All-time QB Draft - Do the OG GOATs stand a chance? (1 Viewer)

[Soulfly3]

If you held a draft today of every single QB in NFL history, what would your top 5 or top 10 look like?

But here's the catch - the matrix is allowing for every QB to be placed present day in their original peak form from their era.

So, to be clear... Dan marino of 1984 would be transported to 2025, in his 1984 form - physicality, health, strength etc.... Not "updated" to today's "standards".

So how does it go?

 

[jumper]

Dan Marino would still be a top QB since he would thrive under the higher volume passing attacks of today.

Otherwise, I would say the early prototypes of the running quarterback, like Randall Cunningham and Steve Young would get the biggest bump up. At the likely expense of the classic pocket quarterbacks which dominated the 80s and earlier.

 

[jumper]

Presuming we are talking about their absolute peak, then my top 5: Brady, PFM, Elway, Marino, Brees. People will probably scoff at the Brees pick, but he was so freaking accurate back in the day.

Rounding out Top 10 add Mahones, Steve Young, ARod. Then it gets really hard whether guys like Joe Montana make the cut (I don’t think he gets 4 rings playing today instead of the 1980s), Favre, and other guys in that class. I honestly think you can make a case for a Big Ben being top 10 as well.

 

[menobrown]

Mahomes, Brady, Montana, Rodgers, Marino.

Favre, Peyton, Young, Elway, Roethlisberger.

*I really only went from 1980 to now. Part of why lists like this are so difficult, I've only seen highlights preceding 1980. Always a difficult list. Career achievement or highest arc? Hard to get out of our heads what they actually did on teams they played on and how their careers would have gone with different supporting cast/coaches. Tried to factor that all in as best I could.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

If you held a draft today of every single QB in NFL history, what would your top 5 or top 10 look like?

But here's the catch - the matrix is allowing for every QB to be placed present day in their original peak form from their era.

So, to be clear... Dan marino of 1984 would be transported to 2025, in his 1984 form - physicality, health, strength etc.... Not "updated" to today's "standards".

So how does it go?

The one overarching question I have is regarding NFL rules evolution.

In Marino’s day, (to use your example) there was no push-out rule. So how many passing yards would Marino lose in today’s game where receivers need to toe-tap on the sidelines?

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Then it gets really hard whether guys like Joe Montana make the cut (I don’t think he gets 4 rings playing today instead of the 1980s)

I’m not sure why Montana would be held up as the poster child here. IMO he’d be an absolute beast with today’s WRs. Give Montana Ja’Mar Chase or Justin Jefferson, or a YAC beast like Puka or Deebo in his prime and he’s gonna win plenty.

Rings are kind of a weird measurement and seemingly a bit of a red herring for the topic, since the question wasn’t about who’d win the most rings.

The fact that so many teams employ a version of the WCO now *because* of the Montana era 49ers tells me he’d likely thrive in today’s game - after all, most of the offenses are built specifically around Montana’s skill set. And there are a significantly higher number of receiving RBs, when in his time Craig was something of an aberration. Back in his day he’d have had a much harder time winning on teams other than the 49ers. Of course he took a lesser Chiefs team to the playoffs, and looked super ugly in the wrong color red.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

My Top 10

Brady - pretty clear
Montana - I actually think he would be more than fine in this era as the focus on QB protection likely helps him more than anyone else on this list.
Mahomes - 2nd most Super Bowl starts of all-time prior to Age 30? 3 wins? He's on a legit GOAT path, but lot of work to be done still.
Paintin' - 5x MVP. 2x SB Champ. The embodiment of the modern QB.
Marino - 1x MVP...the degree by which he lapped the field and his contemporaries on the all-time lists will never be approach.
Rodgers - 4x MVP, 1x Champ and simply an unbelievable ability to be prolific while protecting the football.
Elway - To this day may still be the most talented QB to ever play. Would be fine in todays NFL.
Favre - 3x MVP, 1x Champ but his gunslinger approach may not be as tolerated today. Of the guys on this list, might struggle the most in 2025.
Young - 2x MVP, 1x Champ...truly ushered in the era of the QB attacking with their legs with deadly accuracy.
Brees - 1x Champ who was simply relentless at his peak

To me, Marino is incredibly important in his inclusion this high on the list because of the sheer step change he ushered into the game and why beside Montana, he's the earliest inclusion.

