I previously ranked my top 10 wide receivers heading into the 2015 NFL season, but those wideouts obviously need someone to throw them the ball. Below are my rankings of the top 12 NFL quarterbacks for the upcoming season. These rankings take last season’s numbers, past success (including playoffs), the eye test from watching them play and age–among other factors–all into consideration.
12. Matt Ryan
2014 season:
Yards: 4,694 (5th)
Completion percentage: 66.1 (7th)
Touchdowns: 28 (T 10th)
Interceptions: 14
Rating: 93.9 (11th)
The Falcons struggled in 2014 and failed to make the playoffs, despite some pretty decent numbers out of Ryan. Ryan may not have had his best season in 2014, but it was the poor defense that really caused the Falcons to miss out on the postseason. Atlanta has improved its defense this offseason, and the Falcons should have less trouble getting off the field in 2015. That should allow Ryan and the Falcons offense more opportunities to do their thing with less pressure. “Matty Ice” has only one playoff win in his career, so he can’t be higher than 12 on my list, but he has the talent and mental makeup to be a top-10 quarterback in the league.
11. Tony Romo
2014 season:
Yards: 3,705 (14th)
Completion percentage: 69.9 (1st)
Touchdowns: 34 (4th)
Interceptions: 9
Rating: 113.2 (1st)
Romo hasn’t exactly gotten it done in the playoffs in his career, but he had a heck of a season in 2014. It did help that he had DeMarco Murray at running back, but Murray is now in Philadelphia with the Eagles. It will be interesting to see how the lack of a great running game will affect Romo in 2015. He has the talent to be successful, but he has made some poor decisions at the end of games, throwing too many bad interceptions that have played big parts in losses for the Cowboys. That being said, Romo is not the only reason for Dallas losing close games, as he’s been responsible for some victories as well. He played well in December last season, leading Dallas to a 4-0 record while throwing only one interception. He just needs to do more in the postseason before I can rank him any higher.
10. Joe Flacco
2014 season:
Yards: 3,986 (12th)
Completion percentage: 62.1 (22nd)
Touchdowns: 27 (12th)
Interceptions: 12
Rating: 91.0 (16th)
Flacco possibly has the strongest arm in the NFL, and his results in the postseason cannot be ignored. Sometimes he struggles to make the playoffs, but he had a nice season in 2014, as did wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. and running back Justin Forsett–both of whom are returning to the Ravens in 2015. Last season the Ravens lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The former University of Delaware quarterback never gets too high or too low and always keeps his composure. The Ravens, led by Flacco, certainly look like a team that could make the playoffs again in 2015. There are many teams in the league who would love to have him as their quarterback.
9. Russell Wilson
2014 season:
Yards: 3,475 (15th)
Completion percentage: 63.1 (20th)
Touchdowns: 20 (16th)
Interceptions: 7
Rating: 95.0 (10th)
Wilson may not be the strongest passer in the NFL, but it’s hard to argue with results. I know he’s benefited from of a great defense and a great running back in Marshawn Lynch, but Wilson has played with a less-than-stellar receiving corps, and he is a large reason for the Seahawks’ success over the past few years. He has never had a losing season in the NFL, and he has taken Seattle to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons in the league. He may not be the best passer in the league, but he has never completed less than 63.1 percent of his passes in a season. He’s also the only quarterback to finish each of his first two seasons in the NFL with a passer rating of 100.00 or better. Wilson has helped lead Seattle to two straight Super Bowls, winning one, and just narrowly missing out on a second Lombardi Trophy. Wilson is both dynamic and intelligent on the field. He doesn’t turn the ball over very often, and he understands how to play yard without putting himself at risk.
8. Eli Manning
2014 season:
Yards: 4,410 (6th)
Completion percentage: 63.1 (19th)
Touchdowns: 30 (9th)
Interceptions: 14
Rating: 92.1 (15th)
When NFL fans hear the name Manning they automatically think of Peyton Manning while Eli Manning is somehow forgotten. But the New York Giants quarterback has one more Super Bowl ring than his older brother. Manning may not be fiery like the quarterback at No. 7, but he is still one of the leaders on the Giants. He has led New York to two Super Bowl wins–both over the New England Patriots–in dramatic fashion. In 2014, the former Ole Miss quarterback had a really good season in his first with offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. In four of the Giants’ final six games last season, Manning posted a passer rating of 100.00 or better. Manning has a really good group of receivers heading into 2015, and it is possible he moves up this list through the season.
7. Philip Rivers
2014 season:
Yards: 4,286 (8th)
Completion percentage: 66.5 (4th)
Touchdowns: 31 (8th)
Interceptions: 18
Rating: 93.8 (12th)
Eli Manning and Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger were both drafted in 2004, as was Rivers, but unlike Manning and Roethlisberger–who both have two rings–the San Diego Chargers quarterback has yet to win a championship. Despite that, Rivers is still one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Through almost the first half of the season in 2014, Rivers was basically the MVP. Rivers has been fortunate to have played with an incredibly talented tight end in Antonio Gates, but he has never had the luxury of a true, marquee wide receiver. But he somehow still manages to put up some good numbers and win games. The Chargers experienced more than their fair share of injuries in 2014. If San Diego can stay healthy, there is a chance that Rivers moves up on this list throughout the 2015 season.
