Ranking The NFL Quarterbacks

Ok, so I was ripping around on ESPN the other day and I came across an article by John Clayton.  He ranked the NFL quarterbacks (link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=5972554 ).  I felt it necessary to produce my own rankings because of how poor his were.  Not only did I disagree with his specific rankings, but also the divisions he created.  Clayton had 3 divisions: The Elite Division, The Chad-Pennington Division and the Hit-or-Miss Division.  This put Matt Schaub in the same category as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.  Sorry John, but aside from the AFC South, there is no way Schaub belongs in the same division as those future hall of famers.  Also, Clayton described The Chad Pennington Division as the grouping that includes quarterbacks who are missing one element in their game.  I have nothing against Pennington, but since when did he do enough to warrant having a division named after him.  Ok, enough talk, here are the real rankings based on what Quarterback I want on my team going into 2011 (ability and age included).

GOAT Division (Greatest Of All Time)
1. Tom Brady
Brady pulled ahead of Manning this season based on the gaudy numbers he put up.  He is all but assured  his second league MVP to go along with his 3 Super Bowl rings.  His all time career passer rating is now higher than Manning's and if he wins in Dallas this year, he will be the unquestioned greatest of all time.

2.  Peyton Manning
Up until this season I had Manning in the #1 spot.  He understands the game at a different level than anyone else whose ever played.  That ability, combined with the fact that he works harder than anyone is a unique combination.  If he had Bill Belichick and a defence like the ones Brady had in his Super Bowl years, Manning likely would be in the #1 spot.  If he gets the Colts to Dallas, he will be right back in the mix.

Generations Best Division
3.  Aaron Rodgers
I have to be honest I'm really struggling with the Rodgers/Favre dilemma.  #4 is my favourite player of all time and had things not gone sour in Green Bay it would've been very easy for me to cheer for Rodgers to dominate.  I still really like Rodgers and maybe the nicest thing I can say about his ability is that every time he plays well, I keep thinking about whether or not he will have a better career than Brett.  Either way he is the best young quarterback in the NFL and has shredded teams despite having no run game.  His arm strength is underrated and his quick release is a huge asset.

4.  Phil Rivers
Going into the season I wondered how Rivers would do without Vincent Jackson.  Well, that question was answered.  Despite his awkward throwing motion, he is the most accurate deep passer in the league and is one of the most fiery competitors in sports.  Even though the window closed on LT's chance to win a Super Bowl in San Diego, with Rivers at the helm, the Chargers window is wide open.

5.  Drew Brees
I know there is a love affair with Brees because he was cast away by the Chargers and he revitalized New Orleans by leading them to their first ever Super Bowl title in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but I call it like I see it.  If I'm starting a team today, I'd take any of the aforementioned guys over Drew.  That being said he has incredible accuracy (although this year he tried to force more throws).

6.  Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben already has 2 Super Bowl rings and has a unique style of quarterbacking.  He likes to use his outstanding pump fake and holds onto the ball (sometimes too long) to make big plays.  His win-loss record is no doubt assisted by the notoriously dominant Steelers D.

7.  Matt Ryan
The ultimate stat for quarterbacks is wins.  All Ryan does in the Georgia Dome is win.  He rarely turns the ball over and has great leadership skills.  The Falcons are built to run the ball but when they need Ryan to move into the Shotgun and stage a comeback, he is exceptional.  Hence his nickname "Matty Ice".

The 2011 Division (The coming year will determine everything for these guys)
8. Michael Vick
Vick had one of the best years a quarterback has had in recent memory and he is a complete threat now with his ability to throw from the pocket.  He seems to have a better sense of when to run and is a pass first quarterback now.  One year isn't enough for me to have him any higher, especially since at the age of 30, his legs won't last forever.  All that aside, he is the most dangerous player in the NFL right now.

9.  Tony Romo
Romo grew up in Wisconsin and idolized a certain Green Bay quarterback.  It shows.  He plays the game with a similar style and swagger.  He has deceptive mobility and can make all the throws.  With all the receiving weapons around him and an offensive minded head coach, 2011 is a make or break year for Tony.