 

[ZWK]

Past QBs would have a better chance if you gave them a year or two to learn the modern NFL. Even if you took them from mid-career, they basically would be raw rookies who hadn't had a chance to adjust to playing at 2024-5 NFL speeds against 2024-5 NFL caliber defenses running a 2024-5 NFL offense. They're learning a new playbook, learning about new defensive schemes, learning the modern rules. They'd benefit from some work with current training techniques.

If we bring them into the NFL as rookies in the 2025 class, and looking at how they do in 2027, then they have a chance. But if it's just for one season then I'd take stick with (e.g.) 2024 Joe Burrow over 1987 John Elway.

 

[Bri]

Rich Gannon once said Kurt Warner would probably be the best in any era by how he led the WRs with his passing touch.
Montana and Young were excellent at this too.

Gannon would go on to explain how difficult it is to compare and ...much like this thread, I think he probably has a point. It doesn't really matter what era if you're always throwing it so the WR doesn't have to stop running and can catch n go.

I have a hard time with Warner's low # of years at elite level.

I sincerely believe Randall Cunningham was one of the best players ever.

I love Favre. Somehow he went from Superbowl and MVP and HOF to being knocked way down lists and he's not even mentioned here. He was so popular too. His fall in people's memories has been surprising.

I do believe Buffalo has two of the best QBs ever. Jim Kelly in USFL and then four Superbowls...I don't care if he lost. Who goes to that many and gets forgotten in best ever talks?

Donovan McNabb and Steve McNair were great winners. Are their WRs remembered for being great? TEs? Oh that one time with TO...when he was hurt? Josh Allen reminds me of them. Guy is always second fiddle with questionable talents around him but somehow he is battling Mahomes and a best ever TE and coach and they change his line and backs and WRs and TEs and...how is Allen even comfortable on Sunday? He's Favre like he's Mc like...you better not doubt him. He will crush you if you doubt him.

Kelly and Allen were/are big boys that can take and dish out some hits. I'm not sure the era matters with them.

I could never tell if plug n play Steve Young was great or just smart. Best offense ever. How often did he even get hit? It seemed like oh they're blitzing so let me roll out and throw untouched and make it look easy. The script was so perfect so often. He threw to gems, handed to gems, learned from a gem...was he great or was he a cog? Then I feel disrespectful of his game and compliment and...do you remember Gannon's career? Guy looked like a HOFer throwing to Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. How does that relate to Young? I would have Young top ten and erased and put back a thousand times. He's a tough one for me.

Brady and Peyton are the best ever and I don't think it's close to the rest.

Marino threw it in the tightest spots and how did it even get to the WRs hands? His RBs were famously busts and who remembers the Marx brothers? I swear there's 100+ highlights of how did he get the ball there.

I know there's a lot of Slinging Sammy Baugh fans near me. I've watched YouTube a bunch to know that guy would chuck it anywhere and everywhere and oh let's throw it again. I have no idea how he'd do with great coaching but he's as good a passer as anyone ever. He was dramatically good when being grabbed or about to go down too.

Roger Staubach was the epitome of everything we say we want on draft day. Idk how he's like 40th ranked if he was the most calm poised intelligent passer that everyone loved. Fine Brady was better, Manning was better....I get that, but he was the prototype. America's team...he may have been the most popular QB ever. I've read "he's not going to get you as many yards but he'll win the game and won't make mistakes." I watch Levis on Sunday, you watch who you do. Are we pretending a win is bad with him? He's weird to me. When I was a kid he was glorified until Montana was and now Staubach is like 50-70th best? Wanna know something about that famous 83 draft? Every GM probably would have given up their QB in trade for Staubach and thrown in a bunch more to just to get Roger.

