A Guide To Mediocre NFL QBs in 2014

A team's success in the NFL is defined by the quarterback position. More than ever before, the NFL is a passing league dictated by a high-flying attack and a dependable field general. There's a reason that 11 of the last 15 MVP winners have been quarterbacks. Players like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are both the faces of their respective franchises and the primary indicators of team success. Defense may win championships, but Russell Wilson was by no means interchangeable for the Seattle Seahawks last season.

We're reminded of Wilson's importance to the Seahawks when we see the other signal-callers around the league who teams are forced to make to do with. Unfortunately, not every team can pick a winner, and you can be sure that the Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns will be reminded of this cold reality when their teams take to the field this season. In our Guide To Mediocre NFL QBs in 2014, we break down the worst of the worst standing behind center in the NFL.

But first, we start with our Dishonorable Mentions, the QBs who stand on the cusp of mediocrity in the NFL because of either their stat line, team performance, or both. The 2014-15 season will be a major year for each of these players in determining their future in the league.

2013-14 Stats: 31 TDs, 10 INTs, 96.7 QBR

Experience: 10 seasons

Team: Dallas Cowboys

If Bengals fans need an idea of what Andy Dalton's ceiling looks like, then they should examine Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo. The good but not great field general has been spinning his wheels in Dallas for years now, as the Cowboys have failed to make the playoffs in the last four seasons.

Romo's stats are remarkably solid—he's the only Dallas quarterback ever to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season, and he's done it four times. Indeed, it's difficult to call a quarterback "mediocre" when he posts 31 TDs and 10 interceptions in a season, but Romo's inability to come up big in close games remains a significant area of criticism. The NFC East has been constantly up for grabs over the past four years. Why have the Cowboys always failed to capitalize on this instability? Why have they always been on the outside looking in? Defense has been an issue for the team in recent years, but Romo will always remain the focal point of criticism when he makes plays like this. If the Cowboys miss the playoffs again this year, then it's time for Dallas to invest in a new franchise leader, plain and simple.

2013-14 Stats: 18 TDs, 27 INTs, 69.4 QBR

Experience: 10 seasons

Team: New York Giants

Eli Manning hasn't been a mediocre quarterback for his entire career. We all know that. The New York Giants QB has won two Super Bowl titles with the team, and has been statistically solid for most of his playing days, earning three Pro Bowl nods in the process.

But Eli has never dazzled us as a starter in the NFL, even when you discount last season's cringe-worthy stats. Even when the Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007, Manning had thrown only 23 TDs that year against 20 INTs. Turnovers have always been an issue for the younger Manning, and after a season in which he posted a career-high in INTs, it's easy to be skeptical that this year will be a substantial improvement. Manning has always been a quarterback defined by his clutch play and his ability to win, but his last two seasons have evidenced a gradual decline in his game that he'll have to work harder than ever to reverse.

2013-14 Stats: 33 TDs, 20 INTs, 88.8 QBR

Experience: 3 seasons

Team: Cincinnati Bengals

Let's not be too critical of Andy Dalton just yet. The Bengals signal caller has been a godsend for Marvin Lewis and Cincinnati fans since arriving three seasons ago out of TCU. The red-haired flamethrower has formed a solid tandem with ace wide receiver A.J. Green, making them the most dynamic duo in the AFC North. Indeed, given the age of teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and the continuing mediocrity of the Cleveland Browns, Dalton and the Bengals could rule the North for many seasons to come.

But when the playoffs come around, Dalton needs to step up his game and take his team to the next level. An 0-3 playoff record isn't a promising start, and that record has much to do with the fact that Dalton has thrown just one touchdown in those playoff games against six interceptions. Yikes. The biggest question surrounding Cincinnati for the 2014-15 season is whether Dalton is the quarterback who can help them break their losing streak.

2013-14 Stats: 29 TDs, 19 INTs, 84.2 QBR

Experience: 5 seasons

Team: Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford's stellar season in 2011 is fully in the rear-view mirror as the team gets ready for a new start under head coach Jim Caldwell. After a couple down years, it's time for Stafford to prove that he can bring his game back to that level and once again lead the Lions to the playoffs. He has more weapons than in recent years: Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush, Golden Tate, and rookie tight end Eric Ebron will work to make Detroit's attack more potent than ever. In years past, Stafford's problems have stemmed from either leaning too heavily on Megatron, or forcing big throws that result in interceptions. Diversifying the offense and cutting down on mistakes are his keys to success. But if Stafford still can't push the right buttons for the team, don't be surprised if the Lions spend a draft pick on a new quarterback in the 2015 NFL Draft.

