2017 QB Rankings: The Meddling Few

In this section, let's talk about two younger QBs with similar traits and extremely different physical abilities,  and two aging talents with something to prove.  

23. Tyrod Taylor – T-Mobile.  A QB with some serious talent and surrounded by seriously talented skill players.  Under a new head coach and with an off season to work with Lesean McCoy and Sammy Watkins, I expect Taylor to shine in this offense.  He’s got the tools, but they’ve been mostly injured (Watkins).  The Bills are a mediocre team in a division dominated by the Patriots.  Miami is good, but not great and Taylor will have to pull all the stops to compete.

22. Cam Newton – We all have one question when it comes to Cam Newton, what the hell happened? In one season, he went from MVP and Super Bowl runner-up to leading a team to 6-10.  He also injured his shoulder, had running backs not perform and a less than stellar return season from what should have been the Panthers star wideout.  Newton’s accuracy suffered in the 2016 season, dipping from 59% to 52%.  We will see that number improve in 2017: With McCaffrey in the backfield, Newton has a very good option as a check-down.  

21. Carson Palmer – Another QB with a disappointing season, Palmer has his work cut out for him.  David Johnson is again going to be one of the best RBs in the league and the Card’s wide outs are filled to the brim with potential.  The downside is apparent, age.  While Tom Brady defies the hands of time, Palmer’s age is beginning to show.  Arians is keeping the offense within his skill set, but it’s only a matter of time before Arizona needs to keep their eyes out for a young gun to take over.

20.  Joe Flacco – Is Flacco elite? No. Ok, now that that’s out of the way, let’s chat.  Flacco is good, not great, but good.  Good enough that with an elite defense, the Ravens could (and did) reach and win a Super Bowl.  This year, the defense is good, not elite, and the RB situation is so-so.  I’m intrigued as to what the Ravens can do with their core of wide outs with Flacco at the helm, but this is another QB who only has so many years left in the tank.  I see a better year statistically than last, but as stacked as the AFC is, it will be quite the feat to reach the playoffs in 2017.