Very long-time scout and football analyst Gil Brandt started revealing his "Best of..." lists on twitter a couple weeks ago. It appears that they were such a hit that they are coming fast and furious and likely hitting a wider audience on NFL.com. Here are the best quarterbacks that Brandt's seen.
16. Drew Brees
15. Jim Kelly
14. Fran Tarkenton
13. Warren Moon
12. Sammy Baugh
11. Troy Aikman
10. Terry Bradshaw
9. Dan Marino
8. Roger Staubach
7. Johnny Unitas
6. Brett Favre
5. John Elway
4. Otto Graham
3. Joe Montana
2. Peyton Manning
1. Tom Brady
Tom Brady has had a big few days. #1 on the NFL Network's Top 100 Players for 2017 and #1 on Gil Brandt's All-Time Best Quarterbacks list. He's been in great need of this sort of affirmation.
These Best Quarterbacks lists are often a little too focused on the players from recent generations. The passing generations. Nearly every new rule change since the late 1970s has made it easier to throw the ball. Quarterbacks are kept safe and receivers can run relatively free of abuse. Moving the ball through the air has become so much easier that quarterbacks from the first 50+ years of the NFL can't be compared to those of the last 40. It's great to see Brandt acknowledge some of the great throwers from the old days. Otto Graham guided the Cleveland Browns to the championship game in each of his ten seasons, winning seven of those games. Not even Brady can claim that sort of appearance consistency in championship games. I like seeing Graham on these lists. Sammy Baugh too. Both are often overlooked because they played before the Super Bowl was a thing. It's also great to see Brandt appreciate Fran Tarkenton a little.
I'm actually a little surprised to see Brandt rank Roger Staubach way down there at #8. Before I checked the list I guessed that he'd put the quarterback that he scouted and drafted in the top-5. Staubach was great and very deserving of a top-10 ranking. As a young Minnesota Vikings fan that damn Staubach scared me more than any other quarterback of the era. No lead was safe when he had the ball at the end of a game.
Where's Aaron Rodgers?
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