Pick The Best NFL Quarterbacks And We'll Guess Your Favorite One
- by Marc Schmidt
- – on
- in Sports
Much like a pitcher in baseball, the quarterback is the key position in football. When players go through the ranks and make the jump into the NFL, being a quarterback becomes a whole new ballgame. That player not only becomes the most important player on the field, they also become the most important player in the franchise in a lot of cases. The memories NFL fans carry with them after the game comes from the quarterback position in a lot of cases. The impact this position has on the game is immense.
Regardless of what style of football an NFL fan might enjoy the most, there is a good chance that they will have a strong opinion about the quarterback position. Most fans have at least one quarterback they wish they could emulate whenever they play Madden or get a backyard game going with friends. Almost any time a pick up game is created, the quarterback position is the number one topic discussed prior to playing the game.
In this quiz, we'll aim to find out which NFL quarterback is favored by NFL fans. Some may favor the quarterback who has the rings while others will favor the record breaking Hall Of Famers. Then there are others who believe defense wins championships. Those are the NFL fans who don't get caught up in rings or records. They only care about whether their quarterback can win games for them or not. So let's lace up our cleats, dig into a few questions, and find out which quarterback is the favorite among NFL fans.
Tom Brady
There is no debate that Tom Brady deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Even NFL fans who dislike Brady, they know he is one of the best to play the game. Whether NFL fans decide to click on the “Pick” or “Pass” button is a polarizing issue. Some NFL fans are focused on his incredible accuracy and leadership skills while others are tired of seeing him win and interpret his attitude as arrogant. {Football Reference}
Joe Montana
Joe Montana is known as one of the coolest quarterbacks in NFL history. This is due to how he handled pressure situations. Especially in big games like the Super Bowl. After winning 4 Super Bowl championships and numerous accolades, there is no question that he is one of the best to ever play the game. Although his name isn’t in the record books quite as much as some other greats, will NFL fans still “Pick” him as one of the best. {Football Reference}
Peyton Manning
NFL fans of all ages are familiar with Peyton Manning. Whether they’ve seen him in commercials or they remember his great play and leadership on the field, Manning is certainly one of the most likable quarterbacks in NFL history. Although he is known for underachieving in big moments, he did win 2 Super Bowl championships. With that knowledge, will NFL fans “Pick” or “Pass” on this quarterback? {Football Reference}
Dan Marino
The name Dan Marino has a lot of prestige behind it. His name is in the record books for more passing records than most NFL fans can even remember. He pretty much embodied what it means to be a great passer in the NFL. However, without a running game, Marino was unable to win a Super Bowl championship. For some NFL fans, that matters. For others it is a blip on the radar. {Football Reference}
Andrew Luck
This quarterback has had a very interesting time in the NFL so far. He started off very good, then saw a steep decline in play due to some health issues, but is now enjoying a resurgence. Some NFL fans may not be convinced of Andrew Luck’s ability after seeing his decline while others will “Pick” him because they see the potential he brings. {Football Reference}
Patrick Mahomes
This quarterback is still considered the “new kid on the block” when it comes to NFL quarterbacks, but his play has gotten a lot of positive attention. Based on his play, there is no reason to believe this quarterback won’t maintain his high level of play, but some NFL fans might be hesitant to put him on a pedestal just yet. {Football Reference}
Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz took the league by storm last season when he put up great numbers for the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Although he has some great things on his resume, some NFL fans might not be completely convinced considering the Eagles current struggles and their play without offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Certainly a polarizing scenario for NFL fans who are taking this quiz. {Football Reference}
Jared Goff
This quarterback has gone from being considered a “bust” to being one of the toasts of the NFL and Los Angeles due to his leadership and play with the Rams. Although some may still have some doubts, the bottom line is this quarterback is leading a very good team in the right direction. Is that enough to convince NFL fans to “Pick” this quarterback or will they “Pass?” {Football Reference}
Steve Young
