Quarterback is undoubtedly the most important position in football, and likely in all of sports. If you have one, you can contend just about every year. If you don’t, you’ll spend valuable draft picks trying to find one.
In the NFC West, there’s no question about the quarterback position on any of the four teams. They’ve each found their franchise quarterbacks, making this division one of the best – if not the best – in terms of talent under center.
Ranking the six best wasn’t particularly difficult, but this is a list that could change very easily in 2019.
1. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Given his track record, his skill set and his ability to carry an offense on his back, it’s impossible to put anyone in the NFC West over Wilson. Yes, Jared Goff is improving and closing the gap between himself and Wilson, but he hasn’t surpassed the Seahawks QB just yet. It’s not just because Wilson has a Super Bowl ring and has made it to the big game twice, either. Wilson is simply the better player right now and is likely in the top five of all NFL QBs.
He’s never thrown more than 11 interceptions in a season, has made the Pro Bowl five times, has 196 career touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100.3. Not to mention, he also has 3,651 career rushing yards with 16 touchdowns on the ground. It’ll be difficult for any NFC West quarterback to unseat him at the top of this list.
2. Jared Goff, Rams
Goff is on the rise among the best quarterbacks in the league, but his finish to the 2018 season and his struggles in the playoffs have given some people pause. Prior to the Rams’ Week 12 bye, however, he was a legitimate MVP candidate with 3,547 yards, 26 touchdown passes, six interceptions and an impressive 113.5 passer rating. He does have plenty of room for improvement, but he was one of the best quarterbacks in football for 11 weeks in 2018.
Now, Goff has to improve his decision making, prove he can beat the best defenses in the league and play with more consistency. He can’t go from MVP candidate for 11 weeks and then turn into a guy with eight interceptions and only seven touchdown passes in the following eight games. Consistency is key with Goff.
3. Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
It was tempting to put Kyler Murray at No. 3, but this spot still goes to Garoppolo … for now. Despite being in the league for five years, Garoppolo has only started 10 more games than Murray in his career. Durability and experience are major concerns for the 49ers quarterback after he suffered a torn ACL in 2018 and has yet to start more than five games in a single season.
He could very well be an elite quarterback down the line, but his sample size is tiny right now. In the last two seasons with the 49ers, he has just 12 touchdown passes and eight interceptions in eight starts. He’s hardly a proven commodity as a starter despite the 49ers paying him like one, but he has a chance to elevate his stock significantly if he stays healthy.
4. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
Murray hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet, but if he has a solid rookie season, it’ll make it difficult to argue against the NFC West having the best group of quarterbacks of any division. He has an electrifying skill set, which paired with Kliff Kingsbury could make the Cardinals a tough offense to defend.
There are obviously concerns about his size and his transition to the NFL, but if the Cardinals utilize his talent properly, he can have an impact similar to Lamar Jackson last year – and likely even greater. Murray’s ceiling is extremely high, but his floor is also fairly low if not used properly.
5. Blake Bortles, Rams
Bortles was a terrible starting quarterback last season and he didn’t warrant another starting job in 2019. But if you view him as a backup and set your expectations low, it’s hard not to like his fit in Los Angeles. He’s the best backup quarterback in the division just based on experience and fit. If Goff were to go down, Bortles would likely be able to step in and win a few football games with that supporting cast and Sean McVay coaching him.
He’s a better runner than most give him credit for, too, which is a skill McVay will certainly utilize if he’s needed to start. Bortles gives the Rams some assurance if Goff gets hurt.
6. Nick Mullens, 49ers
Mullens played surprisingly better than just about everyone expected last season, posting respectable numbers in eight starts for the 49ers: 64.2% completions, 2,277 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His passer rating was a solid 90.8, too. As a backup, the 49ers have to feel good about Mullens being on the roster. After all, he did go 3-5 in place of Garoppolo last season.
