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The Top 6 Quarterbacks in the NFL

Playoffs

Playoffs

Hall of Fame
The Top 6 Quarterbacks in the NFL
Greg Gabriel for National Football Post

When we talk about the best quarterbacks in the NFL, everyone has an opinion and those opinions are up for debate. Of course, when you want to debate a position, people need to use the same criteria for that debate. If not, then the debate is useless.

For this exercise, I not only am looking at the natural physical traits of the player (arm strength, athleticism etc.) but also the intangibles. At the quarterback position, intangibles make a huge difference. A player’s ability to lead, react to circumstances on the field, and come up with big plays when they are needed separate the good quarterback from the bad. That said, these are my top quarterbacks in the NFL right now. The top five in my opinion are the only true “franchise” quarterbacks in the league.

Tom Brady – New England

All we need to know is Tom Brady has won four Super Bowls as quarterback of the New England Patriots. His ability to come up big when it is needed is second to none in the NFL right now.

As an athlete, Brady would rank in probably the bottom five of all the starting quarterbacks, but his instincts, accuracy, and ability to lead are rare. He is a fierce competitor with a strong will to win. He can read defenses as well as anyone, and even though he is a marginal athlete, he still has the feel for pass rushers and the quick feet to step up and keep from getting sacked.

As long as I have been involved with the NFL game, I don’t think I have ever seen a quarterback who has more consistency. When he came out of Michigan, I don’t think there was a soul who would have thought that he would be even half as good as he turned out. It’s a credit to him and his desire to be a great player that have kept him this good for such a long period of time.

Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay

When you look at the pure physical traits, Rodgers may be the best in the league right now. He is a very good athlete, with a quick release, uncanny accuracy and a strong arm. Like Brady, he is a very strong leader and is highly respected by both his teammates and his coaches.

He has rare toughness and courage. He has played and come up big numerous times while hurt. He reads defenses very well and is consistently able to check into the right call. As a pure passer and athlete, Rodgers is ahead of Brady, but Brady has those four Lombardis, and that is the difference for me.

Peyton Manning – Denver

Peyton Manning is not what he used to be, as injuries have taken their toll. He was never a top athlete, and his arm strength was always good but not outstanding. What makes Manning so good is his passion for the game. His football character is outstanding, and he is a perfectionist. That will to be great drives him and also makes him as strong a leader as there is in the game. What he expects from himself, he expects from his teammates, and they had better be ready to perform!

Manning is more of a coach on the field than any quarterback I’ve seen. While he may not have the title, he is the offensive coordinator. All plays go through him, and he makes the decision at the line of scrimmage as to what is going to be run.

Like Brady and Rodgers, he has rare touch and accuracy, and that more than makes up for not having a cannon arm.

Drew Brees – New Orleans

Brees doesn’t have the physical traits of most of the others and he lacks ideal quarterback size, but he is a winner! Like the other three, he has a strong passion for the game and a strong will to win, and that helps him overcome his physical deficiencies.

Brees is barley six feet tall and has very average arm strength, but he has top instincts and decision making skills. He seldom makes a poor decision or turns the ball over. While he lacks a great arm, his quick release helps him with his accuracy. You can never count the Saints out when Drew Bees is in the game.

Russell Wilson – Seattle

At just over 5’10, Wilson is not a prototypical quarterback. He is an excellent athlete with very quick feet, and that allows him to play bigger than his natural size. His ability to keep plays alive and throw on the run are as good as any quarterback.

Other than running back Marshawn Lynch, Seattle doesn’t have any top game breaker offensive players at the skill positions, yet they have been to the last two Super Bowls and won one of them. How do they do it? Russell Wilson!

Going into last season, I felt Wilson was good but not worthy of being a true “franchise” quarterback. After back to back excellent seasons and NFC Championships, he is now in that category and should stay there a long time.

Andrew Luck – Indianapolis

Luck is one of the few quarterbacks to live up to being taken first overall in the draft. The Indianapolis Colts have to be thankful that when they let Peyton manning go, he was replaced by Luck. How many teams get that opportunity?

