Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com has released his QB Value rankings on the heels of the 2020 NFL draft.
Where does Colts quarterback Philip Rivers rank on this list?
According to Rosenthal, Rivers is ranked #21 out of 35 QB’s evaluated.
Here’s what Rosenthal had to say about Rivers:
Frank Reich could be wrong. I could be wrong. But Rivers can still make all the throws if he’s protected, which he should be in Indianapolis. Even considering Rivers’ one-year, $25 million contract, I’d rather have a chance at catching lightning in a bottle than rolling with a younger, cheaper player who is less likely to be an asset.
Some Indianapolis Colts fans may be alarmed that Philip Rivers is listed at #21 out of 35 QBs evaluated.
After reviewing the list, it seems to be a fair assessment of Rivers.
Basis of Rankings
This time of year, there are as many QB rankings lists as there are sportswriters.
Each list factors different criteria.
NFL.com reports that its rankings list is developed based on the QB’s age, contract, talent, and production.
All factors seem to be quantitative, but the secret sauce of which supersedes the others is unknown.
Rivers is in Good Company
At #21, Rivers is in great company.
We can go so far as to say he is in the company of future Hall-of-Famers.
And they are in his age range so we can conclude that age is weighted heavily.
#14 is 40-year-old Drew Brees.
#16 is the GOAT, Tom Brady.
Ben Roethlisberger comes in at #18.
Sadly for football fans, this group is probably at the tail end of their collective careers and may have tallied their greatest accomplishments in previous seasons.
But as we said, no one knows what happens until the teams hit the field.
The supporting cast surrounding these players is not factored into their ranking, and perhaps it should be.
For the super curious Colts fans wondering if Jacoby Brissett made the 35 man NFL list, he did.
He comes in at #31 and is touted as one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in NFL history with a $15.9 million salary.
There are so many QB ranking lists right now that it is impossible to know which will be most accurate.
NFL QB Rankings (Before the Draft) pt. 2
20. Derek Carr
19. Ben Roethlisberger
18. Philip Rivers
17. Josh Allen
16. Teddy Bridgewater
15. Kyler Murray
14. Jared Goff
13. Jimmy Garoppolo
12. Matt Ryan
11. Kirk Cousins— B & B Radio Show (@bnbradioshow) April 5, 2020
NFL QB Rankings (Before the Draft) pt. 3
10. Ryan Tannehill
9. Dak Prescott
8. Carson Wentz
7. Tom Brady
6. Deshaun Watson
5. Aaron Rodgers
4. Lamar Jackson
3. Russell Wilson
2. Drew Brees
1. Patrick Mahomes
Let me know what you think👇👇— B & B Radio Show (@bnbradioshow) April 5, 2020
Previous Years’ Rankings
If you’re like me, you are wondering how Rivers and others were ranked in previous years.
In 2019, The Sporting News ranked QBs on the previous year’s performance and what offensive support he has to help him succeed.
Using those criteria, Philip Rivers was ranked #6, and Jacoby Brissett was #25 (out of 32).
Tom Brady and Drew Brees were ranked #3 and 4 respectively.
Roethlisberger was #9.
Obviously, the evaluation criteria make a huge difference.
Let’s look at another example from 2018.
In 2018, WWL Radio classified groups of QBs in tiers.
Brady and Brees were considered Mega-Elite Superstars because they could carry their teams offenses on their backs.
Whereas, Roethlisberger, Rivers, and Andrew Luck were called Elite because their play was consistently at a high level.
The 2020 Top 5
Youth, agility, and speed (mainly) dominate the Top 5 in this year’s NFL.com rankings.
#1 Patrick Mahomes
#2 Lamar Jackson
#3 Russell Wilson
#4 DeShaun Watson
#5 Carson Wentz
Russell Wilson is 31 so he is the oldest and most experienced player here.
Besides Wilson, Mahomes, and Wentz are Super Bowl Champions.
Wentz’s mobility is not of the same caliber as the other 4 especially as he has been hampered with injury.
If you disagree with one or two in the NFL’s top 5, you are not alone.
Top 5 QBs in the NFL going into the 2020 season
1. Mahomes
2. Wilson
3. Bree’s
4. Watson
5. Jackson pic.twitter.com/LFR8RGuDYZ— The Field Level (@TheFieldLevel1) April 8, 2020
What Does It All Mean?
As you can see rankings vary depending on the source.
And they don’t mean a thing when the season opens in September.
Strength of schedule, injuries, good fortune, play-calling, and situational factors (clock management, special teams, and kicking game) all play a part in the QB’s success.
What Rivers and the Colts ultimately want is a Super Bowl Championship.
That is a team accomplishment and has little to do with individual rankings.
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