2013-14 Stats: 8 TDs, 4 INTs, 86.7 QBR

Experience: 3 seasons

Team: Tennessee Titans

If you watched Jake Locker play at all last season, then you saw a young quarterback with a lot of potential. The mobile, strong-armed passer wasn't spectacular, but he was certainly the best option Tennessee has seen at the quarterback position in a few seasons. Unfortunately, before Locker could take off for the Titans, he went down with a foot injury.

As a result, 2014 will be a big year for Tennessee. Locker needs to prove that he's the quarterback of the future for the team, and his star receiver Kendall Wright can certainly help him do it. A playoff berth isn't completely necessary, but a full season and a solid stat line are. Tennessee's selection of former LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger in this year's draft proves that the team is already thinking about a future without Locker should injuries or a lack of production become a consistent issue. This is a make-or-break year for him.

2013-14 Stats: 24 TDs, 22 INTs, 83.9 QBR

Experience: 10 seasons

Team: Arizona Cardinals

Following an ill-fated stint with the Oakland Raiders, former Heisman winner Carson Palmer has landed in Arizona. Long gone are his days as a Pro Bowler with the Cincinnati Bengals. Though Palmer may well be able to lead the Cardinals to the playoffs, it's hard to bet on Arizona when their divisional rivals are led by Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick.

Palmer is, in a word, serviceable. He once flirted with stardom, but as the years have gone by, it's become abundantly clear that Palmer's prime is well past. Honestly, the biggest tragedy of his career is what he's doing to Larry Fitzgerald by starting for the Cardinals. Can someone please get Fitzgerald a decent quarterback?

2013-14 Stats: 24 TDs, 17 INTs, 81.7 QBR

Experience: 2 seasons

Team: Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is entering a pivotal year in his career. In his third season, the South Florida signal-caller will look to lead the Dolphins to a place they've only been once in the past 12 seasons: the playoffs. Tannehill is supposed to be the man who will take them there. It's easy to forget that Tannehill was drafted eighth overall by Miami in the 2012 NFL Draft, mainly because his fellow draft classmates like Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles have all already managed to accomplish so much more than Tannehill.

Though the former Texas A&M quarterback is a mobile passer, his dual-threat capabilities have been used to little effect in Miami. After investing a second-round draft pick on rookie receiver Jarvis Landry and signing running back Knowshon Moreno, the Dolphins are hoping they've given Tannehill the tools he needs to succeed. However, given the underwhelming numbers Tannehill has posted to this point in his career, it's easy to wonder if considerable success will ever be an option for him.

2013-14 Stats: 12 TDs, 21 INTs, 66.5 QBR

Experience: 1 season

Team: New York Jets

Going into his second year with the New York Jets, Geno Smith still has much to prove if he hopes to lead the team back to the playoffs and improve on last year's .500 finish. It's not impossible that Smith could utilize his full arsenal of weaponry as a playmaker and carry the team on his back this season, but after his supposed top target Stephen Hill was recently released by the team, it's hard to know who is going to help him do it.

The Jets have a lot of questions to answer about their offense right now, and Smith is the only one who can give them a satisfactory solution. Unfortunately, he may be too green as a player to do so. Twenty-one interceptions versus 12 TDs is not an encouraging start no matter how you look at it. Jets fans better hope that Smith's game made some serious improvements over the offseason.

2013-14 Stats: 11 TDs, 9 INTs, 81.6 QBR

Experience: 9 seasons

Team: Minnesota Vikings

Matt Cassel is like a slightly more-proven version of Matt Flynn. After one season leading the New England Patriots, Cassel managed to earn himself a major contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, and since then, he's failed to replicate the success he had under Bill Belichick's tutelage. It's hardly surprising. Even with his apparent mediocrity since leaving New England, the Minnesota Vikings have tabbed Cassel as their starting quarterback to begin this upcoming season, leaving Teddy Bridgewater on the sideline despite a solid preseason from the former Louisville Cardinal. Yet due to Bridgewater's early success, you can be sure that Cassel is more or less a dead man walking at this point. Don't be shocked if he and Bridgewater have switched places by mid-season.

