With the upcoming season quickly approaching, I’m going to be taking a look at the landscape of the NFL, position by position, over the course of the next several weeks. We’ll be talking about the who’s who of the NFL in our own little version of the NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players” bit they do every year. Let’s start with the most important position on the field – the quarterback.
The Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks for 2018
10. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons – After winning the league’s MVP title and taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 2016, Ryan was poised to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL in 2017. But, it didn’t happen. The guy definitely endured a slump. Hell, regardless of what the root cause was, the entire Falcons offense endured a slump after being one of the most explosive in the NFL the season before, averaging a 15th-best 22.1 points per game. The loss of Kyle Shanahan obviously hurt, but the potential is still there under Steve Sarkisian. Ryan finished 2017 with a 64.7% completion percentage (7th in the NFL), and was 5th in ESPN’s QBR.
9. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams – After being labeled a bust by man after a horrendous rookie season, Goff emerged as one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. Breaking up with Jeff Fisher has had that effect on people…but you can’t deny where Goff stands among NFL quarterbacks. He boasted a top five quarterback rating in 2017, lobbed up 28 touchdown passes, and threw just seven interceptions. He’s only going to get better as his relationship with Sean McVay develops.
8. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions – Stafford is a guy who is constantly in the mix, but just can’t quite seem to get over the hump. The Lions have some decent talent in the passing game, so if they could ever bolster some semblance of a rushing attack, maybe Stafford’s stock improves with it. The Lions were dead last in the NFL in rushing yards per game last season, averaging 76.3 yards per game. Still he was top four in the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, all the while being sacked 47 times. Jacoby Brissett was the only quarterback sacked more often last season. The guy’s had to do it all on his own, but if he ever gets some real help, he has potential to be one of the best in the league.
7. Alex Smith, Washington Redskins – This guy just finds a way to hang around, doesn’t he? I may catch some flack for this, but Smith is a bona fide elite level NFL quarterback. There – I said it. There’s no better protector of the football in the NFL, as Smith threw just five interceptions all year. You probably wouldn’t believe it, but he also had the highest quarterback rating in the league a season ago. I anticipate he’ll make sweet sweet music in DC this year.
6. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers – He’s one of the more underrated players in the NFL and maybe you don’t realize it, but Rivers is on the cusp of a Hall of Fame career if he’s not there already. 50,348 career yards, 342 career touchdowns – the dude has crept up in NFL history. But, he’s never been a big winner and that’s been the knock on him. That said, the Chargers look good this year, and the AFC is wide open. Better late than never, I suppose!
5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – I’m not as high on Brees this year as I have been in recent years, but there’s no denying that he’s still a top five quarterback in the league. It’s not even his age that worries me – it’s the apparent shift in the focus of the Saints offense. With Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara in town, this is a two-headed rushing nightmare. So, maybe Brees doesn’t find himself piling up the stats like he used to. That said, he was still top five in almost every major quarterback statistic in 2017, including leading the league with a 72% completion percentage.
4. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles – If not for that injury at the end of the year, Wentz is the 2017 NFL MVP – book it. Hell, he still finished atop ESPN’s QBR rankings, and finished second in touchdown passes with 33. He was in full command of that Eagles offense and became a legitimate force at the quarterback position. If he can return to that form, he’ll be up there with the best of ’em.
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers – You wonder how he’ll bounce back after only playing in seven games last season, but if he’s even remotely close to being prime Aaron Rodgers, he’s going to be in the conversation for the best in the league. Rodgers has two NFL MVP titles (2011 and 2014) and a Super Bowl ring on his resume.
2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks – The time when Wilson is the best quarterback in the NFL is coming. I can feel it in my bones. The guy can simply do it all. With the decline in the Seahawks defense and the exit of Marshawn Lynch, Wilson put the Seahawks on his back and made it his team. He looked pretty damn good doing it, too, leading the league in touchdown passes with 34. His completion percentage and interception rate leaves a little to be desired, but hopefully with a couple of new offensive weapons in town and the addition of Duane Brown at left tackle, that will improve. This guy definitely looks the part.
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots – It’s hard to imagine that Brady can still be the best quarterback in the NFL after 18 years. But, how can you argue with the results? He led the league in passing yards last season with 4,577. His 66.3% completion percentage was 5th in the NFL, and his 32 touchdowns were only two behind Wilson’s 34. For the third time in his career, Brady was voted the league MVP. Like I said…..even at 40 years old….results.
At this point, if you don’t think Brady is the best in the league, you’re just trying to spit hot takes. I hate to be boring, but hey – you can’t say I’m not transparent and honest. Who do you think is the best quarterback in the NFL? Hit dem comments.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Subscribe to our Patreon. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube.
