QB Tier List

Elite Tier:
Peyton Manning
Tom Brady

Great Tier:
Drew Brees
Aaron Rodgers
Phillip Rivers

Good Tier:
Ben Roethlisberger
Mike Vick
Tony Romo

Above Average Tier:
Eli Manning
Matt Ryan
Jay Cutler
Matt Schaub
Josh Freeman

Average:
Sam Bradford
Joe Flacco
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Vince Young
David Garrard
Matt Cassel
Donovan McNabb
Kyle Orton

Below Average:
Carson Palmer
Jason Campbell
Matt Hasselbeck

Alex Smith Tier:
Alex Smith

Bad Tier:
Jimmy Clausen
Derek Anderson
Chad Henne
Mark Sanchez

What have you based the levels on last season or whole careers?

Bit of a mix tbh.

Not sure I agree with Palmer being worse than Orton, or Fitzpatrick and Young being average.

Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are definitely elite for me. Bradford and Flacco are probably better than average too but thats the only changes I would make. Oh and Sanchez is definitely higher up, probably average

bambamwillis wrote:Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are definitely elite for me. Bradford and Flacco are probably better than average too but thats the only changes I would make. Oh and Sanchez is definitely higher up, probably average

I don't think Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are in the Manning/Brady category... they just don't have the longevity of success and stats.

There is also no way that off one season you can consider Bradford to be better than average... but he certainly has the potential

Sanchez is definitely not average.

Roethlisberger has more success than Manning.

true roethlisberger has had more success than manning, but he has been playing with a defence that wins the game for the steelers, manning often does it by himself

oh and also theres ot a chance anderson starts for the cards at the start o the year

I could put Max Hall or Skelton in the bad tier if you'd like.

crazy_dave23 wrote:

bambamwillis wrote:Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are definitely elite for me. Bradford and Flacco are probably better than average too but thats the only changes I would make. Oh and Sanchez is definitely higher up, probably average

I don't think Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are in the Manning/Brady category... they just don't have the longevity of success and stats.

There is also no way that off one season you can consider Bradford to be better than average... but he certainly has the potential

Hmm maybe there should be a "legends" category then because Rodgers, Brees and Big Ben are definitely elite quarterbacks.

As a 49er, giving the Rams any credit is difficult but I can definitely see Bradford moving himself into top 10 QB category next season

The key words being 'can' and 'next season'. Last season he was average.

Brady and Manning are on another level to all other QBs playing, thus they are elite.

Graeme Swann's Cat wrote:I could put Max Hall or Skelton in the bad tier if you'd like.

haha take your pick im not sure bad does it justice
no its ok i was just pointing out

My argument would be that if you were to choose from any quarterback in the league for the next 4 years you would be just as likely to choose Rodgers, Brees or Ben. The other 2 are 2 of the greatest ever but at this stage of their careers the gap is not as great.

GSC they are waiting for your Vikings pick in the draft

Yeah, but this is a tier list now.

fair enough we will have to agree to disagree

Derbyblue wrote:Roethlisberger has more success than Manning.

Doesn't make him a better QB does it?

AdZacO wrote:

Derbyblue wrote:Roethlisberger has more success than Manning.

Doesn't make him a better QB does it?

crazy_dave23 wrote:

bambamwillis wrote:Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are definitely elite for me. Bradford and Flacco are probably better than average too but thats the only changes I would make. Oh and Sanchez is definitely higher up, probably average

I don't think Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger are in the Manning/Brady category... they just don't have the longevity of success and stats.

I know I don't believe the fact that having a Super Bowl ring suddenly makes you a better quarterback than you were before the game, I only pointed this out as crazy_dave said Rodgers, Brees, and Roethlisberger don't have the longevity of success and stats. Now I agree they don't have the longevity but then he's done more in a shorter career so if success is involved in the rankings then the fact Roethlisberger has done more than Manning (in terms of the biggest success possible) in a shorter career would surely make him at least qualify for the same level as Manning.

Roethlisberger has been on far better teams than Manning. When has Peyton ever had a defense half as good as Ben's?

I know he has and Manning has been selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times to Roethlisberger's 1 time, Manning also has the better QB rating, better pass completion percentage, and less sacks.

I don't think anyone would seriously say that Roethlisberger is better than Manning as a pure qb, but they should be seen as what they are, two of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL. I don't think I would be able to settle on an order as those 5 are all capable of stretches which make them look like the the number 1 Qb

Am I the only one thinking Romo has been ranked too high?

Romo has the 4th highest QB rating ever, behind only Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers and Steve Young. Then again Mike Vick has a worse QB rating than Jason Campbell and Matt Hasselbeck, but its also the same as Eli Manning's so clearly that's not the only basis for rankings.

I would though point out the complete lack of any Brown's QB.

As a skins fan i wanted to hate on Romo, but if you exclude last season, and perhaps the offseason, he is a good QB. However i would put him on an even peel as a eagles McNabb, without the play off wins. I would put him on the same level as Freeman (of last season), only way he is higher is the longevity of his career, which is not great.

arizona_tom wrote:oh and also theres ot a chance anderson starts for the cards at the start o the year

I'll shoot myself if he does.

The Mangler US_UK wrote:

arizona_tom wrote:oh and also theres ot a chance anderson starts for the cards at the start o the year

I'll shoot myself if he does.

haha me 2. im praying for mcnabb or bulger to come in

Using QB rating as the only measure of success is no better than ranking it just by rings won. Romo's consistent lack of success in the post-season would see him drop down to the above average tier in my list. I'd also put Sanchez up slightly (although maybe only to below average). I do like the idea of an Alex Smith tier.

