Breer (MMQB) annual QB poll

[McKDaddy]

This is the highest Prescott has ever ranked on the list—he was last on it at 11th in 2024, and his high-water mark and only top-10 finish was ninth in ’20.

So why have we had to endure all these years of Top 5 & MVP talk?

 

[McKDaddy]

I don't understand how Herbert consistently gets ranked as highly as he does.

Because folks understand that he is a legit talent and the organization around him hasn't been good enough.

Even Mahomes has said he may be the most talented QB in the league.

 

[McKDaddy]

Josh Allen is overrated as is Burrow.

Certainly a wild opinion. Lonely opinion though, as most people won't ignore what these guys do every week. That's why they are respected the way they are.

 

[Flamma]

The league's most qualified experts. Were these the same experts that laughed at the Cowboys for giving up a 3rd round pick for Pickens?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Certainly a wild opinion. Lonely opinion though, as most people won't ignore what these guys do every week. That's why they are respected the way they are.

I mean I don’t have opinions based on tribalism or sheep mentality.

For the record I don’t think overrated meshed bad. Darnold is underrated to me. Allen is overrated. One is the second best qb in the league. One is…fringe top 10-12.

The QB position is judged based on success. Stats don’t matter…until it’s time to defend guys like Lamar and Josh Allen. Guys like Eli, Hurts and Darnold are told they are mediocre because they don’t have the regular season stats or pass the “eye test”.

Burrow to me is a great qb but once again he doesn’t pass the test of playoff success though he did years ago but now he’s had injuries and missed playoff appearances.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

The league's most qualified experts. Were these the same experts that laughed at the Cowboys for giving up a 3rd round pick for Pickens?

To be fair I only remember Steelers fans ridiculing us for that lol.

 

[Kwyn]

I'm not making this argument because Herbert is ranked ahead of Dak. I'm trying to understand the criteria being used to rank him so highly.

Herbert has now been in the NFL for six seasons and has made three playoff starts. His postseason record is 0-3, and across those three games he has completed 58 of 106 passes (just 54.7%) for 674 yards, 2 TDs and 4 INTs.

That's a pretty small sample, so I'm not suggesting three games define his career. Look, Herbert clearly has talent, and I'm not arguing otherwise. His regular-season production is impressive. But there's a difference between projecting what a quarterback will accomplish and ranking him based on what he has actually accomplished.

I hear the same argument every year about Herbert being an elite/top-tier QB, and I'm genuinely curious what I'm missing. Six years into his career, he still hasn't won a playoff game.

If we're ranking quarterbacks based on talent and potential, that's one conversation. If we're ranking them based on actual performance and accomplishments, I don't understand how Herbert consistently gets ranked as highly as he does.

Other than his exceptional physical talents, the main thing driving the Herbert hype this year is after having had five offensive coordinators in his career he has McDaniel who is highly respected as an offensive mind and playcaller.

He’s also had bottom tier offensive lines and terrible running backs throughout his career.

He’s never had a setup like Dak has had which is why he gets rated ahead of him in this type of poll.

People are tired of the excuses though so this is a real prove it year since the team has rebuilt itself to support him.

 

[plasticman]

There is one "successful" quarterback every season and only one.

The role of a quarterback is the same as any other position on the field. Their job is to do everything they are capable of doing within their position to help their team to win games with the ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.

This is how quarterbacks should be evaluated. This doesn't mean that winning the Super Bowl makes them the best quarterback, but is does make them the successful one.

One of the attributes of a successful quarterback is to understand their skill set and how it fits into the team's offensive philosophy. In particular, they must understand their limitations and what is expected of them.

Trent Dilfer wasn't a great quarterback when it came to arm strength, accuracy, or physical prowess. He was the #6 overall pick for the Bucs in a very weak season for quarterbacks, 1994. Washington took Heath Shuler with the #3 overall pick. Another quarterback wasn't chosen until the 4th round.

Trent was regarded as a complete bust. He threw 70 TDs to 80 INTs. His record as a starter for the Bucs was 38-38. Trent left the Bucs after six seasons and signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore as their backup QB.

In 2000, the Baltimore Ravens had the #1 defense in every way that an NFL defense can be evaluated.

1. They held opponents to an average of 10.5 points a game. 2. They held opponent RBs to an average of 2.7 yards a carry. 3. They led the league in turnovers.
4. They shut out three of their first five opponents that year.
5. They held opponents to single digit scores in nine of sixteen regular season games and three of four playoff games including the Super Bowl.

