2007 QB Rankings

Here are my top 25 quarterbacks, subject to change of course. They're listed with 2006 stats and grouped into tiers, with each set of asterisks (***) representing a drop-off in expected production:

1. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis: 4,397 yards, 31 TDs, 9 INTs, 4 TDs rushing. A downgraded Colts defense just means more opportunities to air it out.

2. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati: 4,035 yards, 28 TDs, 13 INTs. More than a year removed from his knee injury, he has the offensive weapons to rival Manning for elite status.

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3. Tom Brady, New England: 3,529 yards, 24 TDs, 12 INTs. With perhaps his most talented supporting cast in tow, he should be poised for a career year.

4. Drew Brees, New Orleans: 4,418 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs. No reason he can’t duplicate last year’s stud-worthy numbers, but you’ll have to draft him a lot higher this time around.

5. Marc Bulger, St. Louis: 4,301 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs. If he stays healthy again (he played a career-high 16 games last year), he has the skills to hang with any QB on this list.

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6. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia: 2,647 yards, 18 TDs, 6 INTs, 3 TDs rushing. It’s easy to forget he was putting up MVP numbers through Week 7 last year. It’s no guarantee he won’t get hurt (again), but he’s worth the risk after the top five guys are taken.

7. Vince Young, Tennessee: 2,199 yards, 12 TDs, 13 INTs, 552 yards rushing, 7 TDs rushing. Much like Michael Vick of days past, rushing ability boosts his value. And like Vick, he’s got “Bad Newz” of his own: he’s on the cover of Madden 2008.

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8. Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: 2,442 yards, 18 TDs, 15 INTs. Even with some shoulder concerns and a disappointing ’06, the savvy veteran is a safe bet to perform closer to his career averages.

9. Jon Kitna, Detroit: 4,208 yards, 21 TDs, 22 INTs, 2 TDs rushing. This trendy sleeper, on the other hand, is a pick for the risk-takers. The stars are aligned for him to duplicate or surpass last year’s production – but it’s still Jon Kitna, so have a backup plan.

10. Tony Romo, Dallas: 2,903 yards, 19 TDs, 13 INTs. Last year he looked like two parts Troy Aikman, one part Quincy Carter. Odds are the real Tony Romo is somewhere in between, which still makes him a low-end No. 1 QB.

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11. Philip Rivers, San Diego: 3,388 yards, 22 TDs, 9 INTs.

12. Matt Leinart, Arizona: 2,541 yards, 11 TDs, 12 INTs, 2 TDs rushing.

13. Eli Manning, NY Giants: 3,244 yards, 24 TDs, 18 INTs.

14. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh: 3,513 yards, 18 TDs, 23 INTs, 2 TDs rushing.

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15. Jay Cutler, Denver: 1,001 yards, 9 TDs, 5 INTs.

16. Jake Delhomme, Carolina: 2,805 yards, 17 TDs, 11 INTs.

17. Brett Favre, Green Bay: 3,885 yards, 18 TD passes, 18 INTs, 1 TD rushing.

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18. J.P. Losman, Buffalo: 3,051 yards, 19 TDs, 14 INTS, 1 TD run.

19. Alex Smith, San Francisco: 2,890 yards, 16 TDs, 16 INTS, 2 TDs rushing.

20. Chad Pennington, NY Jets: 3,352 yards, 17 TDs, 16 INTs.

21. Rex Grossman, Chicago: 3,193 yards, 23 TDs, 20 INTs.

22. Jason Campbell, Washington: 1,297 yards, 10 TDS, 6 INTs, 112 yards rushing.

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23. Matt Schaub, Houston: 208 yards, TD, 2 INTs.

24. Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay: 1,309 yards, 10 TDs, 2 INTs

25. Byron Leftwich, Jacksonville: 1,159 yards, 7 TDs, 5 INTS, 2 TDs rushing.