2011 NFL Predictions: Ranking All NFL Teams' Projected Starting Quarterbacks

NFL starting quarterbacks are the most prominent—as well as the most scrutinized—players in sports.

As the 32 teams prepare for the season,  the success (or lack thereof) of each team will depend largely on the men taking the snaps under center in 2011.

Let's see how each of them rank going into the season. 

32. John Beck, Washington Redskins

If the Redskins are really trying to sell their fans that John Beck is a legit starting quarterback in the NFL, they must think that no one in Washington has ever watched football before.

After being drafted in 2007, Beck has attempted all of 107 passes in his career and has one touchdown pass—that's only one more than I have.

After being the third-stringer in Washington for much of last year, Beck will now have the responsibility of carrying his Redskins squad through the difficult NFC East.

I can just see Nnamdi Asmomugha and Dominique Rogers Cromartie licking their lips now.

31. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins

After the Miami Dolphins failed to acquire Kyle Orton from the Broncos, it looks like Chad Henne will get one more chance to prove he can be a successful NFL quarterback.

Henne should be thanking his lucky stars that he will get another chance after an at best mediocre year last year in which he disappointingly threw for just 15 touchdowns and 19 Interceptions—even after adding Brandon Marshall to the mix.

Dolphins fans are likely bored with the Henne and Sparano era and will be looking for a fresh face.

If Henne struggles again early, his days as a starter could be over.

30. Cam Newton*, Carolina Panthers

Heisman Trophy winner, national champion, No. 1 overall pick—Cam Newton has done it all in the last year, but his days at the top may soon be coming to a close.

Newton will be handed the starting job with the Carolina Panthers, the worst team in the NFL last season.

In fact, the Panthers were so bad last season that their three starting QBs throughout the year combined to throw only nine touchdowns.

Whether Newton will be a boom or a bust remains to be seen, hence the asterisk next to his name.

He certainly has the talent to be an All Pro QB someday, but he may have to get over the growing pains with a bad team before he can taste any NFL success.

29. Andy Dalton*, Cincinnati Bengals

The other rookie who will likely have a starting spot in the NFL next year will be Cincinatti's Andy Dalton.

Like Newton, Dalton had a tremendous amount of success in college and has the tools and work ethic needed to be a solid NFL quarterback someday for the Bengals.

But Dalton doesn't exactly have much to work with next year, as Cincy is expected to be a bottom-feeder once again in the AFC.

Will Newton or Dalton have Ryan/Flacco/Sanchez success in their rookie years?

It seems unlikely, considering how poor their respective teams are.

But until we see either of them on an NFL field, we cannot be sure.

28. Alex Smith, San Fransisco 49ers

It looks like Alex Smith will get another chance to show his stuff in San Francisco next year. 

After his rookie year, Smith's stats have actually not been that awful. He threw for over 2,300 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 11 games last season.

But with the expectations that come with being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and having the pressure of a storied franchise's future on your shoulders, it's hard to come to any conclusion other than Alex Smith has been a bust so far in his NFL career.

Can Jim Harbaugh work his magic in the NFL? It's possible.

If Smith can turn his career around, the Niners could be a surprise team in the NFC West next season.

If not, he may be out of a starting job come 2012.

27. Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns

After taking over the starting job in Cleveland last year, Colt McCoy turned out to be a pleasant surprise for the Browns in the middle of last season.

McCoy led his Browns to upset victories over the Saints and Patriots but tailed off at the end of the year, finishing the season with six touchdowns and nine interceptions.

In his first full year as a starter, McCoy will have a chance to show he can be the Browns starting quarterback for years to come. 

Having to play four games against the Ravens and Steelers certainly doesn't help, but the book on McCoy's NFL career remains open going into 2011.

26. Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks

Now that long-time starter Matt Hasselbeck has left town, the Seahawks will look to go in a different direction in 2011.

They will now look to long-time Minnesota Viking Tarvaris Jackson to lead them to the promised land.