This NFL quarterback is highly regarded by many after his stellar play with the San Francisco 49ers during the 90’s. However, because of Steve Young’s lack of success prior to arriving in San Francisco, some NFL fans may view him as a “system quarterback”. This is after winning a Super Bowl in the mid 90’s. Certainly a tough decision depending on the stance NFL fans take on this player. {Football Reference}
Ben Roethlisberger
After winning two Super Bowls early in his NFL playing days, Ben Roethlisberger has found that getting back to the big game is easier said than done. While his past accolades look good on his resume, others might look at the present version of this player and have some doubts due to their slightly inconsistent play. Will NFL fans maintain confidence in this veteran player and “Pick” him or will they opt to “Pass?” {Football Reference}
Eli Manning
Eli Manning is a two time Super Bowl champion who is known for defeating the “mighty” New England Patriots on the big stage. However, it’s been awhile since New York Giants fans have seen him play consistently good. Will NFL fans “Pick” him because of his overall resume or “Pass” due to being a little too inconsistent for their taste? {Football Reference}
Phil Simms
This legendary New York Giants quarterback is considered one of the best of his era. He is best known for his phenomenal performance during Super Bowl XXI and for being a steady presence behind center during the 80’s. Will NFL fans “Pick” this Super Bowl winning leader or will they “Pass” due to the decline in play that he experienced during the end of his NFL playing days? {Football Reference}
Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason is recognizable these days due to his interesting nickname and NFL commentary. However, back in the 80’s, Esiason was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. To this day he is remembered for having one of the best passing games in league history. Will NFL fans “Pick” Esiason due to his consistently great play or will they “Pass” because he was unable to defeat the “team of the 80’s” in Super Bowl XXIII? {Football Reference}
Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco is known as one of those quarterbacks who makes for a great leader, but doesn’t have a lot of passing numbers that will stick out to NFL fans who have watched him play. Although he’s won a Super Bowl and has been a steady leader for the Baltimore Ravens, some NFL fans might admit to being bored with his style of play. Will NFL fans be convinced enough to give him a “Pick” or will they “Pass” due to his play not being exciting enough? {Football Reference}
Carson Palmer
This NFL quarterback is known as a solid passer who experienced very little playoff success. NFL fans who blame the teams he played will probably “Pick” this quarterback and give him a chance while others might view him as a player who just wasn’t quite as good as some other quarterbacks in NFL history. The decision NFL fans make on Carson Palmer will most likely come down to perspective. {Football Reference}
Matt Ryan
This NFL quarterback is known for being one of the most prolific passers of his generation. He is also known as the quarterback behind the team who blew a huge lead against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. NFL fans will need to decide if they still have confidence in Matt Ryan or if place the Atlanta Falcons Super Bowl loss on him. {Football Reference}
Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford is known as the undisputed leader of the Detroit Lions. He is the face of the franchise thanks to his stellar play. However, that hasn’t been enough to take the Lions to the next level. Even when he had a stellar wide receiver like Calvin Johnson, they still couldn’t go very far. Will NFL fans see his leadership and “Pick” him or will they “Pass” based on the Lions lack of major success? {Football Reference}
Brett Favre
There might only be one word to describe Brett Favre and that is “legendary”. No other quarterback in the history of the NFL had more fun out on the field than Favre. Although he only won the Super Bowl once, NFL fans knew that he could his teams were always in contention going into a season as long as he was around. Although he played the backend of his playing days with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets, NFL fans will always remember him for the years he spent with the Green Bay Packers. {Football Reference}
Tony Romo
Most people probably agree that Tony Romo was a talented quarterback. However, he never lived up to his potential. Winning during the playoffs was a difficult task for him. Although some NFL fans feel passionately about his talent, others feel like he was just another average NFL quarterback. NFL fans who take this quiz will be able to voice their opinion on this polarizing quarterback by “Picking” or “Passing” on this Cowboys great. {Football Reference}
