Ranking the NFL: Best and worst quarterback units
Throughout the preseason, we’ll take a look at the best – and worst – the NFL has to offer, unit by unit. Look for a new set of rankings every few days.
They are the field generals, the only voice in an offensive huddle and the guys that usually cashes in on the big payday. I’m talking, of course, of the quarterbacks.
While the starting quarterback position remains the focal point for offenses in the NFL, the backup spot has become much more important over the past decade, and a team’s third stringer is often a developmental piece for the future. Tom Brady, Matt Hasselback and Jake Delhomme were all backups before finally getting their chances either with another team or through injury.
So with that said, what teams not only have a starter that could lead their team to a possible Super Bowl, but also a backup who could capably fill in if there was an injury and a third stringer who might develop into a productive regular in the future?
THE TOP 10
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Omar Jacobs
In just two seasons in the NFL, Ben Roethlisberger has already won a Super Bowl ring and owns a 27-4 record as a starter. Veteran Charlie Batch was a one-time starter and is one of the most dependable backups in the league. Fifth-round rookie draft pick Omar Jacobs has good size and could serve as Roethlisberger’s backup in the near future.
2. Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi, Shaun King
Peyton Manning is the only player to pass for 3,000+ yards in each of his first eight seasons in the NFL. Manning has started every game of his NFL career, which is the longest career-opening streak for a quarterback. Jim Sorgi has been better than advertised when given the chance to play and third-stringer Shaun King was once a starter in the league.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Matt Hasselback, Seneca Wallace, David Greene
The Super Bowl runners-up have a nice trio in starter Matt Hasselback and backups Seneca Wallace and David Greene. Hasselback led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and knows how to command a West Coast Offense. Wallace is an excellent athlete who will probably be looked at in other positions (remember that catch against Carolina in last year’s NFC Championship game?) just to get him on the field. The former University of Georgia alum, Greene, has the poise to develop into a player of the future.
4. Denver Broncos
Jake Plummer, Jay Cutler, Bradlee Van Pelt
Jake Plummer was efficient and didn’t make too many mistakes in Mike Shanahan’s offense last year in leading the Broncos to the AFC Championship game. First-round pick Jay Cutler from Vanderbilt will push Plummer on the field and it won’t be too long before he gets a chance to start. Bradlee Van Pelt would have been Plummer’s back up if it weren’t for the selection of Cutler. Van Pelt is athletic and will be a serviceable No. 3.
5. St. Louis Rams
Marc Bulger, Gus Frerotte, Ryan Fitzpatrick
This unit would have been rated higher if it weren’t for the continuing injuries that starter Marc Bulger has endured over the past two seasons. Bulger can still play in this league, but he has to prove that he can win in someone else’s offensive system other than Mike Martz. Gus Frerotte came to St. Louis with new head coach Scott Linehan from Miami and has spent most of his career as a starter. Ryan Fitzpatrick had a ‘where did this guy come from?’ moment in a game against Houston last year, leading the Rams to a huge come-from-behind victory. He struggled in his other three starts of the season, however.
6. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Vick, Matt Schaub, D.J. Shockley
Michael Vick is the most athletic quarterback in the NFL, but has to work on his accuracy in order to take his game to the next level. Vick has the speed, mobility and arm strength to carry the Falcons into the playoffs, but has also been injury prone. No other backup quarterback was as sought after by other teams in the offseason than third-year player Matt Schaub. Atlanta, and apparently other teams as well, think that Schaub has what it takes to lead a team to a Super Bowl. Rookie D.J. Shockley and former Virginia Tech QB Bryan Randal battle for the third spot.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Quinn Gray
Bryon Leftwich has all the tools to succeed in the NFL and has been a solid starter in his first three seasons. He is 21-17 as a starter, but continuously finds himself on the injury report and must stay healthy to join the next level of starting quarterbacks. David Garrard is very dependable and went 4-1 as a fill-in starter for Leftwich last season. Quinn Gray has only played in one game in his career, but the coaching staff feels that he has decent potential.
8. Chicago Bears
Rex Grossman, Brian Griese, Kyle Orton
Perhaps no team has three better options to start at QB than the Bears. Rex Grossman has showed major signs of being a solid starter, but has been amazingly unlucky with injuries. Therefore, the team signed Brian Griese to be Grossman’s backup and the nine-year vet has extensive experience as a starter in the league. Kyle Orton was baptized by fire last year when Grossman went down, but hung in there and can at least manage a game (not to mention hold his liquor) if forced into action.
