��teams ranked by their franchise QBs: Cowboys, 49ers on top

Analysis

��teams ranked by their franchise QBs: Cowboys, 49ers on top

Published: Jun 10, 2019 at 01:52 AM

Ali Bhanpuri

Senior Director, Content & Editorial

After a grueling deep dive into each ��team's history to identify , there's only one reasonable thing left to do: rank 'em! As a reminder, only pro quarterbacks who started at least 48 games with a team since 1967 were eligible for consideration. Each passer who met that minimum threshold also needed to satisfy two of the following three requirements:

1) Winning regular-season record.
2) Minimum passer rating of 75.0.
3) At least one selection.

And just so we're all operating under the same parameters, note that totals below include AFL All-Star Game selections, while ring totals only include titles won as the team's starting quarterback.

Enough with the rules. Let's go!

 **Who qualifies for the Texans?**

-- Matt Schaub (2007-2013): 88 starts | 46-42 | 2 Pro Bowls | 90.9 passer rating

Chalk this up to the Texans being such a young franchise -- 2019 will be their 18th season -- and Deshaun Watson not yet having enough starts to qualify.

 **Who qualifies for the Bears?**

-- Jim McMahon (1982-88): 61 starts | 46-15 | 1 | 80.4 passer rating | 1 SB ring

McMahon's ring is really the only reason the Bears aren't last. If Mitchell Trubisky keeps developing, though, there's legit hope the Bears could actually improve their ranking.

 **Who qualifies for the Lions?**

-- Matthew Stafford (2009-present): 141 starts | 66-75 | 1 | 88.4 passer rating

-- Bill Munson (1968-1975): 48 starts | 24-21-3 | 0 Pro Bowls | 75.2 passer rating

Stafford still has plenty of time to change the narrative currently defining his ��career: He's highly productive but can't win when it counts.

 **Who qualifies for the Bucs?**

-- Jameis Winston (2015-present): 54 starts | 21-33 | 1 | 87.8 passer rating

-- Brad Johnson (2001-04): 49 starts | 26-23 | 1 | 83.2 passer rating | 1 SB ring

Stafford has been more effective and prolific than both Johnson and Winston, but the former's got the jewelry, while the latter could be poised for a career resurrection under new head coach Bruce Arians. I'm probably betting too much on Winston's potential.

 **Who qualifies for the Cardinals?**

-- Carson Palmer (2013-17): 60 starts | 38-21-1 | 1 | 91.1 passer rating

-- Kurt Warner (2005-09): 57 starts | 27-30 | 1 | 91.9 passer rating

-- Neil Lomax (1981-88): 101 starts | 47-52-2 | 2 Pro Bowls | 82.7 passer rating

The Cardinals got some great late-career performances out of Warner and Palmer, but they went so many years settling for adequate or worse at the position.

 **Who qualifies for the Ravens?**

-- Joe Flacco (2008-2018): 163 games | 96-67 | 0 Pro Bowls | 84.1 passer rating | 1 SB ring

The Ravens have played 23 ��seasons, and Flacco started 11 of them as the team's QB1. He's had an up-and-down career, for sure, but his play during the team's 2012 run is what every fan base yearns for from its franchise quarterback. Still, zero selections says a lot ...

 **Who qualifies for the Browns?**

-- Bernie Kosar (1985-1993): 105 starts | 53-51-1 | 1 | 81.6 passer rating

-- Brian Sipe (1974-1983): 112 starts | 57-55 | 1 | 74.8 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Bill Nelsen (1968-1972): 51 starts | 34-16-1 | 1 | 72.1 passer rating

While the Browns QBs cannot match Flacco's ring or Warner's appearance with Arizona, I have Cleveland ahead of the Cardinals and Ravens because of the 217 combined starts and numerous playoff appearances Sipe and Kosar strung together for the franchise.

 **Who qualifies for the Jaguars?**

-- David Garrard (2002-2010): 76 starts | 39-37 | 1 | 85.8 passer rating

-- Mark Brunell (1995-2003): 117 starts | 63-54 | 3 Pro Bowls | 85.4 passer rating

Brunell was everything the Jags could've hoped for when they made him their first-ever QB1, and Garrard was solid after the torch was passed. Their success out of the gate is what made the QB issues that followed so frustrating.

