Where does Alex Smith rank among NFL quarterbacks?
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
18. Carson Palmer
Palmer has endured an off career arc. After being drafted first overall by the Bengals in 2003, Palmer posted two 4,000-yard seasons in 2006 and 2007 before throwing 37 interceptions and being generally ineffective in 36 games from 2008–10. After being irrelevant on the Raiders for two seasons, Palmer has enjoyed a resurgence with the Arizona Cardinals. Palmer threw for a career-high 4,274 yards in 2013 before injuries limited him to six games last year.
17. Teddy Bridgewater
Entering his second season with the Minnesota Vikings, there are serious expectations. Bridgewater played in 13 games and threw for 2,919 yards despite being without Adrian Peterson. The 2014 first-round pick is supremely talented and should be a force to reckon with in the future.
16. Cam Newton
Yep, Newton barely cracks the top half of the list. Newton has off-the-charts athleticism but his accuracy is mediocre at best. Watch a Carolina Panthers game, and you see a super-talented quarterback who struggles to go through progressions and misses open receivers. Last year, Newton ranked 29th in completion percentage, ahead of only Derek Carr, Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer and Drew Stanton.
15. Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill had huge expectations on him when he came out of Texas A&M as a first-round pick in 2012. While Tannehill hasn’t been great, he certainly plays a solid game. Last year, Tannehill posted a career-year with 4,045 yards and 27 touchdowns. If the 26-year-old can lead the Dolphins to the playoffs this season, that would represent a huge step for him.
14. Alex Smith
Smith is one of the best in the league at avoiding turnovers, only throwing 23 interceptions over the last four years. Considering how often the team that wins the turnover battle is the victor, it’s a huge stat. Smith doesn’t throw downfield enough, but he’s led his team to a winning record each of the past four years. He’s a quality player you can win with.
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