Drew Brees
NFL fans might have a hard time finding something they don’t like about this future Hall of Famer. He is a Super Bowl champion, consistent winner, and has achieved many passing records. If there is one thing Drew Brees fans know, it’s that they will almost always see an offensive show when he steps onto the football field. This quarterback is likely to get more “Picks” than “Passes” but everybody has their nay sayers. {Football Reference}
Jim Kelly
Despite going 0-4 in the Super Bowl, many NFL fans still consider this NFL quarterback to be a winner. Not only was he a great leader for an excellent Buffalo Bills team during the 80’s and 90’s, he has also inspired many by overcoming post retirement health issues. Those who only see the Super Bowl losses may have a hard time “Picking” this quarterback, but there is a lot of good on Jim Kelly’s resume that is hard to ignore. {Football Reference}
DeShaun Watson
DeShaun Watson is arguably one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the NFL. He is incredibly elusive and has a cannon for an arm. He has ignited a Houston Texans offense that would otherwise have a hard time keeping pace with its phenomenal defense. Although this team tends to start slow, they always come out of the season with a winning record and playoff berth. This is the type of quarterback many NFL fans would want on their team. {Football Reference}
Cam Newton
Cam Newton is the undisputed leader of the Carolina Panthers. The team pretty much goes the way Newton goes. He has some offensive playmakers at his disposal, but has lacked a consistent wide receiver throughout his playing days in Carolina. The Panthers still win a lot of games despite this fact. Newton’s touchdown celebration usually involves him giving the football to a lucky fan sitting in the front row. That in itself might be enough to make him a favorite of many NFL fans. {Football Reference}
Philip Rivers
When NFL fans think about the Los Angeles Chargers, Philip Rivers name is probably the first one that comes to mind. He has done a great job of taking over the quarterback position for Drew Brees over a decade ago. With many offensive playmakers at his disposal, Rivers makes the Chargers offense one of the most exciting in the league to watch. The only blemish on his resume to this point is the lack of a Super Bowl championship. {Football Reference}
Derek Carr
Derek Carr has had a tough road as the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders. Despite showing a lot of potential early in his playing days, Carr has only been able to lead the Silver and Black to one playoff berth. The rest of his tenure has been filled with health issues and disappointment. Will NFL fans “Pick” this player based on potential or will they “Pass” based on what they’ve seen on the field? {Football Reference}
Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb is arguably the best quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history. He lead the Eagles to several NFC Championship games and kept the team in contention for a Super Bowl virtually every season. He even carried them despite lacking a strong wide receiver presence through most of his time in Philly. Some NFL fans might view the lack of a Super Bowl championship as a blemish on his resume, but there are probably plenty of NFL fans who would still “Pick” this great NFL quarterback. {Football Reference}
Andy Dalton
Andy Dalton has put up some good numbers during his playing days. He has also helped to guide the Bengals to multiple playoff appearances. He’s also known to be a little inconsistent. He has had trouble taking the Bengals to the next level. They haven’t even won a playoff game with him at quarterback. Something like that could impact whether NFL fans decide to “Pick” or “Pass” on this veteran quarterback. {Football Reference}
Russell Wilson
Despite winning a Super Bowl with the “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks, this NFL quarterback still seems to be a little underrated. The Seahawks are constantly in the playoff hunt despite all of the changes that have happened around him in recent seasons. Russell Wilson is a leader that any NFL fan would be happy to have as the quarterback of their team. Wilson has proven to be incredibly evasive in the pocket while as maintaining a solid passing game for the Seahawks. {Football Reference}
Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins has come a long way since coming into the NFL as a backup to Robert Griffin III. Once he got Cousins got the chance to start, he never looked back. He made so much of a name for himself that he was able to transition from Washington to a Super Bowl Contender in Minnesota. For a team that good to hand over the “keys” to the offense means a lot. This is a quarterback that coaches, owners, and fans believe can get the job done. {Football Reference}
Rich Gannon
