Ranking The QBs

It's pretty much as it sounds today...but I'm gonna spice it up a bit.

Legend - U means Upside....D means Decline....I means Injury Prone....R means should Retire

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots --- How can anyone argue this now? Brady threw for an NFL record 50 TD passes, but he did fade down the stretch. However, he still has 3 Super Bowls to his credit and plays on one of the best offences in the league.
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts --- Still one of the best, and most consistent, QBs of our generation. Posted 31 TDs and 14 INTs last season, but spent most of it without Marvin Harrison. If Manning is going to stay near the top of this list, he has to learn to cope without Harrison.
3. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (U) --- Posted a career-high 36 TDs last year, and is just entering the prime of his career. Many bash Romo for not having won a playoff game yet, but Manning struggled in the playoffs for years before finally winning. Give him time.
4. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals (U) --- Still young, and has a great group of WRs. Has a strong arm, and used it to post 26 TDs last season. Did post 20 INTs, however, and needs to improve on that total. A consistent running game will help Palmer big time.
5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints --- Brees was grossly inconsistent last year, but is among the league's best when he comes to play. Will benefit from his receivers getting more experience, and also needs the running game to step up.
6. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles (I) --- Got off to a fantastic start last year before going down with a second-consecutive season ending injury. Needs to stay on the field, or this could be his last year in Philly.
7. Eli Manning, New York Giants (U) --- Still has flashes of brilliance, and flashes of inconsistency, but is the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Needs to improve his decision making, and prove that his January run wasn't a fluke.
8. Phillip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (U) --- Has improved in each of his years starting, and needs to take that final step this year. The Chargers have finally improved their receiving corps, and that should help Rivers. He has a good arm, but lacks great mobility or decision making.
9. Marc Bulger, St Louis Rams (I) --- Needs to stay healthy, and play a bit better, to live up to his lofty contract extension he received before the 2007 season. One of the most accurate QBs in the league, and is blessed with a great supporting cast.
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (U) --- Came into his own last year, and could take the next step into the upper-echelon of QBs this year. Needs to make better decisions, but is more mobile than he looks in his 6'5 frame.
11. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks (I) --- Remains one of the NFL's most consistent QBs.
Has to stay healthy, and also hope that his WRs can also remain on the field. Tends to struggle when teams focus on him, and not the running game. He also isn't very mobile.
12. David Garrard, Jacksonville Jaguars (U/I) --- Stepped into the starting role last year, and ran away with it. Threw 18 TDs to only 3 INTs, and looked very good at moving around in the pocket. Will improved when his WRs mature. Has a great run game to rely on as well.
13. Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns (U) --- Wow, what a story Anderson was. Came in as the third string QB last year, and ran away with the job. If he duplicates his 29 TDs from a year ago, Cleveland fans will be saying "Brady who?"
14. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers (I) --- When he plays, he is a very reliable QB who rarely makes big mistakes. The problem is when he doesn't play. He is coming off of Tommy John surgery, and may not be the same this year.
15. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (D/R) --- At 38 years old, his best years are behind him. But, he continues to win. With the plethora of QBs in Tampa, don't be surprised if this is Garcia's last year under Jon Gruden.
16. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals (D/R) --- Sorry Matt, Warner stole the show last season. Threw 27 TDs in relief of Leinart, and doesn't seem to be slowing down with age. He is getting up there though, and this needs to be a big year for Leinart.
17. Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos (U) --- Possesses a big arm, but hasn't quite figured out how to harness it. Needs to drastically improve his decision making. Is great at moving around in the pocket, but is not exactly mobile. Has a good bunch of receivers.
18. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins (U/I) --- Big year for Campbell, as the Redskins look to climb in the brutal NFC East. Has great mobility and a big arm, but lacks good decision making skills. Has to become a more consistent performer for the Skins to compete.
19. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (U/I) --- It's never easy replacing the best QB of All-Time, but that is task in front of Rodgers. Has the supporting cast to be a Pro Bowler right away, and has great size and a good arm. Needs to stay on the field.
20. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (U/I) --- Some may feel he ranks a bit higher, but he needs to show he can remain healthy. Looked very good at the beginning of last season, but injuries took their toll. Also needs a healthy Andre Johnson.
21. Chad Pennington, New York Jets (I/D) --- If he wins the starting job (which he may not), Pennington needs to re-gain his All-Pro accuracy and touch is he wants to succeed. Has had two surgeries on his throwing shoulder, and has very bad arm strength.
22. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans (U) --- Can win games, but has struggled as a QB in the NFL. Threw only 9 TDs last season, but led the Titans to the playoffs. Does anyone else see similarities to a guy who is now being imprisoned for dogfighting?
23. Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals (U/I) --- Like I said above, Leinart needs to stay healthy and keep Kurt Warner off the field. Is blessed with a great receiving corp. Needs to take the next step in his career and lead the Cardinals to the playoffs.
24. Jon Kitna, Detroit Lions (D/R) --- The turnover machine has been both a blessing and a curse for the Lions. He has done a good job passing for yards, but has lacked in the touchdown area. Is basically just holding the job now as the Lions develop Drew Stanton to replace him.
25. Sage Rosenfels, Houston Texans --- The best backup in the league. Has stepped in nicely as a reserve in the past, and wants to find a starting job somewhere. Is just entering his prime, and could use his big arm to be very successful.
26. Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears (U/I/D) --- The big question mark with Rex is can he remain consistent over a full year. He will only get one more chance in Chicago, and this is a contract year. However, he needs to win the job from Kyle Orton first.
27. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills (U) --- Showed great poise and decision making last season, leading the Bills to a 7-9 record. Needs to improve his mobility, and possibly his arm strength. Can't heave the deep ball as much as they would like, but can still develop.
28. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers (U/I) --- This could be his last chance as well. Needs to fight off Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan for reps this year. Smith was a #1 overall pick, and has the intangibles to succeed. Will benefit from having Mike Martz as his coordinator.
29. Billy Volek, San Diego Chargers --- The second best backup in the league. He proved this when he stepped in a played very well in the playoffs last year. It is a shocker that this guy isn't starting somewhere, and could be used as trade bait later in the year.
30. Josh McCown, Miami Dolphins --- Should be the front-runner for the job in Miami. Has a good arm and is very mobile. Has never shown the skills necessary to be a NFL starter, but could keep the seat warm for John Beck or rookie Chad Henne.
31. Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs (U)
32. Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears
33. Kellen Clemens, New York Jets (U)
34. Kyle Boller, Baltimore Ravens
35. Byron Leftwich, Free Agent
36. Troy Smith, Baltimore Ravens (U)
37. JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders (U)
38. Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans (D/R)
39. Shaun Hill, San Franciso 49ers (U)
40. J.P. Losman, Buffalo Bills
41. Chris Redman, Atlanta Falcons
42. Matt Ryan (rookie), Atlanta Falcons (U)
43. Saneca Wallace, Seattle Seahawks
44. Daunte Culpepper, Free Agent (I/D)
45. Brad Johnson, Dallas Cowboys (D/R)
46. A.J. Feeley, Philadelphia Eagles
47. Brian Brohm (rookie), Green Bay Packers (U)
48. Brian Griese, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (D/R)
49. Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns (U)
50. Damon Huard, Kansas City Chiefs (D/R)