In other words, this team didn't need some hero-quarterback. They didn't need a strong arm or impressive physical abilities.

Their starting quarterback was Tony Banks but he went down after the 8th game.

Dilfer had always been an INT machine but he had built up enough experience and maturity to realize that he just had to eliminate turnovers. Sometimes, you can be a good quarterback simply by throwing a ball out of bounds.

Dilfer may not have been impressive, but he was successful.

Fans love to be impressed but nobody remembers if the game was lost.

The main focus on a list like this should be the degree in which a quarterback contributed to the success of the team and should include just about every aspect of the position and not just passing skills.

On my list, Dak is #3 behind only Mahomes and Stafford.

Remember, this poll is a prediction. He is asking which quarterbacks will be the top ones for this season. Past performance is the most relevant but not the only criteria to measure. You also have to look at resources and opportunity.

 

[StarOfGlory]

I get the criticism Hurts faces but it’s mind boggling on lists like these guys Lamar or Herbert get more respect than him. Josh Allen is overrated as is Burrow. The qb ranking system is so annoying.

I have to agree. Double digit wins every year as a starter no matter who the OC is. And the Herbert glazing is ridiculous at this point.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

. Guys like Eli, Hurts and Darnold are told they are mediocre because they don’t have the regular season stats or pass the “eye test”.

But they have SB rings.........lol

 

[DallasEast]

 

[Flamma]

To be fair I only remember Steelers fans ridiculing us for that lol.

You'd have to find the original thread from when we traded for Pickens. It's in there, and it wasn't fans.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

You'd have to find the original thread from when we traded for Pickens. It's in there, and it wasn't fans.

YEah not doubting it just a weird take. I guess as a Cowboy fan i'd rather waste a 3rd on Pickens floor then on the next Liufai. But people overvalue draft picks so much......

 

[Acceptablename]

How did Dart receive votes?

Because he's not chop liver

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I have to agree. Double digit wins every year as a starter no matter who the OC is. And the Herbert glazing is ridiculous at this point.

Agree. The Herbert thing is annoying all because he throws a pretty spiral. On one of these lists....maybe it was Orlovsky...can't remember someone said Herbert was a better runner than Hurts. Like huh? I've gotten into debates on Herbert on this site of people trying to tell me oh its his weapons....his weapons may not be high profile but he for sure as has had weapons. And sometimes the QB make the weapons. On no planet am I saying Hurts made AJ Brown but Brown for sure had more success with Hurts than he did in Tennessee.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Because he's not chop liver

He was *** last year and stays in the blue tint. Him and Jalen Hurts getting the same amount of votes is nuts.

 

[Flamma]

Agree. The Herbert thing is annoying all because he throws a pretty spiral. On one of these lists....maybe it was Orlovsky...can't remember someone said Herbert was a better runner than Hurts. Like huh? I've gotten into debates on Herbert on this site of people trying to tell me oh its his weapons....his weapons may not be high profile but he for sure as has had weapons. And sometimes the QB make the weapons. On no planet am I saying Hurts made AJ Brown but Brown for sure had more success with Hurts than he did in Tennessee.

Yeah, when you have an almost unstoppable run game, it opens up more opportunities for the WRs.

 

[Vtwin]

The methodology here seems strange.

Of the 104 ballots, the top four received votes on 101, 92, 86, and 80 ballets.

From there it falls dramatically. 47, 24, 26, 22, 14, 7 and down.

The top 4 seems like at least a bit of a consensus. The rest is a crap shoot and no real consensus from the "experts".

If only 25% or less of the responders mentioned a QB on their ballot what is the basis for accurately ranking where the majority of the "experts" would rank him?

Also strange that 3 experts didn't include Allen in their top 5. 12 didn't include Stafford. 18 didn't include Mahomes and 24 didn't include Burrow.

The fifth ranked, Jackson, was left out of the top five by 57 experts.

What am I missing here?

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

But they have SB rings.........lol

They do and to me they weren't carried to those rings. You can argue they got carried to the playoffs but on the way to the SB those guys put in work and made some key throws.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Yeah, when you have an almost unstoppable run game, it opens up more opportunities for the WRs.

I understand that but why do we pick and chose when to knock a guy for that? No one would ever knock Aikman for that(rightfully so). And I know why. Hurts has the history of being replaced by Tua, being a 2nd round pick, known as a runner not a thrower....People arrogant in their own takes don't want to accept or change that yes guys like Darnold and Hurts are better players than they thought.

I think ultimately most good QB's in this league play with talent. We can argue how good it may be but everyone has talent.