Josh Freeman: Where He Ranks Among Current NFL Quarterbacks

Most Buccaneers' fans may not remember their first thought that came to mind after their team selected it's first round pick of the 2009 draft. The majority were already frustrated with how the organization "purged" it's roster, especially with releasing several veterans. And then, a guy that was the team's defensive backs coach was suddenly the head of the team. Not a lot of nice thoughts were circulating around that time.

So the Bucs traded their original first round pick and other picks to move up two spots. Two. They had to make sure "their guy" was on their squad. That guy was Josh Freeman, a quarterback from Kansas State, who didn't have a great record, or even amazing stats. And he was playing Big 12 defenses. He wasn't even a top five name among quarterbacks in his conference.

Many people questioned the pick. I know I did. I thought taking a chance was a good thing, but I also thought giving up other high picks to move up two spots wasn't real bright. So I'm not sure what every Bucs' fans thought about Josh Freeman then, but I think I have a much better idea now.

After going through a few growing pains mixed with some success in 2009, Freeman was one of the more prolific passers in the league this season, throwing for 25 touchdowns with only six interceptions and amounting to almost 3.500 passing yards while leading Tampa Bay to a very surprising 10-6 finish.

Many have began to ask the question of where Freeman ranks among the quarterbacks in today's NFL. First of all, if you go back to the same draft Freeman was taken in, two quarterbacks drafted above him, Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez, haven't progressed as much as Freeman.

Some would argue Sanchez has because he has gone to the AFC championship twice; he has playoff wins to show he's better. Stafford hasn't been on the field enough for us to know if he's a future star or not, but it doesn't look that way.

If your going by box scores, Freeman is better the majority of the time. That doesn't matter as much as intangibles and leadership. Freeman has a lot of both. He's the leader of a good football team. Can you say quite the same for Sanchez? Not exactly.

When ranking quarterbacks in the NFL, you start with your Tom Bradys' and your Peyton Mannings', which are followed most likely by guys like Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Ben Rothlisberger. Where does Freeman rank?

Even with the defense being given most of the credit in the two Super Bowls he won, Rothlisberger is still a better QB to me. He can break tackles in the pocket with his size, get outside and scramble, and is good at throwing on the run. Freeman reminds us a lot of Big Ben, but thank God he does not share his off the field antics.

After the other five quarterbacks I've named, maybe only Phillip Rivers, Matt Ryan, and possibly Michael Vick are better than Freeman. Eli Manning or Tony Romo may be thrown in there, but it's not too hard to say that Freeman is a top ten quarterback in the league. He passes the "eyeball test" of an NFL QB, and also has the digits in the box score to show for it. And he'll have his shot at the playoffs soon.

He's growing up fast. Who knows, a year from now we could be saying how Freeman is close to the elite quarterbacks in the league, or we may not. But all I know is, people are a lot more certain about him now than they were almost two years ago, when the Bucs made him their first round pick. He was their guy then, and he most certainly is our guy now.