2014 NFL Preseason QB Rankings - Part 2
Picking up where I left off. Here are the top 18 in a purely subjective, completely unfair and entirely biased representation of my own anger and resentment. Man, I love this job.
Here's Part 1 if ya missed it.
2014 Rank - 18 (Last Year - 22) Alex Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)
A slight climb after proving very competent on a side without the same offensive weapons as the San Francisco team he made his name with. He’s a great mould for KC, a ‘game manager’ who has just enough flair to get them over the line in the low-scoring, defensive games they force out of teams. Plus, he’s getting PAID!
17 (12) Matt Stafford (Detroit Lions)
Argh, man. Such a frustrating QB. Clearly he can play, and he throws to the best receiver in the league, yet Stafford and the Lions seem to be mentally broken or something. He’s always putting up monster numbers but that’s because their run game is the NFL equivalent of a soggy slice of bread and Staff throws the thing about a million times a season. That kind of imbalance just doesn’t work. Let’s see some lessons learned this year, please.
16 (6) Robert Griffin III (Washington Pro Football Team)
Injuries and inconsistencies plagued poor RG3 last year after an incredible first season so we’re still not actually at the stage where we can say that he’s a legitimately good player at all. If his running game is affected by injuries, does he have the arm to play primarily from in the pocket? One good year means nothing in the NFL. Sustained success is the most important thing – it’s what separates Tom Brady from Russell Wilson at this moment. Here’s hoping RG3 surges back up the list next year.
15 (18) Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears)
I’m playing it safe by keeping Cutlets at 15 to cover my ass before I say that this is gonna be a massive year for JC and the Bears (dibs on that band name!). Look, he’s got both Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffries to throw to… give that to Brady or Manning and you can book a ticket to the Superbowl already. Cutler’s not quite at that level but he’s one of the more reliable guys there is.
14 (23) Phil Rivers (San Diego Chargers)
The man, the myth. Last year we got the return of the man after seasons of increased mythology regarding the alleged star quarterback Phil Rivers. All it took was a new coach and a complete re-hauling of their entire offensive scheme! Rivers led the league last season in passing percentage (a crisp 69.5%) with 4478 pass yards, 32 TDs and 11 INTs. Getting sacked 19 fewer times in 2013 sure helped. So did the fact that he had as many fourth quarter comebacks (4) as he had in the previous 4 seasons combined. You know what they say, that seventh child really puts things in perspective.
13 (11) Eli Manning (New York Giants)
Not a fan. It’s not just that he plays like a high schooler for 3 quarters only to suddenly turn into Thor hurling lightning bolts to his conductive receivers when it matters, but also because… well, he’s a slimy New York Giant. The fact that he has more rings than his brother is a travesty of justice. He threw 27 interceptions last year! Reputation’s all that’s keeping him afloat after ranking 22nd in TD passes and 32nd in completion percentage in 2013. Only Terrelle Pryor and Geno Smith had a worse QBR than Eli’s 69.4. By the way, I’m fully aware of my own bias in this. And that’s the way I like it.
12 (7) Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens)
Superbowl hangovers sometimes last a day or two, sometimes an entire career. Flacco may never get back to the level that he reached two seasons ago and he’d still have an enviable portfolio. The Ravens have changed plenty since their Superbowl triumph. Not necessarily for the better, either. Ray Rice has turned from a top 3 RB to a universally condemned and wildly underperforming villain. The wideout corps have been decimated too, though Steve Smith helps things out. Smith will be good value, Flacco will be too. Just not top 10 good.
11 (10) Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco 49ers)
The ol’ Sophomore Syndrome showed us that his mid-range passing game is a bit sketchy. Still, he runs like the best of ‘em and he’s got plenty of weapons around him. Kap’s young, he’s athletic and he’s confident. Just try keeping a guy like that down.
10 (14) Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers)
Cam Newton’s been overshadowed a little bit by the raft of young, running QBs that came after him. That’s a good thing. He’s had time to mould his game to the NFL and to his coach’s strategies and now this season I reckon we’ll see all that Cam can be. We know he can run, so it’s his arm and his leadership that’ll blossom. Like his surname suggests, Newton’s a much smarter player than people realise.
