Who will be next season's leading NFL quarterbacks?
Do you agree?
Wednesday 22 July 2015 17:10, UK
With pre-season camps just around the corner, we rate the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks.
Our NFL-starved Alex Ferguson provided his order - and for Drew Brees fans, this may not be wonderful viewing.
Note: Our top pick might not be very helpful for Fantasy teams during the first four weeks of the season...
10. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
He's lucky enough to have an offense that was, for many years, focused on him but the reason why I'm not that high on the NFL's passing stats leader (he threw for 4,952 yards and 33 TDs) is that he's losing his biggest weapon. TE Jimmy Graham (889 yards, 10 TDs) is leaving this year and that's going to hurt badly.
9. Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions)
Stafford might have Megatron playing for him (if you didn't know, that's Calvin Johnson) but his pass completion percentage of 60.3 last season was lower than some less-feted names. It's either his mobility or his offensive line which didn't help him in 2014 because he was sacked 45 times.
8. Eli Manning (New York Giants)
Some might be shocked that we've got a two-time Super Bowl winner so low on the list, but Eli's 2013 was a shocker and we're sceptical as to whether 2014 was a rebound or just part of his downward spiral. Here's why: his pass-to-completion rating fell every year from 2010 to 2013. Was it the contract year that suddenly made him improve, or the arrival of new offensive co-ordinator Ben McAdoo? We'll see.
7. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks)
Wilson improved in 2014 in terms of yards thrown (3,475 from 3,357) but his accuracy remained the same. He threw less TDs but also less interceptions (he'll remember the biggest one of his career). He was able to come back from an awful first half against Green Bay to shine in the second half in the play-offs, and his electric feet (849 yards, 6 TDs) make him the best dual-threat QB in the league. Sorry, Colin Kaepernick.
6. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)
Dallas kept faith in Romo and he paid them back with a phenomenal year in 2014. OK, so his passing numbers might not fly off the stat sheet like other players but he's been more accurate, leading all starters in accuracy with a QB rating of 69.9 percent and only throwing nine interceptions. Another thing that's helped? He's now got the best offensive line in the league and he had the best two running backs in 2014, too.
5. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Mike Tomlin's got a great offence in Pittsburgh, marrying up punishing running with great quarterback play. Big Ben has bought into that last year, throwing for a career-high 4,952 yards. He also tied his career high for TDs, deciding to focus more on himself as a passer than the combined pass and option threat that made him such a major figure in the first place. It probably helped having Le'Veon Bell in the side. With Bell suspended for the first three games of the season, could we see more running from Big Ben? Unlikely.
4. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
I've loved Rodgers ever since he played college football at Cal, and now he's made a name for himself at Lambeau Field, it's a sight to see. There's no disputing his arm (4,381 yards and 38 TDs) but his decision-making is also tip-top (only five INTs). He's a nippy runner, too.
3. Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)
I get the fact that the Colts were destroyed by the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots in the AFC Championship last season, but one game doesn't make a terrible QB. Luck was sensational last season, throwing for 4,761 yards and 40 TDs. He also ran for 273 yards and three TDs last year. His big problem? Fumbling. He had 13 last year, losing seven of them.
2. Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos)
The 'Superman' of Denver and Tennessee (where he played college football for the Volunteers) has struggled with injuries over the past few years but his 2014 comeback - where he threw for 4,727 yards and 39 TDs - was pretty great. What I love about Manning - and about Brady - is that they make their teams better and that they are incredible leaders. Denver are simply not going to be as good when he finally retires.
1. Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
We tried putting Luck and Manning at No 1, but let's be honest - who would you rather have with the game on the line: Brady or anybody else? Brady. Sure, the Super Bowl-winning, future Hall of Famer might be suspended for the first quarter of the NFL season but where are the Patriots going to be without him going into his Week 6 return against the Colts? We shudder to think. Oh, and go and see Ted 2. Tom Brady's in it. And he's hilarious.
