Power ranking all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks

11. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

The Lions ask Stafford to give them an awful lot on a weekly basis and he generally delivers. Detroit fans might think he deserves to be a little higher on this list, but the fact that he’s been unable to really lead his team to the promised land keeps him just outside the top 10.

Stafford deserves a lot of credit for eliminating the interceptions that plagued him early in his career. Last year’s interception rate of just 1.8% was outstanding. He may not throw for quite as many yards as he did in his younger days, but he’s a much for efficient player.

The real question for Stafford is if he has another level left to achieve. The answer is likely no. At 30 years of age his arm strength should be starting to decline slightly. It doesn’t mean he can’t maintain his current level of production for several more seasons, but it does make it almost impossible for him to significantly improve.

At this point, it’s fair to call Stafford one of the most prolific passers in the NFL. He should be on the fringes of Pro Bowl contention for the remainder of his prime. Unfortunately for the Lions, that’s not going to be good enough to lift them out of mediocrity. They’ve largely wasted his time in charge of their offense. The clock is ticking for them to build a contender around him before his performance starts to decline.