10.  Eli Manning
Oddly enough, Manning seems to polarize the NFL fan base.  People either love him or hate him.  He is a very intelligent player but can't seem to translate his knowledge into production as well as his brother can.  Fair or not, Eli will always be measured up against Peyton and will never be on that level.  He is still a top 10 quarterback in the NFL, but the young guys are chomping at his heels.

11. Sam Bradford
If you think this is too high for Bradford, you clearly didn't watch him play this season.  He has incredible accuracy and shows the poise of a 10-year veteran.  He put up stellar numbers as a rookie with an expansion team receiving corps.  The Rams look poised to win a number of divisional titles under his watch.

12.  Josh Freeman
Freeman took his time learning and has finally overcome the growing pains associated with the transition to the pro game.  His size and mobility are exceptional as is his arm strength.  He has gelled wonderfully with his young receivers and has great leadership qualities.  The Bucs are the youngest team in the NFL, a fact that should worry the rest of NFC South based on how well Freeman played this year.

13.  Jay Cutler
Last year was tough on Cutler but he has bounced back and embraced Mike Martz's offensive scheme.  His arm strength is as good as anyone in the league which is essential when playing in Chicago.  His receiving corps isn't much better than Bradford's yet he has the Bears in a position to rest on wild card weekend.

14.  Matt Schaub
You can't necessarily blame Schaub for not getting his team to the playoffs considering how poor the Texans D was this year.  That being said, Schaub seems to implode at critical moments (see Ravens game in OT).  His solid stats gets him to the #14 spot but he will not move any higher without a playoff win, no matter what kind of defence he has.

15.  Carson Palmer
I'm a big believer in Palmer, which is a rare position following the Bengals dismal season, but I'll tell you why.  The last few games of the season when Ochocinco and T.O. were on the sidelines, Palmer flourished.  I can only assume this was because he didn't have to focus on getting them the ball and was left to read the defence and make the plays he thought were the best.  The Bengals should give up on Batman and Robin and keep Palmer in Gotham City.

16.  Joe Flacco
I accept the fact that I will get some heat here, but I'm just not sold on Flacco.  I haven't seen him exhibit leadership qualities although some would argue his calm demeanour is a positive.  Every now and then he will completely misfire on a throw which leaves everyone scratching their heads.  He had a very talented offence this year and didn't put up the type of numbers I expected.  Don't be shocked if he never takes the next step, especially considering more will ride on his shoulders when Lewis and Reed retire.

17. Matthew Stafford
You have to feel for this kid with all the injuries he's had to go through.  The Lions made the right pick with Suh, but their neglect of the offensive tackle position this offseason was a massive mistake and has put Stafford's future in doubt.  He has all the tools to be a star and has played well when healthy, but another injury could put him down for good.

The Incumbents, Youngsters and Backups Oh My! Division
18.  Kevin Kolb
The Eagles got really lucky when Kolb got unlucky with his concussion.  However, the Eagles are the only team that could start their backup quarterback this weekend and have a great chance of winning.  Kolb will be a starter in this league and fits well in the west coast offence.  Look for a team like the Niners or Cardinals to make a play for him this offseason.

19.  Matt Cassel
All the people who doubted Cassel last year have sure been quiet this year.  Cassel doesn't have the physical tools of the top passers but understands the game and is extremely comfortable running Charlie Weis' offence (a carbon copy of what he ran in New England).  In that offence is all about accuracy and knowing how to get the ball into the hands of your playmakers.  Cassel is exceptional at doing that.

20.  David Garrard
Garrard has great stretches where he is very efficient as a passer.  He is mobile enough to make some plays outside the pocket and has enough natural leadership to play the position.  He will never be in the top 10, but there are much worse starters in the league and he almost got the Jaguars into the playoffs.

21.  Kyle Orton
Orton is a smart quarterback with good arm strength but he was a product of Josh McDaniels system.  I was a big fan of Orton when he played at Purdue, but McDaniels showed you the peak of his abilities.  He could be as high as 19, as he is similar to Cassel and on par with Garrard.

