Grading the Weapons of Each NFL Quarterback

The NFL is a passing league nowadays, so it is critical for a team to not only possess a stellar quarterback to run the show, but also to have the weapons to throw to. 

We are eager to judge quarterbacks based on what we can find on the stat sheet, but sometimes you can't judge a book by its cover. Sometimes a good quarterback is stuck on a team without any viable weapons.

When grading the weapons of each NFL quarterback, I decided to take into account all phases of an offense. I will include linemen, tight ends, receivers and running backs into my personal algorithm.  

Arizona Cardinals: Kevin Kolb

Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals' offense isn't lacking firepower, because Larry Fitzgerald and Beanie Wells are some hefty weapons in their arsenal.

The Cardinals do, however, really struggle to protect their leader, whether it be Kolb, Skelton or anyone else that might have the misfortune to end up behind center. The team is ranked 31st in the NFL, allowing 41 sacks so far this season.

The team also has a big need at tight end, and they will look to fill that need somewhere in the 2012 NFL draft. Todd Heap has been injured all year long, and I don't see him coming back next season.

Overall, Kolb has a couple of good weapons at his disposal.

Weapons Grade: C-

Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan

Why are the Atlanta Falcons having trouble scoring points this year?

Matt Ryan has one of the most loaded arsenals in the entire NFL. Every phase of that offense is among the best in the league. 

Michael Turner is one of the best running backs in the league this year, Tony Gonzalez is still one of the top five tight ends in the league, Roddy White and Julio Jones are among the most dynamic receivers in the league and the offensive line is in the top half in both rushing and passing categories.

Weapons Grade: A-

Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco is learning how to best utilize his talented weapons, and the Baltimore Ravens are looking playoff strong right now. I just hope they haven't peaked too soon.

Ray Rice is sick. The man can do it all on the gridiron, and he leads the team in receptions with 56. 

Torrey Smith has been the deep threat Joe Flacco needed. The rookie has afterburners for his afterburners, and Flacco has the arm to get him the ball. 

The offensive line keeps Flacco upright, for the most part. They have given up 22 sacks for the year, and I think that is remarkable, given the fact that Flacco's legs always look like they are stuck in concrete. 

Weapons Grade: B+

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick has many things, but a No. 1 wide receiver he has not. The Buffalo Bills have a couple of guys that would be No. 2 or lower on many other NFL rosters. 

The Bills are stacked on the offensive line, and the team is ranked No. 1 for giving up the least amount of sacks (16).

Fred Jackson was a top-three back before getting injured. He is out for the season with a fractured fibula. His replacement, C.J. Spiller, has been showing some promise, however.

Weapons Grade: B-

Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton

I just need to say this up front: Cam Newton is his own best weapon.

That being said, he also has a few others that aren't too shabby. I think that nobody has figured out how to use them. Imagine a college spread guy coming in to coordinate the offense. That would be insane.

Steve Smith, DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Greg Olson are all dangerous weapons.

The Panthers' offensive line is suspect, though, they do pave the way for the fifth-ranked rushing attack in the NFL.

Weapons Grade: B

Chicago Bears: Caleb Hanie

Fans in Chicago are still reeling from the loss of Jay Cutler for the regular season, and then...BOOM! Down goes Matt Forte. Talk about getting hammered.

Caleb Hanie doesn't look like he knows what to do with the weapons he does have, and the Bears are probably going to miss out on the playoffs.

Marion Barber is average, the receivers aren't good route runners and the offensive line has been brutal at times this season, both in giving up sacks and in penalties.

Weapons Grade: D+

Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton has one of the best weapons at his disposal in the entire NFL. A.J. Green has the ability to go up and get the football, and he and Dalton have developed rare chemistry.

Cedric Benson has been disappointing this year, and Scott hasn't wowed anyone, either.

Jermaine Gresham is one of the best young tight ends, right behind Gronkowski and Graham.

Andre Smith has whipped himself into shape, and he has helped lead an offensive line that has only given up 20 sacks, fourth in the league.

Weapons Grade: B

Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy. I'm not sure what to make of him. I'm not sure what to make of the entire offense. 

I am sure of this: Payton Hillis won't be on this team next year. The one-year wonder made life difficult for team president Mike Holmgren.

Rookie wide receiver Greg Little has been a bright spot on this tough season for the Browns. He leads all NFL rookies with 50 catches (tied for first w/Green).

Joe Thomas anchors an offensive line that hasn't been as productive as predicted. They rank in the bottom half in both categories.

Weapons Grade: C-

Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo

The Cowboys, like always, feature as fine an arsenal of weaponry on offense as any team in the league. 

So why can't Tony Romo ever seem to pull it all together for a whole season?

Rookie DeMarco Murray has been electric since being inserted into the starting lineup.

Jason Whitten is still among the top five tight ends in the NFL.

Dez Bryant is freakishly amazing on the sidelines at wide receiver, and if he could ever stay healthy for an entire year, he'd put up gaudy numbers.

The offensive line is coming on strong, and they rank in the top half of the NFL in both passing and running categories.

