USA Today: Ranking the decision makers: Who is best at the NFL draft?

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by H5N1

but jordan looked dominant with nobody around him (other than an aging gervin, IIRC) in his rookie year. peyton looked great his rookie year with little around him (other than a marvin harrison who hadn't shown much in his career and if memory serves, marshall faulk)--26 tds, 28 ints. chamberlain didn't look like shit while he was putting up mad numbers.

I recall a few brief moments where cassel looked a bit better than absolute ass. but he never looked up to jordan or peyton levels (bringing up those around him). you have to show more than a few flashes--and I'm not convinced I saw more than one or two flashes. in the nfl today, you need one of those top qbs to win. at this moment, we don't have one of those guys.

First, you don't need a "top" QB to win. Brady wasn't really a "top" QB in 2001. He was a game manager. Roethlisberger has won twice by being a very good (not great) QB with a very good or great running game and defense in support.

Eli Freaking Manning won by defense, as did the Ravens in 2000 and the Bucs in, err, whatever year they won it. '02 I guess.

But you do need an above-average QB. Average probably doesn't get it done unless you have an epic level defense.

Second, football isn't like the other sports. The QB can look a bit ridiculous if he hasn't got much talent around him because the offense needs to be a precision instrument. And citing Manning's rookie year isn't necessarily relevant -- I think we all agree CAssel doesn't have his upside.

The question is what is his upper limit. I think it's a top half of the NFL QB, at least.