Jackson was the on-again, off-again starter during his tenure in Minnesota, but he never put up very impressive statistics.

There are those who believe Jackson has the talent to be an elite quarterback, but most believe he is at best an average talent.

Although it can't hurt to have a fresh start in Seattle next year, don't expect him to have a lot of success for the Seahawks in 2011.

25. Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders

After moving to Oakland from Washington last season, Jason Campbell had a moderately successful season in which his Raiders were surprise contenders in the AFC West.

But now, with former Head Coach Tom Cable gone, will Campbell increase his success in 2011?

Most believe the Raiders will take a step back this season. It is likely that, although he has put up steady numbers in his career, Raiders management is not looking at Jason Campbell as their franchise QB.

Campbell will need to do better then just moderate success if he wishes to turn heads in Oakland next season and move up on this list.

24. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Here's something you might not have known—Ryan Fitzpatrick actually had a pretty darn good season in Buffalo last year.

Despite the fact that the Bills were for the most part abysmal, Fitzpatrick threw for 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, often keeping Buffalo in games that they had no business being in.

In fact, Fitzpatrick impressed the Bills enough for them not to draft a quarterback early in the draft this year. 

Having said all of that, you have to wonder whether Fitzpatrick, a career backup, was just a one-year wonder, or if he could actually be the solution to the Bills' long-time quarterback problem.

Only time will tell, but expect Fitzpatrick to put up solid numbers again for a bad team in 2011.

23. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars

David Garrard will be feeling the heat in Jacksonville next season.

The Jaguars spent the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft on Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

If Garrard doesn't get off to a good start, many fans will be calling for the talented rookie to get his chance next season.

The Jags aren't that far out of the playoff race in a division which may be there for the taking,

Jack Del Rio will have to make the decision on whether to keep his long-time starter Garrard in place or hand the team over to Gabbert.

For now, it is Garrard's team.

He will look to continue the decent year he had last season, acquiring his career high in touchdown passes and leading the Jags to an 8-8 year.

22. Matt Hasselbeck, Tennesee Titans

The Tennessee Titans simply had to go out and find a starting quarterback for the 2011 season that was capable of keeping them in contention.

They got their guy in Matt Hasselbeck.

A former starter in a Super Bowl, Hasselbeck knows how to lead a team and has the experience needed to be turn the Titans into playoff contenders.

But Hasselbeck is no longer an elite quarterback, and although he might have been the best available option, it's unlikely he will turn the franchise around.

Instead, he will likely hold the fort down until first-round pick Jake Locker is ready to take over.

21. Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals

Kevin Kolb will finally get his chance to prove his worth as a starter next season.

After serving as the backup to both Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick in Philadelphia, Kolb will now be the starting QB for the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cards had atrocious play at QB last season, most of it from Derek Anderson—who has since left town.

Kolb seems like a natural fit and will have Larry Fitzgerald to throw to, which would be a treat for any quarterback.

While experts are divided on how impressive Kolb has been in his limited time on the field, he will get a chance to shoot up the list and prove his doubters wrong in a weak division next season.

20. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

Many believed that former Florida standout Tim Tebow would gain the starting spot for the Denver Broncos going into the 2011 season.

Although he is still trade bait, many reports have come in saying Kyle Orton has been outplaying Tebow in camp so far and that he is the favorite to start Week 1 for the Broncos next season.

Orton may not be an elite NFL quarterback, but he has shown he is more then capable of getting the job done.

Orton had an outstanding year last year, throwing for 3,600 yards with 20 touchdowns and only nine picks before the struggling Broncos gave Tebow a chance at the end of the season.

If Orton is still on the roster come Week 1, he will likely be the Broncos best option to win games.

The Broncos may want to see what they have in Tebow at some point if they are not in contention this season.

19. Donovan McNabb, Minnestoa Vikings

No one could have expected Donovan McNabb to struggle as mightily as he did last year in his one and only season with the Washington Redskins.