While Luck has great physical traits and has become a strong leader, I am not ready to label him a “franchise” quarterback yet. He has shown steady improvement in his short career, but he still needs to win more big games. Every quarterback above him on my list has won a Super Bowl. Luck hasn’t been to a Super Bowl yet. That day will come, and he may turn out to be as good a quarterback for the Colts as Manning was. In another year. He may break into my top five.
​
 
Why would you list Luck in the top 6 when the first 5 are all super bowl champions??
if that was me the last one I'd list is Eli 2 time super bowl champion even if I don't
like him he still deserves to be on that list
 
TexasCowboy said:
Why would you list Luck in the top 6 when the first 5 are all super bowl champions??
if that was me the last one I'd list is Eli 2 time super bowl champion even if I don't
like him he still deserves to be on that list
Click to expand...

That list is about who are the better quarterbacks. You can't include the Giants defense on that list with Eli, so no Eli.
 
1. Brady
2. Rodgers
3. Manning
4. Luck
5. Wilson
6. Roethlisberger

That would be my list. There was a time when Brees was on that list but it has passed. And the author is wrong when he says that "He seldom makes a poor decision or turns the ball over." Brees actually turns the ball over quite a bit every single year.
 
TexasCowboy said:
Why would you list Luck in the top 6 when the first 5 are all super bowl champions??
if that was me the last one I'd list is Eli 2 time super bowl champion even if I don't
like him he still deserves to be on that list
Click to expand...
So if you had and NFL team, and somehow were given the option of starting either Eli Manning and Andrew Luck for the 2015 season (and only the 2015 season), you're saying you'd choose Eli?
 
I think Luck & Wilson will eventually be on that list, but they're still developing. Just two years from now our opinion of them could be completely different. Remember when we thought Matt Ryan & Matt Stafford belonged on that list?

Phillip Rivers belongs on that list. He's got it all. The physical attributes; size, arm, athleticism, toughness. He's got all the intangibles, but for whatever reason that team just never put it all together... even when they had it all; QB, RB, defense.

Then Roethlisberger. Again, he's got it all. The physical, the intangibles. & he was on two teams that won it all.

If I were putting together a team for the next 10 years, yeah I'd leverage Wilson & Luck's youth. But if we're talking about right now, I'd take Ben & Rivers.
 
thunderkyss said:
I think Luck & Wilson will eventually be on that list, but they're still developing. Just two years from now our opinion of them could be completely different. Remember when we thought Matt Ryan & Matt Stafford belonged on that list?

Phillip Rivers belongs on that list. He's got it all. The physical attributes; size, arm, athleticism, toughness. He's got all the intangibles, but for whatever reason that team just never put it all together... even when they had it all; QB, RB, defense.

Then Roethlisberger. Again, he's got it all. The physical, the intangibles. & he was on two teams that won it all.

If I were putting together a team for the next 10 years, yeah I'd leverage Wilson & Luck's youth. But if we're talking about right now, I'd take Ben & Rivers.
Click to expand...
I cannot take Wilson off the list for Rivers to take his place.
Rivers has all the things you say but he has not led his team to championship territory. That, to me, speaks to leadership. In eleven years, Rivers has led his team to exactly one AFC championship game. Wilson has already been to three NFC championship games. If you're right and Wilson "is still developing", then that's a scary thing.
 
Playoffs said:
Is 6 enough?
Click to expand...
Funny you ask that because I was about to edit my post and add two more to make a top eight - or more precisely name the top guy in each division.
AFCS - Luck
AFCN - Roethlisberger
AFCE - Brady
AFCW - P.Manning
NFCS - Brees
NFCN - Rodgers
NFCE - Romo (that's right, I said 'Romo')
NFCW - Wilson

My targets are up; throw your darts.
:)
 
ObsiWan said:
I cannot take Wilson off the list for Rivers to take his place.
Rivers has all the things you say but he has not led his team to championship territory. That, to me, speaks to leadership. In eleven years, Rivers has led his team to exactly one AFC championship game. Wilson has already been to three NFC championship games. If you're right and Wilson "is still developing", then that's a scary thing.
Click to expand...

& after this season Colin Kaepernick may very well be a footnote in the history of the NFL while Dan Fouts, Warren Moon, & Dan Marino live on in posterity as some of the best to play the game despite not winning a Championship.

