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NFL Quarterback Rankings: An Armchair Quarterback’s Guide

By Lyle Graversen

Sep 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts after running back Eddie Lacy (not pictured) scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Packers 34-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts after running back Eddie Lacy (not pictured) scored a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Packers 34-28. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 22, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs onto the field prior to the start of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs onto the field prior to the start of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers

Newton and Kaepernick are actually pretty similar players in my opinion. Kaepernick has had more success, but he’s also benefited from a better all around team. While I considered other QBs at this spot, ultimately Newton’s talent was too great to pass up. Out of everyone else left on this list he’s the one I think is most likely to make a jump up to the level of being truly elite.

12. Alex Smith – Kansas City Chiefs

I’m going to get absolutely killed for putting Smith this high on this list. Let me be clear, I do NOT believe that Smith is the 12th most talented QB in the NFL. Every one of the next 5-6 QBs on this list are unquestionably more talented than he is. However, my freedom is at stake. I need a QB guaranteed to win and not sink my chances by making bone headed mistakes. He’s not flashy, he’s not a sexy pick, but at this point with the best of the best off the board, give me a guy that I KNOW will give me a chance.

13. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys

Romo is the anti-Alex Smith. He’s got all the talent in the world, but I don’t trust this guy at all. Talent wise he should probably be ranked 5-6 slots higher on this list, but if my freedom is on the line I would be scared to death to have to risk it all only to see Romo throw a pick with the game on the line.

14. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens

If I was guaranteed to get the Joe Flacco that carried the Ravens to a Super Bowl win a couple of years ago he’d have gone in the top ten on this list. However, he didn’t handle having to carry the team on his back last season very well. If I do this same list a year from now it wouldn’t surprise me if Flacco is back in the top ten or dropped into the 20s. He’s got a lot to prove next season.

15. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler is kind of like Tony Romo light. He’s not quite as talented, but not quite as self destructive either. He is still very talented, but he also makes some bone headed throws as well. Cutler strikes me as the kind that at some point will start throwing balls away instead of making that bad throw and will finally elevate to the upper tiers.

16. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

A lot of people will have Stafford rated a lot higher than I do. He definitely has talent, and if this was fantasy football he’d go before this for sure. However, last year was a warning flag for me. With Aaron Rodgers and Jay Cutler out with injuries that division was theirs for the taking and they fell flat. Stafford’s team may not be great, but there are guys on this list that have done a lot more with a lot less.

17. Eli Manning – New York Giants

If every person that reads this made their own list there might not be a QB with a wider range of rankings than Eli Manning. On one hand, the guy has two Super Bowl wins and has proven to be calm and clutch in the playoffs. On the other hand, he looked absolutely TERRIBLE last season (especially early in the year) on his way to throwing 27 interceptions. I’d take him hear hoping that Super Bowl Eli showed up, but I’d be holding my breath the entire time.

18. Ryan Tannehill – Miami Dolphins

Wait, did I just put Ryan Tannehill ahead of former highly drafted QBs Robert Griffin III and Sam Bradford? Yes, yes I did. Lost amongst the circus that was the Dolphins 2013 season was the fact that Tannehill basically carried the Dolphins to an 8-8 record with close to 4,000 yards passing despite being sacked a ridiculous 58 times behind the worst offensive line in football. It’s not like he did it with the best WR core in the game either. Ask yourself this, if he and Russell Wilson traded teams last season where would they rank on this list?

19. Robert Griffin III – Washington Redskins

I’ll keep this simple. Griffin has the talent to be in the top ten on this list. The first problem is a possible attitude issue that we’ve heard rumblings about. It’s almost impossible to know if that’s a major issue or not without actually being in the locker room. The real issue I have with taking Griffin higher than this is that I simply don’t think he can stay healthy. His small frame just doesn’t look like it’s built to take the beating that NFL QBs take, regardless if they are scrambling or not.

20. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams

If you want to put Sam Bradford higher on your list, you go right ahead, but I’ve never been a fan. There is something about Bradford that has always rubbed me the wrong way. He just looks confused WAY too often. Just standing on the sideline sometimes he looks lost in space. He has all the physical tools you could ask for, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable with him leading my team.

21. Nick Foles – Philadelphia Eagles

If I could draft Chip Kelly along with Foles I would have ranked him much higher on this list. I just don’t believe if you plucked Foles off the Eagles and put him in another system that he would shine like he did last season. If he repeats his performance again next season maybe I’ll start to come around, but right now I’m still a skeptic.

22. Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals

I know what you’re thinking, “How can you have Alex Smith all the way at #12, but Dalton a full 10 slots lower?” While you can make an argument that both Smith and Dalton have won a lot of games in the NFL with second rate physical talent, the difference is that Dalton has shown the tendency to make game killing mistakes when things are on the line and Smith hasn’t. With so much on the line, I don’t want a guy that is seen as a choker.

QBs 23-32 on the last page.

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