Top 9 Most Average NFL Quarterbacks

The NFL has turned into a passing dominant league, as players have been throwing for more yards and touchdowns than ever.  There are different classes of QB’s in the NFL, as you have the elite in Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and the guys who should never be starting like Tim Tebow (yes I went there Skip Bayless).  However, similar to the NBA, the NFL has some very average players, so here is an inside look at the NFL’s nine most average quarterbacks.

1.  Carson Palmer

Palmer is a guy who has shown flashes of being elite throughout his career, but has been consistently inconsistent.  The former 1^st overall pick is definitely a starting QB in the NFL, however he is stuck on the Oakland Raiders, and he obviously doesn’t have the talent around at wide receiver to make him an above average QB.

2.  Matt Hasselbeck

For the most part, Hasselbeck has had a very successful career, however, he has never been in the same category as guys like Peyton Manning.  Hasselbeck had the luxury of having former rushing champion Shaun Alexander in Seattle during his prime, but he managed to have a good, not great (average) season with the Titans last year despite Chris Johnson’s struggles.

3.  Joe Flacco

Here is a guy who thinks he is an elite QB, but is very average. Flacco may be the best QB in Baltimore Ravens history, but that isn’t much to brag about.  Average Joe has one of the game’s best running backs in Ray Rice, as well as one of the top defenses, a luxury many QB’s would love to have.

4.  Kyle Orton

Orton is so average, that Tim Tebow stole his starting QB job this past season, eventually forcing him out of town.  While he is now Tony Romo’s backup in Dallas, if a team wants to settle on having an average starting QB at an affordable price, Kyle Orton is your guy. In his three years as a starting QB, Orton has posted good numbers, but nothing exciting.

5. Matt Cassel

Cassel might be the NFL’s version of Brandon Bass, being the most average player at his position.  While being injured for much of the season this year, Cassel posted very average numbers when healthy, having a QB rating of 76.6, with 10 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.  Despite his average numbers, Cassel is being paid a lot.

6.  Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy couldn’t be any more average.  In fact, he may even lose his starting job to a 28-year-old rookie.  McCoy isn’t that accurate, and he only averages 5.9 yards per attempt throwing the ball.  McCoy really became the Browns’ starting QB because they had nobody else, which is very typical for this franchise.

7. Ryan Fitzpatrick

Having earned the name Ryan Fitztragic, the Ivy League QB was on pace for a breakout season, and after he earned his payday, he decided to go back to his average ways.  After throwing 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions this past season, and playing in a very average city in Buffalo, Fitztragic can’t be anymore average.

8. Josh Freeman

Freeman was poised for a breakout season in 2011, hoping to solidify himself as a franchise QB, and instead, he found himself on this list.  There is still hope for Freeman to improve as an NFL QB, but this past season’s statistics confirm that for now, he is very average.

9.  Jason Campbell

Here is a QB who was too average for his own good. Campbell has been the most consistently average QB throughout his career, as he doesn’t necessarily have a strength or a weakness throwing the ball.  Also, he  isn’t very accurate, and his arm strength is pretty modest.  However, he is a capable starting QB, and a very good backup.

-Blewis