I think Phillips has the unfortunate luck of having played under the glass ceiling that is Norv Turner. Had that been Payton or Tomlinson, maybe even Dungy then Rivers would have at least one ring.

Today, Rivers is the better QB... imo of course
 
thunderkyss said:
& after this season Colin Kaepernick may very well be a footnote in the history of the NFL while Dan Fouts, Warren Moon, & Dan Marino live on in posterity as some of the best to play the game despite not winning a Championship.

I think Phillips has the unfortunate luck of having played under the glass ceiling that is Norv Turner. Had that been Payton or Tomlinson, maybe even Dungy then Rivers would have at least one ring.

Today, Rivers is the better QB... imo of course
Click to expand...
Tomlinson?
You mean Mike Tomlin of the Steelers?
 
10 years of drafts... how many true franchise QBs?

Code: 
2004
     1    1    1    1    Eli Manning    Chargers    Mississippi
     2    1    4    4    Philip Rivers    Giants    North Carolina State
     3    1    11    11    Ben Roethlisberger    Steelers    Miami (OH)
     4    1    22    22    J.P. Losman    Bills    Tulane
     5    3    27    90    Matt Schaub    Falcons    Virginia
     6    4    10    106    Luke McCown    Browns    Louisiana Tech
    10    6    28    193    Jim Sorgi    Colts    Wisconsin

Code: 
2005
     1    1    1    1    Alex Smith    49ers    Utah
     2    1    24    24    Aaron Rodgers    Packers    California
     3    1    25    25    Jason Campbell    Redskins    Auburn
     7    4    5    106    Kyle Orton    Bears    Purdue
     8    4    20    121    Stefan Lefors    Panthers    Louisville
     9    5    9    145    Dan Orlovsky    Lions    Connecticut    
     11    6    39    213    Derek Anderson    Ravens    Oregon State    
     13    7    16    230    Matt Cassel    Patriots    USC
     14    7    36    250    Ryan Fitzpatrick    Rams    Harvard

Code: 
2006
     1    1    3    3    Vince Young    Titans    Texas
     2    1    10    10    Matt Leinart    Cardinals    USC
     3    1    11    11    Jay Cutler    Broncos    Vanderbilt
     4    2    17    49    Kellen Clemens    Jets    Oregon
     5    2    32    64    Tarvaris Jackson    Vikings    Alabama State
     6    3    17    81    Charlie Whitehurst    Chargers    Clemson     
     11    6    25    194    Bruce Gradkowski    Buccaneers    Toledo

Code: 
2007
     1    1    1    1    JaMarcus Russell    Raiders    Louisiana State
     2    1    22    22    Brady Quinn    Browns    Notre Dame
     3    2    4    36    Kevin Kolb    Eagles    Houston
     4    2    8    40    John Beck    Dolphins    Brigham Young
     5    2    11    43    Drew Stanton    Lions    Michigan State
     6    3    29    92    Trent Edwards    Bills    Stanford

Code: 
2008
     1    1    3    3    Matt Ryan    Falcons    Boston College
     2    1    18    18    Joe Flacco    Ravens    Delaware
     3    2    25    56    Brian Brohm    Packers    Louisville
     4    2    26    57    Chad Henne    Dolphins    Michigan    
     8    5    25    160    Josh Johnson    Buccaneers    San Diego    
     12    7    2    209    Matt Flynn    Packers    Louisiana State

Code: 
2009
     1    1    1    1    Matthew Stafford    Lions    Georgia
     2    1    5    5    Mark Sanchez    Jets    USC
     3    1    17    17    Josh Freeman    Buccaneers    Kansas State
     4    2    12    44    Pat White    Dolphins    West Virginia
     5    4    1    101    Stephen McGee    Cowboys    Texas A&M

Code: 
2010
     1    1    1    1    Sam Bradford    Rams    Oklahoma
     2    1    25    25    Tim Tebow    Broncos    Florida
     3    2    16    48    Jimmy Clausen    Panthers    Notre Dame
     4    3    21    85    Colt McCoy    Browns    Texas
     5    4    24    122    Mike Kafka    Eagles    Northwestern