 **Who qualifies for the Jets?**

-- Chad Pennington (2000-07): 61 starts | 32-29 | 0 Pro Bowls | 88.9 passer rating

-- Vinny Testaverde (1998-2003, 2005): 61 starts | 35-26 | 1 | 80.2 passer rating

-- Ken O'Brien (1984-1992): 106 starts | 50-55-1 | 2 Pro Bowls | 81.0 passer rating

-- Joe Namath (1967-1976): 103 starts | 52-50-1 | 4 Pro Bowls | 66.0 passer rating | 1 SB ring

Fair argument to be made that I'm both over- and under-valuing Namath's impact with this ranking. Pennington, Testaverde and O'Brien were all decent starters.

 **Who qualifies for the Panthers?**

-- Cam Newton (2011-present): 122 starts | 68-53-1 | 3 Pro Bowls | 86.4 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Jake Delhomme (2003-09): 90 starts | 53-37 | 1 | 82.6 passer rating

-- Steve Beuerlein (1996-2000): 51 starts | 23-28 | 1 | 87.7 passer rating

Of all the newer franchises, none have had a quarterback as dominant or talented as Newton. Delhomme's just the whipped cream on top.

 **Who qualifies for the Vikings?**

-- Daunte Culpepper (1999-2005): 80 starts | 38-42 | 3 Pro Bowls | 91.5 passer rating

-- Wade Wilson (1981-1991): 48 starts | 27-21 | 1 | 73.4 passer rating

-- Fran Tarkenton (1972-78): 93 starts | 64-27-2 | 3 Pro Bowls | 81.5 passer rating | 1 MVP

The Vikes had a top-10 offense in four of the five years Culpepper was the franchise's full-time starter, and Tarkenton was awesome in his second stint with the team. Tommy Kramer's absence is felt here.

 **Who qualifies for the Chiefs?**

-- (2013-17): 76 starts | 50-26 | 3 Pro Bowls | 94.8 passer rating

-- Trent Green (2001-06): 88 starts | 48-40 | 2 Pro Bowls | 87.3 passer rating

-- Steve DeBerg (1988-91): 52 starts | 31-20-1 | 0 Pro Bowls | 81.8 passer rating

-- Bill Kenney (1980-88): 77 starts | 34-43 | 1 | 77.0 passer rating

-- Len Dawson (1967-1975): 90 starts | 53-33-4 | 4 Pro Bowls | 78.6 passer rating | 1 SB ring

Dawson's ring and Smith's development into a top-12 starter aren't enough to elevate the Chiefs above the Falcons. Had the Chiefs legend's pre-'67 production been eligible for consideration, it'd be a different story.

 **Who qualifies for the Falcons?**

-- Matt Ryan (2008-present): 174 starts | 102-72 | 4 Pro Bowls | 94.9 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Michael Vick (2001-06): 67 starts | 38-28-1 | 3 Pro Bowls | 75.7 passer rating

-- Chris Chandler (1997-2001): 67 starts | 34-33 | 2 Pro Bowls | 87.4 passer rating

-- Steve Bartkowski (1975-1985): 121 starts | 55-66 record | 2 Pro Bowls | 76.0 passer rating

-- Bob Berry (1968-1972): 50 starts | 19-28-3 record | 1 | 79.2 passer rating

Ryan has been one of the league's best QBs for the past decade, giving Falcons fans hope that every season could be the one. The rest of the team's franchise passers, covering large swaths of the past 50 years, each had their moments in the sun.

 **Who qualifies for the Bills?**

-- Drew Bledsoe (2002-04): 48 starts | 23-25 | 1 | 79.2 passer rating

-- Jim Kelly (1986-1996): 160 starts | 101-59 | 5 Pro Bowls | 84.4 passer rating

Kelly was too good for too long to not have the Bills in the top 20. He's single-handedly carrying this ranking.

 **Who qualifies for the Titans?**

-- Steve McNair (1995-2005): 131 starts | 76-55 | 3 Pro Bowls | 83.3 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Warren Moon (1984-1993): 139 starts | 70-69 | 6 Pro Bowls | 80.4 passer rating

I went back and forth between the Titans and Eagles here nearly as many times as I debated McNair and Moon for . Ultimately, the Eagles just had more guys do it for longer.

