Pro Football Focus today released its preseason quarterback rankings as we get closer to the first full week of the NFL preseason.
The data miners over at Pro Football Focus (Silver and Black Today is a media subscriber) have released their latest quarterback rankings heading into the 2018 season. Raiders franchise quarterback Derek Carr, who was graded 22nd (78.8) by the publication after the end of last season, has jumped to No. 13 due to offseason changes to Oakland’s coaching staff and system.
Citing Carr’s solid 2015, and monster 2016 season, PFF‘s Steve Palazzolo says the Raiders quarterback remains one of the league’s best.
Carr’s 2017 dropped him from fifth overall after 2016 to a projected 13th prior to 2018, according to PFF.
“Carr remains high in the rankings due to his strong 2015 and 2016 seasons in which he executed a high percentage of big-time throws while avoiding the big mistakes that marred his 2017 campaign,” Palazzolo writes.
Carr ranked No. 5 in PFF grades in 2016 (85.3) – a season cut short due to a broken fibula in Week 16. The Raiders 2017 dysfunction and a seemingly fluid and unrecognizable offensive scheme have a lot to do for his drop in the rankings during 2017. Carr also was injured in 2016, which also hurt his production.
The rankings released today again grade New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as tops in the league. Brady is atop the rankings for the second-straight year after a 94.1 ranking in 2017.
Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson round out the Top 5. Other rankings of note: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers ranks eighth, Raider preseason Week 1 opponent Matthew Stafford of the Lions ranks 10th, and San Francisco 49ers second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ranks 11th, with the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott finishing just ahead of Carr in 12th.
PFF adds: “One thing of note, some of these rankings are predictive of the future signal-caller, forecasting a rookie first-round pick who should likely garner playing time over a veteran as the season progresses.”
What do you think? Is Carr ranked too high or too low heading into 2018?
POLL: @PFF ranked @derekcarrqb #13 in their rankings of @NFL quarterbacks heading into the 2018 season. Should he be ranked higher? #Raiders
— Silver & Black Today (@SNBToday) August 7, 2018