by Vegas Writer
Monday, Jul 29, 2024As NFL training camps are in full swing now, I started thinking about who my TOP 5 QUARTERBACKS are heading into the regular season. And while it pains me to leave Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott off the list, he didn't make the list. Nor did the Miami Dolphins' newest high-priced signal-caller, Tua Tagovailoa, or Houston Texans youngster C.J. Stroud.
But those three would have fallen somewhere in the next three.
Anyhoo, if you're looking to make some season-wide wagers, some sort of quarterback future prop wagers, here are my top five NFL quarterbacks:
5. AARON RODGERS: This one might cause a little bit of controversy, but he's the guy who could very well take home the MVP award this season, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Yes, he's in his 40s. Yes, he's coming off an Achilles injury. Yes, he plays for the, ahem, New York Jets. But we're talking about a four-time MVP Super Bowl champion and a guy who knows how to get it done. He does his best work too, when he has a chip on his shoulder. Rodgers not only has the resume to back up what I'm saying, but he is in a great situation with the Jets. He's got new protection as the Jets have replaced 60% of their offensive line. Rodgers was ranked the number one quarterback in the NFL when throwing from a clean pocket over the past three seasons in Green Bay. Fact is, when he has the protection, he performs well. He has a great defense on the other side, he's got a great complement of weapons, and he's got Nathaniel Hackett. When Hackett and Rodgers were in the same system, the veteran was able to get MVP awards.
4. JOSH ALLEN: This one also might be a bit controversial, because you have people who think he's fallen from his star, and others who believe he should be higher. I have Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen at number four. We know how productive Allen is. He is a great passer. He's got a huge arm. We know how dangerous he can be on the move. He ranked third in QBR and passing touchdowns outside of the pocket last season, while accounting for 74% of his team's net yards. He cannot go any higher than four because of the lack of postseason success. I am waiting for him to break through and get to the Super Bowl. And not only that, the turnover numbers are too glaring for me, 78 interceptions and 59 fumbles since 2018 again. Those mistakes, and the fact that he hasn't broken through, puts him at number four for me.
3. JOE BURROW: Heading to Cincinnati for number three is Joe Burrow. This might be a little controversial because I know there are people who want to see Allen ahead of the Bengals' gun-slinger. People tend to knock Burrow for his injuries, and I understand that, because he does constantly deal with injuries. He's dealt with a calf strain and wrist injuries this past season, but when he is healthy, you cannot debate me that Burrow is an unbelievable quarterback. His career completion percentage of 68% is the highest in NFL history through a player's first four seasons. If Burrow can stay healthy, the Bengals will always be a threat in the AFC.
2. LAMAR JACKSON: Here is someone with the potential of being No. 1, but it'll be hard to supplant who's already there. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is No. 2 for me. The two-time MVP is the youngest two-time MVP award winner since the merger. He's unbelievable during the regular season. His career regular season winning percentage of .753 is almost identical to Tom Brady's, which was .754. He is a dynamic dual threat. We know what Jackson can do with his legs, we know what he can do with his arms, but he can't be any higher than because of the postseason. I've watched this guy become an incredible leader, and I watched him get to the AFC Championship game last season. But there's still some stuff left to be desired when it comes to Jackson and until he and the Ravens dethrone the Chiefs, he stays at No. 2.
1. PATRICK MAHOMES: Is there any doubt about this? The No. 1 quarterback in the league coming into this season is certainly Kansas City Chiefs leader Patrick Mahomes. He is one of three players in NFL history with three Super Bowls and two MVPs. Tom Brady and Joe Montana, are the other two and they needed 11 and 12 years to get it done, respectively. Mahomes has done it in seven years, and during that span, 219 touchdown passes. 28,424 passing yards. Perspective, that's 284.24 football fields of passing yards. That's six miles of passing yards. Get the point?
But those three would have fallen somewhere in the next three.
Anyhoo, if you're looking to make some season-wide wagers, some sort of quarterback future prop wagers, here are my top five NFL quarterbacks:
5. AARON RODGERS: This one might cause a little bit of controversy, but he's the guy who could very well take home the MVP award this season, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Yes, he's in his 40s. Yes, he's coming off an Achilles injury. Yes, he plays for the, ahem, New York Jets. But we're talking about a four-time MVP Super Bowl champion and a guy who knows how to get it done. He does his best work too, when he has a chip on his shoulder. Rodgers not only has the resume to back up what I'm saying, but he is in a great situation with the Jets. He's got new protection as the Jets have replaced 60% of their offensive line. Rodgers was ranked the number one quarterback in the NFL when throwing from a clean pocket over the past three seasons in Green Bay. Fact is, when he has the protection, he performs well. He has a great defense on the other side, he's got a great complement of weapons, and he's got Nathaniel Hackett. When Hackett and Rodgers were in the same system, the veteran was able to get MVP awards.
4. JOSH ALLEN: This one also might be a bit controversial, because you have people who think he's fallen from his star, and others who believe he should be higher. I have Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen at number four. We know how productive Allen is. He is a great passer. He's got a huge arm. We know how dangerous he can be on the move. He ranked third in QBR and passing touchdowns outside of the pocket last season, while accounting for 74% of his team's net yards. He cannot go any higher than four because of the lack of postseason success. I am waiting for him to break through and get to the Super Bowl. And not only that, the turnover numbers are too glaring for me, 78 interceptions and 59 fumbles since 2018 again. Those mistakes, and the fact that he hasn't broken through, puts him at number four for me.
3. JOE BURROW: Heading to Cincinnati for number three is Joe Burrow. This might be a little controversial because I know there are people who want to see Allen ahead of the Bengals' gun-slinger. People tend to knock Burrow for his injuries, and I understand that, because he does constantly deal with injuries. He's dealt with a calf strain and wrist injuries this past season, but when he is healthy, you cannot debate me that Burrow is an unbelievable quarterback. His career completion percentage of 68% is the highest in NFL history through a player's first four seasons. If Burrow can stay healthy, the Bengals will always be a threat in the AFC.
2. LAMAR JACKSON: Here is someone with the potential of being No. 1, but it'll be hard to supplant who's already there. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is No. 2 for me. The two-time MVP is the youngest two-time MVP award winner since the merger. He's unbelievable during the regular season. His career regular season winning percentage of .753 is almost identical to Tom Brady's, which was .754. He is a dynamic dual threat. We know what Jackson can do with his legs, we know what he can do with his arms, but he can't be any higher than because of the postseason. I've watched this guy become an incredible leader, and I watched him get to the AFC Championship game last season. But there's still some stuff left to be desired when it comes to Jackson and until he and the Ravens dethrone the Chiefs, he stays at No. 2.
1. PATRICK MAHOMES: Is there any doubt about this? The No. 1 quarterback in the league coming into this season is certainly Kansas City Chiefs leader Patrick Mahomes. He is one of three players in NFL history with three Super Bowls and two MVPs. Tom Brady and Joe Montana, are the other two and they needed 11 and 12 years to get it done, respectively. Mahomes has done it in seven years, and during that span, 219 touchdown passes. 28,424 passing yards. Perspective, that's 284.24 football fields of passing yards. That's six miles of passing yards. Get the point?
