Top Ten Quarterbacks Heading Into 2017: Numbers 5–8
As the season rapidly approaches, here’s some final offseason fodder to chew on. And no, Philip Rivers isn’t #1
Numbers 9 and 10 were revealed in my last ranking, along with some guys right on the bubble. We continue with Numbers 5–8.
№8: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
2016 Season: 3,937 YDS, 28 TD, 6 INT, 63.8% CMP%, 62.1 QBR
Did the Raiders have the best draft haul ever in 2014? Along with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, General Manager landed Derek Carr — the fourth quarterback taken in the draft, mind you — as well as stud offensive lineman Gabe Jackson.
No wonder they’ve been steadily improving every year.
Derek Carr is great, man. He has the poise and leadership ability of a ten-year veteran, with phenomenal arm talent to boot. Carr just exudes the confidence of an absolute winner as he aims to bring respect back to the family name.
So, why isn’t the highest-paid player in the leag — sorry, my bad. He was the highest…until Matthew Stafford shattered Carr’s contract just a month later. Let me try this again.
So, why isn’t the second-highest-paid player in the league higher on the list? Well, young Derek posted the best stats of his career just a season ago, but he still has yet to top 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns, and has no playoff wins to his name.
Yeah, it’s a bit unfair. Take away his injury last year, and he probably checks off all three, with Oakland most likely winning the division and getting a first-round bye.
Regardless, Raider Nation should be stoked about their 26-year-old signal caller. Carr has made strides at a much faster clip than consensus top picks in recent years, such as Marcus Mariota or Jameis Wisnton. He’s got one of the best offensive lines in football, a pair of elite receivers, and the man known as Beast Mode touting the rock behind him. Things are looking up for Mr. Carr; that’s why, a year from now, it’ll be all but certain you’ll see him moving up the list.
Man oh man, the Raiders are gonna be a nuisance in their division for years to come. Oh yeah, about that other guy in the AFC West…
№7: Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers
2016 Season: 4,386 YDS, 33 TD, 21 INT, 60.4% CMP%, 64.5 QBR
…named Philip Rivers.
I’m not gonna skirt around things — Felipe Rios is my favorite player ever. His passion for the game is out of this world, and the intensity he brings to every single play is something to admire. And, in eleven years as the starter, Rivers has been reliable as anyone in the league, throwing up eight 4,000-yard seasons without missing a single game. The dude even played through a semi-torn ACL in the 2008 AFC Championship!
Here’s the thing about River: for the third year in a row, the Chargers went to shit halfway through the season, and he attempted to put the team on his back. With the second-worst offensive line in the league a season ago, alongside a crumbling skill position group, the result for #17 was one of the worst of his 13-year career.
Playing too much hero ball and leading the league in interceptions with 21 was pretty ugly. Believe me. I watched all 16 games.
All this being said, I think most quarterbacks in the league would love to register 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns, only to consider it a terrible year. It just speaks to the consistent greatness of Rivers’ career, as he’ll put up numbers no matter whether he’s throwing balls to Vincent Jackson or Dontrelle Inman. He just makes the guys around him better.
Even if Phil has showed no real signs of slowing down, I’m thinking he throws for less touchdowns and yards while clocking in an overall more efficient season. Star running back Melvin Gordon enters his third year, and under new head coach Anthony Lynn, the team will start to transition to featuring the young gun more often. That’s not to say Rivers won’t deliver when his number gets called; helping him out are Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams, Hunter Henry, Antonio Gates, and Travis Benjamin, a whole slew of options that stack up with the best of ‘em.
Should the Chargers perform as some pundits believe, don’t be surprised if Rivers’ name pops up in the MVP conversation come December.
№6: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
2016 Season: 3819 YDS, 29 TD, 13 INT, 64.4% CMP%, 66.3 QBR
I despise Big Ben. Like, he’s one of my least favorite players in the league.
But give credit where credit is due, as Roethlisberger has been at the top of his game in recent years.
The main reason I’m required to include the Steelers’ QB this high is the sheer dearth of offensive weapons surrounding him in Pittsburgh. Having one of the best offensive lines in the league, (arguably) the best receiver in the league, (arguably) the best running back in the league, and complementary weapons like Eli Rogers, Darius Heyward-Bey, and newcomers JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner.
When people talk about Big Ben as an all-timer, I start to form a headache. I get it — the guy does have two Super Bowl rings, after all, including a legendary win over Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. Throw in another championship appearance against Aaron Rodgers’ Packers, and the argument starts to form itself.
But Roethlisberger is a guy who hasn’t put up many elite seasons, particularly before Antonio Brown became, ya know, Antonio Brown. One factor is that he’s only played in three 16-game seasons. Of course, the best trait of any football player is availability, which is a testament to his 2004 draft-mates who have never missed a start.
In the end, though, the Steelers are just too good, and I fully expect the Big Ben we’ve seen in recent years follow through with a top-notch season. Besides, Martavis Bryant, one of the most dynamic receiving threats in the league, returns after missing all of 2016 due to suspension. There’s no way this offense doesn’t put up a lot of points, whether it’s Roethlisberger or his supporting cast carrying ‘em.
№5: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
2016 Season: 4,944 YDS, 38 TD, 7 INT, 69.9% CMP%, 83.3 QBR
If only Matt Ryan could’ve ended a legendary campaign with a Super Bowl victory. Alas, said season and its accomplishments wash away in a river of 28–3 memes.
Just kidding — people may forget quickly, but Ryan truly did have one of the best quarterbacking seasons ever on his way to winning the MVP. His ridiculous 38:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio was a thing of beauty; also, with 66 yards and several more completions, we’re talking about a guy who threw for 5,000 yards while completing 70% of his passes.
Wow, indeed.
I really like what Atlanta has got going on offense. Even with Kyle Shanahan skipping town to go coach the Niners, the Dirty Birds still figure to be a high-octane and high-flying offense in 2017. Superstar Julio Jones returns, alongside the versatile Mohammed Sanu, former Cleveland Brown Taylor Gabriel (ask a Falcons fan, every broadcast made sure to mention what team cut Gabriel before he signed), and a one-two punch of the recently re-upped Devonta Freeman and speedy backup Tevin Coleman.
Ryan still finds himself on the back end of this Top Five for a couple reasons, however. First, to reiterate something I talked about while profiling Cam Newton’s prospects: we have a tendency to judge NFL players with extreme recency bias. As consistently solid as the former Golden Eagle has been throughout his career, he’s never been in the same stratosphere as his 2016 season. There’s not a lot of evidence to suggest Ryan will throw together as dominant of a campaign ever again, which is why I hesitate to bump him above the guys currently topping the list.
Second, that offensive line really gelled and came together after being one of the worst units in recent years. Even with PFF ranking them as sixth-best in the league last year, the big boys could easily regress to the mean in an instant.
Third, it might be cheesy to say it, but so much of sports is mental, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Falcons flop, unable to overcome the embarrassment of blowing the Super Bowl in the manner that they did. Laugh all you want, but take the Carolina Panthers as an example. After posting a 15–1 mark, Cam and Co. disappointed in the Big Game, ultimately following up with ten less wins in 2016.
Let’s hope Matt Ryan doesn’t follow suit.
Make sure to keep up with our NFL Preview 2017 as it rolls on!
