Who Are The Franchise QBs?

What defines a franchise quarterback, and who are the players who fall into that category? Today, I’ll discuss what it means to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL and tell you who they exactly are. The results might surprise you.

The Franchise Definition

How often do we throw the word “franchise” around when it comes to quarterbacks in the NFL? And do we have an actual definition of what it takes to be that franchise guy in the NFL?

Well, that’s exactly what I’m talking about here today. What defines a franchise quarterback has nothing to do with stats or Super Bowl wins or Pro Bowl appearances — because those tend to be direct reflections of the system that quarterbacks play in, or the situations they fall into.

Sure, you can make a case for a lot of guys who won’t appear on my list, but then again, we need to define the true meaning of what it takes to be a franchise quarterback in this league.

In my definition, a franchise quarterback can walk into any huddle in the NFL, pick up a football and have immediate success.

By saying that, these guys aren’t defined by the system they play in because you don’t have to build a system around them to make them effective. They do it because they can make any throw, run any offense and succeed with any coach and with any type of offensive personnel around them.

Need them to throw it 50 times a game? No problem. Need them to play in a west coast system or a run-first offense and still put points on the board? Again, no problem.

The franchise guys can produce in whatever system they’re put in — no questions asked.

And it has nothing to do with money because every quarterback in this league — especially first-round rookies — makes a good living on Sundays.

So let’s get into this discussion of who is and who isn’t a franchise quarterback in the NFL.

The Franchise Quarterbacks

1. Peyton Manning, Colts: Manning can walk into any NFL city, pick up the football and march the offense down the field. Yes, he has talent around him in Reggie Wayne, but he did it with Marvin Harrison, and he will continue to do it no matter whom you align on the outside. I love the offensive weapons in Indy, but I also love that Manning could win in St. Louis or Kansas City.

2. Tom Brady, Patriots: Brady gets credit for playing with the talent of the Patriots, but how many different wideouts and different offensive coordinators has he won with? He can do it anywhere, and he doesn’t need a coach to hold his hand.

3. Drew Brees, Saints: Brees will get questioned because of the Saints’ offensive system, but he showed us in a vastly different system in San Diego under Norv Turner that he could get it done. Can produce in the intermediate passing game and in the vertical passing game. You don’t need a script for Brees to succeed.

4. Carson Palmer, Bengals: Palmer has suffered some recent injuries, but it doesn’t hide that fact that, besides the players I just listed, he could walk into any other NFL huddle and win the job. Can make every throw in the book. I watched him during my career, and there aren’t many guys who can play the position like he can.

5. Philip Rivers, Chargers: Rivers might be considered the wild card of the group, but I’m still strong in my opinion that he belongs there. He is successful despite the limited weapons he has on the outside and can put up numbers even with injuries at the skill positions around him. Yes, he’s young, but he’ll be in this group the rest of his career.

On The Fence

This group of quarterbacks is almost there, but there’s something in their games that keeps them from making my top group.

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: Forget about the Super Bowl rings because the issue with Roethlisberger is that the Steelers still have to manage him. He plays within the Pittsburgh offensive attack instead of the team building their offense around him.

2. Donovan McNabb, Eagles: McNabb is great because he plays in the west coast system in Philly. However, I don’t see him having the success — or the ability to make all the throws — in another offensive system. His accuracy is always a concern, and I question if he could thrive in a vertical attack.

3. Kurt Warner, Cardinals: Kurt puts up numbers because of the system he plays in. He was great in St. Louis because of Mike Martz and great last season in Arizona because of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. But Warner needs a vertical attack to produce, and that was evident when he struggled as the Giants’ quarterback in 2004.

4. Tony Romo, Cowboys: Romo might be paid like the top guys, but we all know that he’s too inconsistent as a passer to be considered a franchise quarterback. I have a lot of questions about his game, and his ability to make the throws when the game, and the season, is on the line.

5. Eli Manning, Giants: Just like Roethlisberger, Manning gets mentioned as a franchise guy because he won a Super Bowl, but we saw last year when he regressed as a passer without Plaxico Burress. He needs players around him on the outside to succeed.

6. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: Hasselbeck is great at what he does, which is running the west coast system in the Seattle, but I don’t see him as a quarterback who could produce in different systems. Perfect fit for the Seahawks and a poor fit in multiple NFL cites.

6. Jay Cutler, Bears: Has all the physical tools you want in a franchise quarterback, but the verdict is still out on Cutler — until we see him play and produce with the Bears’ wide receivers. Some think he’s a product of the Broncos’ passing system, but he will have an opportunity to prove me wrong in Chicago if he succeeds in a run-first offense.

Something Still To Prove

This group of quarterbacks still has a lot to prove when it comes to the NFL game. They have the tools — and have had some success — but still need to show more as their careers progress.

1. Matt Ryan, Falcons: Ryan wowed us last season when he won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and took the Falcons to the playoffs, but he hasn’t done enough to be considered a franchise quarterback — yet. He has potential written all over him, but until I see it again, I’m holding back.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: Rodgers is in the same boat as Ryan, as he sat behind Brett Favre until last season, but I like his game as his career moves forward. To get into the top category, he needs to win more than six games and needs to make plays in the fourth quarter.

3. Matt Cassel, Chiefs: Cassel was a product of the talent in New England and relied on wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker. If he puts up big numbers in Kansas City, I’ll be a believer. But until then, he’s still on the outside looking in.

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