9. Green Bay Packers
Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Ingle Martin
There’s no question that Brett Favre is in the twilight of his career, but there is still no one tougher in the league. He will be the face of the Packers and their offense until he finally decides to hang the cleats up for good. Backup Aaron Rodgers is patiently waiting for his chance to take over, but while he’s waiting he continues to learn from one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game. Ingle Martin was selected in the fifth round of April’s draft and is someone who new head coach Mike McCarthy feels can fit into his system.
10. Arizona Cardinals
Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, John Navarre
Kurt Warner hasn’t been healthy since 2001, but is a Super Bowl winner and still demands respect from his teammates. Matt Leinart is the quarterback of the near future and might get his chance to start sooner than expected if Warner can’t stay healthy. John Navarre is unspectacular, but has experience starting in the league.
THE BOTTOM 5:
28. Oakland Raiders
Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter, Marques Tuiasosopo
Aaron Brooks continues his downward slide from a once promising hopeful to a guy who makes terrible decisions with the football. He has the athletic tools, but this will be one of his last chances as starter if he can’t produce. Andrew Walter could be a starter soon in Oakland, but he’s inexperienced and Marques Tuiasosopo has probably seen his chance come and go as an operative backup.
29. Houston Texans
David Carr, Sage Rosenfels, Dave Ragone
No QB was sacked more than David Carr last year and he continues to struggle to develop chemistry with stud wide out Andre Johnson. Sage Rosenfels couldn’t win the starter’s roll in the Dolphins’ quarterback misery the past four years and Dave Ragone never took a snap last year.
30. San Francisco 49ers
Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer, Jesse Palmer
Alex Smith had a wretched rookie year last season, throwing 11 interceptions and just one touchdown. The former first-overall pick has the talent to be successful; he just doesn’t have much of a supporting cast. Backup Trent Dilfer could start again in a heartbeat, but “the bachelor” Jesse Palmer and Cody Pickett are rough, to say the least.
31. New England Patriots
Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Corey Bramlet
Surprised? Don’t be. Remember, this ranks quarterback units as a whole, not just on a team’s starter. Tom Brady is the best in the league, but look behind him. Doug Flutie retired and that leaves Matt Cassel and Corey Bramlet. Bramlet wasn’t even with the Patriots until early May.
32. Cleveland Browns
Charlie Frye, Ken Dorsey, Derek Anderson
Charlie Frye was 2-3 as a starter last year and definitely is the future in Cleveland, but backup Ken Dorsey is 2-8 as a starter and Derek Anderson has never stepped foot into an NFL game.
There are certainly some surprises on your list. I’m not a big fan of Charlie Batch, so seeing the Steelers #1 was a shock. Also, you say that your list ranks the unit as a whole, but I’d bet, if given the choice, that Dennis Green would trade Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart and John Navarre for Tom Brady, Matt Cassel and Corey Bramlet. Certainly, the Raiders, Texans and 49ers would. It’s an interesting list, but I think you have to weigh the starter much more heavily, considering he’s the guy that’s on the field a majority of the time.
Good insight John and certainly everybody is going to have a different variation of these rankings.
I understand your point about weighing the starter’s role more heavily, but that’s done every year when fantasy football ratings come out. These are meant to think about the unit as a whole.
How many teams’ seasons are destroyed every year when a starter goes down with a serious injury? In your scenario, if Dennis Green lost Tom Brady, he’d be the first one looking on the waiver wire for backup help and so will New England if Brady goes down this year.
Remember, Matt Cassel has only thrown 57 passes in a game with meaning since High School! The wild card in these rankings is the backups; who could step right in if a team lost a starter and what teams are developing prospects for the future?
Either way, I figured I would drum up some controversy; it’s a good topic!
I have to agree that if you are ranking by wholes, than Pittsburgh shouldn’t be No. 1. Batch is not going to blow anyone away, while Brady alone puts a group in the Top 10. Cassell has shown good things in preseason, and I would feel better about him than Batch.
While Kurt Warner puts up good numbers, he is injury prone, and Leinart has yet to prove anything. Losing McCown may hurt the Cardinals more than they thought.
I think the Packers are a little high as well. Favre is past him prime and Aaron Rodgers is a rookie that has yet to play in his second year.
I like Brian Griese for the Bears, but Grossman has yet to prove anything to me.
I would put Tampa Bay near the bottom, as I don’t feel Chris Simms is a big gamer, and he doesn’t have a lot to work with behind him. I feel the Patriots are certainly stronger in the QB position.