22.  Mark Sanchez
Sanchez would benefit by playing in his home state of California because of his limited arm strength.  With the New York winters, I question how many plays he can make in the passing game late in the season.  His numbers are not spectacular by any means but he has the two things that are most important to being a quarterback: great leadership and a knack for getting wins.

23.  Colt McCoy
McCoy wasn't supposed to start a game this year, but he was forced into action due to injuries and embraced the opportunity.  The most impressive thing was how well he protected the ball against the top notch defences in the AFC North.  Even though Mangini was released, McCoy is a Holmgren guy which means his job is safe.

24.  Jimmy Clausen
Clausen was the biggest winner yesterday when Andrew Luck announced that he would not enter the 2011 Draft.  He received a lot of criticism about his play, but perhaps he wasn't as NFL ready as everyone thought.  He played much better down the stretch and given a full offseason could have a bounce back sophomore season.

25.  Donovan McNabb
McNabb's production will be higher than many of the guys that are ahead of him on this list, however his age really played a factor in his #25 ranking.  Mike Shanahan received a lot of criticism when he decided to bench Donovan, but he is someone who knows quarterbacks and his lack of faith in McNabb sends up a big red flag.

26.  Ryan Fitzpatrick
I'm actually a big fan of Fitzpatrick because he is a smart quarterback.  He has numerous physical limitations but has been effective as a starter because he understands the game and reads defences very well.  His production should have him at least 5-8 spots higher on this list, but age and lack of upside puts him at 26.

27.  Tim Tebow
The most scrutinized rookie in the league played well in all three of his starts.  I was most impressed by the way he played against the Chargers because of how good that defence is.  Tebow definitely benefited by learning under Josh McDaniels, but the key in his development will be who gets hired as Denver's next coach.  His leadership qualities are among the top 5% in the NFL.

28.  Bruce Gradkowski
The Raiders players responded to Bruce's leadership.  He is cut from the same cloth as Jeff Garcia and falls into that overachiever, fiery competitor category.  When we get down to the late 20's of this list, you're looking at guys who are really young or can bring stability to the franchise for the time being.  Bruce is perfect for that.

29.  Jason Campbell
Campbell just doesn't seem to have the leadership qualities necessary to be an effective starter in this league.  He has below average accuracy and I would be shocked if he is an NFL starter beyond 2011.  He is still a serviceable backup.

30.  Chad Henne
The Miami Dolphins unravelled this year and it all started with reports that Bill Parcells wasn't happy with Henne's development.  He didn't play terribly this year but he showed a level of consistency we should expect from a rookie.  He will need a change of scenery to have a chance at success.

31.  Matt Leinart
Leinart got the short end of the stick in Arizona and I agreed with him when he spoke out saying he earned the starting spot.  I was surprised he went to Houston, only because I think he could've contended for playing time elsewhere.  Perhaps the rumours about his character are more significant than I originally thought.

32.  John Skelton
Since day 1 I thought he was the best quarterback on the Cardinals roster and by the end of the year that was proven.  The Cardinals could draft a quarterback this year, but should still let Skelton start the first 10 games to see what he has.  That would give the rookie time to learn as well.

33.  Brett Favre
Since this list is described as the guy I'd want on my team going into 2011 you may be surprised I have Favre on here at all.  The truth is I would take the slim chance #4 returns over the guys below him on the list.

34.  Vince Young
Young is a child.  His immaturity almost cost him his job once and he clearly hasn't learned his lesson.  It is no secret that he doesn't put in the time to get better.  No matter how much talent he has, until he puts in the work and becomes a man, he won't lead a team to the Super Bowl.  I don't think he will mature.

35.  Alex Smith/Charlie Whitehurst/Rex Grossman
Smith has the physical tools but literally has had the worst circumstances of any #1 overall pick in history.  He had 4 different offensive co-ordinators in his time in San Fran, but he hasn't played well enough to warrant another chance.  He could develop into a strong backup.  Whitehurst doesn't seem to have IT and Grossman is a poor man's Ryan Fitzpatrick.