After 10 extremely successful season in Philadelphia, McNabb never found his groove in Washington and was even benched by coach Mike Shanahan in favor of none other than Rex Grossman.

McNabb will now get another chance with a new team in 2011: the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings, coming off a disappointing year, still have the talent on their roster to make a deep playoff run and will look to McNabb to channel his old self and give whatever he has left in the tank to them next season.

18. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

I am a firm believer that Matthew Stafford will one day be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Stafford has a rocket arm and all the intangibles to be one of the top players in the league and prove himself worthy of the No. 1 overall pick.

Stafford was off to a very strong start last season before suffering a season-ending injury, taking with him any chances of the Lions being in the playoff race next year.

Now Stafford, fully healthy, will look to lead the Lions to the playoffs this season.

While he still needs work in order to move up higher on the list, his stock is certainly on the rise.

If he can remain healthy, the NFC should watch out.

17. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

Say whatever you want about Mark Sanchez, if nothing else he is a winner.

Sanchez has led his Jets to the AFC Championship game in his first two seasons as an NFL quarterback.

While during his rookie season, Sanchez was an interception machine and had fans just hoping he wouldn't mess up,

Last year, Sanchez made the plays for the offense and was given more and more responsibility as the year went on.

Now, in his third season, Sanchez will look to improve even more and lead the Jets to the Super Bowl, something he and the team are certainly capable of.

16. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs

Matt Cassel had an unbelievable year for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, leading them to a surprise AFC West Championship.

Throwing for 27 touchdowns and only seven picks, Cassel managed the game to perfection and rarely made mistakes. 

But can he repeat his success this year?

With Charlie Weis gone and the Chiefs unable to sneak up on people this year, it is only logical that Cassel will at least take a small step back this season.

However, Cassel is a very talented NFL quarterback, and if he can garner MVP talks again this season, the Chiefs could be in for another playoff run.

15. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Eli Manning and the Giants still can't believe they didn't get to the playoffs last season.

The Giants were in a great position all year long to make a deep playoff push but were unable to finish down the stretch and lost out to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Green Bay Packers.

Meanwhile, Eli Manning's career ups and downs continued, as he threw for over 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns but also threw 25 interceptions.

There is no doubt that Eli Manning has talent.

The problem for him over his career has been consistency. It's hard to know exactly what you're going to get from Eli each week.

No matter what, Manning will always have a Super Bowl ring to fall back on.

As for the future, look for Eli to continue his inconsistent performance, looking dominant at times and incompetent at others.

14. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler might have a long way to go to regain the trust of many Chicago Bears fans after the way he left last year's NFC championship game, but that is a story for another day.

For now, Cutler will look to improve on a solid season in his second year in Chicago.

Cutler cut his interceptions down from 26 in 2009 to just 16 in 2010, which was a large part of the reason the Bears surprised many by winning the NFC North last year and making it to the NFC Championship Game.

But will Cutler revert back to his old ways this season or continue his success?

It is hard for me to put him in the Top 10—even though he may be there talent-wise—simply because of his attitude and inconsistent performance.

But if Cutler plays like he did last year, there is no doubt he's a top-tier NFL quarterback.

13. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Coming off an outstanding rookie season, expectations will be high for Sam Bradford. 

The offensive Rookie of the Year, Bradford unexpectedly led the Rams to just one game from the playoffs.

Bradford will look to avoid the "sophomore slump" next season, and all signs point to him being able to actually take a step forward in 2011 with another year of experience under his belt.

With the NFC West an open race, Bradford might very well already be the best quarterback in that division, and that could mean playoffs for St. Louis in 2011.

12. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Bucaneers

To be blunt, Josh Freeman's numbers last year were just ridiculous.

Twenty-five touchdowns, six Interceptions a QB rating of 95, for a second-year starter?

Despite throwing over 200 passes last year, Freeman was able to cut down his interception total from 18 to six.

