I’m really excited to write my next annual NFL quarterback rankings, but I have to wait until after the Super Bowl. Peyton Manning and Rex Grossman could each move way up or down depending on that game.
To tide myself over, I present my rankings of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. What’s young? 26 and under. (Yep, that’s pretty arbitrary, but 27-year-olds like David Carr, Byron Leftwich, and Carson Palmer felt a little too familiar for this list.)
1. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (24). Roethlisberger did not have a good year, and there are so many ways to express that. For one: he had only six games where he threw more touchdowns than interceptions. For two: he managed to throw more than half of his career interceptions this season, even though he missed a game. For three: he went through someone’s windshield.
Considering the injury, it’s not surprising he had such a bad year. Obviously, I’m betting he’ll bounce back. His first two years in the league are so far ahead of what anyone else on this list has accomplished that he’s the obvious No. 1.
2. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans (23). I fear sometimes that there is too much Young-love on this site. Nevertheless, the rookie from Texas put together a statistically-ugly but otherwise amazing first year. He led the Titans to late six-game winning streak, including wins over the Eagles and both Manning brothers, as well as that in-your-face overtime victory over the Texans, who could and should have drafted both rookies of the year.
His numbers really were scary-in seven games, he completed fewer than half his passes. It would be an extreme exaggeration to blame his receivers for all of that. Then again, he did improve over the course of the season. Oh, forget it. I love watching this guy and think he’ll just keep getting better.
3. Mike Vick, Atlanta Falcons (26). Surprised he’s on this list? Me, too. But Vick still meets the definition of young enough, so he’s the pretty clear next choice here.
His passing ability is mocked, and probably with good reason. But Vick also carried the ball 123 times for one thousand thirty-nine yards this year, an 8.4 per-carry average. That is absolutely unbelievable. Besides, his 20 touchdowns to 13 interceptions ratio was way better than Young’s or Roethlisberger’s.
4. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (25). Rivers put up fantastic numbers this year as well as back-to-back seventeen-point road comebacks. That’s good. Rivers did falter a little down the stretch, though, and he clearly won’t play with teammates good enough to go 14-2 every year. So while I’ve liked him since college, I hesitate to move him up too high. (That said, the Chargers appear set for now.)
5. Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears (26). We are no longer in sure-thing territory. I do not think Grossman is a great NFL quarterback or an exceptionally mature young man. I thought he was given way too much credit for being only okay last season. Nevertheless, he’s playing in the Super Bowl (thanks to a patient coach with no other options) and unless he blows that game single-handedly, he’s earned a spot here.
6. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (26). Romo certainly deserves to be ahead of Grossman on this list as a pure passer. Both can throw beautiful deep passes, but Romo has versatility and touch all over the field. It’s just everything else that concerns me. He sure went Hollywood on everyone in a hurry after his early success. And while I barely care about his dropping the ball (a ball that was, after all, intended to make field goal tries harder), I’m not sure it won’t affect him. (I don’t mean to make excuses for Romo, I just think that drop overshadowed what had been a pretty good game for him. Besides, lots of great quarterbacks have had bad playoff games.)
That’s it for the good/interesting ones. I don’t know how to decide from among Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, J.P. Losman, Matt Leinart and Eli Manning, though Smith and Cutler have the best shot to be difference-makers.
For the college guys, I’m intrigued by LSU’s JaMarcus Russell, and really intrigued by Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, neither of whom I’ve seen much of.
To tide myself over, I present my rankings of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. What’s young? 26 and under. (Yep, that’s pretty arbitrary, but 27-year-olds like David Carr, Byron Leftwich, and Carson Palmer felt a little too familiar for this list.)
1. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (24). Roethlisberger did not have a good year, and there are so many ways to express that. For one: he had only six games where he threw more touchdowns than interceptions. For two: he managed to throw more than half of his career interceptions this season, even though he missed a game. For three: he went through someone’s windshield.
Considering the injury, it’s not surprising he had such a bad year. Obviously, I’m betting he’ll bounce back. His first two years in the league are so far ahead of what anyone else on this list has accomplished that he’s the obvious No. 1.
2. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans (23). I fear sometimes that there is too much Young-love on this site. Nevertheless, the rookie from Texas put together a statistically-ugly but otherwise amazing first year. He led the Titans to late six-game winning streak, including wins over the Eagles and both Manning brothers, as well as that in-your-face overtime victory over the Texans, who could and should have drafted both rookies of the year.
His numbers really were scary-in seven games, he completed fewer than half his passes. It would be an extreme exaggeration to blame his receivers for all of that. Then again, he did improve over the course of the season. Oh, forget it. I love watching this guy and think he’ll just keep getting better.
3. Mike Vick, Atlanta Falcons (26). Surprised he’s on this list? Me, too. But Vick still meets the definition of young enough, so he’s the pretty clear next choice here.
His passing ability is mocked, and probably with good reason. But Vick also carried the ball 123 times for one thousand thirty-nine yards this year, an 8.4 per-carry average. That is absolutely unbelievable. Besides, his 20 touchdowns to 13 interceptions ratio was way better than Young’s or Roethlisberger’s.
4. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (25). Rivers put up fantastic numbers this year as well as back-to-back seventeen-point road comebacks. That’s good. Rivers did falter a little down the stretch, though, and he clearly won’t play with teammates good enough to go 14-2 every year. So while I’ve liked him since college, I hesitate to move him up too high. (That said, the Chargers appear set for now.)
5. Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears (26). We are no longer in sure-thing territory. I do not think Grossman is a great NFL quarterback or an exceptionally mature young man. I thought he was given way too much credit for being only okay last season. Nevertheless, he’s playing in the Super Bowl (thanks to a patient coach with no other options) and unless he blows that game single-handedly, he’s earned a spot here.
6. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (26). Romo certainly deserves to be ahead of Grossman on this list as a pure passer. Both can throw beautiful deep passes, but Romo has versatility and touch all over the field. It’s just everything else that concerns me. He sure went Hollywood on everyone in a hurry after his early success. And while I barely care about his dropping the ball (a ball that was, after all, intended to make field goal tries harder), I’m not sure it won’t affect him. (I don’t mean to make excuses for Romo, I just think that drop overshadowed what had been a pretty good game for him. Besides, lots of great quarterbacks have had bad playoff games.)
That’s it for the good/interesting ones. I don’t know how to decide from among Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, J.P. Losman, Matt Leinart and Eli Manning, though Smith and Cutler have the best shot to be difference-makers.
For the college guys, I’m intrigued by LSU’s JaMarcus Russell, and really intrigued by Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, neither of whom I’ve seen much of.
Comments
Brennan should be a huge deal, considering the year he had. Fifty-eight touchdowns? Are you kidding me?
did you see that Elway article, where did that come from? It seemed kind of random
If that's a serious question, the article pointed out that Elway was MVP of the last Super Bowl in Miami, so there's a little connection, since it's back there this year. I think most reporters are just desperate for something fresh to write that still relates to the Super Bowl.
Plus, Elway's career was defined by Super Bowls, so it makes sense to discuss him during Super Bowl week. I was kind of hoping the happy ending part of that story was going to be better, but whatever.