Weapons Grade: A

Denver Broncos: Tim Tebow

Every week, analysts say that teams will figure out Tim Tebow's offense, and every week they are wrong. The Denver Broncos are not the most talented team in the league, but somehow their talents suit the needs of the team.

Willis McGahee is having a career resurgence in Denver. The ninth-year veteran is playing like a kid right out of college these days.

Tight end is a position of need. Rookie Virgil Green might be good in the future, but right now they are lacking.

Eric Decker is proving to be the perfect compliment to Tebow. Denaryius Thomas has been showing signs of life as well.

Denver's offensive line has found their groove since Tebow entered the starting lineup.

Weapons Grade: B-

Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford's Detroit Lions are fairly stacked at the wide receiver position. Calvin Johnson is one of the deadliest weapons in the NFL.

The team struggles to run the ball consistently, however, and they could use a better weapon at the running back position.

Brandon Pettigrew is a dangerous threat in the red zone.

Detroit also features a decent offensive line, giving up only 24 sacks on the year.

Weapons Grade: B+

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers have stocked the barrels of gunslinger Aaron Rodgers' rifle for an arm with the best possible ammunition known to mankind. No other team can compete with the weapons that the Packers put on the field on Sundays.

James Starks isn't a featured back, but he doesn't need to be. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he is a crafty runner.

The receiving corps is the cream of the crop. The team has four receivers that might start for other teams.

The offensive line needs to get better before the playoffs, though, or Rodgers might end up on the ground.

Weapons Grade: A+

Houston Texans: T.J. Yates

T.J. Yates of the Houston Texans has some top-notch weapons at his disposal. It's a good thing, too, because the young quarterback is trying to lead the team to its first divisional title in the AFC South.

Arian Foster and Ben Tate are among the best duo of runners in the NFL.

Tight end Owen Daniels is always a threat in the middle of the field.

Andre Johnson...ouch. Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones need to step up big.

The offensive line is one of the best in the league, and they are third in the NFL for sacks allowed and third in the NFL in rushing.

Weapons Grade: B

Indianapolis Colts: Dan Orlovsky

Some weapons are useless in the wrong hands. That is the case with the Indianapolis Colts. Dan Orlovsky is the third quarterback this season for the team.

The team has never been able to establish a running game in any of their 12 games this season.

Dallas Clark has been out, and the lack of depth at his position is now apparent.

Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon are excellent on the outside.

The offensive line is actually pretty decent.

Weapons Grade: C-

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert

The Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the least talented teams on offense in the NFL. 

Maurice Jones-Drew is the Jaguars' offense.

Marcedes Lewis isn't a factor.

The team has no talent at wide receiver.

The offensive line is bad.

Weapons Grade: D

Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Palko

Believe it or not, but the Kansas City Chiefs are among the most loaded offenses in the league. 

When they are all healthy.

Injuries have decimated the team this year, though, and the weapons have gotten less explosive.

Thomas Jones has probably played his last season in the NFL, and he has had a disappointing year.

Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston are still viable threats on the outside, but losing Tony Moeaki for the season before the season even began has hampered this offense.

The offensive line has been inconsistent and prone to take a lot of penalties.

Weapons Grade: C

Miami Dolphins: Matt Moore

The Miami Dolphins have finally begun to show what they can do on offense in the second half of the season. Matt Moore might actually be the long-term answer at quarterback.

Reggie Bush has surprised me with the way he has come to play lately, and he is always dangerous.

The Fins could use an athletic tight end to compliment Anthony Fassano.

Brandon Marshall and Davon Bess are both dangerous weapons.

The offensive line has been offensive, though. They have allowed too many sacks, and the team will need to get some help in the draft.

Weapons Grade: C+

Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder

The Minnesota Vikings are lacking talent in a crucial aspect of the game: They don't have anybody to play wide receiver. 

Adrian Peterson, when healthy, is one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL. 

Visanthe Shiancoe is a good option as a tight end, but he seems to disappear sometimes.

Percy Harvin isn't really a wide receiver. He's more of a running back, and the team misses the dimension of having a sideline threat.

The offensive line is terrible, and the team needs to address this heavily in the draft.

Weapons Grade: C-

New England Patriots: Tom Brady

Tom Brady always seems to make the most out of what he has. The New England Patriots have players on their roster that contribute in big ways that might not even make other rosters.

The tandem at running back always seems to get positive yards, and both BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead constantly surprise me.

There isn't much talent on the outside, but Wes Welker is the king of the middle. 

And then there is the two-headed, safety-slaying monster of Gronkowski and Hernandez. Gronkowski is the best tight end to hit the league in a long time.

The offensive line always manages to do a good job for their captain.

Weapons Grade: B+

New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees

On every level, at every position, the New Orleans Saints have loaded the offense with weapons. 

Drew Brees is one of the best in the league, but he has help.

Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram all contribute.

Jimmy Graham trails only Wes Welker in receptions for the year.

The offensive line is tied for sixth place, giving up only 21 sacks this season.

Weapons Grade: A+

New York Giants: Eli Manning

Losing Ahmad Bradshaw to injury has really exposed the Giants' weakness at the running back position.