 **Who qualifies for the Eagles?**

-- Donovan McNabb (1999-2009): 142 starts | 92-49-1 | 6 Pro Bowls | 86.5 passer rating

-- Randall Cunningham (1985-1995): 107 starts | 63-43-1 | 3 Pro Bowls | 78.7 passer rating

-- Ron Jaworski (1977-1986): 137 starts | 69-67-1 | 1 | 74.0 passer rating

Three quarterbacks combining for 386 starts over 40 years shows great longevity and stability at the position. That they were collectively as good as they were makes it even easier to appreciate.

 **Who qualifies for the Bengals?**

-- Andy Dalton (2011-present): 120 starts | 68-50-2 | 3 Pro Bowls | 88.8 passer rating

-- Carson Palmer (2003-10): 97 starts | 46-51 | 2 Pro Bowls | 86.9 passer rating

-- Jeff Blake (1994-99): 66 starts | 25-41 | 1 | 79.3 passer rating

-- Boomer Esiason (1984-1992): 123 starts | 62-61 | 4 Pro Bowls | 83.1 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Ken Anderson (1971-1986): 172 starts | 91-81 | 4 Pro Bowls | 81.9 passer rating | 1 MVP

The Bengals, like the Eagles, have decades-spanning depth at the position. Although they have no rings (and, in some cases, playoff victories) to show for it, Cincinnati's franchise passers consistently gave their teams a chance to win. Seems is representative of the team's QB history.

 **Who qualifies for the Saints?**

-- Drew Brees (2006-present): 205 starts | 125-80 | 11 Pro Bowls | 100.6 passer rating | 1 SB ring

-- Bobby Hebert (1985-1992): 75 starts | 49-26 | 1 | 79.1 passer rating

You could reasonably argue New Orleans should be higher -- Brees has been that dominant (and important) for the franchise. I don't know if factoring Archie Manning -- who didn't meet the qualifications -- into this equation would help or hurt the Saints' cause.

 **Who qualifies for the Redskins?**

-- Kirk Cousins (2012-17): 57 starts | 26-30-1 | 1 | 93.7 passer rating

-- Mark Rypien (1988-1993): 72 starts | 45-27 | 2 Pro Bowls | 80.2 passer rating | 1 SB ring

-- Billy Kilmer (1971-78): 74 starts | 50-23-1 | 1 | 76.9 passer rating

-- Sonny Jurgensen (1967-1974): 67 starts | 33-29-5 | 2 Pro Bowls | 86.0 passer rating

The Redskins' best wasn't as good as the Rams', while Washington's other signal-callers were comparable.

 **Who qualifies for the Rams?**

-- Marc Bulger (2002-09): 95 starts | 41-54 | 2 Pro Bowls | 84.4 passer rating

-- Jim Everett (1986-1993): 105 starts | 46-59 | 1 | 78.1 passer rating

-- Pat Haden (1976-1981): 55 starts | 35-19-1 | 1 | 69.6 passer rating

-- Roman Gabriel (1967-1972): 82 starts | 55-22-5 | 3 Pro Bowls | 75.9 passer rating | 1 MVP

Warner was better individually than any of the Redskins' passers, even if his super successful run with the team was so short. Three total MVPs give the Rams the edge over Washington's franchise QB room.

 **Who qualifies for the Giants?**

-- Eli Manning (2004-present): 230 starts | 116-114 | 4 Pro Bowls | 84.1 passer rating | 2 SB rings

-- Kerry Collins (1999-2003): 68 starts | 35-33 | 0 Pro Bowls | 78.4 passer rating

-- Phil Simms (1979-1993): 159 starts | 95-64 | 2 Pro Bowls | 78.5 passer rating | 1 SB ring

-- Fran Tarkenton (1967-1971): 69 starts | 33-36 | 4 Pro Bowls | 81.0 passer rating

None of these Giants QBs can compare with Warner or Brees on their own. Not even close. But collectively, they form a solid QB group that helped bring three Lombardis to the Big Apple -- and a fourth was won by Jeff Hostetler in the 1990 season, when Simms compiled an 11-3 record before breaking his foot. Availability plus championships nudges New York ahead.