9 (5) Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons)
Yeah, he’s coming off a shocker. But any quarterback’s gonna struggle with the injuries they had… not the least of whom being Julio Jones. With the squad looking much more prepared this time, and with an emphasis on toughening up the soldiers, things should be better this time around. Remember the Falcon’s only missed out on the Superbowl by a late TD two years ago. Matt Ryan’s one of the very best QBs under the age of 30 - If they miss the playoffs again, it won’t be his fault.
8 (8) Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)
Look, I’m letting my Cowboy’s fandom shine through a little strong here, but I genuinely believe that Romo is the best QB in his division. It’s just the rest of his team (minus a couple standouts) that let him down… his coach most definitely included. Coming off more offseason surgery, this may be the final year he can maintain a top 10 spot, though you just know his numbers will be up near the top. If he can replicate his 31-10 TD-INT ratio and his defence improves just enough that they can make out the surface of mediocrity on the horizon, then maybe he’ll finally get a playoff run. But I doubt it.
7 (15) Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers)
I made the mistake of prematurely predicting Big Ben’s demise last season. He was as solid as ever. I do agree that he’s not the type who’ll be able to play til he’s 40 with all the collateral damage he takes but then again he’s only 31. I know, hard to believe, right? The difference between the Steelers with Big Ben and the Steelers without is immense. That’s as good-an indication of his abilities as anything. Sorry I wrote you off last year, Ben. Please don't steal my lunch money...
6 (9) Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)
The steady climb continues for the most lockdown, sure-bet number one draft pick this generation. Given that 3 of the 5 ahead of him here are aged 35 or older, it looks like his ascent will continue further over the next 12 months. There’s a cohort of young QBs that are poised to take the mantle from the Elite 4 (shoutout to Pokemon Red) and of them all Andrew Luck is the smartest, the most mature and the best passer. You’d assume his O-Line will defend him better this season, so let’s see the progression continue. As if there’s any doubt about it.
5 (13) Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks)
This is where we reach the fabled elite category. To be fair, Wilson’s a little off the proven legends above him but it’s NFL tradition to overrate the defending Superbowl champs. And Rusty played like a man beyond his years on that run – it’s hard to believe he was just a second year player! Seattle’s game is built around the defence and the run game, so Wilson’s numbers don’t get to flourish. Some would say that’s an advantage for a QB having others to share the load with, but it’s almost the opposite because once the game’s on the line it’s you and only you they expect to stand up. Russell Wilson had 5 game winning drives in 2013. He’s a champion.
4 (4) Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
What can you say about a player who’s thrown 5000+ yards in 3 consecutive years? It’s incredible, it’s unprecedented. Even more so considering that those 3 seasons were a 13 win 2011 (understandable), a 11 win 2011 (stretching it) and a 7 win 2012 (now you’re just crazy). Regardless of the performances of his Saints teammates, Brees keeps on stuffing the stat sheets. Well this season the Saints are poised for a title challenge and y’all better watch out.
3 (2) Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
I’ve dropped Tommy Terrific down a spot but to be honest, you could argue that he and Peyton are interchangeable. It’s been that way throughout their glittering careers and that’s the way I like it. Brady vs Manning is one of the great NFL rivalries. However Brady’s teammates aren’t nearly as talented and we saw in 2013 that Brady’s arm strength and his accuracy over distances is on the wane, though the man remains as competitive and as clever as ever. No matter how depleted the Pats stock may get, with Brady taking the snaps they’re a guaranteed playoff team.
2 (3) Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos)
If he weren’t a 38 year old man he’d be number one by a mile. Unfortunately he is and at some stage he has to start regressing… right? Peyton’s coming off possibly the greatest offensive season in the history of the NFL. Sure, it’s a passer friendly league these days but nobody else is doing what he did. A record 55 TD passes. A record 5477 pass yards. A record 9 games with 4 or more TDs. Plus, he beat Brady in the AFC Championship Game. And as if that wasn’t enough to fear going into the new season, he’s also got a chip on his shoulder after an embarrassing Superbowl loss.
1 (1) Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
Ladies and gentlemen… in the yellow corner… it’s your two-time defending NFL Quarterback champion… Mr Aaron Rodgers!
Who’ll upend the champ? He missed 7 games with injury last year and he still reigns supreme. That’s because in the 9 games he started, he was on pace for 4528 pass yards, 30 TDs and 11 INTs. He’s fit and healthy, he’s fired up and he’s right in his prime.
Discount DAAAAble Check!