IIRC Otto Graham was in every championship (pre Superbowl) for a decade and won six or seven of them. I don't even care about stats, no one is close to that.

Johnny U- you know his name and he played when your grandpa watched football. How good did he have to be for the prior sentence to happen?

Graham is undeniably #1
Brady and Manning can be 2 and 3.
Warner 4 and I know I'm an outlier.
Mahomes
Randall
Kelly
Allen
Marino
Johnny U/Sammy
Staubach
Favre/Elway



50th? Doug Flutie. I have to mention the most fun quarterback ever. If he played, the game was going to be decided by a late game score. He lost plenty of them and all, I'm not saying he was going to win but .... but he was like Taylor Sheridan. If he was on TV, you knew it was gonna be a good time.

 

[Gatorade]

Two players that I would have loved to see in the modern game :
Johnny Unitas
Dan Fouts

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I would love to see what Randall Cunningham would do today without Buddy Ryan ruining him.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

He was so popular too. His fall in people's memories has been surprising.

It really hasn't.

 

[BLOCKED_PUNT]

Dan Fouts

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Rich Gannon once said Kurt Warner would probably be the best in any era by how he led the WRs with his passing touch.
Montana and Young were excellent at this too.

Gannon would go on to explain how difficult it is to compare and ...much like this thread, I think he probably has a point. It doesn't really matter what era if you're always throwing it so the WR doesn't have to stop running and can catch n go.

I have a hard time with Warner's low # of years at elite level.

Warner legitimately only had 6 good NFL seasons. And they were great; 3 SB's, 2 MVP's. At his best, he 'belongs'...but his best doesn't compare timespan wise.

I sincerely believe Randall Cunningham was one of the best players ever.

Same dynamic as Warner in that I'd say he had 7 good seasons. His differentiator was simply there was noone else like him and there hadn't been. I do think he should be in the HOF based on the impact his style had on the game.

I love Favre. Somehow he went from Superbowl and MVP and HOF to being knocked way down lists and he's not even mentioned here. He was so popular too. His fall in people's memories has been surprising.

I mentioned it in my critique, but to drill down further...in his last 13 seasons he had:

A 326:241 TD/INT ratio
A 7.07 YPA
A 62.2% Completion Rate

The reality is that 'prime' Favre happened in the 20th century, particularly that 1995-1997 stretch. That's Gen X Favre. Millennial Favre wasn't Gen X Favre and I think his legacy is impacted by that.

I do believe Buffalo has two of the best QBs ever. Jim Kelly in USFL and then four Superbowls...I don't care if he lost. Who goes to that many and gets forgotten in best ever talks?

The NFL largely builds it's legends and legacies in the post-season. Eli is in HOF conversations solely because he won twice over Brady. The difference IMO between Matt Ryan being a HOFer and not one is 28-3. It's Kelly's cross to bear, but it's not unfair based on how the NFL has evolved historically when it evaluates QB's.

I could never tell if plug n play Steve Young was great or just smart. Best offense ever. How often did he even get hit? It seemed like oh they're blitzing so let me roll out and throw untouched and make it look easy. The script was so perfect so often. He threw to gems, handed to gems, learned from a gem...was he great or was he a cog? Then I feel disrespectful of his game and compliment and...do you remember Gannon's career? Guy looked like a HOFer throwing to Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. How does that relate to Young? I would have Young top ten and erased and put back a thousand times. He's a tough one for me.

It's wild to think that Young became a starting QB in the NFL at age 30. But in alot of ways, I actually think his influence on the modern offensive NFL game is as impactful as anyone. Young was throwing for completion percentages of 66-70 with crazy YPA efficiency during a time when maybe 8-10 teams (if that) were even completing 60% of their passes. Add his rushing prowess to that skillset and he was a unicorn of QB's. At age 37, rushed for 454 yards and 6 TD's.

Brady and Peyton are the best ever and I don't think it's close to the rest.

