence that will once again have to carry the Steelers offence on his back this year. Oh, he’s also a damn good thrower of the football.
#5: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
If “Matty Ice” and his Atlanta Falcons had had a less porous defence then he would probably have a ring on his finger and no-one shouting “can’t do it in the play-offs” at him. He won his first post-season game last year and were beaten out by San Francisco in a ludicrously tight game. Has had 60% pass-completion as standard throughout his career and a truly excellent thrower.
#4: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Expected to surpass 5,000 yards for a third season in a row as a leader of the Saints high powered offence, Brees also threw for 43 TD’s last season and could be even better this year. Just an astonishing collection of achievements.
#3: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Three rings and five Superbowl appearances only tell a part of the story as Tom Brady has come closer to passing perfection than anyone before or since. Not blessed with the ability to move out of the pocket and stretch a defence with his legs, Brady’s almost telepathic connection with the Pats offensive playbook and his nano-second evaluations of the opposing defence makes him a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback.
#2: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning doesn’t tell his recievers what routes to run. He doesn’t have a huddle. They walk up to the line of scrimmage, Peyton Manning scans the field and tells them where to run. The defence opens up exactly as he predicts it, he finds the receiver and the Broncos win. He did all this for the 15th year at the age of 36 after coming back off multiple neck surgeries. Probably the greatest franchise quarterback ever.
#1: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Even with Brady’s rings, Brees’s records and Manning’s intangibles, Rodgers is the best quarterback in the league, and by a noticeable gap. Able to move out of the pocket better than Brady or Manning, able to throw with laser accuracy regardless of the distance – Rodgers may already be one of the greatest throwers of all time. He’s the highest paid QB in the league, and rightly so.