One of the best and most exciting parts of the XFL is watching the play from the quarterback position. Finding good NFL quarterback play is difficult enough, so finding good XFL quarterbacks should be all but impossible. Still, some passers around the league are proving to be diamonds in the rough capable of carrying their teams with their arms. That said, others are proving that there’s a reason they aren’t on any NFL rosters. Without further ado, here are the XFL quarterback rankings after Week 1.
XFL Week 1 Quarterback Rankings
1. PJ Walker
Where in the world did that come from? Not many people knew who PJ Walker was heading into Saturday night’s showing, but Walker the fans something they’ll never forget. The Temple product lit up the Los Angeles Wildcats to the tune of 265 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He throws a pretty deep ball, boasts impressive mobility, and can spread the ball around to a variety of receivers. Much like Garrett Gilbert in the AAF, PJ Walker looks like a man among boys, at least after one week.
2. Cardale Jones
Cardale Jones just refuses to lose football games. The former Ohio State product continued his impressive winning streak in an impressive 31-19 victory over the Seattle Dragons. Jones attempted 26 passes in the XFL opener for 283 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. His 11.2 yards-per-attempt speak to his willingness to push the ball downfield, and his athleticism allowed him to convert on multiple third-and-long opportunities. While there were one or two throws he’d like to have back, it’s clear he’s one of the best passers in the young league. If he keeps it up, he could find himself back in the NFL before long.
3. Matt McGloin
Matt McGloin might not be an NFL-caliber quarterback, but he showed why he managed to stick around as a backup. The former Oakland Raider completed 15 of his 29 passes for 182 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He didn’t need to do much, as the opposing Tampa Bay Vipers couldn’t get anything going offensively. We don’t know if he’s capable of winning a game with his arm, but he can play mistake-free football for a full 60 minutes. For now, that earns him the third spot on this list.
4. Jordan Ta’amu
Jordan Ta’amu didn’t do anything extraordinary during his time on the field, but the Ole Miss product managed to do just enough to squeeze out a victory. Overall, Ta’amu completed 20 of his 27 passing attempts for 183 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. Additionally, Ta’amu added another 77 yards on the ground, including a 37-yard gain. There isn’t much separating him from Matt McGloin, and he could easily climb this list with a strong Week 2 performance.
5. Brandon Silvers
Brandon Silvers wasn’t great, but he played better than his box score would indicate. The former AAF starter completed 21 of his 40 passes for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The first interception was a bad one, but the second one was all on his receiver. Silvers has a decent amount of athletic potential and has no problem playing within a system. However, he struggles to accurately locate his deep ball and checks down a little too often. Basically, he’s exactly what you’d expect from a mid-level XFL starter.
6. Philip Nelson
Philip Nelson had his ups and downs in the AAF, but Week 1 was mostly down. The Rutgers alum earned the start, completing 33 of his 42 passing attempts for just 199 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. In fairness to Nelson, this was his first taste of game action since breaking his clavicle in the AAF. It’s also worth noting that Nelson started out slow with the now-defunct San Diego Fleet before getting hot as the season progressed. If history repeats itself, Nelson should climb these rankings as the season progresses.
7. Chad Kanoff
Including Chad Kanoff on this list isn’t entirely fair, since he’s not technically a starter. Josh Johnson was supposed to suit up for the opener, but the longtime veteran missed the contest with an injury. Kanoff earned the start and looked like an XFL backup. Overall, Kanoff averaged just 5.4 yards-per-attempt while throwing one touchdown and one interception. He had one or two decent throws, but he should return to the bench when Johnson gets healthy.
8. Aaron Murray
Aaron Murray is bad. Like, really bad. The former Georgia star picked up where he left off in the AAF, and that’s not a good thing. Murray completed just 16 of his 34 pass attempts for 222 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Murray’s underwhelming arm strength shows up even against XFL competition, and he can’t read a defense well enough to compensate for his physical shortcomings. Don’t be surprised if the Vipers send out somebody else in Week 2.
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