Top 20 NFL Quarterbacks

[TheReverend]

Arguing with charger fans over Phillip Rivers vs Drew Brees gave me an interesting idea... why not rank the top 20 NFL quarterbacks and then see the variation other posters have, including rival fans to see if we can some sort of concensus.

Might as well try and find something productive on Draft Eve...

1. Peyton Manning
2. Tom Brady
1 and 2 are obviously pretty interchangeable and I consider it a significant drop off to #3 where we find our next tier. This next tier is exactly where I expect to see Cutler finish the 2008 season in.
3. Drew Brees - I generally think of him as a top 5 QB, but after scanning the list... I can't find anyone that deserves the #3 spot more.
4. Tony Romo - Benefits greatly from tough running, great receiving options and solid protection, but also makes some great plays when he has to. At the moment, he seems to be the real deal.
5. Carson Palmer - Would've been interesting to see what he could do in a real franchise.
6. Big Ben - I'm also shocked I have him this high... but the guy can perform exactly what he's asked to do and extend the play when he needs to. 32 TDs and 11 picks is hard to argue with at this spot.
7. Donovan McNabb - Injuries have this solid talent this down this far and a continued pounding could send him into the world of mediocrity Steve McNair style.
8. Matt Hasslebeck - Benefit of a brillaintly coached Holmgren passing game? Regardless, the former Favre backup turned probowler Hasslebeck is the benefactor.
9. Eli Manning - Mediocre regular season followed by sheer brilliance in his role (along with the rest of the team) in the playoffs. Was Eli coming into his own and deserves higher ranking, or was it just a hot streak?
10. Jay Cutler - Injury depleted receiving corps, offensive line AND running back positions kept him from a probowl berth his first season starting. Using that excuse I could've placed him at #6, but preferred realism at this spot. I fully expect him to vault many spots.
11. Derek Anderson - Ranked below jay for several reasons. The guy has some remarkable talent in perimeter play and solid protection. Will he be able to continue his success or will a combination of NFL clubs with a years film and a looming Brady Quinn be able to shut him out?
12. Mark Bulger - In the top 5 cusp for the past several years, when healthy in 2007, Bulger showed he may very well have been a question in the ending of the greatest show on turf and not the answer.
13. Phillip Rivers - Genuine talent or a product of surrounding pro bowlers? Volek's success when stepping in for Rivers suggest the latter, yet River's did achieve a solid season in 06... but was it on LTs record breaking back? 2008 should show if Rivers belongs in the top ten or further down the list.
14. Vince Young - Garners credit for wins due to a great defense. Also garners credit for being a poor passer despite a complete neglect of perimeter players. Another intriguing player with much more upside but still many question marks enterring his third season.
15. Matt Schaub - Played solidly but unspectacularly when healthy in 2007. Every year in the system and every season under Gary Kubiak should spur exponential growth. I expect good things from Schaub in 2008.
16. Jon Kitna - When will the sun set on this guy?
17. Kurt Warner - (See #16)
18. Jason Campbell - Spent several years in the system on the sidelines before cracking the lineup and displaying exactly why he was on the sidelines... still showed growth as season progressed.
19. Matt Leinart - A fairly respectable rookie campaign was replaced with an injured 2007. Still, a 1:2 TD/Int ratio and splitting time with Kurt Warner spoke volumes about Matt's growth. Plenty of opportunity in 2008 for him to vault up the charts.
20. Rex Grossman - Even worse a case of NFL performance bipolar disorder than Plummer.

[Punisher]

Vince Young and Rex Grossman???

[400HZ]

I'd say Grossman belongs solidly outside the top 30.

[400HZ]

And WTF, no Brody Croyle?

[Punisher]

Where's David Garrard put him on the list and he's better than Rivers.
David Garrard QB Rate 102.2
Philip Rivers QB Rate 82.4

[400HZ]

Jeff Garcia.

[cutthemdown]

Cutler isn't even top 20 yet IMO. He has potential to be top 10 but it's all about wins and losses.

