Ranking quarterbacks is a subjective game that takes into account a bunch of different factors. Games that you have watched, statistics themselves and even potential pre-set notions that you have about specific players are three things that have to be taken into account. With the success of some of the young quarterbacks around the National Football League, we have had the pleasure of watching some stellar young players at that position.
Here are our rankings of the top-five young quarterbacks in the NFL. The only requirement for this list is three or less years of previous experience in the NFL. So, here goes.
5. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
Career Statistics: 62.5 completion percentage, 4,590 passing yards, 37 total touchdowns and seven interceptions (9-7 record)
Courtesy of NFL.com: Foles beats out RGII for the fifth spot.
Foles may have the smallest sample size of any quarterback on this list, but what he was able to do during his first year as the Eagles starter was nothing short of amazing. The former third-round pick tallied 30 total touchdowns compared to two interceptions and led Philadelphia to wins in eight of his 10 starts. Try to find a better rookie season from a quarterback. I dare you.
In total, Foles put up multiple touchdowns in eight of his starts and had 26 touchdowns and just one interception in games that the Eagles came out on top. Foles’ 119.2 quarterback rating was the highest single-season mark in NFL history for a player with a minimum of 300 pass attempts.
4. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Career Statistics: 59.8 completion percentage, 11,299 passing yards, 2,032 rushing yards, 92 total touchdowns and 42 interceptions (25-23 record)
Some of you likely expected Newton to be higher on this last, and an argument could very well be made for that. He came out like an absolute stud as a rookie in 2011, compiling over 900 total yards in his first two NFL starts, which still represents a league record. In terms of per game production, it’s hard to find any quarterback in the league outside of a select few that is asked to do as much as Newton. He’s averaging over 38 total combined pass and rush attempts per game in his career. With that comes the possibility of making more mistakes.
Newton did regress both as a quarterback and a leader during his sophomore campaign in 2012 as the Panthers failed to live up to expectations. He completed less than 58 percent of his passes with seven more passing touchdowns than interceptions that season. His eight rushing touchdowns that season did enable Newton to put up a solid overall touchdown-to-interception ratio, which is an important statistic with the new breed of quarterback in the NFL today. Newton’s performance this past season could have very well pushed him ahead of two of the quarterbacks ranked ahead of him on this list. He was nothing short of amazing for a surprising Panthers team in 2013.
3. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Career Statistics: 57.0 completion percentage, 8,196 passing yards, 632 rushing yards, 55 total touchdowns and 27 interceptions (22-10 record)
Courtesy of ESPN: Luck could very well be No. 1 among these QBs in five years.
Speaking of being asked to do a whole lot. Luck represented over 78 percent of the Colts overall offense in his first two seasons in the NFL. The most striking statistic here is that the former No. 1 overall pick has tallied nearly 20 percent of the Colts total rushing yards during this span. Those are not numbers you would expect from someone who many considered to be a prototypical drop-back passer coming out of Stanford.
It’s important to remember that Luck took over a Colts team that went 2-14 the year before and led them to the playoffs in 2012. He then repeated that performance by leading Indianapolis to a division title last season. Considering that Luck represents a vast majority of Indianapolis’ offense during this span, his importance to the team cannot be stated enough.
With the need to carry Indianapolis’ offense, comes more turnovers. Luck has turned the ball over 34 times in 32 starts. That’s a number that he’s going to have to decrease moving forward. Though, it’s important to note that the Colts need to give him some more balance on offense in order for that to happen.
2. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Career Statistics: 59.8 completion percentage, 5,046 passing yrds, 937 rushing yards, 40 total touchdowns and 11 interceptions (17-6 record)
Some may disagree with Kaepernick being so high on this list, and that’s perfectly fine. He did seem to take a step back in the first half of the 2013 season with Michael Crabtree sidelined due to an Achilles injury. However, Kaepernick’s overall body of work tells us a story of one of the most successful young quarterbacks in the recent history of the league.
Including the postseason, Kaepernick has racked up a 21-8 record in 29 starts with 52 total touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. Those are absolutely ridiculous numbers. He has more career road playoff wins than former 49ers’ quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young combined in two less road playoff starts. Think about that for a second.
Some may say that Kaepernick’s success is a product of San Francisco’s talent. That may be true to an extent, but he has willed that team to victory in at least two playoff games in his short tenure as the 49ers starter. Kaepernick put up over 440 total yards and four scores in his first ever playoff game against the Green Bay Packers in January of 2013. In addition to that, he was able to lead the 49ers back in the NFC Championship game that same postseason against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite some struggles in San Francisco’s two playoff losses since he took over, Kaepernick has proven himself to be a budding star and worthy of the No. 2 spot.
1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Career Statistics: 63.6 completion percentage, 6,475 passing yards, 1,028 rushing yards, 57 total touchdowns and 19 interceptions (24-8 record)
The only quarterback on this list with a Super Bowl title to his name, there is no way that we could have anyone else here at No. 1 outside of Wilson. While he has thrown the least amount of passes of any regular starter over the past two seasons, Wilson’s ability to make plays on third down and in the clutch has placed him in legendary status among fans in the Pacific Northwest.
Much like Kaepernick, Wilson’s numbers are staggering. Including the postseason, the third-year quarterback has put up a 28-9 record with 64 total touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 37 career starts. As dazzling as that might be, it’s what Wilson has done in the postseason that has us amazed. None of these performance are more magnified than the three touchdowns and zero interceptions that he put up in the playoffs this past season.
Luck may have more all-around talent. Kaepernick may have a stronger arm and be more athletic. Newton may be more of a generational talent. None of that really matters, Wilsons’ overall game and leadership ability makes him the best young quarterback in the NFL.
Photo: Kyle Terada, USA Today