This NFL quarterback spent the first part of his playing days with the Minnesota Vikings and the Kansas City Chiefs. However, his time with the Oakland Raiders is the most memorable to NFL fans. Rich Gannon may not be a Hall of Fame player, but he did prove that not having some legitimate playmakers earlier in his NFL tenure prevented him from reaching a higher level of greatness. {Football Reference}
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is one of those quarterbacks who can carry a team on his back. This says a lot about how much he means to the Green Bay Packers. Although they tend to lack great players at the skill positions, Rodgers somehow keeps his team in most games. Although his only Super Bowl Championship was quite a few years ago, NFL fans know that he could win another one in any given season thanks to his amazing talent. {Football Reference}
Jameis WInston
This quarterback has only seen flashes of brilliance during his NFL playing days so far. Inconsistent play and negative media attention have made it tough for Jameis Winston to find his groove. However, when everything in his world lines up, Winston has proven to be a solid player. This is one of those quarterbacks who NFL fans either believe in and will click the “Pick” button or will rule him out and “Pass” due to what they’ve seen from him so far in the NFL. {Football Reference}
Blake Bortles
From benching rumors to highly inconsistent play, Blake Bortles hasn’t won a lot of NFL fans over outside of Jacksonville. Despite leading his team to the AFC Championship game in 2017, Bortles still hasn’t quite found his groove as the Jaguars quarterback. Although Bortles has shown that he is capable of getting the job done, it may take a little more than an occasional good game to get NFL fans to click on the “Pick” button in this quiz. {Football Reference}
Mitchell Trubisky
This quarterback has fit in nicely with a revived Chicago Bears team. Although the defense gets a lot of the attention in Chicago, Mitchell Trubisky should also be given some credit. He has provided stability and consistency to the Bears offense. He has also shown that he is capable of producing huge games every once in awhile too. That is a trait that will keep him on par with some of the other great young quarterbacks in the NFL today. {Football Reference}
Kurt Warner
Any quarterback who can say they were under center when the team was nicknamed “The Greatest Show On Turf” is sure to be a favorite among some NFL fans. For those who missed out on the Kurt Warner era of the NFL, it was a time of dazzling long touchdown passes and leadership from one of the best to play the game. Not only did he lead the Rams to two Super Bowl berths, winning one, He also lead the Cardinals to the big game for the first time in the late 2000’s. {Football Reference}
Alex Smith
Alex Smith is one of those NFL quarterbacks who might be hard for some fans to figure out. On one hand, he lead the Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs. Smith played pretty well under Andy Reid overall. However, he is known to be a bit inconsistent too. Although he did well in Washington prior to mid season health issues, some NFL fans might still view his style of play as “boring” or not making much of an impact on the game. {Football Reference}
Sam Darnold
The jury is still out on Sam Darnold. He showed flashes of brilliance early in his rookie season, but overall Darnold experienced the kind of growing pains an NFL fan might expect from a rookie. Health issues that kept him out of some games also impacted his rookie campaign. This one might come down to whether NFL fans watched him in college and how much they believe he will live up to expectations. {Football Reference}
Baker Mayfield
Although the Cleveland Browns are destined for yet another losing record, there is no doubt that Baker Mayfield has Browns fans excited about the future. Mayfield has played brilliantly regardless of whether they’ve won or loss this season. It is clear that he is living up to expectations so far. So much so that even non Browns fans believe he can take the team to the next level. The only downside so far is that he plays for the Browns. {Football Reference}
Randall Cunningham
Some might say that Randall Cunningham is the original version of many scrambling quarterbacks NFL fans see today. He was an elusive quarterback who could also pass well. Cunningham was ahead of his time as most quarterbacks of his era were still primarily pocket passers. Although he didn’t win the big game, NFL fans probably shouldn’t place the blame squarely on him. There were many factors that impacted that. Overall this former NFL MVP would be a great fit in today’s game. {Football Reference}
Dak Prescott
Although Cowboys fans were ready for a change after the Tony Romo era, the change has come with a bit of inconsistency. Dak Prescott showed some promise early one, but fell short of getting his team to the playoffs last season. A slow start also made some fans skeptical. Do NFL fans still have confidence in this quarterback or is he yet another Cowboys quarterback who will fall short of fans expectations? {Football Reference}