 **Who qualifies for the Seahawks?**

-- Russell Wilson (2012-present): 112 starts | 75-36-1 | 5 Pro Bowls | 100.3 passer rating | 1 SB ring

-- Matt Hasselbeck (2001-10): 131 starts | 69-62 | 3 Pro Bowls | 82.2 passer rating

-- Dave Krieg (1980-1991): 119 starts | 70-49 | 3 Pro Bowls | 82.3 passer rating

Wilson has developed into a top-10 passer and remains in the prime of his career. But I just can't see this group of QBs -- as productive and winning as they've been -- ranking above any of the crews below. That could certainly change, even in a year's time.

 **Who qualifies for the Chargers?**

-- Philip Rivers (2004-present): 208 starts | 118-90 | 8 Pro Bowls | 95.6 passer rating

-- Drew Brees (2001-05): 58 starts | 30-28 | 1 | 84.9 passer rating

-- Stan Humphries (1992-1997): 76 starts | 47-29 | 0 Pro Bowls | 77.1 passer rating

-- Dan Fouts (1973-1987): 171 starts | 86-84-1 | 6 Pro Bowls | 80.2 passer rating

Ranking the next set of teams is like trying to order your top 10 favorite TV shows. You know "Friday Night Lights," "Breaking Bad," "The Sopranos," and "Game of Thrones" are making the list, but in what sequence? The next four or five teams could be rearranged numerous different ways, and the ranking would probably hold up. That said, someone had to be No. 10. Rivers and Fouts form a formidable duo, but much of Fouts' success (of which, in fairness, he had a lot) is directly tied to the years Don Coryell coached the squad. And while both Humphries and Brees were solid with the franchise, the former was not a true game-changer, while the latter didn't become the all-time great he is today until after he left for New Orleans. I wanted to put them one spot higher, but I had to come to terms with a certain truth ...

 **Who qualifies for the Steelers?**

-- Ben Roethlisberger (2004-present): 214 starts | 144-69-1 | 6 Pro Bowls | 94.2 passer rating | 2 SB rings

-- Kordell Stewart (1995-2002): 80 starts | 46-29 | 1 | 72.3 passer rating

-- Neil O'Donnell (1991-95): 61 starts | 39-22 | 1 | 81.8 passer rating

Although Rivers has been a better overall player than Roethlisberger (it's close) since they came into the league in 2004, there's no question has accomplished more in his career. But even if you allowed Rivers and Roethlisberger to cancel each other out, Bradshaw's four rings (despite his uneven career) elevate him into an exclusive club of franchise QBs. And I don't see Humphries, Fouts or pre- Saints Brees on the guest list.

 **Who qualifies for the Dolphins?**

-- Jay Fiedler (2000-04): 59 starts | 36-23 | 0 Pro Bowls | 76.8 passer rating

-- Dan Marino (1983-1999): 240 starts | 147-93 | 9 Pro Bowls | 86.4 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Bob Griese (1967-1980): 151 starts | 92-56-3 | 8 Pro Bowls | 77.1 passer rating | 2 SB rings

Griese and Marino combined for 17 Pro Bowls -- eight more than Bradshaw and Roethlisberger. Now, simple math shows the Steelers' QBs with three times as many Lombardis as the Dolphins' duo, but let's put a little more context around that: Roethlisberger has had a top-10 defense (yards allowed) 11 times in his 15 pro seasons, including each time he led the franchise to the . Marino, on the other hand, enjoyed a defense that good just five times in 17 seasons with the Dolphins. All I'm saying is, if Marino had a little bit more help, the hardware probably would've started to stack up. Miami's best is better than Pittsburgh's -- and they did it for longer, too.

 **Who qualifies for the Raiders?**

-- Derek Carr (2014-present): 78 starts, | 32-46 | 3 Pro Bowls | 88.8 passer rating

-- Rich Gannon (1999-2004): 74 starts | 45-29 | 4 Pro Bowls | 91.2 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Jeff Hostetler (1993-96): 55 starts | 33-22 | 1 | 82.1 passer rating

-- Jim Plunkett (1979-1986): 57 starts | 38-19 | 0 Pro Bowls | 75.7 passer rating | 2 SB rings

-- Daryle Lamonica (1967-1974): 84 starts | 62-16-6 | 4 Pro Bowls | 75.8 passer rating

This group's got rings, MVPs, Pro Bowls and a whole lot of Ws. Although their best isn't quite at the same level as a bunch of other teams, the overall depth and quality of the Raiders' franchise QBs has been remarkable and covers 35 years. If Derek Carr returns to his 2016 form with all the new toys at his disposal, this spot could end up looking foolishly low a couple of years down the road.