Code: 
2011
     1    1    1    1    Cam Newton    Panthers    Auburn
     2    1    8    8    Jake Locker    Titans    Washington
     3    1    10    10    Blaine Gabbert    Jaguars    Missouri
     4    1    12    12    Christian Ponder    Vikings    Florida State
     5    2    3    35    Andy Dalton    Bengals    Texas Christian
     6    2    4    36    Colin Kaepernick    49ers    Nevada
     1    3    -    -      Terrelle Pryor Raiders Ohio State(2011s)
     7    3    10    74    Ryan Mallett    Patriots    Arkansas
     8    5    4    135    Ricky Stanzi    Chiefs    Iowa
     9    5    21    152    T.J. Yates    Texans    North Carolina    
     11    6    15    180    Tyrod Taylor    Ravens    Virginia Tech

Code: 
2012
     1    1    1    1    Andrew Luck    Colts    Stanford
     2    1    2    2    Robert Griffin III    Redskins    Baylor
     3    1    8    8    Ryan Tannehill    Dolphins    Texas A&M
     4    1    22    22    Brandon Weeden    Browns    Oklahoma State
     5    2    25    57    Brock Osweiler    Broncos    Arizona State
     6    3    12    75    Russell Wilson    Seahawks    Wisconsin
     7    3    25    88    Nick Foles    Eagles    Arizona
     8    4    7    102    Kirk Cousins    Redskins    Michigan State
     9    6    15    185    Ryan Lindley    Cardinals    San Diego State    
     11    7    46    253    Chandler Harnish    Colts    Northern Illinois

Code: 
2013
     1    1    16    16    E.J. Manuel    Bills    Florida State
     2    2    7    39    Geno Smith    Jets    West Virginia
     3    3    11    73    Mike Glennon    Buccaneers    North Carolina State
     4    4    1    98    Matt Barkley    Eagles    USC
     5    4    13    110    Ryan Nassib    Giants    Syracuse    
     7    4    18    115    Landry Jones    Steelers    Oklahoma
     8    7    15    221    Brad Sorensen    Chargers    Southern Utah
     9    7    28    234    Zac Dysert    Broncos    Miami (OH)
     10    7    31    237    B.J. Daniels    49ers    South Florida
     11    7    43    249    Sean Renfree    Falcons    Duke

Code: 
2014
     1    1    3    3    Blake Bortles    Jaguars    Central Florida
     2    1    22    22    Johnny Manziel    Browns    Texas A&M
     3    1    32    32    Teddy Bridgewater    Vikings    Louisville
     4    2    4    36    Derek Carr    Raiders    Fresno State
     5    2    30    62    Jimmy Garoppolo    Patriots    Eastern Illinois
     6    4    20    120    Logan Thomas    Cardinals    Virginia Tech
     7    4    35    135    Tom Savage    Texans    Pittsburgh
     8    5    23    163    Aaron Murray    Chiefs    Georgia
     9    5    24    164    AJ McCarron    Bengals    Alabama
     10    6    2    178    Zach Mettenberger    Titans    Louisiana State
     11    6    7    183    David Fales    Bears    San Jose State     
     13    6    37    213    Tajh Boyd    Jets    Clemson
     14    6    38    214    Garrett Gilbert    Rams    Southern Methodist
Tried to remove QBs not on an NFL roster.
 
infantrycak said:
My definition of franchise QB is one the team gives no serious consideration to changing. Under that definition there are 13, plus 3 who were but for injury and 3 who are ensconced but it's too early to tell.
Click to expand...

So by your definition, did you count Carr and Bortles? Or they fall under the "ensconced" definition?
 
infantrycak said:
What's yours?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure, but more along the lines of who I'd trade for... and I'd want a "sliding scale" on age because of guys like Peyton Manning who are no doubt franchise guys but may not be a guy you'd send four/five first round picks or something similar for.

I'm not smart enough to fashion an absolute filter. It's more I know it when I see it, or better, know what I don't want. Dalton, Stafford, Newton I don't want. Tannehill I haven't watched enough of to know. Smith and Flacco I can see winning a SB with, but still kinda meh.

I'd just want to avoid being stuck with Mr. Above Average for 8 years. While perhaps better than our situation, I think that it's its own special kind of hell.
 
