The more things change the more things stay the same.
That seems to be the case in terms of ranking the NFL’s best quarterbacks. The men at the top: Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, whom NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal called “The Big Two.”
Rosenthal ranked every starting quarterback in the league through four weeks of the season, and the men listed 3-through-10 provide some fresh insights on the league’s top signal callers.
Carson Palmer, Matt Ryan, Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson are considered “Top Shelf.”
Teddy Bridgewater fell into the next category, or the “Next Level” quarterbacks. At No. 13, Bridgewater trailed the likes of Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Marcus Mariota and Derek Carr. The trio behind him is recognizable: Joe Flacco, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.
Keep in mind that Rosenthal’s rankings represent what’s happened through four games this season.
Bridgewater has made 16 starts in his career. His numbers through the equivalent of one full season are comparable to some of the league’s best quarterbacks’ first 16 games. ESPN has more:
“Through his first 16 starts, Bridgewater threw for more yards than Matt Ryan, one fewer touchdown than Drew Brees and completed more of his passes than anyone but Ben Roethlisberger. Still, he’s been blitzed on 35.3 percent of his dropbacks, and faced pressure on 30.2 percent of them.”
The future could be very bright for Bridgewater, and keeping him upright will go a long way in helping him develop.
