NFL power rankings: Which NFC quarterback is best?

10. Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers

This may be an absurdly-high ranking for someone who has not been a starting quarterback in the NFL since 2015 and even then, managed only 14 touchdown passes in 16 games. Yes, Bridgewater has spent some time being a backup, but that has prepared him for this moment in ways that few quarterbacks have the luxury of doing.

Bridgewater made the Pro Bowl for the Vikings in 2015. A devastating leg injury nearly ended his career and cost him essentially two years of action in ’16 and ’17. Then, a brief signing with the New York Jets followed by a trade to the New Orleans Saints put him on the bench for two seasons.

A season ago, with Drew Brees injured, Bridgewater had the chance to start for five games, and in them he competed nearly 68 percent of his passes, threw for almost 1,400 yards and finished with a 99.1 quarterback rating. It seemed evident learning behind Brees helped the former first-round pick.

9. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Can Stafford return to Pro Bowl form after missing half of 2019 due to injury? Will he return to the the player who notched seven consecutive 4,000+ yard seasons? Or, is his prime over and gone?

The reality is as long as he’s recovered, Stafford was still having a great season in 2019. He was on pace to throw for 5,000 yards, 38 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. There are not many teams in the NFL which would take their current quarterback over said statline.

Stafford should return perfectly to form in 2020, with a better, more mature team around him and an improved defense that should give the team a fighting chance. If all of those things are true, we could look back at this as the low point of his 2020 ranking.