Top 12 Quarterbacks going into 2020
12. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Going into the 2019 season, Ryan Tannehill was nothing more than a backup for the Tennessee Titans. By the end of the year, Tannehill was the starting QB of a team that went to the AFC Championship. Also, he was named the 2019 Comeback Player of the Year. Tannehill finished the season with a completion percentage of 70%, a 9-4 record (including playoffs), and a league-leading Passer Rating of 117.5. Many may not believe in Tannehill, but the talent was always there. He finally got a shot on a team that lets him be himself and he is shining. Expect nothing less than Tannehill to lead the Titans to an AFC South title in 2020.
11. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
If any quarterback deserved better in his career, it is Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions. Stafford, 31, has put together a decorated career, putting up number’s year in and year out. For a career, Stafford has thrown for over 41,000 yards and 256 touchdowns in 11 seasons. On October 20, 2019, Stafford became the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach 40,000 passing yards. Despite these stats, the gunslinging quarterback has reached the playoffs only three times and has an 0-3 record. Stafford has shown that he can get it done, but his team has let him down time after time, preventing him from getting over the top. Even with the 0-3 record, Stafford is still one of the most talented arms in the NFL.
10. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Yes, Tom Brady is arguably the “G.O.A.T”. But age has started to catch Brady. Even with this being a factor, the six-time super bowl champion still deserves to be considered a top 10 quarterback. For the first time in 20 years, he will not be in a Patriot uniform, but rather a Buccaneer one. Brady is coming off a decent season, throwing 24 touchdowns and 8 interceptions to go with a little over 4,000 passing yards. New England’s offense was subpar in 2019, so Tampa Bay’s weapons may elevate Brady’s game closer to his younger self rather than older. With WR’s Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, plus old Patriot teammate TE Rob Gronkowski, the three-time MVP will have his options and could make a playoff run in 2020. No matter what Brady does in 2020 and beyond, he will be remembered as an all-time great, if not the greatest.
9. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
2019 was a special year for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. The 8-year veteran was going into his second in Minnesota and put up solid numbers for a run-heavy offense. He threw for 3,603 yards, 26 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and a 69.1 completion percentage, which was tied for fourth in the NFL. More importantly, Cousins was finally able to get a playoff win, going on the road to upset the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round. This was the biggest win of Cousins’ career, but also one to build on. Can Cousins become a guy the Vikings rely on to get it done in a big game? 2020 will write a lot of this narrative.
8. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
Nobody ever questions the talent that Carson Wentz has. If he stayed healthy for a full season, he would most likely have an MVP award and who knows what else he could have done. Unfortunately, staying healthy has been an extreme struggle, but 2019 showed signs of that going away. Even though he got hurt in the Eagles playoff game against the Seahawks, Wentz had a very gutsy year in 2019. The former second overall pick had a 9-7 record, throwing for 4,039 yards (career-high), 27 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. These numbers won’t wow you, but the supporting cast Wentz had was extremely depleted and was down to his third and fourth string receivers. Besides the tight end position, the Eagles were injured everywhere on offense, but Wentz still found his way in the playoffs. If healthy, Carson Wentz can easily be a lot higher on this list.
7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
It is amazing how far we have seen Dak Prescott grow as a quarterback in the four years he has been in the league. Prescott has developed into not only one of the best players, but a leader in the locker room too. For a career, the two-time pro bowler has a 40-24 record, 15,778 passing yards, and 97 touchdowns. Last year he came into his own, throwing for 4,902 yards, which ranked second in the NFL, and 30 touchdowns. Despite this, Prescott has a lowly 1-2 record in the playoffs, but still has a ton of time to have success. The Cowboys are in contract talks with the young quarterback on an extension, which I believe will get done at some point. When that is done, Prescott will look to take back the NFC East and make a deep playoff run.
6. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
At 36 years old, Aaron Rodgers has put together one of the best careers from a quarterback of all-time. Not many people have the raw arm talent that Rodgers has. Combine that with his instincts, you have a hall of fame quarterback. The super bowl winning quarterback is coming off a 13-3 season, where he threw 26 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. With limited depth, Rodgers still found a way to get it done and it is looking like he is going to have to do it again in 2020. Will he get this team over the hump, or will age start to catch up to the talented quarterback?
5. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
To start our top five, we have one of the young up and coming quarterbacks in the NFL, Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson. The former Clemson star has burst onto the scene, winning football games and making jaw-dropping plays happen every week. For a career, Watson has a 24-13 record and two division titles in three years. The year he did not was his rookie season, when he missed 10 games due to injury. Watson already has two pro bowls to go along with a career stat line of 9,716 passing yards, 71 passing touchdowns, and 29 interceptions. To add to that, he also has 1,233 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns for a career. Watson’s next step is to make a deep playoff run. If Houston can put the right team around him, Watson can put a team on his back and carry them.
4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Out of this group, the most unique quarterback is Lamar Jackson, who in just his second season, won the MVP in 2019. Jackson threw for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns, which led the league. To add to that, Jackson also rushed for 7 touchdowns and 1,206 yards, which was ranked sixth in the entire NFL. Jackson’s success will now be based on how he does in the playoffs. The numbers are great, but the former Louisville QB needs to play better in January if the Ravens want to win the Super Bowl. I have full confidence that Jackson will get over that hump, especially that he is getting better and better every day.
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
When you look at Drew Brees, the numbers speak for itself. Brees is the all-time leader in completion percentage, passing yards, and passes completed, and passing touchdowns. To add to that, the 40-year-old quarterback also has a Super Bowl ring but is poised to win more. While the end is near for New Orleans, their team from top to bottom is absolutely loaded and are one of the few teams that have a legitimate chance to win it all. Another super bowl win would put Brees’ legacy on a whole other level. If it is possible for an all-time great to be underrated, Brees would be your answer. You do not hear his name come up for the “G.O.A.T”, but he has all the records. If the Saints do get Brees another ring, you will start hearing his name in that conversation.
2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
While not at the level of Drew Brees’ greatness yet, Russell Wilson is by far the most underappreciated quarterback in the NFL. Every year, Wilson has his team in a position to not only make the playoffs, but make a deep playoff run as well. Wilson has missed the playoffs only once in his career and has won a playoff game every year except for 2018. His playoff record is 9-6 with a Super Bowl ring to go with it. These are just his playoff numbers. On the regular season, Wilson has 227 touchdowns, over 29,000 yards, and a record of 86-41-1. All these wins and numbers, yet Wilson has never even received an MVP vote. Wilson is arguably a Hall of Famer and the best Seahawk of all time and deserves an MVP vote at least. By the end of his career, I would be surprised if Wilson never wins an MVP because of the level of talent this guy has.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
With all the talent at the quarterback position, it still is not a question who the best quarterback and player in the NFL is. His name is Patrick Mahomes. Through two seasons as a starter, Mahomes has put together a better resume than most veterans. From a number’s standpoint, Mahomes has thrown for a whopping 9,412 passing yards and 76 touchdowns in 31 career games. Besides these incredible numbers, Mahomes is a 2-time Pro Bowler, 1-time All-Pro, an MVP and a Super Bowl champion. All of that, in two seasons. In his MVP season, he threw for 50 touchdowns, which led the league. With Brady gone, the NFL needs a new dynasty and Patrick Mahomes has a real chance to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a special run over the next 15 years.
Stats from profootballreference.com
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