Last edited:
My franchise QBs:

Brady
Peyton
Rodgers
Brees
Rivers
Roethlisberger
Romo
Wilson
Luck

Then the guys I agree are starters, just not consistent enough to be considered franchise guys

Flacco
Ryan
Palmer
Eli
Stafford
Tannehill
Dalton

I admit my opinion of Matt Ryan may be overly influenced by the team he is on.
 
Clarification query:
Are any of you equating Franchise with Elite?
At the risk of stating the obvious, those aren't nearly the same thing.
Andy Dalton and Matt Ryan are franchise guys in the sense that their clubs aren't looking for a replacement.
Brady, Rodgers, Brees, P.Manning, and Wilson are elite.
for me, elite is not about eye-popping fantasy numbers, it's about victories.
That's really the only stat that counts.
:)
 
ObsiWan said:
Clarification query:
Are any of you equating Franchise with Elite?
At the risk of stating the obvious, those aren't nearly the same thing.
Andy Dalton and Matt Ryan are franchise guys in the sense that their clubs aren't looking for a replacement.
Brady, Rodgers, Brees, P.Manning, and Wilson are elite.
for me, elite is not about eye-popping fantasy numbers, it's about victories.
That's really the only stat that counts.
:)
Click to expand...

Playoffs posed the question, how many TRUE Franchise QB's have been DRAFTED since 2004.
 
To me, elite would be guys playing at an elite level for several years... five or more. So I have more guys on my elite list than most.

Still, not everyone on my franchise list is elite... Wilson & Luck. They haven't been playing long enough & in my mind, Luck's only got one elite season under his belt. Wilson's got three.
 
austins23 said:
Playoffs posed the question, how many TRUE Franchise QB's have been DRAFTED since 2004.
Click to expand...
Not sure why you inserted the "true" qualifier in there...
But anyway, as I said, if a team is happy with their starter and are not actively looking to upgrade him then he's the franchise guy.
Anywho, from Playoffs' list
E.Manning
P.Rivers
Roethlisberger
A.Smith
Ryan
Flacco
Stafford
Newton
Dalton
Luck
Wilson
Tannehill

thunderkyss said:
To me, elite would be guys playing at an elite level for several years... five or more. So I have more guys on my elite list than most.
Still, not everyone on my franchise list is elite... Wilson & Luck. They haven't been playing long enough & in my mind, Luck's only got one elite season under his belt. Wilson's got three.
Click to expand...
I have to concede that your sustained elite performance requirement has some merit. So that does take Wilson and Luck down half a notch to very good and if they keep it up they'll be elite.
 
ObsiWan said:
I have to concede that your sustained elite performance requirement has some merit. So that does take Wilson and Luck down half a notch to very good and if they keep it up they'll be elite.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I think they've got the ability to be elite, but I thought the same thing about Stafford. & it's still not too late for him. Detroit seems to be content with him, thinking that he'll get better & he might.
 
ChampionTexan said:
So if you had and NFL team, and somehow were given the option of starting either Eli Manning and Andrew Luck for the 2015 season (and only the 2015 season), you're saying you'd choose Eli?
Click to expand...

Hardware trumps stats Eli would be the guy I'd want leading my team
 
TexasCowboy said:
Hardware trumps stats Eli would be the guy I'd want leading my team
Click to expand...

By that logic you'd take Ali over Pacquiao in a fight next month.

Since Luck has been in the league:

Luck 33-15, 3 straight playoff appearances, league leader in TDs (2014).

Manning 22-26, 1 playoff appearance, league leader in INTs (2013), team record worse each season.
 
3463-603Fr.jpg


610AM impromptu interview with former Oiler S Steve Jackson who also spent 12 years as an NFL defensive secondary coach(Bills, Redskins, Lions)... they covered a lot of ground, so trying to parse this into proper topics.

Great QBs-- read coverages, few mistakes, organizational winners on/off the field
Brady, Peyton, Rodgers

Second tier
Roethlisberger/Rivers/Brees/Luck/Flacco -- divisional round ceiling

(Hosts interrupted him some stopping his naming some guys)

Russell Wilson -- situation(defense, RB) contributes to his success, not in first two groups


Also said Michael Irvin biggest trash talking WR... would talk isht to your DB coach. Coach, why do you have him out here on me?
 
