ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled more than 50 NFL executives, coaches, scouts, and players to name the top quarterbacks for the 2020 season ($) and Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford landed in the Top-10.
Fowler noted that each voter submitted their top 10-15 quarterbacks and then ESPN “compiled the results and ranked candidates based on (the) number of top-10 votes, composite average, interviews, and research”. The goal of this exercise was to “identify the best players right now for 2020”.
Here’s how the results played out. The half-billion-dollar man Patrick Mahomes led the way, followed by Russell Wilson in the two spot. Three through five featured three quarterbacks the Lions will face in 2020, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, and Drew Brees. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson landed sixth, followed by three-time MVP Tom Brady. Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott land eighth and ninth, with Matthew Stafford edging out Matt Ryan for the final spot in the Top-10.
Per the section on Stafford, the highest-ranking he received was fourth and the lowest was 14th, and while “Ryan had slightly more top-10 votes”, Fowler noted, “Stafford’s average overall was higher”.
“Most everyone agrees Stafford’s arm is top-five level,” Fowler said. “He was on pace for nearly 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns before a back injury cut his 2019 season short. He was phenomenal from inside the pocket, with a league-leading 82.7 QBR, 66.2 completion percentage, 8.8 yards per attempt, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions.”
One NFC executive took an opportunity to take a shot at Detroit and their inability to put a winning team around Stafford during his career, but also noted that Stafford is “a major talent who’d probably be a top-five quarterback with an established franchise. He can score from anywhere on the field.”
