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The most overrated quarterbacks of all time. Who is your favorite team's most overrate quarterback of all time?
Every Team's Most Overrated QB of All Time
Many quarterbacks have made their way through the NFL. Few have been great, many have been good, and even more have been busts. The position comes with the most pressure and expectations in the sport. As a result, some quarterbacks are not given enough slack for failure, while others are given too much credit for success. The overrated quarterbacks cause the most controversy among fans. They are polarizing by nature. Let’s dive in and see who each team’s most overrated quarterback of all time is.
32. Eli Manning, New York Giants, 2004 - 2019
Eli Manning can simultaneously be considered the Giants’ best and most overrated quarterback in their history. Manning racked up statistics with the best of them. However, he could never consistently deliver postseason success. Still, both of the Giants’ Super Bowl victories with Manning are because of his play.
31. Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, 1992 - 2007
Brett Favre set a lot of records during his time in the NFL due to longevity, but was he ever really the best quarterback in the league? Favre threw an insane number of interceptions. His risk-taking propelled him to three straight MVP seasons, but the rest of his years with the team were actually relatively pedestrian.
30. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers, 2022 - present
This may be polarizing, but hear me out. Brock Purdy has done a great job as the quarterback of the 49ers. However, he has been touted by many as a top-tier quarterback in the NFL despite not reaching those heights yet. The keyword is “yet,” and Purdy may eventually ascend to that level. He will need to prove it first
29. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2021 - present
The Jaguars have not had many good quarterbacks in their 30-year existence, but Lawrence is easily the most overrated. He entered the league with high expectations and has fallen well short of them. He is only entering Year 5, so there is still time to salvage his career.
28. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams, 2016 - 2020
Jared Goff is playing at a high level with the Lions, and he will certainly not make this list with Detroit, but he was anointed by NFL fans as a savior too early while he was still with the Rams. Goff led the Rams to a Super Bowl appearance, but he was never consistently great with the team.
27. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns, 2018 - 2021
Baker Mayfield has found his footing as a top-tier quarterback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, his career began inauspiciously. After bursting onto the scene as a rookie, Mayfield suffered from injuries and could not live up to expectations. Perhaps the pressure got to him as well, but he is certainly the most overhyped quarterback the Browns have ever had.
26. Bobby Layne, Detroit Lions, 1950 -1958
Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff are just about the only Lions quarterbacks outside of Bobby Layne who have generated hype. Both are worthy of their hype, so we have to go back to the 1950s to find an overrated player. Layne may be a Hall of Famer, but he hovered around 20 interceptions per season in an era when the NFL played 12-game seasons.
25. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, 2012 - 2018
The Colts do not have many high-profile quarterbacks in their history, which leaves Andrew Luck vulnerable to this position on this list. Luck was a good quarterback during his time, but he was never the best in the league, which is what he was drafted to be. He never won an MVP or OPOY award either. Sadly, Luck retired early, and we never got a chance to witness his prime years.
24. Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys, 1989 -2000
This selection was difficult between Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. However, Aikman takes the cake because he severely lacked in statistics. Aikman is only considered one of the greats because he has three rings, but the Cowboys were stacked in the early 1990s which helped Aikman quite a bit.
23. Drew Bledsoe, Buffalo Bills, 2002 - 2004
After losing his job to Tom Brady in New England, Drew Bledsoe latched on with the Bills for a few seasons. He was never the same player we saw in New England and produced three underwhelming seasons in Buffalo.
22. Bob Griese, Miami Dolphins, 1967 - 1980
Bob Griese led the Dolphins to consecutive Super Bowl titles in the 1970s but he racked up relatively pedestrian stats even for his era. Additionally, Griese had to do very little in those wins as he threw for less than 100 yards in both games with the Dolphins riding the prowess of running backs Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka.
21. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears, 2009 - 2016
Jay Cutler was a solid quarterback for the Bears for several seasons, but he was never consistently great. He was never able to crack 4,000 yards passing with the team despite doing so the year before he joined the Bears. The Bears have had very few good quarterbacks in their existence, but Cutler earned the most hype.
20. Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers, 2003 - 2009
While some may consider Cam Newton for this spot, Jake Delhomme takes the cake as the Panthers’ most overrated quarterback. He delivered three solid seasons between 2003 and 2005, but the wheels fully fell off after those seasons.
19. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 - 2012
Matt Cassel spent a few seasons as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback prior to the arrival of head coach Andy Reid. Cassell had a nice season in 2010 when he threw 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. However, his success was a one-off, and the former Patriots draft pick could never fully find his footing as a starter.
18. Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots, 2014 - 2017
“Jimmy G” was drafted as the heir-apparent to Tom Brady in 2014. He made two starts in 2016 for a suspended Brady and performed well. He has essentially made a living in the NFL based on those two games. He never truly turned into a franchise quarterback.
17. Ken Stabler, Las Vegas Raiders, 1970 - 1979
Ken Stabler won a Super Bowl ring, but he is another 1970s quarterback who is a product of his time. Stabler produced a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio for his career. He did lead the league in touchdown passes on two occasions, but he also tossed 30 interceptions in 1978.
16. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals, 2003 - 2010
Carson Palmer narrowly edged out Ken Anderson for this position on this list. Simply, Anderson owns the Bengals’ all-time passing record, and he has an MVP award to his name. Palmer did not achieve either feat. He never fully lived up to the hype of a No. 1 overall selection.
15. Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota Vikings, 1999 - 2005
Bolstered by the presence of stud wide receiver Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper enjoyed some success in the early 2000s. Still, despite the presence of Moss, Culpepper only had two truly prolific seasons with the team.
14. Dan Pastroni, Tennessee Titans, 1971 - 1979
The longtime Houston Oilers quarterback earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1975, but he did not do much else of merit. He only guided the team to two playoff appearances, and his statistics were average at best.
13. Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons, 2001 - 2006
Michael Vick was a supremely gifted runner early in his career, but he did not learn how to truly be a “quarterback” until he was released from prison and signed with the Eagles in 2009. Vick fell short of expectations in Atlanta.
12. Matt Flynn, Seattle Seahawks - 2012
Matt Flynn may have only played one season in Seattle, but it was memorable for Seahawks fans. Flynn made two starts as the backup in Green Bay in the two seasons prior to his departure. He produced monster numbers, and the Seahawks gave him a $20 million contract. Russell Wilson stole the show as a rookie, and Flynn was shipped off to the Raiders in 2013.
11. Robert Griffin III, Washington Commanders, 2012 - 2015
Robert Griffin III burst onto the scene with a prolific rookie season. Injuries changed everything over the next few years as “RG3” was unable to return to form after suffering multiple knee injuries. He ultimately flamed out of Washington and spent his final few seasons as a backup to Lamar Jackson in Baltimore.
10. Trent Dilfer, Baltimore Ravens, 2000
Trent Dilfer has serious hype because of his Super Bowl win with the Ravens in 2000. However, Dilfer was primarily a career backup after flaming out in Tampa Bay in the late 1990s. His season in Baltimore was a one-off.
9. Trent Dilfer, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1994 - 1999
We are going to double-dip with Dilfer on this list because he made his mark in Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, he did not live up to his status as a top 10 selection in the NFL Draft, which ultimately led him to Baltimore.
8. Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia Eagles, 1977 - 1986
“Jaws” led the Eagles into battle for a long time. His highest passing output came in 1980 with just 3,529 yards. Additionally, he primarily hovered around a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio during his time with the team.
7. Jake Plummer, Denver Broncos, 2003 - 2006
After leaving Arizona, Plummer made his way to Denver. He improved his touchdown-to-interception ratio but only had one season worthy of a Pro Bowl selection.
6. Jake Plummer, Arizona Cardinals, 1997 - 2002
Unfortunately, Jake Plummer finds himself on this list twice. Jake Plummer was the Cardinals’ franchise quarterback near the turn of the century, but he finished his tenure with the team with more interceptions than touchdowns. Having a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio over several seasons is very difficult in the modern NFL.
5. David Carr, Houston Texans, 2002 - 2006
David Carr was drafted to be the Texans’ inaugural quarterback. He never lived up to the hype as a No. 1 overall selection. He struggled with interceptions, and his career high in touchdowns was just 16 in 2004.
4. Ryan Leaf, Los Angeles Chargers, 1998 - 2000
It is difficult to label Leaf as overrated since he is an all-out bust. However, the hype surrounding Leaf as he entered the NFL was real. He failed miserably as the No. 2 selection in the 1998 NFL Draft.
3. Kordell Stewart, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1995 - 2002
Kordell Stewart quarterbacked the Steelers during a time when the Steelers had a lull in their success. He held down the starting job for six seasons. He was very average during his time with the team despite his many chances to succeed.
2. Archie Manning, New Orleans Saints, 1971 - 1982
The original “Manning” was considered one of the greats of his time, but he did not put up very prolific stats. To be fair, Manning dealt with a horrible offensive line for years and battled through tough injuries.
1. Joe Namath, New York Jets, 1965 - 1976
“Broadway Joe” was a great public figure, but he was an average quarterback. He did not rack up many yards and threw more interceptions than touchdowns. He is likely thought of so highly because he is the only quarterback to have brought the Jets a Super Bowl.