 **Who qualifies for the Patriots?**

-- Drew Bledsoe (1993-2001): 123 starts | 63-60 | 3 Pro Bowls | 75.9 passer rating

-- Tony Eason (1983-89): 49 starts | 28-21 | 0 Pro Bowls | 80.6 passer rating

Bledsoe was a solid option for New England and did lead the franchise to a appearance, but Brady is the sole reason for this ranking. ... The Pats should probably be higher.

 **Who qualifies for the Broncos?**

-- Jake Plummer (2003-06): 54 starts | 39-15 | 1 | 84.3 passer rating

-- Brian Griese (1998-2002): 51 starts | 26-24 | 1 | 84.1 passer rating

-- Craig Morton (1977-1982): 64 starts | 41-23 | 0 Pro Bowls | 79.1 passer rating

The Broncos won a ton of games (and three titles) behind Elway, Plummer and late-career Manning. In a lot of ways, the team that drafted Elway and the team that traded for him have evenly matched production at the position over their respective histories. But the Broncos still feel far away from adding another franchise passer to their list, while the Colts have theirs in place. And in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, the Broncos haven't gotten much out of their QBs in several seasons.

 **Who qualifies for the Colts?**

-- Andrew Luck (2012-present): 86 starts | 53-33 | 4 Pro Bowls | 89.5 passer rating

-- Bert Jones (1973-1981): 92 starts | 46-46 | 1 | 78.8 passer rating | 1 MVP

-- Johnny Unitas (1967-1972): 49 starts | 32-14-3 | 1 | 68.4 passer rating | 1 MVP | 1 SB ring

The Colts' franchise QBs have combined for six MVPs and 17 Pro Bowls since '67, and that number will surely increase as Luck's career continues. They can't top the titles (or appearances) belonging to the Broncos, but their individual accolades are unmatched. The Colts' transfer of power from Manning to Luck was about as good as it gets, and both have more than lived up to their billing as first overall picks. I'm (maybe unfairly) giving Indy a boost over the Broncos because the Colts currently have their franchise QB, and he's still playing at an elite level.

 **Who qualifies for the Packers?**

These two quarterbacks have tormented the Bears (and the league) for most of my life. I take small comfort in knowing that as good as they've been, they remain the second-best franchise QB duo of the common era, behind ...

 **Who qualifies for the 49ers?**

-- (2005-2012): 75 starts | 38-36-1 | 0 Pro Bowls | 79.1 passer rating

-- Jeff Garcia (1999-2003): 71 starts | 35-36 | 3 Pro Bowls | 88.3 passer rating

-- John Brodie (1967-1973): 73 starts | 37-32-4 | 1 | 72.4 passer rating | 1 MVP

The Montana-Young one-two punch is the best in ��history. The Packers could make a run at this spot, depending on how Rodgers finishes his career, but he'll need at least another MVP and/or a ring for it to even be a discussion.

 **Who qualifies for the Cowboys?**

-- Dak Prescott (2016-present): 48 starts | 32-16 | 2 Pro Bowls | 96.0 passer rating

-- Tony Romo (2003-2016): 127 starts | 78-49 | 4 Pro Bowls | 97.1 passer rating

-- Troy Aikman (1989-2000): 165 starts | 94-71 | 6 Pro Bowls | 81.6 passer rating | 3 SB rings

-- Danny White (1976-1988): 92 starts | 62-30 | 1 | 81.7 passer rating

-- Roger Staubach (1969-1979): 114 starts | 85-29 | 6 Pro Bowls | 83.4 passer rating | 2 SB rings

The Cowboys have had above-average-to-great quarterback play consistently for almost 50 years, with five titles and 19 selections combined between their franchise guys. As a Bears fan, I just can't wrap my head around this.

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