2013-14 Stats: DNP

Experience: 8 seasons

Team: St. Louis Rams

At this point, what consolation can you offer for the St. Louis Rams? They invested millions of dollars of guaranteed money on Sam Bradford, who is now out for the season with an ACL injury, and their only back-up plan lies in the hands of career journeyman Shaun Hill. In a division like the NFC West, it's safe to say that they're done for. Though he's been able to earn his keep in the league as a sideline stand-in, Hill has done nothing to inspire the confidence of St. Louis fans, particularly against defenses which boast the likes of Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson. Have fun occupying the cellar for another year, St. Louis.

2013-14 Stats: 13 TDs, 1 INT, 109.0 QBR

Experience: 11 seasons

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Don't be fooled by Josh McCown's numbers from last year. Though he was solid for the Chicago Bears in back-up duties after Jay Cutler went down due to injury, McCown's mediocrity as an NFL quarterback is well-proven at this point. We don't want to hate too much on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for signing McCown; the guy certainly earned a shot to lead a team of his own. But Bucs fans shouldn't get too confident for the 2014-15 season. McCown has been a replacement player for years now, and in his 12th season in the league, it's unlikely that he's suddenly going to shed this label and raise his game to the next level.

2013-14 Stats: 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 82.6 QBR

Experience: 5 seasons

Team: Cleveland Browns

Why start Brian Hoyer? What about the career back-up is encouraging to head coach Mike Pettine? It's a question many Cleveland Browns fans are surely asking. Johnny Manziel hasn't been perfect in the preseason, but wouldn't you rather roll the dice with a dual-threat playmaker than an established benchwarmer? It's difficult to see what Pettine sees in Hoyer as Cleveland gets ready to kick off the season, particularly with the season-long loss of Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon due to suspension. Throwing Manziel straight into the fire may not be best for the young quarterback's development, but starting Hoyer makes it seem as though Cleveland is waving the white flag before the season has even begun.

2013-14 Stats: 14 TDs, 12 INTs, 82.0 QBR

Experience: 9 seasons

Team: Houston Texans

Bill O'Brien's first year as the head coach of the Houston Texans will prove to be a bumpy one with Ryan Fitzpatrick as lead quarterback. Fitzpatrick was a surprise story in the league when he came out of Harvard and managed to establish himself as an NFL-worthy talent. However, since making his debut with the St. Louis Rams in 2005, Fitzpatrick hasn't been able to accomplish much more than earning a spot as a dependable replacement. Entrusting him with your franchise and the happiness of your disgruntled star receiver will be a dicey maneuver for the Houston Texans. If Fitzpatrick was their plan at quarterback all along, it's difficult to figure out why they didn't draft a quarterback this year, even when you factor in the considerable talents of Jadeveon Clowney. A team starts and ends with a quarterback. Fitzpatrick is not who you want to begin with.

2013-14 Stats: 10 TDs, 14 INTs, 73.0 QBR

Experience: 10 seasons

Team: Oakland Raiders

After a strong 2012 with the Texans in which Matt Schaub led the team to a playoff berth and Wild Card round victory, the future seemed bright for the Houston signal-caller. However, everything fell apart last season when, inexplicably, Schaub completely tanked and the team cratered to a last-place finish in the league. The 2013-14 season will be a major test for Schaub, who is now with the Oakland Raiders and serving as a back-up to rookie quarterback Derek Carr.

Schaub's days as a Pro Bowler could well be over, or he could right the ship and prove to his critics that last season was a blip on the rader. We wouldn't put our money on the latter. Schaub is an old player whose peak was never terribly impressive to begin with, and his recent decline has spiraled out of control in the past few weeks. It has become abundantly clear that the Oakland Raiders' chances at building for the future are much better with Carr than with Schaub.

2013-14 Stats: 13 TDs, 14 INTs, 76.5 QBR
Experience: 6 seasons
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Chad Henne's success as a Michigan Wolverine has yet to carry over to the NFL in his stints with the Miami Dolphins and the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Blake Bortles now standing on the sideline, it feels like only a matter of time before Henne is usurped and either left carrying a clipboad or shipped away to another team. Don't bet on a career year for Henne. At this point, we've seen all we need to see from him. Unfortunately, it appears that Henne is in for a long career as a journeyman around the league.