Last edited:
I don't have a problem with this. He's a guy giving his opinions and the way he sees things.

He's got as much credibility as any of the other ex-players who are on TV giving their opinions. But in the end, it's just an opinion. He doesn't have some sort of insider insight that's a zillion times better than anyone else.
 
infantrycak said:
By that logic you'd take Ali over Pacquiao in a fight next month.

Since Luck has been in the league:

Luck 33-15, 3 straight playoff appearances, league leader in TDs (2014).

Manning 22-26, 1 playoff appearance, league leader in INTs (2013), team record worse each season.
Click to expand...

If Pacquiao was in Ali's weight class and 40 years young it would be a hell of a fight but I would take Ali
in that 1..but since this is not about boxing let's get back to the topic at hand

Eli 2x super bowl champion vs a guy with appearances and a winning record hmm.. kinda a no brainer here
the guy with the hardware who gets me over the hurdle, stats don't mean thing till you get that ring! and
so your argument is like a virgin who see's a breast and tells everyone he got laid it just didn't happen
 
TexasCowboy said:
Eli 2x super bowl champion vs a guy with appearances and a winning record hmm.. kinda a no brainer here
the guy with the hardware who gets me over the hurdle, stats don't mean thing till you get that ring! and
so your argument is like a virgin who see's a breast and tells everyone he got laid it just didn't happen
Click to expand...

So you'd take Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer over Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton, Warren Moon, Andrew Luck, Dan Fouts, or Jim Kelly?

You really don't see the disparity in who's the better quarterbacks in these two groups?
 
Mollywhopper said:
So you'd take Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer over Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton, Warren Moon, Andrew Luck, Dan Fouts, or Jim Kelly?

You really don't see the disparity in who's the better quarterbacks in these two groups?
Click to expand...

Isn't that what I have been saying this entire time? the hardware is what I back not the stats
all stats are? is a losers way to brag they've done nothing while the media and the sheep crow/
hype as if they have, I don't care how many yards they throw for? # of touchdowns or any of the
meaningless stats that at the end of the day don't mean a thing to me..what I want? is the Lombardi
trophy and the experience that comes with that, becuase it is that experience that can be passed on to the
guys in the locker room who don't have that experience going for them

tell me what good will stats do for a locker room who's only goal is to win a championship
at the end of the year?
 
Last edited:
ObsiWan said:
I cannot take Wilson off the list for Rivers to take his place.
Rivers has all the things you say but he has not led his team to championship territory. That, to me, speaks to leadership. In eleven years, Rivers has led his team to exactly one AFC championship game. Wilson has already been to three NFC championship games. If you're right and Wilson "is still developing", then that's a scary thing.
Click to expand...

If you gave Rivers that Seahawks defense and a Beast running game, I think he'd be in a Super Bowl.

I like Wilson, but I'm still undecided if he is the kind of QB that will be able to carry a team when he lacks a great defense and/or a great running game. Only time will tell.

That said, I'd take Brees off the list for Rivers at this point in time. I like Brees, but he has been inconsistent since his championship.
 
Double Barrel said:
If you gave Rivers that Seahawks defense and a Beast running game, I think he'd be in a Super Bowl.
Click to expand...

Rivers was on a team with the #1 offense and #1 defense. They went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Just saying.

I like Rivers but I'm not so sure you could switch them and Seattle would do as well.
 
infantrycak said:
Rivers was on a team with the #1 offense and #1 defense. They went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Just saying.

I like Rivers but I'm not so sure you could switch them and Seattle would do as well.
Click to expand...
'nuff said.
For the record, I like Rivers too. He's a really good QB and I like his fiery, competitive nature.
And I would have swapped him for anyone we've had under center last year or the year before.
But he hasn't ever got it done. And Wilson has.
:shrug:
 
infantrycak said:
Rivers was on a team with the #1 offense and #1 defense. They went 9-7 and missed the playoffs. Just saying.

I like Rivers but I'm not so sure you could switch them and Seattle would do as well.
Click to expand...

I did not know that. hmmmm....screw Rivers then. He's off the list!
 