Eli Manning has dangerous weapons at his disposal in the passing game, though, and he frequently gives them a chance to make things happen.

The Giants have had a rough go of it on the offensive line, though, and the team needs to address this in the draft.

Weapons Grade: B

New York Jets: Mark Sanchez

Mark Sanchez needs a running game, and he needs it now.

The New York Jets are fairly talented at wide receiver, with Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress manning the sidelines.

Dustin Keller is OK at tight end, but the team needs another option.

The offensive line, which had been so good for the last two years at run-blocking, is now having issues.

Weapons Grade: C

Oakland Raiders: Carson Palmer

The Oakland Raiders are actually one of the better stocked teams in the NFL in terms of explosive weapons on offense.

Carson Palmer is at his best when he can hand the ball off 30-40 times a game. Michael Bush and a healthy Darren McFadden will give him one of the best duos in the NFL.

Tight end is a position of need. Kevin Boss is not the answer.

The Raiders' young receivers might turn into one of the best units in the league, given another year or two to develop with Palmer.

The young offensive line is also getting better.

Weapons Grade: A-

Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick

The Philadelphia Eagles' lost season isn't due to a lack of weapons on offense. Michael Vick has an explosive arsenal at his disposal.

LeSean McCoy has taken Matt Forte's spot at the top of the list as the best in the NFL.

Brent Celek is good, but the team could use a better athlete to stretch the middle of the field.

The wide receivers are good. But the team needs a viable No. 1 receiver. Both Maclin and Jackson are both small, speedy guys.

The offensive line has been surprisingly good, when you consider what they have allowed to happen to Vick this season.

Weapons Grade: B+

Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethisberger

Ben Roethilsberger has a few dangerous weapons at his disposal for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown are fast becoming one of the premier one-two punches in the NFL.

Heath Miller is still going strong, and he is always a threat in the red zone.

The running back situation is tepid, however. The team should continue to find the answer through the draft.

The offensive line, as usual, has struggled to keep Roethlisberger off his back.

Weapons Grade: B-

San Diego Chargers: Phillip Rivers

The San Diego Chargers might be in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC if not for a horrible offensive line.

Phillip Rivers has dangerous weapons at every position, except the offensive line can't protect him enough to use them.

The team would get an "A" if not for this.

Weapons Grade: C-

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith

The San Francisco 49ers are a dangerous team. Alex Smith has a few weapons that can take it for six on any play.

Frank Gore and rookie Kendall Hunter are both dangerous out of the backfield.

Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker are the second-best duo at their position (behind New England).

Michael Crabtree has come out of his shell and is playing like the first-round pick he is. But the team lost Joshua Morgan to a broken leg, and they need another option.

The offensive line has been both brilliant and terrible this year, and they are the weak link.

Weapons Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks: Tavaris Jackson

Besides the incredible play of running back Marshawn Lynch, there aren't any weapons on the Seattle Seahawks' roster that scare anyone.

Tavaris Jackson isn't a good NFL quarterback, but he hasn't had any help, either. The Seahawks' wide receivers and tight ends are terrible.

The Seahawks' offensive line is one of the best in the running game, but they are atrocious in pass protection.

Weapons Grade: D

St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams are the least talented team in the NFL on offense.

It doesn't help that the team has also been the one worst hit by injuries.

The only two weapons for Bradford worth mentioning are running back Stephen Jackson (much respect) and wide receiver Brandon Lloyd.

Every other aspect of this offense is horrible.

Weapons Grade: F

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Johnson

Josh Freeman is hurt, so the team is now relying on Josh Johnson for the next game. Not that it really matters. The Bucs have been terrible since getting hammered in San Francisco.

LeGarrette Blount is the bright spot for the Buccaneers. He is a tough runner who is a dangerous weapon for any offense.

Kellen Winslow is always above average, but the wide receivers have been a disappointment this year.

The Buccaneers feature a strong unit on the offensive line, and they will keep getting better over time.

Weapons Grade: C+

Tennessee Titans: Matt Hasselbeck

The Tennessee Titans are an interesting team to grade. Now that Chris Johnson is playing like he should, the team will grade higher.

The Titans have had good production from their wide receivers. Nate Washington has been the most solid receiver for the team.

One area of concern is the tight end position. The team needs to draft an athletic tight end that can stretch linebackers away from the line of scrimmage.

The Titans' offensive line is impressive in the passing game, and their running game has picked up.

Weapons Grade: B-

Washington Redskins: Rex Grossman

Despite all the money spent on high-priced free agents over the years, Daniel Snyder has still managed to not get a No. 1 receiver on his squad.

Roy Helu, Jr. is decent, and he has been productive for the Redskins, but the team needs to improve at his position.

Fred Davis is a fantastic tight end. Too bad he's got to serve a four-game suspension for offseason drug-related issues.

The wide receivers fall into the same category as the Eagles. They need a big target that can also run great routes and go up to catch the ball.

The Redskins' offensive line has been horrible in the running game, and the team is still in trouble in this area.

Weapons Grade: C-