I know people don’t like Kyle Boller, but with McNair and Boller, the Ravens have some people to work with at QB as well and I think they will be much improved due to that fact.
Sorry to ramble on.
The Colts sitting at #2, should be #1 IMO. I mean , let’s be honest, the easiest job in the league used to be backing up B. Favre. But now that Favre’s abilities have degenerated to the level of an all-state H.S. QB, he could get the hook at any time. That being said, Jim Sorgi is now the one who gets to spend his Sunday afternoons the same way we all do. Kicking back in a recliner, sipping on a Bud light, and munching on a ham sandwich. Except he gets to do it from the Colts sideline and collect a meaty paycheck. Manning is modern day Favre…
“Perhaps no team has three better options to start at QB than the Bears”…I don’t know about all this. I mean, three mediocre QBs (one of which can’t stay healthy) is not a desirable position. Besdies, in the bears offense, all they have to do is hand it off anyway.
But at the end of the day, the Patriots and Mr. Tom Brady are in the cellar where they belong. Excellent work Anthony, excellent work…
Oh yeah, and I’m curious, what makes you think Jay Cutler will be starting in Denver soon?
You guys can tell me that you don’t like where Pittsburgh is ranked, tell me that Arizona doesn’t belong, hell, you can tell me you don’t like my name. But do not tell me the New England Patriots don’t belong in the bottom five of quarterback UNITS. Move them out of No. 31 if you want, but they belong right where they are.
Guys remember, if you want to see Tom Brady’s name up higher, go buy one of the hundreds of football magazines that come out every year that rank all of the starters. The magazines are about $6.95 and you can buy them at the local grocery store. But this is different; this takes in all three guys and doesn’t give bonus points for the starter (even if he is the best in football).
Cassel over Batch? Drew, anybody that caught the one preseason game last week (I happened to see all of it) that Cassel played in, saw a guy who throw for 200+ yards against guys that will be pumping gas in a few weeks.
One of his first possessions he was sacked and stripped and then managed to only get one first down until Atlanta put in its 3rd and 4th string guys. Plus, Bramlet (No. 3) didn’t even play, which tells me that the Patriots know their situation is dire behind Brady and have to see if Cassel is even worth a shot.
The top spots are interchangeable in my opinion, so BoSox, I’ve got no qualms about Indy being first, but anyone saying that some of the rookies haven’t proved anything, I encourge you to go look at team’s depth charts. You’ll be amazed at what’s out there.
Pittsburgh: Super Bowl caliber or at least playoff caliber starter? Check. Backup who can step in and possibly win a game or two in case of injury? Check. Third stringer with potential to develop? Check.
I love all the ideas and opinions, this is what makes these rankings fun…
-Anthony-
P.S. BoSox, Plummer took a lot of heat after the Steelers loss last year, because people in the Broncos’ organization think he can’t win if he’s behind. Plus, they think they’re sitting on a gold mine in Cutler…
Yeah, the snake has had his chances in Denver with a pretty potent offense if you ask me. I see where you’re coming from in that management could be getting itchy to give the new kid a shot if Plummer starts throwing games away like he does from time to time.
I think your rankings are very insightful because they’re different from the usual rankings, as you have mentioned, that only focus on the top QB. Because let’s be honest, most football fans have no clue who the back-ups are around the league. Until T. Brady goes down with a torn ACL and your boy Cassel steps in and has fans all across the nation scracthing their heads saying, “Who???”
It’s interesting to look at it from this perpsective…
I think I should have explained my formula better in my intro, which I will do a better job of with the other rankings guys, I promise.
My whole idea with the QBs was to obviously take the worth of the starter, but not magnify it higher than the rest of the unit. I looked at the situation more on paper and said, okay, here is a team’s starter; here is where he ranks, but what happens if he gets injured? Do they have a third stringer that they are bringing along? Etc…
Either way, I’m heading back to the drawing board and taking your thoughts into consideration moving forward. I’m going to be coming out with more of an explained formula for the rankings and put more emphasis on the starter, because like John said, they’ll be the guys that spend most of the time on the field.
Thanks for all of your comments and I’ll be looking forward to hearing input on the running backs very soon.
-Anthony-
Let’s not forget that Charlie Batch was replaced by Mike McMahon in Detroit. That tells you about his abilities. If the Steelers lose Roethlisberger, they are going down just as fast as the Pats if Brady goes down Mr. Stalter, and if you don’t agree with that, than I don’t know where to start with you.
