Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson Living Up to Great Expectations

Peyton Manning's arm looked tired in the Broncos' playoff exit last Sunday. Tom Brady is 37 years old. And Drew Brees just turned 36 this week.

Three Hall of Fame football players. Masters at their craft. True pros who have been the standard, the top-level talent at the quarterback position for years along with Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers.

But given the age of Manning, Brady and Brees, plus the quarterback pipeline coming into the NFL that is average at best, the league needs Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson more than ever.

These two guys are the young stars, the future of the NFL. Quarterbacks who were developed on the college stage in pro-style systems. Mature players who are accountable for their play on the field.

Luck came into the league with high expectations as the No. 1 overall pick. He had the size, athletic ability and legit college tape from Stanford to make him an easy choice to come off the board first.

Wilson, however, dropped to the third round due to his 5'11" frame. Too short to win in the pocket. Not big enough to take the pounding of the league. Old-school scouting that is always in search of the next 6'5" quarterback.

The scouts missed on that one. We all did when Wilson came out of Wisconsin. But after winning a Super Bowl title last season, along with the production he has shown in the NFL, the third-year pro continues to impress with his unique ability at the position in an offense that caters to his talent.

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In talking with coaches and scouts on Luck and Wilson, you hear all the key terms when it comes to skill set necessary to play the quarterback position such as arm strength, ball placement, pocket mobility, athleticism and playmaking talent—specific traits that have allowed these young players to produce on the professional platform.

"Both Luck and Wilson are tremendous athletes with great composure and instincts," an NFL scout said. "Can't minimize their instincts and mental toughness. High-level competitors."

We also can't underestimate their ability to manage and lead their football teams, a vital skill to winning and building team chemistry in the NFL. That's often lost in the discussion when we analyze numbers, third-down conversions or the seam route thrown into an extremely tight window versus zone coverage.

There is so much more that goes into the position as every player in that locker room looks to the quarterback—especially in adverse situations. Some guys run with the responsibility and take control of the team. Others fail to lead, and the club suffers because of it.

With Luck and Wilson, there is no question about their leadership skills in the NFL. They've earned the respect of the coaches and the veterans in their locker rooms. And it shows on game days.

"Leaders of men," as one NFL defensive coach told me this week when discussing the two quarterbacks.

But I have to ask if we are expecting a little too much from Luck and Wilson this early in their careers, as both players are still developing. There is plenty of room to improve for these quarterbacks, yet we are in a hurry to push them into the discussion with the league's best.

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Is that due to the lack of talent coming into the league, the spread quarterbacks from college who aren't prepared to make a quick jump to the NFL game? That transition process is longer, and I do believe there should be real concern for the future of the position given the majority of offensive systems we see on Saturdays.

Plus, we can't discount the subpar play we see around the league from some veterans who have been rewarded with new contracts that are nothing more than panic moves from their respective teams.

There is a shortage of young, consistent talent at the quarterback position in the NFL with Manning, Brady and Brees entering the final years of their careers. That could be trouble.

The amazing thing in all of this is how both Luck and Wilson have handled these enormous expectations. They've almost welcomed those expectations given their production and the league personnel I've spoken with.

Maybe we do ask too much from Luck and Wilson and forget just how young they truly are. But then again, both of these quarterbacks continue to answer the bell.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41