As free agency’s top targets have all primarily signed, NFL teams are beginning to focus on the draft. These ten teams are very fortunate to have good quarterbacks and won’t need to focus on drafting one unless they’re looking for a future replacement. At these hyperlinks, you can find numbers 21-11 as well as 32-22 in the quarterback rankings.
Ranking NFL Quarterbacks: Numbers 10-1
10.) Eli Manning (New York Giants)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 63.0 CMP%, 4027 yards, 26 TD, 16 INT, 86.0 QBR
This season, Eli Manning was blessed with talent at wide reciever. Guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Sterling Shepard really helped propel the Giants to the season they had. They have added yet another weapon in Brandon Marshall for the upcoming season which should really help Manning’s case and possibly propel the Giants above the Cowboys in the NFC East. Manning still managed to throw 16 interceptions with a talented receiving corps which causes a little concern. The Giants had absolutely no run game in 2016 and Manning’s arm lead them pretty much the entire way so that nullifies any concern Giants fans, or NFL fans for that matter, should have about Manning aging. If Manning can have an eerily similar season next year, watch for the Giants to make a run at making the Super Bowl from the NFC side.
9.) Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 67.8 CMP%, 3667 yards, 23 TD, 4 INT, 104.9 QBR
The Dallas Cowboys found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in Dak Prescott. The fourth round draft choice out of Mississippi State was not expected to see the field much, if at all, in 2016. Then the annual Tony Romo injury happened and the Cowboys finally found their replacement. Prescott made a statement by storming into the league and taking the Cowboys by storm. His inexperience faltered him in the playoffs and led the Cowboys to a second round exit after going 13-3 and obtaining the bye and home field advantage. Prescott’s ability to come in and replace Romo was incredible. He only threw four interceptions and managed the clock very well throughout the year (no slight to Ezekiel Elliott) to help the Cowboys become the top team in the NFC East. If Prescott is a legitimate quarterback (we’ve seen this story before from Colin Kaepernick), then the Cowboys will get that elusive sixth Super Bowl ring a lot sooner than later.
8.) Kirk Cousins (Washington Redskins)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 67.0 CMP%, 4917 yards, 25 TD, 12 INT, 97.2 QBR
People really don’t realize how good Kirk Cousins is. He is an elite quarterback by all the standards. The former Michigan State product was 83 yards short of 5,000 yards on the season. His 25 touchdowns were thrown to a mediocre receiving corps. His arm strength can’t be taught and his vision is pretty good, too. He has a lively persona that would reflect positively on any locker room. When you compare Cousins to the obvious top quarterbacks, you get very similar results. Now that Cousins is finally getting the chance to start and prove himself, he is making the most of the opportunity. So one final question…YOU LIKE THAT?!
7.) Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)
2016 Stats: 15 GS, 63.5 CMP%, 4240 yards, 31 TD, 13 INT, 96.4 QBR
There is a reason that former Stanford product Andrew Luck was the league’s first overall pick in 2012. Luck is a risk-taking quarterback. He often forces throws into his receivers to make a big play but may result in an interception. That’s the way he plays. But when he can put up 31 touchdowns to oppose those risks he may take, it’s hard to argue with his style of play. The team around Luck currently isn’t in the best shape. Luck is good enough to catapult the Colts into a playoff spot all by himself. He can make plays with his legs and his arm and is built like a mule. Luck threw 40 touchdowns in 2014. He is a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback who should win a Super Bowl by the end of his career. If he doesn’t, it won’t be his fault. It’ll be that of the Colts who also only managed to get Peyton Manning one of his two Super Bowls.
6.) Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 65.3 CMP%, 4327 yards, 24 TD, 10 INT, 93.3 QBR
2016 was good to Matthew Stafford as he enjoyed success on a team that just was not good enough for the playoffs. It’s hard to find a quarterback good enough to be responsible for almost all of his team’s wins but Stafford is that guy. There aren’t many splash plays offensively in Detroit so he is tasked with doing a lot. He is efficient and does a good job handling the ball and keeping it out of the other teams’ hands. With virtually no run game, the Lions must heavily rely on Stafford and he handles it well making him a lock of a top-10 quarterback.
5.) Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders)
2016 Stats: 15 GS, 63.8 CMP%, 3937 yards, 28 TD, 6 INT, 96.7 QBR
Third year quarterback Derek Carr out of Fresno State had an MVP worthy year at the quarterback position. Carr had prolific wide receivers that made a huge difference when it mattered. It seemed that anytime the Raiders needed a fourth quarter comeback, it was like no other signal caller would’ve been a better option. Carr led his team to ten fourth quarter comebacks despite a porous defense and used every offensive weapon he had. His six interceptions made the Raiders confident in their chances anytime he controlled the ball. His unfortunate injury in week 16 sent the Raiders into a spiral heading into playoff time. Both Matt McGloin and Connor Cook struggled when called upon over the final few weeks of what originally looked like a promising season for Oakland. Thus, further proving why Carr deserved MVP.
4.) Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 70.0 CMP%, 5208 yards, 37 TD, 15 INT, 101.7 QBR
The New Orleans Saints are lucky to have a guy like Drew Brees. At age 37, Brees threw 37 touchdowns which is good for fourth best of his career. He seems to be a fine wine, only getting better with age. It is very unfortunate that it doesn’t seem that New Orleans is in a good enough position to win games and e a playoff team right now. With Brees’ career potentially winding down, look for him to do just as good, if not better, next year to try and lift the to the playoffs himself.
3.) Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 65.7 CMP%, 4428 yards, 40 TD, 7 INT, 104.2 QBR
Aaron Rodgers is the NFL’s miracle worker. The king of Hail Marys did it again on multiple occasions this season. He led the Packers to a playoff berth and really pushed them ahead. Watching Rodgers dominate and only throw four interceptions on the year was nearly enough to give him the top ranking. He is a gifted talent and has the chance to be a Hall of Fame quarterback with a few Super Bowls. Rodgers is an elite talent and that won’t change heading into next season.
2.) Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons)
2016 Stats: 16 GS, 69.9 CMP%, 4944 yards, 38 TD, 7 INT, 117.1 QBR
This year almost became the story of Matt Ryan. Potentially the league’s MVP, Ryan enjoyed his most successful season yet, taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl. We all know how it played out. But Ryan was a machine that couldn’t be stopped. He utilized all of his weapons and helped push all the right buttons in getting Atlanta to the big game. He was efficient and turned in the league’s best QBR. The only thing keeping him from spot number one on this list is his loss in the Super Bowl to this guy…
1.) Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
2016 Stats: 12 GS, 67.4 CMP%, 3544 yards, 28 TD, 2 INT, 112.2 QBR
Tom Brady arguably could be the NFL’s greatest quarterback ever. He has won five Super Bowls by himself and orchestrated the best comeback in Super Bowl history. Many will discredit him for being a “dink-and-dunk” quarterback that can only beat the zone. If that’s the case, then five Super Bowls wouldn’t be his. Before he retired, he has the chance to win more Super Bowls himself than the Pittsburgh Steelers’ NFL record of six. He threw two interceptions in the regular season. He only played twelve games because of the “Deflategate” suspension, but he made them count taking New England to an 11-1 record over those 12 games.
That rounds out the quarterback rankings. Feel free to tweet me any reaction to the lists and debate anything that I have written about your favorite NFL quarterback.
