King Of The NFC: Ranking All Sixteen Quarterbacks In The Conference
The GOAT, Tom Brady, is retiring and future Hall of Famer Russel Wilson is heading to the AFC. Who is the best Quarterback in the NFC right now?
Ranking QBs is always a risk as everyone has their own opinions and the debate can be endless and exhausting. However, here I am doing it anyway and I am sure many will disagree.
Sixteen: Kyle Trask
I do not envy the Quarterback replacing Tom Brady. That man at the moment appears to be Trask, but do not rule out the Bucs making a move for a big QB. The second round of last year’s draft has never thrown a ball in the NFL, therefore I have nothing to judge him on and he has to go dead last in the NFC.
Fifteen: Drew Lock
Another young gun replacing a future Hall of Famer. He was dropped early on in Denver and from what I saw, he is not very mature and does not look like the guy to lead the Seahawks. If I was Seattle I would have asked for Teddy Bridgewater instead.
Fourteen: Sam Darnold
It looked like he had proved the Jets to be the bad team after the first three games of the season. Winning all three starts, but after losing to the Cowboys his season took a major nose-dive. He struggled to get anything going and to score points, later being benched for the return of Cam Newton. Matt Rhule, a man under pressure, did not give any assurances over Darold’s future going into 2022.
Thirteen: Justin Fields
Fields had a rough start, but he started to show the world what he is capable of and why he should have played ahead of Dalton and Foles. However, he missed a big stretch of games at the end of the year due to injuries and Covid. He will definitely be higher next year as he showed glimpses of the talent he has but he just has not played enough yet.
Twelve: Daniel Jones
Jones is not helped by the mess he is in. As the Giants Quarterback since coming into the league, he has been careless with the ball and has a whopping 39 turnovers in 38 games. It is a big year for the 24-year-old with the new coach, Brian Daboll, and reports of Mitch Trubisky following Daboll from Buffalo to New Jersey.
Eleven: Jared Goff
The Detroit Lions and Goff had a bad year. Without Sean McVay, Goff has won three games. It was looking like a car-wreck of a trade, with Matt Stafford flying high with the Rams, until the final five games of the season. When Dan Campbell took over play-calling, it started to click and Goff was playing clean football.
Ten: Jalen Hurts
The Eagles QB led the league with rushing yards from a Quarterback with 700+ this season. But as the season progressed, his passing ability improved and Hurts led his team to the playoffs, all while playing injured. Coming back next season, Eagles fans should be excited that they have found a franchise QB going forward.
Nine: Taysom Hill
After Jameis Winston went down with his ACL injury, it was a Quarterback carousel in New Orleans with four different players playing at the position. Hill steadied the ship and the Saints narrowly missed out on the playoffs in their first season without Drew Brees. The cap problems and the huge salary for Hill are set to be a problem in 2022, it seems.
Eight: Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan was on a team that did not seem to have much fight for. Against any decent team, he struggled. With little protection, he is not as mobile as he may have once been. However, his decision-making is still one of the best in the League. He is currently the best QB in his Divison, which is important for the Falcons going into 2022.
Seven: Carson Wentz
Wentz is back in the NFC East, with the Commanders. The former Eagles QB was traded away from the Colts after just one season. His 2021 performance was a mixed bag of a season where he showed the very best and worst of Carson Wentz. When he is hot, he is one of the best and most watchable QBs in the league. But as he showed, he can have games like the game in Jacksonville; which cost the Colts a place in the playoffs. His injury record is not brilliant either, but if he stays healthy, Washington could have a very good Quarterback on their hands.
Six: Kirk Cousins
He may be infamous for choking on primetime when the lights are on him, but Kirk Cousins is one of the most consistent and reliable QBs in the NFL. However, he is up against Aaron Rodgers, and most, if not all, would struggle to go against the Packers playmaker twice a year and come out on top.
Five: Jimmy Garoppolo
No one knows where Jimmy G will be in 2022, except it will likely not be in San Francisco. He led the 49ers to a Super Bowl and NFC Championship game in two of the last three years. However, it was clear it was not his doing in the big games. Shanahan did not trust him throwing as few as four passes in some of these games. He showed why he should not be trusted. Throwing big picks against the Cowboys, Packers, and Rams in the Playoffs. His record when starting is great, 31-14, and he can lead any team to the Playoffs.
Four: Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray was on course for an MVP season at the halfway point of 2021. But, for the second season running, he and the Cardinals had a collapse in the second half of the season. This ended with a bad interception against the Rams in the Wildcard Round. When Murray gets protection and is able to move out of the pocket he is one of the most dynamic QBs in the NFL. He has a great arm for a small guy and is only rivaled by Lamar Jackson with his feet.
Three: Dak Prescott
The Dallas Cowboys QB needs to be made of different stuff to deal with the heat and publicity on him; as well as the ability to play. Dak has both, he only has one playoff win but he is a brilliant leader who has a strong arm and the weapons he has are showing how dangerous he can be. His running ability in tight spots is an underrated part of his game.
Two: Aaron Rodgers
Most would probably have Rodgers at number one, Green Bay just made him the highest-paid player in the NFL. He is coming off back-to-back MVP awards, however, he creates a lot of noise and distractions and wants it all about him. For a man of his talents when it comes to the Playoffs it just does not happen. He might own the Chicago Bears, but the 49ers own him, and to be ranked first he needs to produce more in the postseason.
One: Matthew Stafford
Stafford finally has a Super Bowl ring! He might throw too many picks for some people’s liking, but the plays he pulled off during last season were breathtaking. Including the game-winning drive to win the Super Bowl. The two passes to Kupp on that drive were spectacular. No QB has as many game-winning drives as Stafford since he entered the league. For that reason, he is my MVP of the NFC.
There we have it, all 16 QBs ranked. I am sure I have upset a few people with this ranking, so to them I am sorry! Follow along with my Twitter, @conner_charlton!