NFL Preditions: Ranking All 16 NFC Quarterbacks

The NFL is a quarterback driven league.  Simply put, if you don't have a good one you're not going to win.  The elite win Super Bowls, the good go to the playoffs, and the bad fizzle out.  To project how the NFC standings might play out we rank all 16 projected starting quarterbacks.

These rankings are purely scientific, objective, and not subject to debate.  They take into account past performance as well as predictions on how a player may fair in the near future.

16. Cam Newton

He is one of the most hyped football players in recent memory, complete with such quantifiable measurements as athleticism and being a winner. Confidence can be added to the list of qualities he possesses, as Newton called himself an “entertainer and icon” prior to completing a pass in the NFL.

Newton will have an uphill battle as he will now be facing NFL defenses as well as having to run an NFL offense, all while having played only one year of major college football.

15. Rex Grossman

Grossman has played more than 10 games in a season only once in his eight year career.  He had a completion percentage of 55.6 in the four games he played in 2010.  Some refer to him as the worst quarterback to start a Super Bowl.

14. Tavaris Jackson

Jackson only played in three games in 2010 and had four interceptions compared to three touchdowns.  He does get a familiar target in Sydney Rice, but the Seahawks will soon be regretting kicking Matt Hasselbeck out of town.

13. Matthew Stafford

Stafford was off to a respectable start in the three games he played in 2010.  Before becoming injured he had nearly a 60 percent completion rate and six touchdowns to only one interception.  Should he be able to stay on the field he has a great chance at success, in large part thanks to Calvin Johnson.

12. Alex Smith

2010 stats: 2,370 yards, 14/10 touchdowns to interceptions, 59 percent completion.

Smith has been teetering on mediocre the past two seasons, with nearly identical stat lines for the two years.  Quarterback friendly coach Jim Harbaugh should aid in his development as well.

11. Donovan McNabb

2010 stats: 3,377 yards, 14/15 touchdown to interception, 58.3 percent completion.  

McNabb will be looking to rebound coming off the worst year of his career since his rookie season.  He’ll be helped significantly with running back Adrian Peterson, and has a good chance of looking more like the quarterback he was in 2009.

10. Kevin Kolb

2010 stats: 1,197 yards in seven games, 7/7 touchdown to interception, 60.8 percent completion.

Kolb was the hottest quarterback in the offseason and the Cardinals paid a high price for him.  Chosen as Donovan McNabb’s successor by Andy Reid, Kolb lost the starting job in 2010 when Michael Vick proved to be too dynamic to sit on the bench.

9. Sam Bradford

2010 stats: 3,512 yards, 18/15 touchdown to interception, 60 percent completion.

Bradford is coming off a very nice rookie season in which he played in all 16 games.  He did have seven games in which he passed for under 200 yards and six games in where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns though, but he almost lead the Rams to the playoffs and should only improve in 2011.

8. Eli Manning

2010 stats: 4,002 yards, 31/25 touchdown to interception, 62.9 percent completion.

While Eli Manning may not be an elite quarterback he does put up respectable numbers and has a Super Bowl to his name.  He’s not exciting but he gets the job done.

7. Tony Romo

2010 stats: 1,605 yards in six games, 11/7 touchdown to interception, 69.5 percent completion.

If the Cowboys hope to compete in the highly contested NFC East they’ll need Romo to stay healthy. With Dez Bryant entering his sophomore season, combined with Miles Austin and Jason Witten, Romo will have plenty of weapons at his disposal.

6. Jay Cutler

2010 stats: 3,274 yards, 23/16 touchdown to interception, 60.4 percent completion.  

Cutler almost took the Bears to the Promised Land last season, but the 2010 campaign ended badly for him, with fans questioning his toughness and desire to win.  If he starts the season hot, fans will quickly forget about his playoff failures.

5. Josh Freeman

2010 stats: 3,451 yards, 25/6 touchdown to interception, 61.4 percent completion.

Josh Freeman came into his own in his second year, posting very impressive numbers and nearly taking a team to the playoffs that was thought to be dead in the water at the start of the season.

4. Michael Vick

2010 stats: 3,018 yards, 21/6 touchdown to interception, 62.6 percent completion.  

Vick was picked up on a flier by the Eagles as a possible third string quarterback and for the occasional play package.  Two years later he is the undisputed starter for a team that many are picking to be a Super Bowl contender.  In addition to his 21 passing touchdowns he ran for nine more, and resembled a better version of the electric Vick that took the country by storm eight years ago.

3. Matt Ryan

2010 stats: 3,705 yards, 28/9 touchdown to interception, 62.5 percent completion.  

In Matt Ryan’s three year career he has never thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns and has thrown for over 3,000 yards and made the playoffs in all but one.

2. Aaron Rodgers

2010 stats: 3,922 yards, 28/11 touchdown to interception, 65.7 percent completion.  

Rodgers has elevated himself to the elite category of NFL quarterbacks.  He has made Packers’ fans all but forget about Brett Favre…at least for the time being.  He brought the Lombardi Trophy home and has the Packers as a frontrunner for the NFC again in 2011.

1. Drew Brees

2010 stats: 4,620, 33/22 touchdown to interception, 68.1 percent completion.

One of the most accurate passers in the game and the quarterback who was able to do what no one else had ever done, turn the Saints into a winning team.  While Aaron Rodgers may be closing in, Brees is still the best quarterback in the National Football Conference.