Where does Alex Smith rank among NFL quarterbacks?
Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) moves to pass the ball in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
23. Sam Bradford
Bradford has talent, but he is coming off consecutive seasons that ended prematurely with torn ACLs. Bradford was the top overall pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2010 but only managed to throw for 11,065 yards over five years due to injury and lack of weapons around him. Bradford will get a great chance in Philadelphia to prove his worth this year.
22. Jay Cutler
Cutler has an incredible arm, and he’s proven he will stand against pressure and take a wicked shot. The problem is Cutler has never been able to lead a team, a vital component for the quarterback position. Cutler is portrayed as aloof and difficult, two traits that are tough to stomach at such a key position. His production has been average, only amassing more than 3,500 yards three times in nine years.
21. Colin Kaepernick
At one point, Kaepernick was supposed to be a phenom for the San Francisco 49ers. After leading them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012, Kaepernick has regressed significantly over the last two years. Kaepernick’s QBR has gone down each year, bottoming out in 2014 with a 55.9. The former Nevada star has also never eclipsed 3,400 yards. Going into his fifth season, it is make-or-break for Kaepernick.
20. Nick Foles
It was tough to rank Foles, considering he was terrific in 2013, and then bad and hurt in 2014. Foles was out of his mind during his second season with the Eagles, leading the team to an NFC East title with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. Last year, Foles played in eight games and threw 13 touchdowns with 10 interceptions before breaking his collarbone. It will be interesting to see how Foles plays with the Rams.
19. Andy Dalton
Dalton is all about how you view him. On one hand, Dalton has made the playoffs with the Cincinnati Bengals in each of his four NFL seasons. However, he has been awful in the postseason and gotten bounced in the wild-card round each time. Last year, Dalton threw 19 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. Dalton has to take the next step to become a real quality player.
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