Top 10 Starting QB's Drafted 2004 Or Before

Everyone wants to say the their team's QB is the best QB. I am one of them, but when you look at the numbers, it can give you a basis for  the level of success that a QB has had in their respective careers.  I used a simple ranking based on from 1-10 for each category. Categories include Yards/season, QB rating, Completion %, TD's per season, Interceptions/season, Fumbles/season, and Yards/ att.  I then added the rankings up for a total points. I also eliminated any QB that didn't have 2000 attempts. Oddly enough, there were exactly 10, which made my job much easier.

10. Eli Manning SCORE: 19

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 03: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants drops back against the Chicago Bears at New Meadowlands Stadium on October 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Eli Manning was a part of the elite 2004 draft class that included Ben Roethlisberger and Phil Rivers. However with a career QB rating of only 79.3 and a completion % of a mere 57.4% he ranks number ten of the current elites. The younger Manning is averaging 3275 yards a season and 22 Touchdowns a season. However he ranks highest with 16 INT's per season.

9. Matt Hasselbeck SCORE: 28

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks runs out of the tunnel prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qwest Field on September 26, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

When you think elite, I doubt Hasselbeck comes to mind, unless you are a Seahawks fan. Hasselbeck ranks last in yards per season at 2283 and with TD's per season at 14. However you ranks first in fumbles with a very low 3 per season and second in interceptions per season at 10. With a career QB rating of 82.9 it shows that he is a top echelon QB on a scrub team. Just remember he had a pretty good showing in the Superbowl loss to the Steelers.

8. Donovan McNabb SCORE: 32

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 03: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins looks to throw a pass in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 3, 2010 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Redskins defeated the Eagles

I think McNabb is the recipient of history's biggest slap in the face.  "Hey, Donovan, We think you are an awesome QB, but we would rather go in a new direction with Kevin Kolb. In fact, we think you're so great we are going to trade you to a division rival." Wow! But, back to the ranking. McNabb is the most reliable of this top ten in regards to throwing picks. He is averaging about 9 per season, which is pretty good. I think what really killed his rank on this list is his completion %. 59% doesn't scream top 5 QB. I think McNabb has had his career put on short notice with the trade to Washington.  They are a, not so great, team that never meets the expectations that fans have.

7. Brett Favre SCORE:33

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown pass in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Mart

Brett Favre is looking this year like he should have taken his Wrangler money and ran. He actually look like I thought he would look last year. However, with his 19 years and three consecutive MVP's back in the day, you know he has the stats to be in the list. While Favre ranks second with 26 TD's per season, he ranks dead last with 17 picks per year.  He is also prone to fumble when he gets hit. You can pretty much bank on him fumbling at least once every other game. Favre is definitely a beast at 3680 yards per year. That ranks second in this list. However his interceptions and fumbles forced him down to number seven.

6. Carson Palmer SCORE: 35

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 26: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Carson Palmer was well on his way to being one of the best QB's of current times. However, in a playoff game against the Steelers, Kimo Von Oelhoffen rolled up Palmer's leg and injured him badly. Palmer has never been the same. As a Steelers fan, I used to fear playing the Bengals because of Carson Palmer. I don't have that fear anymore. He seems hesitant still. What killed Palmer in this list was his mediocre yards per season of 2829, and TD's per year of 19. Otherwise, he would be higher on the list.

5. Phillip Rivers SCORE: 43

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers drops back to pass in the third quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Qualcomm Stadium on October 3, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Cardinals 41-

It's no coincidence that the top 5 QB's on the list all have 90+ QB ratings, 63+ Completion %, and 7+ yards per passing attempt. Oddly enough only one of the top five does NOT have a Superbowl ring. That brings me to our #5.

Philip Rivers is the second QB on the list from the 2004 draft Class. He has had far better success than his predecessor, Eli Manning. However, Manning has the ring. Rivers has the best QB rating on the list at 96.3, and ranks second in yards per attempt at 7.92. That's pretty good. It's a damn shame that the Chargers could never really compete in the playoffs. They always get there, maybe it's just bad match-ups. I think Rivers could be a real threat, if the Chargers could hold onto players. They tried to build around LT instead of Rivers and I think they are paying for it.

4. Ben Roethlisberger SCORE: 45

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 21: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes against the New York Giants during their preseason game at New Meadowlands Stadium on August 21, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Ima

Roethlisberger is actually the reason I made this list in the first place. My buddy called him a bum, and said he would rather have any QB in the league starting besides Roethlisberger. I am a "Ben fan" so I decided to see where he ranked on the list of elites.  I think I am vindicated. Ben has the highest yards per attempt in the list at 8.01. That means every time Roethlisberger pulls back to throw the ball he gets 8 yards, on avg of course. Roethlisberger scores right down the middle for just about all of the other categories. Some may say, "That just means he's an average QB!" But I beg to differ. Ben is the ONLY QB on the list that doesn't rank below #5 on any category.

Note: I will not humor Ben bashing comments on this article. Please leave the comments to football related. They won't be deleted because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I will not respond to them.

3. Tom Brady SCORE: 46

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MIAMI - OCTOBER 4: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is hit after he passes by Cameron Wake #91 of the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Field on October 4, 2010 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

It's no secret to any person that knows me, that I HATE the Pats, and Tom Brady. However, you must give credit where credit is due. Tom Brady is an impeccable athlete, and he does have 3 Superbowl rings.  I guess that counts for something. Though I would be remiss if I didn't make it known that Brady doesn't rank first in a single category. Brady does however have a 93.7 career passer rating. and regularly pumps 23 TD's per year, though that could be done now that Randy Moss is a Viking and not a Patriot.

2. Drew Brees SCORE: 49

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NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 21: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints warms up during pregame before playing the Houston Texans at the Louisiana Superdome on August 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Brew Brees is a beast.  He came just 2 or 3 yds short of the all-time yards in a single season record. He regularly is putting up 3500 yds per season and has a completion % of 65.1%. It is no doubt that he belongs at #2 on this list. I could say that he was a close second, but that would be a lie. The QB in the #1 slot has everyone beat by 9 points.

1. Peyton Manning SCORE:58

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 03: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts throws while taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on October 3, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars won 31-28. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Ima

I think everyone knew this was coming. Peyton ranks no less than 3rd on any of the categories I used for this list. He averages over 4200 yds per season and 31 TD's. The only two stats he ranks lower than 2nd is yds per attempt which he ranks third and interceptions where he ranks 7th with 15 per season.  But, when you throw 31 TD's a year 15 int's just doesn't seem that bad. P. Manning also has leadership skills and a work ethic that most of the QB's on this list could only dream of. I recently said that Manning was over the hump in his career, but when you look at what he does regularly, it would seem his downhill won't be a very steep one. I'm pretty sure he will top this list as long as he is a starter in the NFL.