San Francisco 49ers 2011: How Does Alex Smith Stack Up Against NFC West QBs?

Alex Smith has taken the brunt of the blame for the 49ers' struggles since his arrival. He was supposed to be the next Hall of Fame quarterback to guide the 49ers back to the promised land. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which rendered high expectations from the fanbase of a very proud franchise.

Even so, Smith continues to struggle. The 49ers have invested heavily in the offense, expending three first-round picks into the offensive line, picking a receiver in the top 10 and drafting a tight end higher than anyone had in history.

Still, the offense continues to take a backseat to the defense. The 49ers always seem to find justification for Smith's struggles, but the majority of 49ers fans are growing tired of the excuses.

Smith appeared to be on the way out, but Jim Harbaugh got behind Smith and expressed his admiration for the quarterback. Harbaugh is an authority on quarterbacks. He recognized that given the circumstances of the lockout, Smith was far and away his best option at quarterback.

Even with the Alex Smith vs. Troy Smith quarterback controversy lingering to the end of the season, the 49ers were still in the playoff hunt, as the NFC became first division in history to put forth a team with a losing record.

So in this quarterback-driven league, how does Alex Smith stack up against the rest of the division?

While the 49ers have a lot of uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position, the Seahawks and Cardinals have one of the most ambiguous quarterback situations in the league. Is Matt Hasselbeck coming back to Seattle? Are the Cardinals going to pursue Kevin Kolb?

We should know by the end of the week, but for all intensive purposes, I'll throw in multiple candidates for the Seattle and Arizona starting QB job to show how Smith measures up to potential competition.

Statistical analysis is an okay basis for comparison, but it doesn't paint the whole picture. As we get started, keep in mind that because one quarterback's QB rating doesn't necessarily mean that he is a better or more efficient quarterback than another.

Below are the potential starting NFC West quarterbacks, ranked from first to worst. Though the lockout is on the brink of ending, we won't know until the end of the week who will fill the Cardinals and Seahawks QB spot. 

1. Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford's 76.5 QB rating doesn't do his 2010 season justice. He threw for over 3,500 yards and completed 60 percent of his passes. What makes his rookie season so impressive is that he had no weapons surrounding him other than Steven Jackson in the backfield. He took the worst team in the league to the brink in the playoffs single-handedly.

2. Matt Hasselbeck

Matt Hasselbeck is injury prone, but he proved towards the end of the season and into the postseason how important he is to the Seahawks. His 12 touchdowns vs. 17 interceptions were a big part of why the Seahawks were 7-9, but it's the leadership and intangibles he brings that make him the second best quarterback in this division.

3. Alex Smith

Alex Smith is inconsistent. Not just game to game, but drive to drive. Even so, he's incredibly talented and one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league. He has the undying support of guys like Vernon Davis and Frank Gore, and there is a reason for that.

Smith's plus-4 TD/INT ratio bests that of Bradford, Hasselbeck, Kolb and every other potential NFC West quarterback. If Smith hit the market right now, he would be as sought after as Kolb. For those of you who look to quarterback ratings as the No. 1 indicator of QB efficiency, Smith's 82.1 QB rating may not be stellar, but it's much better than most people may expect.

4. Kevin Kolb

Kevin Kolb has been linked to Arizona for months now. By electing to shun the QB position in the draft, it's clear that the Cardinals are going to fill the void at the position through free agency or trade. The most likely candidate is Kolb, but he doesn't come without baggage. He had a so-so season last year, has never played a full season and lost his starting job. The Cardinals would be wise to overlook Kolb's mediocre stat line, but Kolb still has a lot to prove.

5. Carson Palmer

Carson Palmer is a veteran quarterback who knows how to play at an incredibly high level. He took a step back last year, but there is potential for either a Pete Carroll, Palmer reunion. He could also be brought in by the 49ers or the Cardinals. Both teams need another quarterback to provide depth. If Palmer is willing to assume a mentor role, Colin Kaepernick and Kevin Kolb would be better for it.

6. Charlie Whitehurst

Charlie Whitehurst was seen as a guy with a ton of potential, but his play on the field suggests otherwise. He completed nearly 605 of his passes in the brief time he spent on the field.  The Seahawks wouldn't have gone two rounds deep in the playoffs with him under center.

7. John Skelton

John Skelton was thrown into the fire way too early, as was Max Hall. Skelton has an NFL build and he's got a ton of potential. He's just not there yet. The Cardinals threw him in the mix because Derek Anderson proved unworthy of the starting spot and every quarterback on roster was given a shot, as Ken Whisenhunt was trying to find even a top 25 quarterback to lead his team.