The NFL’s Elite QBs, and Who’s On the Verge
The NFL’s Elite QBs, and Who’s On the Verge
Is Joe Flacco an elite quarterback? Heading into the playoffs, that was the one question on everybody’s mind. Well, the answer to it now is a resounding “Yes!” I didn’t have any doubts before, but Flacco has now silenced all of his critics. Five seasons, five playoff berths, nine road playoff wins (an NFL record), one Super Bowl title, one Super Bowl MVP. Yeah, he’s elite.
In my opinion, Flacco is now one of seven quarterbacks in the NFL who can truly call themselves elite. The others, for the most part, are the obvious ones: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. Last year, people were asking this same asanine question about Eli. Well, what are the first three letters in “Eli”-te? Eli’s beaten Brady in the Super Bowl twice and been MVP each time. Sure, he’s not his brother. Or Brady. But if that’s not elite, what is?
Others might try to make an argument for Tony Romo or Philip Rivers, but the seven quarterbacks I’ve already mentioned have something in common that Romo and Rivers don’t. If Romo and Rivers want to be considered elite, they’ve got to prove it. Being elite is about more than putting up gaudy numbers. It’s about knowing your QB is going to find a way to win at the end. It’s a guy who’s gotten it done time and again. Romo and Rivers might put up big numbers, but their seasons are always done by mid-January, if not earlier.
I’m not saying that winning the Super Bowl automatically makes you elite (Exhibit A: Brad Johnson), but it’s not a coincidence that the seven active quarterbacks who’ve won the Super Bowl are the only ones who currently fit into that category. Romo and Rivers are guys you might want for your fantasy, but they won’t be “elite” until they’ve earned it. Which they haven’t yet. However, the “Is he elite?” question has been answered about two different quarterbacks in the last two years, and Romo and Rivers are prime candidates to jump to that level next year. They’re among that group of QBs on the verge of becoming elite. Which of those has the best shot of actually making the jump? Here’s who I think:
Matt Ryan-Ryan and the Falcons overcame a major hurdle this season by winning a playoff game for the first time. He’s got a pair of elite receivers in Roddy White and Julio Jones, and Atlanta’s set up to be good for a long time. They had the best record in the NFL this season and got to the NFC Championship Game. The Falcons are, without question, Matt Ryan’s team. And as for durability, he’s never missed a start. Ryan has the numbers, too. All that’s missing for him to be “elite” is another deep playoff run. One deeper than this year’s.
Matt Schaub-The Texans’ Matt is well on his way to elite. He’s been selected to the last two Pro Bowls while leading Houston to the first two division titles in franchise history. The same things I just said about Matt Ryan also apply to Matt Schaub. Everything’s in place for the Texans to make another deep playoff run. If they do it, Matt Schaub will be the one who leads them there. And if he does, the “elite” discussion ends.
Jay Cutler-Let’s see what a new head coach does for Cutler. Mark Trestman’s an offensive guy, and he’s coming from the pass-happy CFL. I’ve always been confident in Jay Cutler’s ability. Me probably moreso than most others. But I truly think coaching and confidence have been the only things standing in Cutler’s way. Remember, the Bears went to the NFC Championship Game two years ago. Call me crazy, but I think Jay Cutler’s closer to elite than people give him credit for.
Colin Kaepernick-In his 10th NFL start, in the Super Bowl, his team fell behind 28-6. Then he led a massive comeback as his team almost won the game. Oh yeah, and he only took over the starting job because the former No. 1 pick who led said team to the NFC Championship Game last season was injured. Then did so well he never gave it back. Kaepernick’s well on his way to becoming elite. It probably won’t be long until he’s there.
Russell Wilson, Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck-I’m lumping the three rookies together because they’re all on the same career trajectory right now. It’s also really hard to separate them. Griffin won Rookie of the Year and probably has the greatest skill set, but he hurt his knee in the playoffs and I have a feeling his durability is going to be a major issue moving forward. Luck’s your traditional pocket passer who’s been bred for NFL success for years. The last guy to play QB in Indy worked out pretty well. That’s a lot to live up to, but Aaron Rodgers is doing a good job replacing a legend in Green Bay, and Luck seems capable of doing the same thing. Of the three, I think the one who’ll reach “elite” status the fastest is Wilson, if only because I think the Seahawks are on the verge of becoming the NFL’s next “it” team. But also because using my own criteria of playoff success, Wilson’s already got one road playoff win under his belt and probably should’ve gotten another. The future’s bright for all three of these guys, but Wilson’s might be the brightest.
Andy Dalton-Before you say, “What? Andy Dalton?” consider this: he’s been in the NFL for two years. All he’s done in those two years is take the Cincinnati Bengals (the CINCINNATI BENGALS!) to the playoffs twice, their first back-to-back postseason appearances in 30 years. I’m not saying luck hasn’t come into play or that this success is going to continue (especially in that division), but there’s no denying that Andy Dalton is, at the very least, an above-average NFL quarterback. And if this ins’t a fluke and it is the start of something more in Cincinnati, “elite” isn’t entirely out of the question.
Romo and Rivers obviously fall into the “almost there” category as well. So does Michael Vick, although, while all of those other guys are on the rise, he’s fallen into that category. Vick’s on the way down. Not up. As for Ryan, Schaub, and all the rest, it’s very possible that they could be the NFL’s next big thing. The next elite quarterback. Just like Joe Flacco.
