Like every other set of recent rankings I've seen, NC State is the only school with two former players ranked among the top 10. I would normally disregard a sports' ranking from ABC News, but I thought who voted gives this validity. The polled 42 "league insiders" — 10 general managers, five head coaches, seven offensive coordinators, five defensive coordinators, eight personnel evaluators and seven other position coaches/executives.
Anyway, Russell Wilson was No. 6 and Philip Rivers No. 8.
6. Russell Wilson | Seattle Seahawks
Avg. rating: 1.62 | Change in rating: +5.6% | 2015 rank: 8
Wilson proved last season he could produce at a high level without running back Marshawn Lynch. Like Newton, Wilson will ascend into the top tier more universally if he puts together a strong season from start to finish. Wilson had a 25-2 TD-INT differential over the Seahawks' final eight games last season. That was enough to convince some.
"Watching how bad their offensive line was last year and watching him have to overcome it and consistently make plays with his feet and arm is what convinced me," a personnel director said. "Who are his weapons? Marshawn was beat up last year. Jimmy Graham got hurt. They have an average corps of wideouts with a competitive, gritty, tough slot receiver who he trusts. So it's not like he has elite weapons, and that is what got me over the hump."
The Seahawks have led the league in fewest points allowed every season since Wilson entered the NFL in 2012. That has spared Wilson from playing many games when the pressure was on him to throw down after down. Winning from the pocket in obvious throwing situations remains the surest way for quarterbacks to earn respect in the NFL. Wilson has done it when called upon, but he hasn't had to do it consistently. That matters for some.
"He knows, 'Hey, I can punt and I'm fine,'" another offensive coordinator said. "It is going to be that type of game, and it plays to his strengths. If he played on a bad football team and had to throw it to stay in games and shoot it out, some things would show up."
Wilson does have a league-high 20 victories since 2012 in games when his team was tied or trailed by one score in fourth quarters, counting playoffs.
"I put him as a 1," said a defensive coordinator who has faced Seattle multiple times in recent seasons. "The kid is a winner and not a guy you want to go up against. He is extremely, extremely gifted as a leader and a winner. Yeah, as a quarterback, you can point to this and that, but when you look at the whole job description of the position, he is a 1."
8. Philip Rivers | San Diego Chargers
Avg. rating: 1.76 | Change in rating: -6.3% | 2015 rank: 7
Rivers' presence on the Chargers' roster has generally allowed them to be right around .500 or better even when their defense and running game faltered. Rivers couldn't stop San Diego from posting a 4-12 record last season, but most voters still thought he belonged on the border between the first and second tiers. Inconsistency keeps him out of the top tier.
"If you don't make him move, he can get into a rhythm and he could throw for 400 yards on you," a pro personnel director said. "On the other side of that, if you pressure him and make him move and get some hits on him, he could throw you two or three picks. I think the arm talent and accuracy is there. Heck of a mindset, man. He is really, really sharp, and he can dissect you pretty good."
Rivers' consistency would improve if he played behind a competent offensive line and could hand off to a productive running back. The Chargers weren't just bad in those areas last season. They were among the worst. One GM called San Diego's offensive line the worst in the game. He noted that Antonio Gates is 36 years old, top wide receiver Keenan Allenmissed half the season and the Chargers still had a top-10 offense by yardage, if not by superior measures.
"He physically makes the team better than what it should be because of his leadership, his work ethic, everything," an offensive coordinator said. "That, to me, makes him a 1. A good way to look at it, if you started the season with any team, no matter what they have, you gotta figure you are going to win at least eight -- Philip is usually going to give you eight wins just because of who he is. That to me says a lot."
LINK: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/2016-nfl-qb-tier-rankings/story?id=41230629
Anyway, Russell Wilson was No. 6 and Philip Rivers No. 8.
6. Russell Wilson | Seattle Seahawks
Avg. rating: 1.62 | Change in rating: +5.6% | 2015 rank: 8
Wilson proved last season he could produce at a high level without running back Marshawn Lynch. Like Newton, Wilson will ascend into the top tier more universally if he puts together a strong season from start to finish. Wilson had a 25-2 TD-INT differential over the Seahawks' final eight games last season. That was enough to convince some.
"Watching how bad their offensive line was last year and watching him have to overcome it and consistently make plays with his feet and arm is what convinced me," a personnel director said. "Who are his weapons? Marshawn was beat up last year. Jimmy Graham got hurt. They have an average corps of wideouts with a competitive, gritty, tough slot receiver who he trusts. So it's not like he has elite weapons, and that is what got me over the hump."
The Seahawks have led the league in fewest points allowed every season since Wilson entered the NFL in 2012. That has spared Wilson from playing many games when the pressure was on him to throw down after down. Winning from the pocket in obvious throwing situations remains the surest way for quarterbacks to earn respect in the NFL. Wilson has done it when called upon, but he hasn't had to do it consistently. That matters for some.
"He knows, 'Hey, I can punt and I'm fine,'" another offensive coordinator said. "It is going to be that type of game, and it plays to his strengths. If he played on a bad football team and had to throw it to stay in games and shoot it out, some things would show up."
Wilson does have a league-high 20 victories since 2012 in games when his team was tied or trailed by one score in fourth quarters, counting playoffs.
"I put him as a 1," said a defensive coordinator who has faced Seattle multiple times in recent seasons. "The kid is a winner and not a guy you want to go up against. He is extremely, extremely gifted as a leader and a winner. Yeah, as a quarterback, you can point to this and that, but when you look at the whole job description of the position, he is a 1."
8. Philip Rivers | San Diego Chargers
Avg. rating: 1.76 | Change in rating: -6.3% | 2015 rank: 7
Rivers' presence on the Chargers' roster has generally allowed them to be right around .500 or better even when their defense and running game faltered. Rivers couldn't stop San Diego from posting a 4-12 record last season, but most voters still thought he belonged on the border between the first and second tiers. Inconsistency keeps him out of the top tier.
"If you don't make him move, he can get into a rhythm and he could throw for 400 yards on you," a pro personnel director said. "On the other side of that, if you pressure him and make him move and get some hits on him, he could throw you two or three picks. I think the arm talent and accuracy is there. Heck of a mindset, man. He is really, really sharp, and he can dissect you pretty good."
Rivers' consistency would improve if he played behind a competent offensive line and could hand off to a productive running back. The Chargers weren't just bad in those areas last season. They were among the worst. One GM called San Diego's offensive line the worst in the game. He noted that Antonio Gates is 36 years old, top wide receiver Keenan Allenmissed half the season and the Chargers still had a top-10 offense by yardage, if not by superior measures.
"He physically makes the team better than what it should be because of his leadership, his work ethic, everything," an offensive coordinator said. "That, to me, makes him a 1. A good way to look at it, if you started the season with any team, no matter what they have, you gotta figure you are going to win at least eight -- Philip is usually going to give you eight wins just because of who he is. That to me says a lot."
LINK: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/2016-nfl-qb-tier-rankings/story?id=41230629