ObsiWan said:
Not sure why you inserted the "true" qualifier in there...
But anyway, as I said, if a team is happy with their starter and are not actively looking to upgrade him then he's the franchise guy.
Anywho, from Playoffs' list
E.Manning
P.Rivers
Roethlisberger
A.Smith
Ryan
Flacco
Stafford
Newton
Dalton
Luck
Wilson
Tannehill

I have to concede that your sustained elite performance requirement has some merit. So that does take Wilson and Luck down half a notch to very good and if they keep it up they'll be elite.
Click to expand...
I didn't insert "true" it was Playoffs, but it is neither here nor there.
 
austins23 said:
I didn't insert "true" it was Playoffs, but it is neither here nor there.
Click to expand...
I did. Was trying to narrow the field at the top, kinda like this 2014 survey did...


Ranking 32 NFL QBs by tier

7/3/2014 - Mike Sando, NFL Insider

You know you're onto something interesting when an NFL head coach requests a few additional moments with your laptop.

"Let me see that one more time," one coach said, leaning forward in his chair.

I asked 26 league insiders to grade every projected starting quarterback on a 1-5 scale, with "one" reserved for the best and "five" for the worst. Eight general managers, two former GMs, four pro personnel evaluators, seven coordinators, two head coaches, two position coaches and a top executive participated, attacking the project with gusto almost across the board.

The result of the polling is a composite ranking of all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks, and an understanding of how some of the league's most important evaluators separate the best from the rest at the position. With their input, we were able to compile an average rating of each QB, to rank them in a 1-32 pecking order, and to divide the starters into general tiers. I've passed along insights from voters when applicable.

Five QBs cracked Tier 1, including one surprise. Ten other QBs fell into Tier 2 and nine landed in Tier 3. The remaining eight starters fell into Tier 4. Five of them received nearly as many Tier 5 votes, but not enough to drop any of them into that bottom level.

"That is a pretty good consensus of where we are at in the league," one of the GMs said upon surveying the overall results.

The head coach referenced earlier has finished staring at the results. Now, it's your turn.

Tier 1 (5)

T-1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (1.04 average rating)

I was deep into this project when ESPN Insider published Sam Monson's piece highlighting Brady's diminished production while under pressure. Monson questioned Brady's status as one of the top five QBs. Still, none of the people I spoke with thought Brady had slipped to a significant degree. Twenty-five of the 26 voters put him in the first tier. The lone exception, a pro personnel evaluator, saved his only Tier 1 vote for Peyton Manning. He was an unusually tough grader at the top, focused more intently than others on the 2013 season, when Manning performed at a historic level.

"Brady did a lot of good things with limited resources, but I saw holes when they put the onus on him to carry it all, as you saw when Denver beat him," this evaluator said. "Brady has to have more of a running game at this stage. He cannot line up with five wides and win it as consistently as before. I still think Brady is a top-five quarterback, but I would not say he is the best right now."

That was a minority opinion. A veteran offensive assistant who listed Manning, Rodgers, Brady, Brees and Luck as his Tier 1 QBs said the first three were pretty much interchangeable.

"Brady might be the best because he does it with the least every year, just about," this offensive assistant said. "To me, there is no falloff with that guy. If he played with what Rodgers and Peyton and Brees have played with, it would not even be close. He has not had an outside guy since Randy Moss. These other guys have outside guys coming out of their ears, especially Peyton and Rodgers. It is such a difference when you have outside guys that can stretch, like Manning had in Indy. Then he'd kill you with the inside guys. Brady doesn't have half the skill players that Manning has. The thing that is scary is that sneakily, the Patriots were pretty good last year anyway."

From 2006 through 2012, Brady trailed only Manning in Total QBR at 74.8. That figure fell off to 48.6 through eight games last season as the Patriots lost nearly all their top weapons, but it was back to 73.1 over the final eight games, fourth-best in the league over that span.
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T-1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (1.04 average rating)

Not much explanation required here. All Manning did last season was set an NFL record with 55 touchdown passes.

One of the evaluators with a background in pro personnel nearly gave Manning a Tier 2 grade on our first run through the ballot. Then, he started laughing.