Leaving Montana off...I can't get on board with that. Yes, his counting stats are minuscule by comparison, but much like Young...his efficiency in the WCO was crazy for the time and would still play well today. His playoff counting stats though were better than Peyton's and his 1989 post-season was legendary; 65/83 78.3% completion rate 9.6 YPA 11/0.

Marino threw it in the tightest spots and how did it even get to the WRs hands? His RBs were famously busts and who remembers the Marx brothers? I swear there's 100+ highlights of how did he get the ball there.

I have Marino above Favre because I see Favre as his successor. And while Favre won more MVP's and a SB...I just think the influence and the arrival of Marino to the NFL was a greater door opener to which Favre walked through to own the room.

 

[Deamon]

My top 10 based purely on this question and QB talent. (I think this is in the right order but didn't dive too deep into ranking my top 10 in order)

Dan Marino
Aaron Rodgers
Tom Brady
Peyton Manning
Joe Montana
Drew Brees
Mark Rypien
John Elway
Patrick Mahomes
Steve Young

 

[Soulfly3]

Let this question stew a while, and with fewer responses than expected I'm gonna throw this out there...

Josh Allen is in my Top 10 alltime, if were drafting a QB to play in today's NFL.

 

[Chaka]

If you held a draft today of every single QB in NFL history, what would your top 5 or top 10 look like?

But here's the catch - the matrix is allowing for every QB to be placed present day in their original peak form from their era.

So, to be clear... Dan marino of 1984 would be transported to 2025, in his 1984 form - physicality, health, strength etc.... Not "updated" to today's "standards".

So how does it go?

The one overarching question I have is regarding NFL rules evolution.

In Marino’s day, (to use your example) there was no push-out rule. So how many passing yards would Marino lose in today’s game where receivers need to toe-tap on the sidelines?

Less than 1% of those he would gain from DBs not being able to manhandle WRs all over the field.

That doesn't even consider the rules protecting QBs today or defenseless WR rules further softening coverages etc.

 

[ZWK]

Past QBs would have a better chance if you gave them a year or two to learn the modern NFL. Even if you took them from mid-career, they basically would be raw rookies who hadn't had a chance to adjust to playing at 2024-5 NFL speeds against 2024-5 NFL caliber defenses running a 2024-5 NFL offense. They're learning a new playbook, learning about new defensive schemes, learning the modern rules. They'd benefit from some work with current training techniques.

If we bring them into the NFL as rookies in the 2025 class, and looking at how they do in 2027, then they have a chance. But if it's just for one season then I'd take stick with (e.g.) 2024 Joe Burrow over 1987 John Elway.

Based on this sort of thinking, my top 8 are:
Tom Brady
Patrick Mahomes
Josh Allen
Peyton Manning
Lamar Jackson
Aaron Rodgers
Drew Brees
Joe Burrow

All from this century. 4 currently playing at or near their peak, 4 high-end Hall of Famers who were elite in the 2010s (but some will be teleporting in from the 00s).

If you time-machined say Dan Marino or Steve Young to the present, there is too much adjustment needed (e.g., processing pre- and post-snap, and the timing & precision of modern offenses), traits of theirs that were elite at the time are now much less exceptional (e.g. Marino's sack avoidance & Young's mobility), and they were missing things that many modern quarterbacks learn (e.g. throwing off-platform and from muddy pockets, avoiding turnovers). Even if we give them 2 years of development with modern coaching & training, there's too much projection to take them over any of my top 8 who have performed at a high level in situations much more similar to what they'll be facing.

9 & 10 are much tougher. Not sure whether to dig deeper among current QBs (Herbert?) or recent stars (Roethlisberger?), go back a little farther in time (Warner?), or force an all-time great to navigate a 40-year jump in NFL play (Marino? Elway?). Or could take a shot on someone young who isn't established yet (Daniels?). I might change my mind on this, but let's go with the SB XLIII duo of Kurt Warner & Ben Roethlisberger to round out the top 10.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

You wanna give me quarterbacks who are great in an era where they were allowed to get absolutely demolished several seconds after they threw the ball?

Half of these dudes played before the “two steps” rule.

The reason I still have Montana ranked above Brady is because he played in that era.

All the greats would be even better today.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Let this question stew a while, and with fewer responses than expected I'm gonna throw this out there...

Josh Allen is in my Top 10 alltime, if were drafting a QB to play in today's NFL.

Microcosm of today’s recency bias. Exactly zero superbowl appearances but he’s you number 1 pick?

You guys realize that the running quarterback is actually a step backwards, right? It’s only common now because they have stopped all the hitting.

I’ll take Joe and demolish everyone.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Montana
Bart Starr
Tom Brady
Dan Marino
Patrick Mahomes


Everyone else.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Donovan McNabb does not belong in this conversation.

 

[Soulfly3]

Let this question stew a while, and with fewer responses than expected I'm gonna throw this out there...

Josh Allen is in my Top 10 alltime, if were drafting a QB to play in today's NFL.

Microcosm of today’s recency bias. Exactly zero superbowl appearances but he’s you number 1 pick?

No, I said he's in my top 10. He can run and he can throw. His size and physicality is any-era proof.

 

[daveR]

I think this thread has kinda devolved into GOAT opinion. If I understand the original question, sf3 was saying, "My team has no QB. If I could have anyone from any time to draft in 2025, who would I want?" Personally, I'm not sure who. I'd want a durable guy, cerebral, strong arm, good escapability, a leader. Who is he?

 

[Soulfly3]

I think this thread has kinda devolved into GOAT opinion. If I understand the original question, sf3 was saying, "My team has no QB. If I could have anyone from any time to draft in 2025, who would I want?" Personally, I'm not sure who. I'd want a durable guy, cerebral, strong arm, good escapability, a leader. Who is he?

Exactly

And that guy is playing in 2025. Dan marino doesnt become a 2025 dan marino, he's 81 marino in 2025

 

[Bri]

Donovan McNabb does not belong in this conversation.

I think your replying to mine here. I don't think he's best ever and was using him (and McNair) to discuss Josh Allen.

His Eagles offensive teammates were nowhere near as good as the ones mentioned here. I can like Westbrook. TO is TO but I think that was only one year and he was injured. That's a huge difference from Montana's team.
I give him a lot of credit as a leader and winner.

My point was Josh Allen. Gimme a list of things ya don't do to a young QB and it's been done to him. Change the line, the WRs, the TEs, the backs, the OC, the offense...how does he always seem to be the second best QB behind Mahomes? His football IQ, leadership, and being a winner are just incredible in my opinion.

Who has survived all that and prospered?

I didn't even mention the zillion comments about the cold weather and football each year and how he somehow rocks in Buffalo.

Has their GM really done a great job? Or has it been Josh? Because then there's another thing he overcame.

It's really rather incredible how Allen has done so well.

I wonder what his career would be like if he swapped places with some others on this list and had their offense and their weapons.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I think this thread has kinda devolved into GOAT opinion. If I understand the original question, sf3 was saying, "My team has no QB. If I could have anyone from any time to draft in 2025, who would I want?" Personally, I'm not sure who. I'd want a durable guy, cerebral, strong arm, good escapability, a leader. Who is he?

Exactly

And that guy is playing in 2025. Dan marino doesnt become a 2025 dan marino, he's 81 marino in 2025

I guess the question I would ask is why would it be any different?

You might say the players on defense are faster, stronger now...and while we've seen a diversification of abilities & strategies in how the position and the game overall is played, drop back passers are still the default.

Compared to the eras they played where you could tear a QB's head off, the hands off approach of the 21st century NFL IMO would produce a significant degree of offset. In terms of health/strength...so they take part in more modern strength/conditioning/nutrition programs of the day for 12 months and they're now commiserate with 2025. I mean...they did those things back then.

Marino was his own OC for the most part. Steve Young was a lawyer. I think their football minds could have adjusted to how the game is played today. Now, if we're saying each might have a 'get off my lawn' reaction to the way the NFL is today, then the question is a bit silly to debate.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Donovan McNabb does not belong in this conversation.

I think your replying to mine here. I don't think he's best ever and was using him (and McNair) to discuss Josh Allen.

His Eagles offensive teammates were nowhere near as good as the ones mentioned here. I can like Westbrook. TO is TO but I think that was only one year and he was injured. That's a huge difference from Montana's team.
I give him a lot of credit as a leader and winner.

My point was Josh Allen. Gimme a list of things ya don't do to a young QB and it's been done to him. Change the line, the WRs, the TEs, the backs, the OC, the offense...how does he always seem to be the second best QB behind Mahomes? His football IQ, leadership, and being a winner are just incredible in my opinion.

Who has survived all that and prospered?

I didn't even mention the zillion comments about the cold weather and football each year and how he somehow rocks in Buffalo.

Has their GM really done a great job? Or has it been Josh? Because then there's another thing he overcame.

It's really rather incredible how Allen has done so well.

I wonder what his career would be like if he swapped places with some others on this list and had their offense and their weapons.

I like him and root for him because he seems like a good person.

I just don’t like running quarterbacks. Never have and never will. It’s just my football philosophy. Don’t get me wrong, I want my QB to be able to move, but Indont want a guy who has been able to always bail himself out by running.

Every time he does that instead of making a pass, he develops the wrong trait for my quarterback. Even the great runners can’t do it more than 4 to 8 years max. Eventually, they’re going to need to learn to throw at the highest of high levels.

When my team is down in the fourth quarter, and I need a pass to win the game I want the guy who is always used his arm to do it.

I’m also fundamentally against exposing the most important player on my football team to injury.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

If you held a draft today of every single QB in NFL history, what would your top 5 or top 10 look like?

But here's the catch - the matrix is allowing for every QB to be placed present day in their original peak form from their era.

So, to be clear... Dan marino of 1984 would be transported to 2025, in his 1984 form - physicality, health, strength etc.... Not "updated" to today's "standards".

So how does it go?

The one overarching question I have is regarding NFL rules evolution.

In Marino’s day, (to use your example) there was no push-out rule. So how many passing yards would Marino lose in today’s game where receivers need to toe-tap on the sidelines?

Less than 1% of those he would gain from DBs not being able to manhandle WRs all over the field.

That doesn't even consider the rules protecting QBs today or defenseless WR rules further softening coverages etc.

That’s fair.

 

[Soulfly3]

I think this thread has kinda devolved into GOAT opinion. If I understand the original question, sf3 was saying, "My team has no QB. If I could have anyone from any time to draft in 2025, who would I want?" Personally, I'm not sure who. I'd want a durable guy, cerebral, strong arm, good escapability, a leader. Who is he?

Exactly

And that guy is playing in 2025. Dan marino doesnt become a 2025 dan marino, he's 81 marino in 2025

I guess the question I would ask is why would it be any different?

You might say the players on defense are faster, stronger now...and while we've seen a diversification of abilities & strategies in how the position and the game overall is played, drop back passers are still the default.

Compared to the eras they played where you could tear a QB's head off, the hands off approach of the 21st century NFL IMO would produce a significant degree of offset. In terms of health/strength...so they take part in more modern strength/conditioning/nutrition programs of the day for 12 months and they're now commiserate with 2025. I mean...they did those things back then.

Marino was his own OC for the most part. Steve Young was a lawyer. I think their football minds could have adjusted to how the game is played today. Now, if we're saying each might have a 'get off my lawn' reaction to the way the NFL is today, then the question is a bit silly to debate.

Why is it any different?
Players are a completely different specimen than they were 20-30-40yrs ago. So much faster, stronger, more agile. Schemes are day and night, I assume as well. PLaybooks quite different/more advanced too Id have to assume.

Am I wrong?

 

[jumper]

@Soulfly3 15 participants in the thread so far, you should randomly assign mock draft spots to everyone and see how the rankings shake out.

We’re mostly waiting until real NFL draft, this might be a fun time killer in the meantime.

