In the latest edition of Touchdown Wire’s top 11 series, writer Doug Farrar ranked who he believes to be the best quarterbacks in the league.
Edged out only by Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs and Drew Brees of the Saints, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson landed at No. 3 on the list.
“Wilson led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes in 2017 and came back in 2018 with 35, but there could have been more in an offense less risk-averse than Seattle’s,” Farrar starts. “He did benefit from a functional offensive line for the first time in years last season, though he was still pressured on 39.2% of his throws—only Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, and Josh Rosen had a higher pressure percentage. Typically, Wilson thrived when others would wilt, throwing 10 touchdowns and just three picks when pressured.”
Wilson continues to pad his passing stats despite the run-first offense the Seahawks employ. Inked this offseason to a mega-deal, there’s no doubting Seattle’s confidence in Wilson regardless of the status of the receiving corps.
“Wilson was also the NFL’s most prolific and efficient deep passer last season, with 15 touchdowns and just one interception on throws of 20 or more air yards,” Farrar continued. “And he accomplished all this on just 427 pass attempts—it’s almost as if Pete Carroll and his staff should make him a more featured part of Seattle’s offensive plan. Give this guy 600 passing attempts in a season at this point in his career, and we’re having a different MVP discussion.”