If there are any doubters in Tampa Bay as to whether Freeman is their guy for the foreseeable future, I'd really like to hear from them.

Despite all of this, Freeman flew under the radar last year, even within his own division.

While Matt Ryan and Drew Brees also had great seasons, Freeman was having one just as good if not better and receiving almost none of the attention. 

That will all change this year if Freeman keeps up his performance and gets the Bucs into the playoffs.  

11. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

After missing the last 10 games of last season, Tony Romo will undoubtedly be itching to get back on the field come Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season.

While the Cowboys fell short of the hype last season, the hype in their division has transferred to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Perhaps for Romo and the boys, that might be just what they needed.

When looking at his career numbers, it's hard to ignore Romo's success (although many look at his postseason failures).

Until Romo leads the Cowboys to a Super Bowl, it is unlikely he'll be included on the list of the NFL's absolute elite quarterbacks—but there is no doubt talent-wise he is not that far off.

10. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

LaMarr Woodley must not have watched much of Joe Flacco play last season.

Woodley, the Steelers linebacker  proclaimed this offseason that the Baltimore Ravens "won't win a championship in (Flacco's) lifetime."

One must wonder where his comments came from.

Flacco had an amazing season last year, throwing for 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions.

He led the Ravens to the divisional round of the playoffs before he blew a big lead and fell to the Steelers. 

Flacco will look to lead the Ravens to a deep playoff run again this year.

Although the Ravens offense seemed stagnant at times last season, Flacco did a good job of managing games and getting the defense in good position.

One of the great things about Flacco is that he still has a lot of room for growth as a quarterback, and I look for him to continue moving forward next year.

9. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans

Ever since becoming a full-time starting quarterback, Matt Schaub has been one thing: consistent.

Since arriving in Houston, Schaub has never posted lower then an 87 QB rating in a season, and in the last three years he has thrown for over 12,000 yards and 68 touchdowns as well as leading the NFL in passing yards in 2009 on his way to a Pro Bowl selection.

It's often been said that the Texans have a 12-4 offense and a 4-12 defense, which is very much true.

With Schaub at the helm, the Texans are one of the most potent offensive teams in the league.

If the defense can ever give him any help, Schaub may finally be leading the Texans into the playoffs in 2011.

8. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Despite his poor play against the Packers in the playoffs, Matt Ryan's third NFL season has to be considered a complete success. 

Increasing in all the major stat lines from his first two seasons and leading the Falcons to a 13-3 record and an NFC South championship, Ryan went from a good young quarterback to one of the best in the game.

Now, having added beast wideout Julio Jones to an already explosive offense, Ryan will have even more tools at his disposal.

He will need to use them if he's going to compete with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If Ryan takes the next step and gets to a Super Bowl next season, he will no doubt be a Top-Five NFL quarterback.

7. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

What a difference a year makes.

Let's take a look back at where Ben Roethlisberger was at this point last year.

His public perception was terrible, after being accused of sexual assault. His team was just coming off of a year in which they missed the postseason, and he was suspended for four games by the NFL.

Now Roethlisberger is marred, his team is the defending AFC Champions, and although Big Ben failed to add a third ring to his collection last season, it was a truly remarkable turnaround.

The reason Roethlisberger is an elite QB is not because of his stats, but Big Ben's toughness leadership skills and winning mentality—not to mention his uncanny ability for extending a play.

As long as Ben Roethlisberger and the smash mouth defense is around, the Steelers will always be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC.

6. Michael Vick, Phlladelphia Eagles

No one could possibly have expected what Michael Vick did last season.

Vick didn't even go into the year as the Eagles starter, and Andy Reid and staff were looking for ways to try to use him in wildcat situations in Kevin Kolb's offense.

But when Vick got the starting job, the Eagles struck gold.

Not only was Vick back, he was somehow better then he was in Atlanta. 

Vick put on an absolute clinic, combining for 30 touchdowns passing and rushing and throwing just six picks. 

Now the Eagles are even better.

