Sorry, Sports Illustrated: Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the NFL
This list of NFL QBs ranked by tier should fire up the comments section.
By adamczech
There has been enough internet ink spilled about Green Bay Packers players hiding behind plants or getting suspended for enjoying something that's a little more potent than Wisconsin cheddar or Leinenkugel Summer Shandy.
Instead of speculating why the Packers have suddenly come down with a case of our-players-keep-getting-arrested-itis, I'll take the advice of one of our fearless leaders here at CheeseheadTV and develop a tiered list of NFL quarterbacks.
Aaron Nagler posted his list on Twitter yesterday and later encouraged all football fans to come up with their own.
Had some people ask, so here are my QB tiers. No order within the tiers. pic.twitter.com/JzKKGQd6zP
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) July 6, 2015
Sounds like a lot more fun than debating the pros and cons of whether you should hide behind a plant or roll it up and smoke it.
If Aaron's encouragement wasn't enough motivation for a post like this, Sports Illustrated ranked all 32 NFL QBs and slotted Aaron Rodgers second behind Tom Brady. These offseason "rankings" or "list" posts are supposed to generate moronic comments debate and silly internet fighting discussion among fans to kill time before training camp opens.
In the case of the Sports Illustrated list, the strategy worked on me.
So, here goes. Adam Czech's NFL QB Tiers:
Tier 1
Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck
Tier 2
Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan
Tier 3
Russell Wilson, Tony Romo, Cam Newton, Joe Flacco
Tier 4
Ryan Tannehill, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, Teddy Bridgewater
Tier 5
Colin Kaepernick, Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton, Jay Cutler
Tier 6
Nick Foles, Sam Bradford, Alex Smith, Derek Carr
Tier 7
Brian Hoyer, Blake Bortels, RGIII, Geno Smith
Tier 8
Josh McCown, Zach Mettenberger
10 observations about my own list
- Aaron Rodgers is my No. 1. If he can snap himself out of his recent playoff funk, it will no longer even be debatable that he's the best in the NFL.
- Yes, I put Luck in the top tier over guys like Peyton Manning and Brees. Perhaps I'm giving too much credit for potential future performance, but I'd take Luck for both the short- and long-term over P. Manning and Brees.
- I have eight tiers instead of Nagler's six. I think it provides a little more separation, especially at the top where you have to make some tough calls.
- Ryan over Wilson? Yes. Ryan averages over 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns per season. It's not his fault his defense hasn't been able to stop anyone for two seasons.
- Newton over Flacco? Flacco is a perfectly fine quarterback. So is Newton, but he's got the ability to be much more than perfectly fine.
- Isn't Kaepernick a little high? Maybe. But I think if he's allowed to use his legs like he did earlier in his career, he'll have a bounce-back season. He also plays the Packers in 2015, so that should help pad his stats.
- Where are the rookies? Past performance was part of my criteria, so I didn't include rookies. If I did, I probably would have put Marcus Marriotta ahead of Jameis Winston.
- If I had to predict which quarterback from the bottom tiers will move up after the 2015 season, I'd pick Bradford.
- I'm crossing my fingers that I've ranked Bridgewater too high.
- If I had to predict a quarterback from the top tiers to drop down after the 2015 season, I'd pick Romo (back injuries scare me).
Bonus observation: If Brett Favre announced that he's un-retiring again, I'd probably put him in tier 5 and drop Cutler down a tier.
Disclaimer: There's a good chance I forgot someone. If I did, don't skewer me too bad in the comment section.
Comments (23)
Evan
July 07, 2015 at 07:45 am
Overall I think it's a solid list.
Tier 4 is my only real issue. I'd move Tannehill, Bridgewater and Stafford down a tier and move Manning up.
I feel like Tannehill and Kaepernick are the exact same player, but Kap has better PR.
Alex Smith also seems a little low. I'd probably take him over anyone in Tier 4 or 5.
DrealynWilliams
July 07, 2015 at 08:17 am
"Alex Smith also seems a little low. I'd probably take him over anyone in Tier 4 or 5."
Maybe not Teddy, but I totally agree with taking Alex over everyone else from Tiers 4-5.
Evan
July 07, 2015 at 08:26 am
Maybe I'm sticking my head in the sand because it's the Vikings, but I'm not totally seeing the Bridgewater love. He was the best of a crappy crop of rookie QBs, sure, but he didn't blow me away.
DrealynWilliams
July 07, 2015 at 10:31 am
Lol,I think it's the Vikings hate. I don't think anyone could have looked good with the squad he had that year.
Even Ponder made the Playoffs with AP. I'm just sayin'...
NickPerry
July 10, 2015 at 07:06 am
Thank you!! It seems everybody has already crowned this guy as the next great QB, maybe as soon as this year but I just don't get it. Obviously he's better than Ponder but what is that really saying? If the Vikings have any success it will be because of the defense and Zimmer, not Bridgewater and Norv Turner.
BRinMilwaukee
July 07, 2015 at 08:05 am
Good article. Cutler's too high, tho
Bearmeat
July 07, 2015 at 08:25 am
Overall not bad!
But IMO Bridgewater, Kap are too high.
