Is Big Ben The Best QB Drafted In The Last 10 Years?

[r8rh8rmike]

Is Big Ben the best QB drafted in the last 10 years?

By Marc Sessler NFL.com
April 13, 2012

Twenty-seven quarterbacks have been selected in the first round of the draft over the past 10 years.

Around the League ranked them from top to bottom. The core criteria is a mix of career achievement and future potential (for instance, Cam Newton at No. 5? You bet, based on what we've seen and what we expect to see).

Rosenthal and I engaged in a furious two-minute debate over IM, shifting some guys around, generating some consensus, disagreeing in other areas. We thought we'd throw it your way.

You're an NFL general manager. Who do you want leading your team? Here's our list:

1. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (No. 11, 2004)
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers (No. 24, 2005)
3. Eli Manning, Chargers (traded to Giants) (No. 1, 2004)
4. Philip Rivers, Giants (traded to Chargers) (No. 4, 2004)
5. Cam Newton, Panthers (No. 1, 2011)
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons (No. 3, 2008)
7. Matthew Stafford, Lions (No. 1, 2009)
8. Jay Cutler, Broncos (No. 11, 2006)
9. Carson Palmer, Bengals (No. 1, 2003)
10. Sam Bradford, Rams (No. 1, 2010)
11. Joe Flacco, Ravens (No. 18, 2008)
12. Mark Sanchez, Jets (No. 5, 2009)
13. Alex Smith, ***** (No. 1, 2005)
14. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers (No. 17, 2009)
15. Jason Campbell, Redskins (No. 25, 2005)
16. Vince Young, Titans (No. 3, 2006)
17. Tim Tebow, Broncos (No. 25, 2010)
18. Rex Grossman, Bears (No. 22, 2003)
19. David Carr, Texans (No. 1, 2002)
20. Byron Leftwich, Jaguars (No. 7, 2003)
21. Matt Leinart, Cardinals (No. 10, 2006)
22. Kyle Boller, Ravens (No. 19, 2003)
23. Brady Quinn, Browns (No. 22, 2007)
24. Joey Harrington, Lions (No. 3, 2002)
25. Patrick Ramsey, Redskins (No. 32, 2002)
26. J.P. Losman, Bills (No. 22, 2004)
27. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders (No. 1, 2007)

[Goldenfleece]

Eh, I'd put Eli and Aaron Rodgers ahead of Big Ben at the least. You could argue that Carson Palmer should be higher up there, too.

[rampower]

They clearly forgot Andy Dalton.

[Nick]

They clearly forgot Andy Dalton.

Dalton was a second-round pick, and thus does not meet the requirements for the list.

[HUbison]

The core criteria is a mix of career achievement and future potential

It seems like this criteria ruins the ranking. Career achievement.......ok, that can be sort of objective. But "future potential"? That's entirely subjective, and I don't see any way to do anything more than just bounce around opinions at that point.

So removing the purely subjective, with the sort of subjective remaining, I'd have to say Phillip Rivers tops that list. He hasn't had the team talent to get to the big one like Big Ben or Manning or Rodgers, but he has played at a higher level for longer than the rest on that list.

[hill_Bartell=Probowl]

At least Sam broke the top 10!

I completely forgot about JP Losman isn't he in like Canadian or arena league?

[Vis]

I'd have Ben 2nd.