With Vick at the helm for a full year, not to mention the plethora of defensive stars signed including Nnamdi Asomugha, the Eagles will be one of the NFL's must-watch teams next year.

There is simply no telling what Michael Vick will do when he touches the ball, and it is almost impossible for a defensive coordinator to prepare for him.

5. Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Phillip Rivers is quite simply a gamer.

While he may not receive the accolades of some of his counterparts, Rivers is every bit as talented.

Year after year, he carries the San Diego Chargers on his back.

Even though the Chargers missed out on the postseason last year, they did have the No. 1 ranked offense thanks to Rivers, who threw for 30 touchdowns and over 4,700 yards passing.

Although Rivers has not yet been to a Super Bowl, he plays with a passion that demands success.

It's only a matter of time for Rivers, who shows no signs of slowing in 2011.

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Although he may have taken a small step back last season, there is no doubt that Drew Brees is one top quarterbacks in the NFL today.

Brees' numbers were actually very comparable to his Super Bowl-winning 2009 regular season numbers, but his team's success was not. 

The Saints lost the division to the Atlanta Falcons and lost their wild card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks.

But Brees still can sling it around like no other in the NFL.

The Saints' pass-happy offense, as well as Brees' plethora of talented wide receivers, may slightly inflate his numbers, but Brees would be an elite quarterback no matter where he played.

You could make an argument for Brees to be in the Top Five, and you wouldn't hear much argument from me.

The only thing stopping him from cracking it is the elite level the Top Five are currently playing on, but you can't really go wrong with Drew Brees as your quarterback.

3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

It would be easy to spew out stats and accomplishments from Manning, but it is likely that everyone reading this knows about his success already.

Instead, let's look ahead to what Peyton will be able to do in 2011.

The Colts will be feeling the pressure from Houston and Jacksonville in the division.

Last year was almost the year where injuries and defensive shortcomings caught up to them, but Peyton found a way to lead them into the postseason before falling to the Jets.

Now Manning will have more weapons on offense and will look to continue to dominate like he has done his entire career.

Many people could easily have ranked Manning at first or second.

The main reason he is No. 3 on my list is the questions about his health. 

But if Manning's neck is OK then he could easily rise up to No. 1 on the list by the year's end.

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

As a Jets fan it hurts to say this, but Tom Brady deserved the MVP last season.

In fact, he had one of the best statistical years in recent memories and led the Patriots to a 14-2 record in the regular season.

However, the Jets had the last laugh in the rivalry last season upsetting the Pats in the AFC divisional round.

As with Manning, it is easy to go on and on about Brady's career accomplishments. When the two retire, they'll be in the conversation with Montana, Unitas and Elway as the best ever to play the game.

In 2011, there is no reason Brady and the Pats will slow down.  

Brady is hungry for another ring after failing in the playoffs since 2005.

It was a toss-up between Brady and the No. 1 on this list. They could flip-flop after a couple games in the regular season.

But for now, Tom Brady is the second-best NFL quarterback.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Sometimes when a team wins the Super Bowl, the quarterback was just sort of along for the ride, managing the game and letting the defense and running game do the dirty work.

Last year was not one of those years.

Aaron Rodgers is the reason the Packers are Super Bowl champions.

After serving as a backup to Brett Favre for the first three years of his career, Aaron Rodgers has been completely unstoppable since he became a starter.

He has jetted up the QB rankings all the way to the top after beating Pittsburgh in last year's Super Bowl. 

While many will argue about him being the best, it is important to remember that this list is not about career accomplishments, but about who the best quarterback is right now going into 2011.

Rodgers is the champion, and he played his best football when the pressure was the highest.  

The Packers are the favorites going into 2011, and there's no reason he can't do it again.

The End.

Agree with the list? 

Hate it?

Who should be higher, or lower?

Feel free to let me know. Just try to remain civilized, nobody's list is going to be exactly the same.

Thank you for reading. CAN'T WAIT for your comments.