Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton and 5 Underrated NFL Quarterbacks

Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, without question. If your team doesn’t have a good quarterback, they aren’t making it to the playoffs. It’s really that simple.

But, on the other hand, a quarterback can’t single-handedly win games for your team (I’m looking at you, Denver fans). If the defense is terrible and the offensive line can’t block, it’s going to be a long year.

So, while blaming the quarterback seems like the easy solution, it’s not always the best solution.

Here are five NFL quarterbacks who aren’t valued as much as they should be by their respective teams and fanbases.

5. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Stafford needs to stay healthy for an entire season before he can reach his potential.

But, from what we’ve seen in his limited action, he has all the tools to be an NFL star.

Having Calvin Johnson to throw to has been a huge lift to his development. It’s given him the confidence he needs to be a star in this league for a long time.

I don’t think the Lions are legitimate playoff contenders this season, but watch out for them in the very near future.

4. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Freeman is very young and is still improving.

He led the Bucs to a 10-6 finish last year, pulling out some tight victories in very competitive games.

This year, if he takes a step forward, he has a shot of leading the Bucs to the playoffs.

An opening week loss to the Lions hurt, but this team is resilient enough to bounce back this weekend.

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Fitzpatrick can be the Bills’ quarterback of the future if the fans will give him the chance.

He’s the reason the Bills haven’t taken a quarterback in the first round of the draft for a few years.

On Sunday, he showed why he deserves the job, throwing for 208 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in a complete dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Harvard grad is certainly smart enough to make the right reads and find the open man. He’s going to be the guy in Buffalo for a few more years.

2. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

I hate it that Broncos fans keep cheering for Tim Tebow to start.

First of all, why isn’t Brady Quinn getting any love? He’s technically ahead of Tebow on the depth chart.

And secondly, Orton is a good NFL quarterback!

He’s in the same boat as Cutler in that his offensive line is terrible. Orton was sacked five times on Monday night.

The simple fact is that you aren’t going to win a lot of games when your offensive line can’t open running lanes for the backs and can’t keep the QB upright.

1. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Cutler has never been respected as an NFL quarterback, but the fact of the matter is that he gives his teams a chance to win games more often than not.

If he had an offensive line that could keep him from getting sacked five times a game and a halfway decent group of receivers, he’d be in the discussion for elite QB status.

He can make any throw on the field and is working on cutting down his interceptions.

If the Green Bay Packers (my favorite team) didn't have Aaron Rodgers, I'd be happy to have Cutler under center.