[400HZ]

Where's David Garrard put him on the list and he's better than Rivers.
David Garrard QB Rate 102.2
Philip Rivers QB Rate 82.4

He's better than Cutler, too. :thumbs:

[TheReverend]

Jeff Garcia.

Lots of QBs got left off... I tried to give a premium to young QBs that are still growing on their learning curve which made it more competitive. Garcia probably does deserve to be there... at his age I'd probably slot him outside the top 15 still.

That's a good catch as far as oversights go... David Garrard deserves a spot before Jason Campbell also.

And yes no Brodie. No tarvaris. Those two were not oversights.

[Punisher]

He's better than Cutler, too. :thumbs:

He is better than Cutler :thumbsup:

[TheReverend]

He's better than Cutler, too. :thumbs:

A QB that's asked to throw the ball 20x per game is not on league with a QB asked to throw it 30x per game and carry an injury depleted team to wins, despite a playoff berth.

[Punisher]

Tony Romo is the most Overrated QB!!!...Hes not very Clutch either see the last two playoff games he was in.

[Punisher]

A QB that's asked to throw the ball 20x per game is not on league with a QB asked to throw it 30x per game and carry an injury depleted team to wins, despite a playoff berth.

You make a good point but when DG makes a throw they're all good decisions.

[400HZ]

A QB that's asked to throw the ball 20x per game is not on league with a QB asked to throw it 30x per game and carry an injury depleted team to wins, despite a playoff berth.

It's not Garrard's fault that he doesn't have to throw 30x a game. If it was my list, he'd be somewhere in 5-7 territory.

[Punisher]

It's not Garrard's fault that he doesn't have to throw 30x a game. If it was my list, he'd be somewhere in 5-7 territory.

And where would Rivers land on your list?Number one? :spit:

[Rabb]

You make a good point but when DG makes a throw they're all good decisions.

if I remember correctly he (DG) was pretty efficient while they ran up and down our asses also this year

I am a Cutler fan, don't get me wrong...just saying, the score board don't lie

[TheReverend]

It's not Garrard's fault that he doesn't have to throw 30x a game. If it was my list, he'd be somewhere in 5-7 territory.

The point of this thread is kinda so you will make your own list and we can all shoot for some sort of concensus...

IMO, until Garrard actually gets more of an opportunity to show what he can do, he stays just inside the top 20 and not higher.

Most great QBs open up the running game, not rely on the running game to open up the passing game.

[TheReverend]

if I remember correctly he (DG) was pretty efficient while they ran up and down our asses also this year

I am a Cutler fan, don't get me wrong...just saying, the score board don't lie

If Dan Graham could catch a ball... Whatever, how does this become a David Garrard thread?

[Punisher]

if I remember correctly he (DG) was pretty efficient while they ran up and down our asses also this year

I am a Cutler fan, don't get me wrong...just saying, the score board don't lie

I wish D-Gram would of caught that ball....

[Bronco Jamus]

David Gerrard is easily top ten.

[Rabb]

oh I agree, thanks for the blocking Mr. Graham now catch something

just playing Devil's advocate

and you know what they say about ifs...

if worms had machine guns the birds wouldn't f*** with them

[Punisher]

oh I agree, thanks for the blocking Mr. Graham now catch something

just playing Devil's advocate

and you know what they say about ifs...

if worms had machine guns the birds wouldn't **** with them

ROFL! Good one

[400HZ]

And where would Rivers land on your list?Number one? :spit:

There is already like 9 threads devoted to that debate.

[Punisher]

There is already like 9 threads devoted to that debate.

Sorry but inlightin me i haven't read those threads..

[TheReverend]

Well this got hijacked quickly... glad I spent fifteen minutes typing that all out...

[yavoon]

vince young out.

[Flex Gunmetal]

Cutler isn't even top 20 yet IMO. He has potential to be top 10 but it's all about wins and losses.

Sucks that games aren't won and lost solely by QBs.
When our D can stop someone who isn't in a wheelchair or imaginary I'll be ready to judge him by W's.
DG should be #5 and Brees and Ben should fall a little, IMO.