"As soon as I said two, I was like, 'Really?' " the evaluator said. "Arm strength is such an issue at this point and the smart teams are going to neutralize him easier than others, but he is a one."

Manning received his only Tier 2 grade from a GM concerned that the QB's age had hampered his ability to avoid the rush. Brady, Brees and Rodgers were the only Tier 1 QBs on this GM's ballot. Exceptions such as these could say more about the voting process than the players. "It's an incredible accomplishment if you can get everyone in the building on the same scale," another GM said.
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T-1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (1.04 average rating)

If Rodgers gives up anything to Brady and Manning before the snap -- which is debatable -- his athletic ability seems to make up for it.

"You can't fool him," a defensive coordinator said. "We watched some cutups on him and he was ridiculous. He sees everything. They'd have a blitz on and he'd throw it and he knows what the blitz is. I don't know how he knows it. He throws into this tight window that nobody would throw into. Brees is the same way."

A veteran cornerback I talked to this offseason put it this way: "He is very cerebral. I don't think he is quite like a Peyton Manning, but he can read defenses and all that stuff, and when stuff breaks down, he is mobile enough to get out of the pocket and run. That is what made him so good, especially a couple years ago. He is still playing well. He just got hurt last year."
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T-1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (1.04 average rating)

Brees' credentials need no explanation. Still, most placed him just behind Brady and Manning within the top tier.

One evaluator said he thought Brees wasn't as good outdoors. But Brady wasn't any better statistically in outdoor road games last season. Among Tier 1 QBs, only Manning (83.0 QBR) and Luck (59.1) were particularly good in outdoor road games.

"The best guys bring everyone else's level up and the guys around them can change and they still play at a high level," an offensive coordinator said. "You saw that comment by Brees talking about Jimmy Graham and he was saying, 'Well, Jimmy is really good, but I've been here for eight years and Jimmy was not here for four of those years and we still had the big numbers.' With these Tier 1 guys, they're productive almost regardless."

One evaluator questioned whether Brees could hang with the other Tier 1 players when his team fell behind by 21 or 28 points. Since 2010, counting the playoffs, Brady is 2-1 and Manning is 1-3 when their teams fall behind by 21-28 points. Their QBR scores were exceptional in those situations (90.9 for Brady and 88.3 for Manning). Rodgers went 0-2 in those games, but played respectably (64.6 QBR). Brees, meanwhile, had an 0-5 record in these games and a 52.6 QBR.
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5. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts (1.50 average rating)

Luck doesn't have the track record of the other Tier 1 QBs, and there was a clear gap in the voting between him and the top four. But people in the league love him almost unconditionally, and 14 of the 26 voters insisted upon putting him in the top tier (each of the top four received 25 of 26 Tier 1 votes).

The evaluators think Luck has carried a subpar roster to a 22-10 record without much help. They see no limitations. They have zero doubt about his long-term stardom and felt strongly enough to give him 14 first-tier votes even while acknowledging he's below the Big Four at this early stage. Every other QB fell into the tier in which he received the most votes, and So shall Luck, even if his Tier 1 designation feels a bit premature.

"I'm not going to downgrade him because it's only his second year," a defensive coordinator said after placing Luck in the first tier. "He can put it on his back as a younger player, where some of these other guys had good help running the ball like Ben (Roethlisberger) or Matt (Ryan) or Russell (Wilson) or Joe (Flacco). They have had people you could hand it to. They say you can win with a young QB when you have a top-10 defense and a top-10 running game. Luck hasn't had either."

The Colts have gone 22-10 with Luck, while ranking 28th in defensive EPA and 24th in both rushing yards and rushing attempts by running backs. Luck ranks fourth in drop-backs over that span, trailing only Matthew Stafford, Brees and Ryan.

Still, there isn't much of an individual statistical argument for Luck's inclusion in Tier 1. His completion percentage (57.0) and passer rating (81.5) lag. His QBR score (63.8) ranks eighth and reflects significant value added through rushing. "Luck turns the ball over too much," one GM said in explaining why he left Luck in the second tier for now. A head coach called Luck "a two becoming a one" -- a comment consistent with the thinking of everyone who placed Luck in the second tier.​
 
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