If you were to ask pretty much any NFL fan outside of Baltimore, they would probably tell you that Cam Newton is better than Joe Flacco. Right now, that statement is a hard one to argue with. Cam is coming off a historic season, during which he set records that highlight his versatility as a passer and a runner. Flacco was on pace to set career highs in passing yards, but that was mostly due to a philosophical change and the Ravens’constant struggle to catch up to opponents.
That got me thinking about all of the quarterbacks who, at one point or another, were considered superior to Joe Flacco, and how ridiculous some of those notions would be considered today.
I only included players who are, without a doubt, not as good as Flacco and no reasonable person would make that argument right now.
After 2008 season
Flacco’s rankings
Bryn Swartz, Bleacher Report: #31
Yes, you read that correctly. Bryn Swartz of Bleacher Report once thought that every quarterback in the NFL, except for JaMarcus Russell, was better than Joe Flacco. Some of those names include: Shaun Hill, Tarvaris Jackson, David Garrard, Derek Anderson, Matt Schaub, Tyler Thigpen, Jason Campbell, Seneca Wallace, Matt Cassel, and Jay Cutler.
That list sure looks ridiculous 7 years later…
After 2009 Season
Flacco’s rankings
Brian Galliford SBNation: #13
Steve Chott Bleacher Report: #6
Richie Witt Dallas Observer: #15
Average: #11
Joe Flacco’s stats improved in the 2009 season, but the team didn’t make it as far in the playoffs. Still, that was enough for Steve Chott of Bleacher Report to rank him at the 6 spot ahead of Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. That was a bit of a reach. Flacco recorded the best passer rating of his career in 2010, but he statistically didn’t reach the levels Chott projected.
Richie Watt of the Dallas Observer, on the other hand, thought that Flacco was the 15th best quarterback in the league. He put Flacco behind Matt Schaub and Vince Young.
After 2010 Season
Flacco’s rankings
John Clayton ESPN: #12
SportsNation: #12
Average: #12
After his best season as a pro, the media started to come around on Joe Flacco. The only ranking ahead of Flacco for which there isn’t a decent argument is Matt Schaub. He is ranked higher than Flacco in the SportsNation poll.
2011
Flacco’s rankings
During season – Bill Simmons Grantland: #18
After season – Jason Smith NFL.com: #12
Average: #15
Before Flacco outperformed his precious Brady in a losing effort in the 2011-12 AFC Championship game (yes, THAT game), Bill Simmons ranked Mark Sanchez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Stafford, Matt Schaub, Jay Cutler, Michael Vick, and the 2011 version of Matt Hasselbeck ahead of Flacco. If you think that seems like a long list of boom-or-bust quarterbacks, you’re right, but Simmons wasn’t alone. Jason Smith also ranks Mike Vick and Matt Stafford ahead of Flacco in his rankings.
After 2012 Season
Flacco’s rankings
Mark Sessler NFL.com: #13
Ron Jaworski ESPN: #4
Average: #8.5
With the NFL world in a tizzy after Joe Flacco’s historic playoff run, Ron Jaworski, for the first time ever, put Joe Flacco in his top 5 quarterbacks, but Mark Sessler of NFL.com still wasn’t convinced. He called him solid, which is a fair assessment now, and it proved to be a fair one after a down year in 2013. But I can’t sit here and NOT make fun of Sessler for putting Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III ahead of Flacco. I bet you wish you could take that one back, Mark.
After 2013 Season
Flacco’s rankings
Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com: #16
Mike Sando ESPN: #12
Average: #14
Joe Flacco followed up his 2012 historic Super Bowl run with what many would consider one of the biggest duds of his career. His offensive line certainly didn’t help him. The middle ranking isn’t surprising from Rosenthal. Some of the players who rank above Flacco are Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Tannehill, Matthew Stafford, Nick Foles and “Bears quarterbacks.” No, that last one isn’t a joke.
After 2014 Season
Flacco’s rankings
Steven Ruiz USA Today: #14
Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com: #11
Andy Benoit MMQB: #8
Average: #11
Gregg Rosenthal and Andy Benoit don’t put anyone out of the ordinary ahead of Joe. Steven Ruiz, however, ranks Matt Stafford ahead of Flacco. After just one more NFL season, the majority of NFL fans would consider that a reach.
[RELATED: Writer Puts Flacco in 7th Tier of QBs]
2015
Flacco’s rankings
During season – Anthony Riccobono International Business Times: #25
After season – Gregg Rosenthal: #18
Average: #21.5
During the season, Riccobono wasn’t very forgiving of Flacco. He had him ranked 25th and he used his performance when he wasn’t injured to justify it. Excluding some of the more unproven players, Riccobono includes Brian Hoyer, Ryan Tannehill, Matt Stafford, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Jay Cutler ahead of him. It will amaze me if any of those guys perform better than Flacco does next season, unless he is seriously hampered by his leg injury.
Average ranking over career: #18
Conclusion
Every year, pundits will rank quarterbacks who look like they’re rising or follow emerging NFL trends ahead of Joe Flacco. Analysts will overrate “exciting” players like Vince Young, Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Tannehill, and Robert Griffin III, and they’ll underrate Joe Flacco because he is, in their words, boring.
But Joe Flacco has endured the test of time. He has survived the trend of read-option, scramble-first quarterbacks. He has proven that, with an adequate offensive line, he is among the 10 best quarterbacks in the league.
And he steps up when it counts the most.
Ridiculous List of QBs Once Considered Better Than Joe Flacco
Shaun Hill
Tarvaris Jackson
David Garrard
Derek Anderson
Matt Schaub
Tyler Thigpen
Jason Campbell
Seneca Wallace
Matt Cassel
Jay Cutler
Vince Young
Matt Hasselbeck
Mark Sanchez
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Matthew Stafford
Michael Vick
Colin Kaepernick
Robert Griffin III
Ryan Tannehill
Nick Foles
Bears quarterbacks
Brian Hoyer
Tyrod Taylor