Ryan Tannehill
Depending on the perspective of some NFL fans, Ryan Tannehill is either a very average quarterback or a very good one who has had some unfortunate luck. One winning season compared to several other .500 or below seasons potentially puts Tannehill at a lower level than others. However, NFL fans who are optimistic will "Pick" this quarterback and ignore the naysayers. {Football Reference}
Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler was a very polarizing figure in professional football during his playing days. So many flashes of brilliance during his time in Denver and Chicago, but not much to show for it. He gave it one final try in Miami, but couldn't get the team to the playoffs. One Pro Bowl appearance during his NFL tenure also raises questions despite the fact that he threw a lot more touchdown passes than interceptions. {Football Reference}
John Elway
This quarterback made five trips to the Super Bowl during his playing days and won two of them. Besides for his two Super Bowl victories, John Elway might be best remembered for the way he ran the two minute drill. Elway lead his Broncos back time after time during his illustrious tenure in Denver. Many old school NFL fans remember where they were when they watched him lead the Broncos offense 98 yards down the field for the game winning score against the Browns in the playoffs. {Football Reference}
Case Keenum
An electrifying performance in Minnesota during the 2017 season gave Case Keenum exactly what he needed to revive his tenure in the NFL. At one time, it looked like this journeyman quarterback would fade into the sunset, but now he is the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. NFL fans who are still unsure may opt to "Pass" but there are probably a lot of Broncos and Vikings fans who still believe he is worth "Picking" in this quiz. {Football Reference}
Ryan Fitzpatrick
This NFL quarterback might be a journeyman, but he has had some fun moments over the course of his tenure in the league. Recently, his play has been so electrifying that he earned the nickname "FitzMagic". NFL fans who believe in the magic Ryan Fitzpatrick can bring to the football field will have no problem "Picking" this exciting journeyman. Naysayers who view his success as a fluke will "Pass" on this player. {Football Reference}
Troy AIkman
Although he didn't play quite as long as some other NFL quarterbacks, Troy Aikman certainly made an impact during the time he spent in the league. Three Super Bowl championships in three tries says a lot about this player’s resume. The Dallas Cowboys were in contention for a playoff berth or championship throughout most of his playing days. The only thing that held him back were the concussion issues that lead to his retirement. {Football Reference}
Josh Allen
Although NFL fans don't know much about this rookie quarterback, many of them would probably say that he has brought a lot of excitement to a Buffalo Bills team that has struggled during the 2018 season. Josh Allen has all of the attributes that fans love about the modern day quarterback. He is a good scrambler who has a cannon for an arm. Surround this rookie with a few more playmakers and NFL fans might see something special in Buffalo. {Football Reference}
Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota may not have a winning record in the NFL, but he has provided some exciting moments for the Tennessee Titans. He has managed to keep a consistently average team afloat. Mariota even won his first playoff game in 2017. This should assure NFL fans that this player is capable of winning on the big stage. Those are the fans who will probably pick this quarterback. However, some may feel he still has a lot to prove. {Football Reference}
Josh Rosen
Josh Rosen has struggled during his rookie season. His only wins are against a San Francisco 49ers team that many NFL fans would say are more inept than his Arizona Cardinals. It might be too early to say what Rosen can really do, but some NFL fans would probably agree that not being able to win against other teams is probably not a good sign. Some NFL fans may give Rosen a break since the Cardinals aren't very good, but others may have a "win now" mentality. {Football Reference}
Warren Moon
Warren Moon is known as one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. Although he never won a Super Bowl championship, this is one quarterback that many NFL fans believe in. As the leader of the “Run and Shoot” offense, Moon and his teammates put up some incredible offensive numbers. NFL fans who watched the game during his era know just how potent an offense can be behind Warren Moon. This is especially true for fans of the now defunct Houston Oilers. {Football Reference}
