National Football League

2017 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings: Post-OTAs version

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:45 p.m. ET

Fansided, Randy Gurzi/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

With organized team activities coming to an end the 2017 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings can be looked at once again, with some of the vets reigning supreme

Things are always changing in the NFL world. That's what makes such things as looking at 2017 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings so much fun. While in the long run it really doesn't equate to success or failure — it is still a team sport after all — it is always nice to try and see how the elite can separate themselves from the rest of the pack.

No position is more picked apart than that of the NFL quarterback. There are constant questions about whether or not certain players are elite, and if other can be franchise starters. There's also endless debate about backups as well, which happens with no other position.

It makes sense though. If you have a good quarterback, you will always stand a chance. If not, you may as well not even try because no amount of talent around the signal-caller can carry a team to the Super Bowl anymore. There simply has to be a legitimate starter under center.

With OTAs coming to a close, here is a look at how all 32 projected starting quarterbacks stack up.

May 22, 2017; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) reacts during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

32. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is still the worst starter in the league right now. He had the lowest quarterback rating and completion percentage of any rookie that logged significant snaps. That's a far cry from previous number one overall picks like Jameis Winston and Andrew Luck who were starters from day one.

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31. Cody Kessler/Brock Osweiler, Cleveland Browns

There were reports rookie DeShone Kizer could start, but the wise move would be to give him time to develop. That leaves either Cody Kessler or Brock Osweiler as the starter when the season kicks off. It really doesn't matter who it is, neither will be very good — although they both are better than Goff.

30. Josh McCown, New York Jets (Projected Starter)

Here's one of the more overrated quarterbacks in the game. Josh McCown was a journeyman for years, and then was out of the league completely in 2010. After getting another shot with the Chicago Bears he played decent until a four game stretch in 2013 when he went off. People lost their minds and forgot he wasn't very good for more than a decade before those four games.

He got a huge deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs, and lasted one season. Now he is with the Jets and if history is any indicator he will be sidelined with an injury by Week 4.

May 26, 2017; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) works out during organized team activities at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

29. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

The third-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Blake Bortles quickly became the starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie. Since then he has held the job, but really hasn't progressed as much as the team would like. They did still pick up his fifth-year option in his rookie deal, but they need to see some better ball control for him to be the starter beyond that.

28. Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos

After seeing Peyton Manning retire, the Denver Broncos traded up for Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch. He was unable to beat out Trevor Siemian — a seventh-round pick the year before — for the starting job. Siemian played well enough, but is nothing more than a game manager. He probably still starts this season amid whispers that Lynch may not be ready yet.

27. Mike Glennon, Chicago Bears

Mike Glennon signed a big money deal with the Chicago Bears after being a backup in Tampa Bay. The last time he was a starter his team was the worst in the NFL and they drafted his replacement in Jameis Winston. The Bears hurried up the process by taking Mitchell Trubisky second-overall. The only drama left is seeing if Glennon plays the entire first year of his three-year deal or if he gets benched during 2017.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Brian Hoyer (2) prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

26. Brian Hoyer, San Francisco 49ers

The Bears erred in signing Glennon to the huge deal they did. Not because he's terrible, but because they had a better option they could have signed for much cheaper in Brian Hoyer. He would be perfectly fine as a stop-gap solution, which is exactly what the San Francisco 49ers hope to get out of the journeyman.

25. Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings

No one in the entire NFL gets more excuses made for their poor play than Sam Bradford. He isn't good. He completed a high percentage of his passes in 2016, but that's because he never threw it more than a few yards past the line of scrimmage. For his career he has never had a winning season and there's no reason to believe the light will suddenly come on.

24. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (Projected Starter)

There's noise that Tom Savage will start for the Houston Texans. That would make no sense. The team gave up a lot to move up to pick No. 12 to secure Deshaun Watson services and he needs to be under center right away. Like any rookie, there will be some ups and downs, but his ceiling is much higher than Savage. He also is a gamer that will turn it up the brighter the lights around him are.