I would say the Good, and Above average tiers could have merged into one. Saying that his lack of success in the post-season see's him drop down to above average, is pretty much the same as basing it upon Super Bowl rings. How consistent has Brees' success in the post-season been? What about Rodgers or Vick?

I take your point with regard to Vick but I'd argue that Brees and Rodgers have good postseason records. Brees has a 4-2 record over three seasons and Rodgers has a 4-1 record over two. Both won rings against teams more experienced in Superbowls than them. Romo has a 1-3 record.

Having said that I'm inclined to agree that Good and Above Average should perhaps be merged and maybe the fact that they have been separated is more what I disagree with than anything else.

Romo has been consistently one of the better QBs in the league.
Vick's play last season warranted being in the tier above, but I need to see it for another year.

For me the QBs in the good tier are better than the ones in above average.

I'm glad just to see Fitzpatrick getting a little bit of recognition.

Comes to something when being classed as average counts as recognition.

It's the highest I have any new entry, with Bradford on this list. Except Vick, but he was exceptional last year. Fitz is good, he'll be higher next year if he avoids a slump.

Precisley Swann. Did a really good job for us last year considering he was behind Trent Edwards for the first couple of games. 3000 yards in 13 games isn't a bad return from a Bills POV.

It wasn't in any way a criticism of where he was ranked more how he is generally perceived.

I thought he did a good job last year and I'm looking forward to seeing how he plays next year. I believe the Bills will stick with him as there is no-one in the draft who would come in and manage anything more, especially with a shortened off-season.

I don't think a bad Quarterback would get into the AFC Championship game 2 years in a row!! There's a reason why the Jets were 11-5 and not 5-11 and that is Mark Sanchez's ability under pressure.

He throws more interceptions than touchdowns, his average completion percentage is 54.4 and if they had a better quarterback then the Jets would I believe have made it to the Super Bowl.

If the Jets had an average QB theyd have won the SB.

Votto_fan wrote:I don't think a bad Quarterback would get into the AFC Championship game 2 years in a row!! There's a reason why the Jets were 11-5 and not 5-11 and that is Mark Sanchez's ability under pressure.

Typical mistake of thinking a QB is soley responsible for the teams record. He is just a game manager at best, and not a very good one. If you are behind that defence and running game, doesnt take a good QB to go 1--5.

I would have Freeman slightly higher up the list.Rating of 95.9,25TD passes,3,450 yards.Not bad in your second year.More importantly when his team had to win against the Saints,he played superb.Not to mention he has aleady equalled the franchise record of passing TDs per game.

GB1919 wrote:Am I the only one thinking Romo has been ranked too high?

Definitely ranked too high. I actually wouldn't mind seeing Brees in that Elite category but that's just my opinion. Remember, he had some good years in San Diego too. Rodgers will soon be in that elite category.

Rodgers is already elite for me....

I'd agree that Rodgers belongs in the top tier. He played at a much better level than Peyton and Brees last season.

Pr4wn - all well mate ?
I remember many saying a year ago that he's got everything needed to be elite but until he wears a ring he can't be talked about in the same breath.
I disagreed at the time but of course he now has a ring, not only does he have a ring but he earned it by winning all play off games on the road and without the help of any running game.
He has a career (starting) QB rating of almost 100, better than Manning and Brady, albeit over a reduced period of time.
No question he's elite in my mind

Agree with Grizzly. Never mind the stats and the wins, the guy got knocked out 2 seasons ago and still came back and played well. This year he got pummelled a couple of times and just came back and delivered (especially the Bears game in the playoffs - he was awesome. I just wish the Skins had picked him up... No doubt in my mind Rogers is elite tier.

Other changes I'd make?

Big Ben into the great tier - regardless of their D, he's played at pro bowl level repeatedly, especially after coming back from his bike accident. I do agree that D keeps him out of the elite tier.

Cutler is average and hasn't proven otherwise. 2 seasons ago he was an interception machine and last season he 'choked' in the playoffs.

Young is below average, especially given his physical talents. And he's a dick!

McNabb is definitely below average and to be honest, I'm not sure he was ever above average. His accuracy has always been in question, and once he'd lost the facility of lobbing a ball deep for Sean Jackson to run under, his shortcomings really came to light. Maybe I'm biased though...

Mark Sanchez isn't bad, but at the moment average. This year is his make or break season imho. 2 seasons and 2 playoff appearances (regardless of their D) - he can't be considered bad yet..

Pr4wn wrote:I'd agree that Rodgers belongs in the top tier. He played at a much better level than Peyton and Brees last season.

Then is Rivers not elite too, he out performed Rodgers in the regular season, and that was with most of his receivers missing games and this is something the Packers have good depth for.

You could argue Rivers isn't elite as he hasn't been to the SB let alone won a ring. Many would argue Marino wasn't considered a HOF candidate until he went to the SB.

Derby - Rodgers had a heap of receivers out, his main target (JF) didn't play beyond week 2 I think and as I said earlier, Rodgers did everything last season with no running game.
Come to think of it, his 2008 and 2009 numbers were achieved with no O-line either !
Rivers is outstanding and very very close, but plenty have argued that you need rings to be considered elite