6. Peyton Manning
2014 season:
Yards: 4,727 (4th)
Completion percentage: 66.2 (6th)
Touchdowns: 39 (2nd)
Interceptions: 15
Rating: 101.5 (4th)
Despite his postseason struggles, Manning is still one of the best quarterbacks to ever suit up in the NFL. The issue is he’s getting older, and it showed down the stretch last season. Manning didn’t look like himself towards the end of the season (some of that can be attributed to his hip injury), and while he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game, it is difficult to know exactly how he’ll perform in 2015. The former Tennessee quarterback will have to play without tight end Julius Thomas, who’s now in Jacksonville, but he will still be able to sling it to wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas. He may be aging, but Manning is still one of the most intelligent quarterbacks to ever play the game, and he’ll probably figure out a way to lead Denver to double-digit wins again. With his age possibly becoming a problem, however, I just can’t rank him higher than sixth heading into the season.
5. Drew Brees
2014 season:
Yards: 4,952 (T 1st)
Completion percentage: 69.2 (2nd)
Touchdowns: 33 (T 5th)
Interceptions: 17
Rating: 97.0 (6th)
Brees has a Super Bowl ring to his name, and he’s thrown for 5,000-plus yards four times in his career. The former Purdue quarterback may have struggled a little bit by his standards in 2014, but he is still an accurate quarterback who knows how to lead. Make no mistake, Brees was not the reason the Saints finished the 2014 season with a 7-9 record; much of that blame is on the shoulders of the poor defense the Saints fielded in 2014. Tight end Jimmy Graham being traded to Seattle in may hurt the Saints’ passing game, though, but the team’s ground game should be much improved. Look for Brees and the Saints to have a really good 2015 campaign.
4. Andrew Luck
2014 season:
Yards: 4,761 (3rd)
Completion percentage: 61.7 (23rd)
Touchdowns: 40 (1st)
Interceptions: 16
Rating: 96.5 (7th)
Luck has proven he is more than worth being the number one overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. In his first three seasons in the league, the former Stanford Cardinal has shown his talent and intelligence while leading the Colts to the playoffs all three seasons. Luck is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but if he wants to get into the top three, he needs to cut down on the turnovers and be more successful in the playoffs. With running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Andrew Johnson now in Indy, Luck has more tools at his disposal. Given his talent and how cerebral and young he is, he will probably find more success in the postseason in the near future.
3. Ben Roethlisberger
2014 season:
Yards: 4,952 (T 1st)
Completion percentage: 67.1 (3rd)
Touchdowns: 32 (7th)
Interceptions: 9
Rating: 103.3 (3rd)
When fans or analysts are naming top-tier quarterbacks, Big Ben gets left out, and I’ve never understood why. He has won two Super Bowls, and he can make all the throws needed to succeed in the NFL. Roethlisberger put some really good numbers in 2014, including in Weeks 8 and 9 where he threw for 862 yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. With Big Ben’s talent and the emergence of wide receiver Martavis Bryant, along with wideout Antonio Brown, there is every reason to believe Roethlisberger will produce at a really high level again in 2015. He is one of the bigger quarterbacks in the NFL, and extending plays is not a problem for him. He constantly scrambles out of the pocket, allowing his receivers more time to get separation.
2. Aaron Rodgers
2014 season:
Yards: 4,381 (7th)
Completion percentage: 65.6 (9th)
Touchdowns: 38 (3rd)
Interceptions: 5
Rating: 112.2 (2nd)
Rodgers is absolutely on the short list of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. He can make all the throws, is incredibly accurate, knows what checks to make at the line and doesn’t allow pressure to get to him. He has already led the Packers to one Super Bowl win, and had last season’s NFC Championship game not featured one of the craziest finishes ever, the Packers would have been back in the title game to face the Patriots. Rodgers was ridiculously good in 2014, and he deservedly was named MVP. I mean, 38 touchdowns and five interceptions in simply insane, but Rodgers is that good.
1. Tom Brady
2014 season:
Yards: 4,109 (10th)
Completion percentage: 64.1 (14th)
Touchdowns: 33 (T 5th)
Interceptions: 9
Rating: 97.4 (5th)
Throughout his career, Brady has proven one undeniable fact. He knows how to win, particularly when it matters most. The former Michigan quarterback has led the Patriots to the playoffs in 12 of his 13 seasons as a starter, and he is coming off his fourth Super Bowl win in six appearances where he put up a fourth quarter for the ages. Brady is a quarterback that knows to take what the defense gives him and has made various New England receivers better throughout his career. Expect Brady to have an even bigger chip on his shoulder heading into 2015 because of the Deflategate scandal. Brady may actually turn it up a notch in 2015, which that could be scary for opposing defenses. If I needed one win, and my life depended on it, I would choose Brady as my quarterback without any hesitation at all.