Dec 11, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers safety Sean Davis (28) dives to try and make a tackle on Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) during the first half at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

23. Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills kept themselves from making a huge mistake when they decided to keep quarterback Tyrod Taylor. There was a brief time where it looked like they may part ways with him — which would have made some quarterback-needy team very happy. Instead, he gets another shot to lead the Bills and the dual threat passer has a lot of positives about him, but can stand to become more consistent.

22. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

There's no way to put Alex Smith much higher on this list when his own team has such little faith in him. The Kansas City Chiefs made some future sacrifices to move up and get rookie Patrick Mahomes II at pick number ten in the 2017 NFL Draft. It will probably be a year at least until Mahomes is ready, and then the veteran Smith will be looking for a job. Despite him being ranked in the 20s, he would be a huge upgrade for a lot of teams.

21. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

In 2015 Andy Dalton had his best season, but then saw it all crash down thanks to a thumb injury. He returned to the field in 2016 and just didn't have that same mojo. He wasn't bad, but also wasn't great.

May 25, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) drops back to pass during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

20. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Considering he was the number one overall pick when he entered the league and that he's won two Super Bowls, Eli Manning probably should rank higher than this. The problem is for all the great he does, he throws a ton of picks and really makes some boneheaded plays. Without a great team around him, he's not scary. That's why he isn't one of the best.

19. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

The guy who the Giants drafted and traded to get Eli Manning comes in one spot ahead of Peyton's little brother. Philip Rivers was reportedly the guy the Chargers wanted all along, and if someone takes an honest look at the two they should realize that Rivers is the better player. Of course, the two Super Bowls will separate the two in Manning's favor according to most. They will always be compared, and there's still not a ton of separation between them.

18. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

Carson Palmer was a top pick out of USC for the Bengals and started to turn the team around. Then he grew tired of the management and retired to get away. He unretired when the Raiders traded for him and, after some uninspiring time there, he became a good player again for the Arizona Cardinals.

May 25, 2017; Davie, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) throws a pass during OTAs practice drills at Baptist Health Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

17. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill started to get things figured out in 2016 after an up-and-down start to his career. Then he got hurt and had to watch the playoffs from the sidelines as backup Matt Moore led the team in defeat. Tannehill will be back under center in 2017 and the team surely hopes that he will pick up where he left off and maybe get even better.

16. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Here's another guy who gets a lot of praise for some post season play. Joe Flacco has been a starter since the Ravens drafted him and has done an amazing job in getting them plenty of wins. He also was a catalyst to them winning the Super Bowl a few years back, but his play since then has been pretty inconsistent. That could be due to the lack of really great receivers for them though. Either way, Flacco lands in the middle of the pack for now.

15. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Heading into his second season Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz looks poised to take the next step. He's got some new weapons at his disposal and he also has the poise of a seasoned vet. So far, it looks like the Eagles got the better of the two quarterbacks at the top of the 2016 NFL Draft.

January 7, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws under pressure from Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) during the first half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

14. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford became the comeback kid last year. The Detroit Lions went 9-7 and eight of those wins were all thanks to fourth-quarter game winning drives. Stafford was the reason for most of that as he was able to keep the Lions on the right side of .500, despite them being awful in the running game and having a suspect defense.

13. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

If Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans is able to stay healthy for 16 games, he could become one of the truly elite players. He still has the occasional game where he looks like a young player figuring it all out, but Mariota also has spells of brilliant play. He's got more than enough arm strength and his accuracy is good as well. In addition to that, he's one of the more effective running quarterbacks in the game as well.

12. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

After winning the 2015 NFL MVP, Cam Newton had a down year in 2016. Perhaps it was a Super Bowl hangover as the Carolina Panthers were trying to get over losing Super Bowl 50, or maybe he just wasn't healthy. Eventually he should climb back into the top 10 in NFL Quarterback Power Rankings, but last season was discouraging.

May 24, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws the ball during drills as part of Redskins OTAs at Redskins Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

11. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

If the Washington Redskins don't sign Kirk Cousins to a long-term deal soon, someone will. He has had back-to-back seasons with over 4,000 yards and kept them from going into the tank after failing on their Robert Griffin III trade.

10. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jameis Winston can straight-up sling it. He throws the ball as hard as anyone in the league and one of his best traits is his fearless play. That style leads to a lot of interceptions, but he also finds ways to get the ball to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers big playmakers like receiver Mike Evans. Adding receiver DeSean Jackson and rookie tight end O.J. Howard to the mix should help him get even better.

9. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

If the executives in Indy don't start making some smarter decisions, the Colts may need to change their names to the Indianapolis Andrew Lucks. This guy is good, but he has to do so much on his own. Their former general manager, Ryan Grigson, was worse than Bill Polian — who also was so bad that when Peyton Manning got hurt they went from Super Bowl contender to a two-win team. They're doing it all over again as everything is on the shoulders of Luck right now.

May 24, 2017; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) works out during OTAs at the Star in Frisco. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Number eight on this list is the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Dak Prescott. The Dallas Cowboys lucked into finding their future quarterback as two injuries — and a failed attempt to trade for Josh McCown — left them with their rookie fourth-round pick to start.

He was able to become the first person not named Tom Brady to throw for over 3,500 yards while completing 20-plus touchdowns and less than five picks. It was one of the most efficient seasons ever.

7. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks need to protect Russell Wilson. He's one of the best the game has to offer and has led them to two Super Bowls — including one title. The problem is, he is constantly sacked as often as any other quarterback in the league and the hits started to take their toll in 2016. If they can keep him clean, the sky is the limit.

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Big Ben Roethlisberger was part of the insane draft that featured Philip Rivers and Eli Manning. Heck even Matt Schaub was in that draft — laugh if you want, but he once led the league in passing yards. The best of them all though has clearly been Roethlisberger. He is one of the best at improvisational play and just simply wins.

May 23, 2017; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass during organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. Derek Carr Oakland Raiders

Coming out of Fresno State, Derek Carr looked to be a stud. There were several quarterback-needy teams that could have selected him as well. One of the most talked about options was the Houston Texans. This team needed a good quarterback. Yet they were scared to take him because of his name.

While the team may not admit that's the case, they were frightened. That was because the first ever pick they made was on his older brother David Carr, who was a bust for them. That led to the Texans passing on Carr in the first and second rounds. The Oakland Raiders are glad they didn't pass, because he has been a starter for them ever since and is among the best in the game. Side note: The Texans still stink at the position.

4. Drew Brees New Orleans Saints

He may be nearing 40 years of age, but New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is still one of the best. He went over 5,000 yards again in 2016 and looks poised to be atop the leader boards in passing yards yet again in 2017.

While the Saints are still struggling on defense, the presence of number nine keeps them a threat in each and every game.

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) reacts after a touchdown pass against the New England Patriots during the second quarter during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

In 2016 Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan put it all together. While he's been a good quarterback since taking over for the Dirty Birds following the Michael Vick fiasco, he never was able to convince everyone he was among the elites.

Then he led the Falcons to the NFC South title as well as a beautiful post season run that went into the Super Bowl. The Falcons had an epic collapse there, but Ryan was still rewarded with the 2016 NFL MVP for his work. Heading into the new season he now finds himself as number three in these 2017 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

One guy who has put together a better career than Ryan is Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers. Of course when these two met in the NFC title game, you would never have guessed that since Rodgers' team struggled so bad.

That shouldn't take away from the great year he had in which he led the Packers from the brink of implosion to a game away from a Super Bowl berth. There's no reason to think Rodgers will do anything but repeat as one of the best two in the game.

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) runs the ball for a 15 yard gain against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

He may be about to turn 40 years old, but don't tell Tom Brady that. The New England Patriots quarterback is still out there slinging it around like a guy in his 20s. Unlike most guys who played at this age, Brady is still the focal point of a team that operates as a pass-first offense.

Brady has led the Pats to seven Super Bowls and the team has won five of them, including this most recent one. Just to prove how integral he was in those games, Brady won four MVPs of the bug game. He's also won two league MVP awards and has been named to the Pro Bowl an amazing 12 times.

After winning it all again last year, the Pats have tried to help Brady go for more glory. They made a big move to get former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks to go along with fellow receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

This collection of pass catchers gives Brady some of the best talent he's had around him in years. Look for him to continue to be a monster thanks to these additions as he closes out our post-OTAs version of the 2017 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings.