SEATTLE – The top-tier quarterbacks "can carry their teams week after week and contend for championships without as much help," according to ESPN's second-annual ranking of NFL signal-callers released Tuesday.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is not one of them, according to the ranking.
The results come from a panel of 35 NFL insiders including current and former general managers, head coaches, assistant coaches and coordinators, and front office personnel.
The quarterbacks who made Tier 1:
- Aaron Rodgers – Packers
- Tom Brady – Patriots
- Andrew Luck – Colts
- Ben Roethlisberger – Steelers
- Peyton Manning – Broncos
- Drew Brees – Saints
Then we get to Tier 2. This is described by ESPN as quarterbacks who "are less consistent and need more help, but good enough to figure prominently into a championship equation."
Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers is ranked ahead of Wilson in this group, followed by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Joe Flacco from the Baltimore Ravens.
ESPN says 11 of the 35 experts they polled listed Wilson as Tier 1, compared to three out of 26 voters who put him there last year. Twenty-three listed him at Tier 2 and one listed him as Tier 3.
The opinions on Wilson among the panel vary.
"Because I think he needs Marshawn Lynch and the defense [to be great] to do what he has done," said one panelist.
"He beats you doing the things he does. He is a 1," said another.
And another said "the bubble is going to burst" if he has to throw the ball frequently.
From all reports, Wilson wants to be paid like a Tier 1 quarterback. But Wilson and the Seahawks don't appear to be close to agreeing on getting a contract extension done before training camp. Wilson has one year left on his rookie contract.
