Rising Studs, Falling Duds: The NFL's Best and Worst QBs

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Rex Grossman, Eli Manning, and Vince Young all headed in seperate directions during the 2007-08 season

Many young players were asked to lead their teams respectively at the quarterback position this year.

While some failed, others managed to breakout and take their teams to the next level.

Although some were already starters in previous seasons, they had a coming-out party some will never forget.

Some guys showed they are more than ready to be a franchise quarterback, while others showed they're nothing more than a mediocre QB. The evaluation isn't so much based on their team's success, but more their individual performances. 

So who took a step forward and who took a step back?

The list below tells it all... 

The Duds

1. Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers)

Last season Smith started to show some promise, but the way he played this past season left 49er fans a bit worried.

He threw 16 touchdowns in his first full season as a starter, but only threw two in a disappointing third season.

In his defense, he has had three different offensive coordinators in his three seasons in the league.

Smith only played seven games due to injury and was later replaced by Trent Dilfer and Shaun Hill, who you will hear about later. 

2. Rex Grossman (Chicago Bears)

Grossman has never been that great, but at least his team made it to Super Bowl XLI last season. During that run to the Super Bowl, Rex threw 23 TDs, but also 20 interceptions.

All in all, his season wasn't a disaster last year despite all the crticism in the Windy City.

This year was a lot different. Not only did his Bears, who won the NFC last season not make the playoffs, but the play of Grossman's game declined drastically. He managed to only throw four touchdowns and was eventually replaced by backup Brian Griese. 

If he is still in Chicago next season, he can't be the number one option if the Bears plan on moving forward.

 
3. Tarvaris Jackson (Minnesota Vikings)

His team had one hell of a running game, but Jackson was one of the main pieces that kept Minnesota out of playoff contention.

Jackson's play began to improve late in the season, but he was way too inconsistent to have the Vikings as legit contenders. He only threw nine touchdowns, while throwing 12 interceptions.

The Vikings chances of making the playoffs next season are good, but Jackson must have a breakout year to ensure that it happens.

4. Matt Leinart (Arizona Cardinals)

Believe it or not, Arizona had one of the best offenses in the NFC this past season—two deadly receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, plus a good running back in Edgerrin James.

All that was missing was a breakout year from their QB of the future, Matt Leinart.

His season wasn't going that well to begin with because he had to share snaps with Kurt Warner. Leinart only managed to play five games because of a broken collarbone injury, but Warner did a great job filling in.

Before his season-ending injury, Leinart started five games in which he threw only two TDs and four interceptions.

The future is still bright for Leinart, and if can come back next season and make a huge leap in his development, his team chances of making the playoffs aren't bad.

5. John Beck (Miami Dolphins)

Even as a rookie Beck gave plenty reasons for us not to expect much from him next season.

As painful as it was to see the Dolphins only win one game, Beck's play only added to that pain. In his four games as a starter, he managed to only throw one touchdown.

It was only his rookie season, so his chances as a starting QB are still good if he is able to make a leap in his development. Starter or not, the Dolphins playoff chances are extremely slim.

(Dis-)Honorable Mention: Vince Young (Tennessee Titans)

Young is a proven winner but, although his team made the playoffs, his performance on the field was nothing to brag about.

Nine touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a nagging injury says it all. Madden Jinx? You make the call.

The Studs

1. Eli Manning (New York Giants)

There is no way you could convince me to put Eli at top of this list a month ago, but after a Super Bowl MVP season, there was a change of heart.

Unless you're a die hard fan, no one expected the Giants to make it to the Super Bowl, let alone win it all. Eli's team started 0-2 and looked like their were headed for a lack luster season.

Despite throwing 20 interceptions during the regular season, Eli threw only a single interception in the postseason and that didn't happen until the victory against New England in Super Bowl XLII. 

He's not on big brother Peyton's level yet, but his coming out party this year showed us a glimpse of what to expect in the future.

2. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

Romo's first full season as a starter was superb—36 touchdowns, a 13-3 record from his team, and the pleasure of dating Jessica Simpson were just a few things that capped it off.

After replacing Drew Bledsoe last season, Romo showed us that he was ready to be the starting QB for America's Team.

The Cowboys however, lost in their first game of the postseason after a first round bye to the New York Giants.

3. Derek Anderson (Cleveland Browns)

Stud was the perfect word to describe him this past season, especially if you love fantasy football. 

As one of my NFL-NFL_Star_Power_10_Offensive_Players_To_Watch_in_2008-300108">10 Offensive Players to Watch in 2008, DA's breakout year left Browns fans with something to look forward to next season.

After Browns coach Romeo Crennel was sickened by Charlie Fyre's dismal week one performance, Anderson didn't shy away from the spotlight—29 touchdowns, 3,787 passing yards, and a 10-win season from the Browns earned DA his first pro bowl selection.

4. David Garrard (Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Jaguars have plenty to look forward to heading into the 2008 season.

An established running game, defense, plus a QB who only threw three interceptions in the 2007 season leave the Jaguars with high expectations next season.

Garrard threw for 18 TDs and 2,509 yards passing, and helped lead the Jags to a spot in the playoffs.

5. Jay Cutler (Denver Broncos)

This guy is a flat out stud already, as well as a solid building block for the Broncos franchise. In his second season and first as a full-time starter, Cutler threw for 3,497 yards passing, including 20 TDs.

Cutler's future is very bright and he could be the next big thing in Denver since John Elway at his position.

Honorable Mention: Shaun Hill (San Francisco 49ers)

He might have only started two games and played three, but if this was a preview of what to expect, then forget Alex Smith.

In his three games, he threw five touchdowns, one interception, and had a QB rating of 101.3. Maybe it's too early to get excited about him, but he was a stud in the few games he did play.

Michael Whittenberg is a senior writer for BleacherReport.com.  To view his entire archive click here.