[TheReverend]

Sucks that games aren't won and lost solely by QBs.
When our D can stop someone who isn't in a wheelchair or imaginary I'll be ready to judge him by W's.
DG should be #5 and Brees and Ben should fall a little, IMO.

Okay go with that... fall to where and who replaces them...?

DG over Ben...? Ben's done much more and for longer...

[maher_tyler]

Cutler should be around 15(be realistic, it was only his first full year)...DG should be in the top 10

Edit: Palmer to #3

[TheReverend]

Cutler should be around 15(be realistic, it was only his first full year)...DG should be in the top 10

Edit: Palmer to #3

You cant just give a general number where someone should fall to... I kinda need a more concrete opinion than that. Examples! Who would replace him on the list?

Name 5 QBs after Cutler that are better...?

[Flex Gunmetal]

Okay go with that... fall to where and who replaces them...?

DG over Ben...? Ben's done much more and for longer...

Sorry, I meant Romo not Ben. Carson and Hasselbeck over Brees and Romo.

[400HZ]

As much as I still like Brees, I'd put Roethlisberger before him after this past season. Ben had better stats and more wins against tougher competition.

[Flex Gunmetal]

^Sparkie fan knows whats up^

[s0phr0syne]

Until I tried formulating my own list, I didn't realize how tricky this thread could be. There is a serious dearth of QBs in the league. I knocked certain QBs off because they just haven't shown anything yet (ie A. Smith among others), while I checked off other team's QBs because they don't even have a definite starter yet (ie. NYjets or Buffalo). Then, I tried to the rank the QBs, but I ended up having a lot of them grouped together with no real way for me to decide between them. Each number given represents a different tier to me. I tried to group the one-year wonders like Anderson and Garrard together, because we really don't know if it was fluke or actual skill. I know that Garcia and Kitna have had varying degrees of success at one time or another, but neither of them can make "all the throws". As heroic as Eli looked during the post-season, he looked like utter crap at times during the regular season. It's sad that either VY even makes this list, but he has literally put the team on his shoulders at various times to lead them to victory, or even keep the game close.


1>>>P. Manning
>>>>T. Brady

3>>>C. Palmer
>>>>D. McNabb
>>>>B. Roethlisberger

6>>>M. Hasselbeck
>>>>M. Bulger
>>>>D. Brees
>>>>T. Romo

10>>D. Anderson
>>>>D. Garrard

12>>E. Manning
>>>>P. Rivers

14>>J. Cutler
>>>>M. Schaub

16>>V. Young

17>>J. Garcia
>>>>J. Delhomme
>>>>J. Kitna
>>>>J. Campbell

[Bob's your Information Minister]

How the **** does anyone rank Vince frickin' young 14th? He sucks.

[Flex Gunmetal]

OMG no brodie croyle? He's THA FRANCHIZE!

[TheReverend]

How the **** does anyone rank Vince frickin' young 14th? He sucks.

Because after going through the list there really aren't that many great QBs. I'm far from enamored with Vince Young but he has played well to very at well times.

A player that doesn't even make the list, Brodie Croyle for example, doesn't even help position their team for a win.

[boltaneer]

Brady and Manning are in a league of their own and then there are a bunch of guys in that second tier that I think you can make a good argument for interchanging a number of them around up to #3. In fact, I had a hell of a time trying to decide who should go at #3 and #4 because the guys in the past who usually were considered right behind the big two (Palmer, Bulger, McNabb) have struggled recently or injuries have taken their toll. I thought putting Ben at #3 was a little high but he's probably the most consistent out of the bunch and he has a ring.

-----

1. Tom Brady - I hate him and his team but you can't deny he deserves this spot.
2. Peyton Manning - On the other hand, I actually like Peyton but he ain't #1 right now.

