NFL 2017 Predictions: Ranking The Top 10 Quarterbacks For The Upcoming Season

The Detroit Lions made Matthew Stafford the richest player in NFL history Monday night, signing him to a five-year contract worth $135 million. That, of course, sent the internet into a frenzy, since he’ll be paid more than the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees heading into the 2017 NFL season.

It's easy to question Detroit's decision to give Stafford an average of $27 million per year and $92 million guaranteed, but it was an understandable business move by the organization. The Lions have a reliable quarterback that can win when surrounded with the right pieces, and they wanted to keep him for the long term.

Stafford was one of the better signal callers in 2016, leading Detroit to the playoffs despite a bottom-three rushing attack and a defense that ranked in the bottom half of the NFL. Just one Pro Bowl appearance and no playoff wins in eight seasons, however, doesn't make for the most impressive resume.

Where exactly Stafford ranks among the NFL’s starting quarterbacks is debatable, though he’s probably just outside of the top 10. The same can be said for Cam Newton, who won the 2015 MVP award but has a career completion percentage of 58.4. Jameis Winston has a chance to jump into the top 10 this season, and Philip Rivers has been a borderline top-10 quarterback for the last few years. Andrew Luck would make the cut if he wasn’t dealing with a shoulder injury that has his status in doubt.

Let’s rank the top 10 quarterbacks for the 2017 NFL season.

1) Tom Brady

Any quarterback list starts with Brady. He cemented his legacy as the GOAT by winning his fifth Super Bowl, and he might’ve been the MVP for the 2016 season if it wasn’t for his four-game Deflategate suspension. Maybe Brady will slow down now that he’s 40 years old, but he’s defied logic over the last three years with 97 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. With Brady at the helm, it’s the New England Patriots and everyone else in the AFC.

2) Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers is so good that he was a legitimate MVP candidate during a season in which people were asking “what’s wrong with Aaron Rodgers?” for about four weeks. Rodgers has the best passer rating of all time, and he’s basically a lock for close to 40 touchdowns and no more than eight interceptions each year. Even when he doesn’t have much help around him, a healthy Rodgers ensures the Green Bay Packers a playoff spot and a chance to make a title run.

3) Derek Carr

Carr might be ready to take the next step and become one of the NFL’s top tier quarterbacks. He’s gotten better in each of his three seasons, and he might make the Oakland Raiders the biggest threat to the Patriots in the AFC. After signing a big contract this past offseason, it’s time for Carr to finally make some noise in the playoffs.

4) Matt Ryan

It’s hard to rank Ryan any lower after the season he had. He was the clear MVP choice, and stats like his 117.1 passer rating and 9.26 yards per attempts gave him one of the best seasons for a quarterback ever. The question is how will Ryan bounce back after the Atlanta Falcons’ Super Bowl collapse and the loss of offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan? Even if he isn’t an MVP candidate, Ryan should still put up impressive numbers with dynamic playmakers and a great offensive line.

5) Dak Prescott

Some try to downplay Prescott’s first-year success because he did it with arguably the best running back and offensive line in 2016. When taking those factors into consideration, it’s still hard to deny that the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback is going to be a star for years to come. Prescott had one of the best rookie seasons ever with a 104.9 passer rating, 23 touchdowns and four interceptions, all while playing the highest-profile position in the sport. Even if his final numbers don’t indicate it, Prescott could be better in 2017.

6) Drew Brees

Brady isn’t the only quarterback that is beating Father Time. At worst, he’s been a top-10 signal caller in just about every season since he signed with the New Orleans Saints a decade ago. Three straight 7-9 records can be blamed on the team’s defense, and there’s little reason to believe that, even as he nears his 39th birthday, Brees won’t come close to 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2017.

7) Russell Wilson

It’s a wonder how Wilson was able to play every game last season behind an awful offensive line that gave him little time to make decisions. He won’t put up eye-popping numbers again because the Seattle Seahawks failed to sufficiently improve their greatest weakness, but Wilson’s ability to scramble and make plays outside of the pocket should give him a top-10 passer rating.

8) Ben Roethlisberger

If all of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ key pieces stay healthy in 2017, they could have the league's best offense. That includes Roethlisberger, who seems certain to deal with at least one injury every season. He’s easily the best quarterback in the AFC North and will get Pittsburgh back to the playoffs for a fourth straight year, though the way he’s played his entire career might not allow him to have the same late 30s' success that Brady and Brees have enjoyed.

9) Marcus Mariota

Mariota has been everything the Tennessee Titans hoped he’d be when they took him with the No.2 overall draft pick in 2015. He improved from his rookie year to his sophomore season with passer ratings of 91.5 and 95.6, and he’s shown the ability to get the job done in the red zone like no other quarterback. With Mariota, a top running game and an elite offensive line, Tennessee has a chance to run away with a very weak AFC South.

10) Kirk Cousins

The case can be made for a number of quarterbacks to crack the top 10, but Cousins can’t be left out after the way he performed in 2015 and 2016. He’s led the Washington Redskins to consecutive winning seasons with passer ratings of 101.6 and 97.2. Cousins ranked in the top 10 in passing yards, completion percentage and yards per attempt in both seasons. He’s come up short in a couple of must-win situations, but the Redskins might regret not signing him to a long-term deal.