 

[Soulfly3]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

 

[pinkstapler]

Homer answer, but have to throw Roethlisberger's name into the ring. With how much more QBs are protected even in the short time since his career peaks; I'd imagine he might draw more flags than just about anyone on this list. Or just be practically unsackable. Wouldn't make the top 7 or 8, but I'd start considering him shortly after that.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Would love to but I have an event today.

 

[Soulfly3]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Would love to but I have an event today.

I highly doubt it'll start today, it's alread 530pm here... We can aim for tomorrow or the day after if we get 14 additional YES responses.
It'll just be making your pick in this thread and tagging the next guy... no real rush on it. It's just one pick

 

[jumper]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Sure I’m in.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Homer answer, but have to throw Roethlisberger's name into the ring. With how much more QBs are protected even in the short time since his career peaks; I'd imagine he might draw more flags than just about anyone on this list. Or just be practically unsackable. Wouldn't make the top 7 or 8, but I'd start considering him shortly after that.

Devils advocate -

Ben would have guys literally holding on to him - for seconds. Would he be called down in today’s game?

Ben is an interesting one because he had to do that because he often times held the ball too long.

Are we even far enough away from his career to call it a different era? He played in a pass friendly league.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I think this thread has kinda devolved into GOAT opinion. If I understand the original question, sf3 was saying, "My team has no QB. If I could have anyone from any time to draft in 2025, who would I want?" Personally, I'm not sure who. I'd want a durable guy, cerebral, strong arm, good escapability, a leader. Who is he?

Exactly

And that guy is playing in 2025. Dan marino doesnt become a 2025 dan marino, he's 81 marino in 2025

I guess the question I would ask is why would it be any different?

You might say the players on defense are faster, stronger now...and while we've seen a diversification of abilities & strategies in how the position and the game overall is played, drop back passers are still the default.

Compared to the eras they played where you could tear a QB's head off, the hands off approach of the 21st century NFL IMO would produce a significant degree of offset. In terms of health/strength...so they take part in more modern strength/conditioning/nutrition programs of the day for 12 months and they're now commiserate with 2025. I mean...they did those things back then.

Marino was his own OC for the most part. Steve Young was a lawyer. I think their football minds could have adjusted to how the game is played today. Now, if we're saying each might have a 'get off my lawn' reaction to the way the NFL is today, then the question is a bit silly to debate.

Why is it any different?
Players are a completely different specimen than they were 20-30-40yrs ago. So much faster, stronger, more agile. Schemes are day and night, I assume as well. PLaybooks quite different/more advanced too Id have to assume.

Am I wrong?

Marino is listed at 6'4 225. Why would he struggle 'physically'? His throwing ability IMO is still elite by todays standards. Is Young's mobility worse than say Mahomes? Schemes/playbooks...what about them now makes a Marino or Young overmatched?

I think if you were talking about an OT in the 80's who was 6'4 275, the transition of having to block at the 2025 athlete level is a much more valid discussion.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Would love to but I have an event today.

I highly doubt it'll start today, it's alread 530pm here... We can aim for tomorrow or the day after if we get 14 additional YES responses.
It'll just be making your pick in this thread and tagging the next guy... no real rush on it. It's just one pick

Please note: I have Young > Montana on my own rankings.

 

[pinkstapler]

Homer answer, but have to throw Roethlisberger's name into the ring. With how much more QBs are protected even in the short time since his career peaks; I'd imagine he might draw more flags than just about anyone on this list. Or just be practically unsackable. Wouldn't make the top 7 or 8, but I'd start considering him shortly after that.

Devils advocate -

Ben would have guys literally holding on to him - for seconds. Would he be called down in today’s game?

Ben is an interesting one because he had to do that because he often times held the ball too long.

Are we even far enough away from his career to call it a different era? He played in a pass friendly league.

Definitely a fair question. And actually something I wish they did more of now (blowing plays dead) with all the late penalty flags we see. Almost feels like they let a play go on until the offensive player breaks free or a defensive player draws a penalty. I'd obviously prefer the "let them play" approach, but the way many of these scrums are called anymore feel very slanted towards the offensive players.