3. Ben Roethlisberger - See explanation above.
4. Drew Brees - This was just as tough as to pick as #3. I think a few guys on this list could take this spot instead.
5. Matt Hasselbeck - Very consistent QB and one of my favorite QBs. I was this close to bumping him up to 4.
6. Carson Palmer - Another tough one to rate. One of the best pure passers in the league but he has struggled a lot recently, though a lot of it has to do with the chaos on his team. In a way I want to drop him lower but he gets a bit of a pass due to his bad situation.
7. Philip Rivers - Struggled in the earlier part of the season but once the whole team got on the same page as Norv and the new coordinators, his play shot up to where it was in 2006. He proved in the playoffs that he could win without LT.
8. Eli Manning - Very hard to rate him. Played well down the stretch but proably the first time in his career that he has done so. But Super Bowl win gives him beneift of the doubt not to sink any lower.)
9. Donovan McNabb - Lots of struggles with injuries but looks to be on the way back up.
10. Marc Bulger - Arguably a top 3-4 quarterback in 2006 but struggled big time last year with injuries to himself and the rest of his offense. I expect him to get back to his old form this season.
11. David Garrard - Not asked to do too much but had an incredible season.
12. Tony Romo - He was on fire until the end of the season. The whole Cowboys team fell apart and you have to look at the QB first.

13. Jay Cutler - Despite being one of the most physcially gifted QBs on this list, he still has a ways to go. But I think he's on the cusp of breaking into the second tier.
14. Derek Anderson - His collapse at the end of the year was very surprising. But played at a high level for the whole year.
15. Jeff Garcia - Probably his last year starting. Still can make plays here and there but not like before.
16. Kurt Warner - Ditto.
17. Jake Delhomme - I think he has a chance to come back from his injury and show everyone he still has a little bit left in him.
18. Chad Pennington - I like Chad but he's not in a good situation in NY.
19. Vince Young - Dude needs some weapons. Roydell Williams? Give me a break!
20. Jason Campbell - Has yet another new system to learn this year. I think he's gonna struggle and possibly drop out of the top 20 this year.

[iforgotmypassword]

It's not Garrard's fault that he doesn't have to throw 30x a game. If it was my list, he'd be somewhere in 5-7 territory.

ur retarded

ur tellin me ud take that kiddo over cut? very very retarded

[iforgotmypassword]

god some of ur lists are awful..... i suppose when trent dilfer won it with the ravens he was top 2? these are terrible lists so far, top two are right thats about it.

[TheReverend]

god some of ur lists are awful..... i suppose when trent dilfer won it with the ravens he was top 2? these are terrible lists so far, top two are right thats about it.

i'm excited to see what you come up with

[boltaneer]

If you don't like the rankings, post your own for debate.

Most people are going to disagree with everyone's rankings because this is so subjective but I agree that things like these are fun because you get an idea of how others view the entire NFL QB situation.

And some people are going to put more emphasis on certain qualities than others. I didn't rank by potential. I mainly went with their accomplishments and their ability. But obviously some accomplishments won't factor in that much if it happened five years ago so Jake Delhomme taking the Panthers to the Super Bowl doesn't weigh as heavily in my mind as Eli doing it last year. And the most recent performances are heavily factored IMO because this should be a good indicator of things to come. So guys like Rivers and Eli benefited nicely from this while Romo and Derek Anderson were affected negatively.

But having said that, it's all just a fun little ranking that shouldn't be taken too seriously. And though I disagree with the other rankings on here, based on their explanations I can understand the reasoning why they put them where they did.

[kmonty]

Garrard is much too low, IMO. No one was talking about it, but after his injury, the Jaguars passing game became explosive. Seriously. Check out the stats.

http://www.nfl.com/players/davidgarrard/gamelogs?id=GAR371604

Around 25-35 attempts per game. 2-3 touchdowns every week but one. 3 interceptions on the YEAR.

I'd go Brady, Manning, Palmer, Romo, Brees, Garrard, Roethlisberger, McNabb, Hasselbeck, Bulger, E. Manning, Cutler. 12th for our guy. Then Anderson, Rivers.

And after this season I'd guess Cutler could break the top 7. Homerism to the core, but I believe it.

[Atlas]

Cutler isn't even top 20 yet IMO. He has potential to be top 10 but it's all about wins and losses.

I think it's hard to rate Cutler just yet. We will truely see how good he can be this year.