I think a fair way to look at it would be would one team trade its entire unit for another team’s entire unit, keeping in mind that a certain percentage of starting quarterbacks go down with injuries every season. That way you take into account the starter’s abilities/value, while also keeping in mind the risk of trading for the Patriots’ crappy backups.
So would Dennis Green trade for the Patriots’ group knowing there’s a 10-15% chance that Tom Brady is going to miss games with an injury and he’d be looking at Matt Cassel as the starter? That sort of risk/reward would make one unit better than another, at least in my mind.
Very interesting way to look at it, JP, and that makes a lot of sense.
To me, these are paper rankings, as Anthony mentioned, as opposed to on-field rankings. How does a team’s depth at QB look on paper, and how does it project long-term? It’s certainly a different way to look at things. That said, I think the Falcons and Jags absolutely belong in the top-10, with Schaub and Garrard representing two of the most promising backups in the game, and I’d argue that they belong ahead of the Seahawks and Broncos, at least in your system. We don’t know what Cutler’s all about yet, and what has Seneca Wallace shown?
Charlie Frye was indeed a started but good player can be assessed not by the hours of training but by what he can to in those hours. Also selection can be subjective. Derek Anderson has to prove many times his sportsman qualities to get to play NFL games.Leathe
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I assume you’re talking last year by the QB lists. Either way, my head is spinning! Rather than pick it apart I’ll just give you my top 5 and bottom 5.
Bottom’s first:
32. How would the bottom of any NFL list be complete without the Detroit Lions? John Kitna threw every single pass for them last season. That’s all you really need to know to make this call.
31. Raiders…not a single QB played NFL caliber football through 16 games last year. As a matter of fact, they didn’t even play division III NCAA caliber football.
30. Bears…I don’t know which group you were watching but all 3 of these guys suck. Orton may be the QB of tomorrow but there’s not a single guy on that staff who you could name your starter today and be comfortable with your decision.
29. Broncos…it’s time for the media to end their love affair with the man who has quarterbacked all of his teams OUT of the playoffs but gets treated like he’s on the road to the hall of fame. His backup is better than he was.
28. Miami…Culpepper stinks, Harrington stinks, Lemon stinks. Enough said.
Bonus pick:
27. Panthers…Jake Delhomme…the only difference between you and Kurt Warner is he was lucky enough to fit a great scheme and ride the coat tails of a hall of fame running back to two undeserved MVP’s. Otherwise, he was a flash in the pan just like you. And while I’m on Warner…when I read the excuse he “hasn’t been healthy since 2001″, all I hear is “you’re not playing with 5 speedsters at wideout and Marshall Faulk anymore”. He’s been healthy…he’s just not that good.
Honorable mention: Jets…Pop Warner QB’s throw farther than Pennington can these days. We’ve seen Patrick Ramsey enough to know he should have Kurt (no relation to Pop) Warner’s old job stocking grocery shelves. Kellen Clemens has thrown 1 NFL pass…incomplete.
Top 5
5. Giants…call this the “homer” pick but how can you not like Jay Lorenzen as your #3 QB?? I get worried he’s gonna have brat grease or mustard on his hands when he goes in for those 4th and 1 plays. Eli will be fine once he gets an O-line and someone to throw to who cares about the team.
4. Chiefs…Green was a top 10 QB before he went down in game 1 and Huard was outstanding while filling in. Huard should have been their starter the rest of the way.
3. Saints…Jamie Martin is a fine backup to the most underrated and underappreciated starting QB in the league (well ok, maybe until last year).
2. Eagles…McNabb to Garcia was virtually seemless. Actually may have been an upgrade. Feeley is a solid #2 anywhere else.
1. Colts…How is Jim Sorgi’s agent supposed to negotiate his contract when he has no stats to negotiate with? “Sorgi” is probably the name the Colts gave to the QB kneel-down play.
T-Bone,
No wonder your head was spinning…these rankings were done at the BEGINNING of LAST YEAR. Obviously I wouldn’t have had the Bears so high at the end of the year…It was meant to rate all three QBs on a given roster and award no bonus points to the starters. I eventually changed the format when I did the rest of the positions and awarded more “points” to the starters.
Obviously a lot of these rankings were proved to be wrong, but hey, they’re still fun to do. I’m sure I’ll do something similar to this for ’07.
Hmmm, I am looking at the Dolphins QB’s ……. Can I still be mad at Slick Nick Saban ?