Those familiar with the NFL know
the most important position on any team is the quarterback. There is an
undefined term that is universally understood within league circles, fans, and
media pundits. It is what every team’s front office seeks to find and build
their team around: a franchise quarterback.
So who are these franchise
quarterbacks? And what makes them different from other “good” quarterbacks? Who
are the other “good” quarterbacks?
Well for starters, a franchise
quarterback has to be a guy who can win a Super Bowl. The ultimate goal of
every team is essentially to be good enough to compete for a Super Bowl every
year, and each year their goal is to win the Super Bowl that season. Pretty
simple. With that in mind, if a team’s starting quarterback isn’t good enough
to win them a Super Bowl, or isn’t developing into someone who can, then that
team needs a new quarterback. If the quarterback is holding the team back from
its ultimate goal, that’s a problem, and it needs to be addressed. This is, of
course, easier to say than it is to actually evaluate.
Now, this does not mean winning a
Super Bowl is required for a player to be classified as a franchise quarterback.
However, in the right year and with the right team, a franchise quarterback is
capable of winning the Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Russell
Wilson, and Joe Flacco are examples of franchise quarterbacks that were able to
lead their teams to Super Bowl victories on good teams, though they may not be
considered amongst the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
Elite quarterbacks are inherently
franchise quarterbacks, but they are in a class of their own. Currently, the
only guys in this category are (in no particular order): Peyton Manning, Drew
Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers. These are all names that one could throw
into a conversation about the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and not be
looked at as completely insane. While all four of these players have won at
least one Super Bowl, that is not necessarily a qualification for being
considered an elite quarterback. For example, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees
were both elite quarterbacks prior to winning their respective Super Bowls.
Current franchise quarterbacks in
the NFL who have not yet won a Super Bowl include: Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan,
Tony Romo, Andrew Luck, and Colin Kaepernick. These quarterbacks have played
well enough to have their team in competition for the playoffs almost every
year. They may never win a Super Bowl, but it’s reasonable to believe they
could with the right team around them.
Another classification of NFL
quarterbacks that is just a notch below franchise quarterbacks includes “good”
quarterbacks who should not presently be viewed on the franchise level. These
quarterbacks consistently put up impressive passing numbers and their teams are
usually competitive. Examples of “good” quarterbacks include: Matthew Stafford,
Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, and, formerly, Matt Schaub
(prior to his 2013 season). Any of these players may be capable of elevating
themselves to franchise consideration, when they take their game to the next
level, but their careers suggest this is unlikely to happen. The ceiling for
these quarterbacks’ teams is probably some level of the playoffs. Until one of
these quarterbacks raises his level of play to another level, these quarterbacks’
teams will not be Super Bowl contenders. The hope with these players is that
they improve with more talent around them, because finding a better quarterback
will prove more difficult.
Current NFL quarterbacks below the
aforementioned levels are either still developing and/or largely unproven (Jake
Locker, Ryan Mallett, Nick Foles, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith, E.J.
Manuel, Mike Glennon, Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater), or
will be replaced in the near future (Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt
Cassell, Brian Hoyer, Chad Henne). The latter group is coming to be known as “bridge
quarterbacks.”
Every quarterback in the National
Football League belongs to one of these categories. Given that having a
franchise quarterback is essential for winning a Super Bowl, a team’s primary
goal should be finding one. In order for that search to prove fruitful, it’s
important to know what sets a franchise quarterback apart from his peers. Many
look at height, others to arm strength. Lately, experts have suggested an
evolution in the game of football requires an athletic quarterback with above
average mobility. These things can all contribute to a quarterback’s success in
the league, but they are not fundamentally what makes franchise quarterbacks so
rare.
Russell Wilson and Drew Brees are
less than 6 feet tall. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have been referred to as
statues in the pocket. Yes, they can make all the necessary throws their
position requires, but many less successful quarterbacks have stronger arms. What
makes these players special is a brilliant football mind. The way they analyze
the field, read defenses, and prepare for an opponent is unparalleled by those
outside their echelon.
Looking at NFL history, it seems
to be consistent that the quarterbacks with the most successful careers are the
smartest ones. Big, fast, elusive, strong-armed quarterbacks will always have
their appeal to fans, scouts, and independent evaluators, but countless players
have let their teams down because they lacked the mind of a franchise
quarterback. They may produce great plays, games, or even seasons, but not
great careers.
Doug Flutie, Vince Young, Tim
Tebow, and Michael Vick have their share of highlights in the league, but their
athleticism wasn’t enough to lead their teams to consistent playoff success.
Byron Leftwich, Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell, Jeff George, and Josh Freeman are
among the dozens of quarterbacks that could “throw the ball through a car wash
without it getting wet,” yet failed to carve out a successful NFL career.
Yes, Russell Wilson can run with
the best of them and Aaron Rodgers has a cannon; Ben Roethlisberger is called
Big Ben for a reason and Joe Flacco stands at 6’6,’’ but these guys understand
the game on a different level. Manning, Brees, and Brady aren’t super athletes,
but they are super smart, and that’s why they stand above every other
quarterback in the league.
Everyone’s trying to find the next
great quarterback, yet they keep looking at the wrong things in the evaluation
process. Without a doubt, it’s hard to know which collegiate standouts will
transition well to the NFL. Even the GMs who have drafted franchise
quarterbacks will admit there is no foolproof formula. Knowing to look for
smart quarterbacks is a good first step, but knowing which ones are really
special has proven to be a defining challenge in NFL history. After all, these
guys can change a franchise.