And yes much of his success was the magic of turning lemons into lemonade. I imagine he had Cower screaming "NO" then seconds later "YES" more than any other player he ever coached haha. I don't think it's entirely a different era, but think he was turning to a shell of his former self by the time the league really started emphasizing the roughing the passer calls/hits to the head/low hits/dropping body weight onto the QB/etc. Many of the hits and tackles he was sustaining in 2004-2010 I think would be flagged at this point.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Would love to but I have an event today.

I highly doubt it'll start today, it's alread 530pm here... We can aim for tomorrow or the day after if we get 14 additional YES responses.
It'll just be making your pick in this thread and tagging the next guy... no real rush on it. It's just one pick

Please note: I have Young > Montana on my own rankings.

So you just discount all the years that he absolutely stunk before getting to learn behind Joe and Bill Walsh whom were rebranding a culture from laughingstock to accruing 4 super bowls - all with lesser talent ?

Hot Sauce indeed!

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So you just discount all the years that he absolutely stunk before getting to learn behind Joe and Bill Walsh whom were rebranding a culture from laughingstock to accruing 4 super bowls - all with lesser talent ?

Hot Sauce indeed!

So wait, you’re saying he wasn’t very good until he became the most accurate passer of all time with the highest completion % of all time? And he could run?

I’m sorry, whatever was I thinking.

Yes - that’s exactly what I’m saying!

 

[Bri]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Sure

 

[daveR]

@jumper @Hot Sauce Guy @STEADYMOBBIN 22 @TheDirtyWord @Bri @ZWK @Chaka @daveR @Deamon @menobrown @Uruk-Hai @Gatorade @BLOCKED_PUNT @5-ish Finkle

You guys up for a 15 man QB draft? obviously 1 pick each and I'll do a random draw if we're all in.

Thanks, no.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Let this question stew a while, and with fewer responses than expected I'm gonna throw this out there...

Josh Allen is in my Top 10 alltime, if were drafting a QB to play in today's NFL.

Microcosm of today’s recency bias. Exactly zero superbowl appearances but he’s you number 1 pick?

No, I said he's in my top 10. He can run and he can throw. His size and physicality is any-era proof.

Circling back on this to own up to my mistake. I still haven't learned to slow down.

Montana
Brady
Starr
Marino
Young
Aikman
Mahomes
Unitus
Favre
Warner


Thats not my list, thats just me rattling guys off I would pick over Allen but I could see an argument for 10-20.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

This won't be a popular opinion I don't think, but the further you go back, the harder it is to make a case that guy could make it in the modern era, if you were taking that era's version of the guy (IE not one that grew up and was coached/trained in the modern era).

I think this becomes clear when we can compare the historical past versus modern day empirically in some sports/events, yet we for some reason assume that other sports wouldn't follow the same.

Of course, I'm talking about timed events. We can see, empirically, that there is no comparison between an athlete 75 years ago and an athlete today. Pick a random swimming event like men's 200m freestyle. The WORLD RECORD in 1950 was 1:59, the first person to ever break the 2:00 mark. In the last olympics, the MINIMUM TIME TO QUALIFY to even be considered for the event was 1:46.

If you took the world record holder from 1950 and dropped him into the 2024 race, he would have been so laughably far behind the last place finisher that people would have felt bad for him.

This is true for almost all timed events. If you take the world record holder from 70 years ago and drop them into modern times they're not even remotely competitive. So why do we think it would be different for other sports we can't empirically measure like that, if we had a way to empirically measure them?

I just think if you take a QB from the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and drop them in modern times they're going to be completely shell shocked by the speed of the game, the complexity of defenses, etc. Not to mention the physical traits they had that made them stand out as elite at the time would not be near elite today. If you pulled guys like Bart Starr or Johnny U out of their time and dropped them onto a team in the 2025 NFL season, they would not be anywhere near the top, imo.