BELIEVER
July 07, 2015 at 09:03 am
At this point in his career Peyton Maning's arm is done. He will finish the season on the bench. I also think Drew Brees is sliding fast. I like the list other then these 2. Plus I would move Luck to 2.
Mojo
July 07, 2015 at 04:27 pm
Agree with Believer on Peyton Manning. That's the main reason why I think the Pack will edge the Broncos in November, even though it's a road game.
In case nobody's noticed, it's time to stick a fork in Peyton, he be done.
4thand1
July 07, 2015 at 06:48 pm
Agreed, 2 years 2 long.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
July 08, 2015 at 11:01 pm
I just hope that inexperienced line in front of him doesn't get him permanently injured.
TKWorldWide
July 07, 2015 at 09:11 am
You had me at "moronic comments" but "silly internet fighting" was good too! SQ
Thegreatreynoldo
July 07, 2015 at 09:34 am
Tier 1: Rodgers, Brady - no one else.
WKUPackFan
July 07, 2015 at 11:52 am
Hate to disagree with my friend TGR, but in my opinion it''s AR and Luck in the 1st group, no one else. I'd include Brady if not for the suspension (which, if there's any justice in the world, will be overturned).
Thegreatreynoldo
July 07, 2015 at 01:10 pm
Disagree away! No worries. I confess that I didn't see much of Luck last year, so I was reluctant to put him into the top tier, and that's why I didn't do more tiers/more QBs.
RCPackerFan
July 07, 2015 at 09:51 am
Overall I agree with your Tiers. I agree that Peyton should no longer belong in the first tier. He isn't the same player as he used to be. Though he is still better then 3/4 of the league.
My only thing is I would probably put Bridgewater and Carr on the same Tier. I don't think there is that much difference between them 2 to make them 2 tiers apart.
Good list though.
NewNikeShoes
July 07, 2015 at 02:32 pm
I'm probably gonna get some hate for this, but here it goes:
Tom Brady is the most overrated QB today. The guy literally cheated his way to the big game on more than one occasion, and the one year he was out(2008), the Patriots only lost 5 games. They went 11-5, not what you'd expect from an injury to a great QB. TB is nothing without BB. BB is the heart and soul of that team, he is the one that wills his team to victory. His play calls and cap management skills are amazing. He is the greatest coach today. TB, for me, is in the 2 tier. Overrated, whiny, and a cheater, just like his team, though he does come big in some games.
Phillip Rivers, I believe, should be in the 1st tier. He is the most underrated QB, IMO. He is a clutch guy, a good leader, and has a great arm with accuracy(2nd best in NFL). He had nothing under Norv Turner in 2011 yet still posted great numbers. He consistently posts great numbers, but is overlooked because of his team. He has a 97 QB Rating, and has 50+ less interceptions compared to Eli, and is up there with AR on many stats. 1 tier for me.
Carr, to me, is equal to Bridge, and they should be one the same tier.
Oppy
July 07, 2015 at 05:34 pm
Adam, you realize you are going to get offered a paid writing position by either a local market or a web based national sports outlet at some point in the relatively near future, right?
You have the touch.
Oppy
July 07, 2015 at 05:36 pm
P.S.:
You're dead on with Wilson, and I agree with the other poster that perhaps Eli, despite recent woes, should maybe be bumped up a notch.
adamczech
July 08, 2015 at 10:14 am
Ha. Thank you for the kind words. But Wright Thompson or Peter King I am not.
Mojo
July 07, 2015 at 05:54 pm
There should be an subspecies below tier level for all the overhyped FBS stars who light it up in the NCAA but don't project well into the NFL. Yes I'm talking about you Johnny Football and Tebow and Geno and maybe RG3 and .....
As far as the above lists, I'd take Adams over Naglers overall if they're projecting out for the 2015 season. I think both of Naglers Manning spots are too high. Plus he needs to move Luck onto tier one. I like Adam's first two tiers. but I'd switch Wilson and Ryan.
As for players I expect to move up, I'll go with Bortles and mabe Bridgewater. Bortles because he played with a dead arm and talent deprived team and Bridgewater because he kept his cool for a rookie and has AP to hand off to now.
Decliners I'll go with Peyton and Brees. Brees lost Graham and I think he looked old last year anyway, kind of a weak arm. When the time comes, even the great ones look mortal.
4thand1
July 07, 2015 at 06:47 pm
AR is in his prime. I don't think anyone will dethrone him as MVP. I see #3 coming this year.
Besides pure talent he gets smarter every time he steps on the field. No defense will fool him. The only time he throws an int is when a defensive player is out of position or a receiver runs the wrong route or goes off their hands. I remember a line backer picking him off, he said, he wasn't supposed to be there. Then he just smiled.
chugwater
July 07, 2015 at 09:04 pm
Roethlisberger is very good, but belongs in Tier 2. Unlike AR and TB, he can't will his team to the playoffs with mediocre talent around him. He even had Brown at WR last year and still could not do it.
His SB performances have been spotty. Excelled against ARZ, average as a rookie against SEA, and stunk up the joint with two picks that led to TDs against GB. Steeler nation has trouble admitting it, but he is not special like other elite QBs. Tier 2 is his proper place.