NFL Debate: Is Matt Ryan the Best QB in the NFC South?

Ever since the league transformed from a running game to a passing game, there have been some incredible numbers put up by today's elite passers like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. With Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers looking to be the next quarterbacks to reach that elite level, there are more candidates than just those two.

There are a lot of talented quarterbacks in the league. How many divisions are there in which the worst quarterback is actually very good? This could be the case in the NFC South this year. If Cam Newton continues to impress and improve throughout training camp and preseason, he would likely be the worst one of the crop in the division—which speaks volumes for the rest of the guys.

Looking at the weapons that Ryan has at his disposal this year, it is scary. Not only does he have start wideout Roddy White, future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner in the backfield, but they acquired a new weapon in the draft. Wide receiver Julio Jones comes out of Alabama as one of the top candidates for rookie of the year. He has been putting on a show in training camp and is all the buzz around the league at the moment.

Josh Freeman surprised a lot of people last year in Tampa Bay, and he is the real deal. Leading the Bucs to 10 wins last year was not a fluke. He is going to be a very good quarterback for a long time. If he gets another weapon or two, Tampa Bay could become very dangerous.

While I love the future of Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons, I still think he has a way to go before he passes Drew Brees. He is obviously a proven winner and has the numbers to match. He is one of the smartest quarterbacks in the league and his accuracy is stunning. He is able to make quick decisions and is always trying to improve himself and his teammates.

Brees has some good weapons down in New Orleans, but I think he could lead the Saints to another Super Bowl even if you and I were his two best receivers. Matt is going to have a great career, and he will do some special things, but right now, Drew is still the man in the South.