In the ongoing debate over the NFL’s top quarterbacks, ESPN analyst Bart Scott has weighed in with a strong preference for Aaron Rodgers over Joe Burrow.
Scott’s stance comes as a surprise, given the recent ESPN survey of NFL executives and scouts, which placed Patrick Mahomes at the top of the rankings, followed by Burrow.
Rodgers, now with the New York Jets, was ranked eighth.
The ranking sparked a heated discussion on ESPN between former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III and Scott, a former Ravens and Jets linebacker.
Griffin defended the position of Joe Burrow, arguing that Burrow’s current performance outshines Rodgers’, regardless of his past achievements.
“You talk simply about the QBs, there’s no way you’re taking Aaron Rodgers for one game, one year or five years over Joe Burrow at this point.”
Scott, however, took a different view. He questioned Burrow’s superiority over Rodgers, emphasizing that while Burrow is a formidable quarterback, Rodgers’ proven track record makes him the more reliable choice.
“What does Joe Burrow do significantly better than Aaron Rodgers? So it’s a coin toss, right? Because you can’t say Joe Burrow is a better thrower of the football than Aaron Rodgers. You can’t say his football is better. He reads coverages, know where to throw the football,” Scott said.
“If I’m going with the decision, I’m going with Aaron, someone who I’ve seen close the deal. Joe Burrow has fallen short.”
Speaking of ESPN’s controversial rankings, Here is the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL according to them…
#1. Patrick Mahomes
“The gatekeepers of NFL greatness have begun chiseling Mahomes’ likeness onto their Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks … Mahomes’ work is so undeniable that all but one voter considered him the league’s best quarterback. He’s one of three players in NFL history with three Super Bowls and two MVPs, joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana, quarterbacks who needed 11 and 12 years, respectively, to reach the feat.”
#2. Joe Burrow
“Burrow hasn’t exactly hurt his standing in the pantheon since last year’s voting — he’s still considered one of the game’s very best and won a close race for No. 2 — but his growing injury file has planted a seed of doubt. … There’s little debate about Burrow’s greatness when he’s healthy and spinning it. His career completion percentage of 68% is the highest in NFL history through a player’s first four seasons (minimum 1,000 attempts).“
#3. Josh Allen
“Allen’s blend of brilliance and inconsistency has left voters with mixed feelings … He received the only first-place vote that didn’t go to Mahomes — yet was outside of the top five for several voters … He is Mahomes’ neighbor in style of play but lives on a different street of accomplishment. He’s been in the top five for four consecutive seasons but hasn’t cracked the top two. Most agree Allen should have experienced more playoff success by now.“
#4. Lamar Jackson
“It took far too long, but NFL circles are finally giving Jackson respect as a top-tier passer. He nearly snagged the No. 2 spot but got slightly outpaced by Burrow and Allen in the voting. And there’s a wide gulf in the voting between the top four and the rest of the field … Jackson is undeniable after winning a second MVP. After five seasons as a dual-threat quarterback in Greg Roman’s system, the Ravens reversed course, bringing in playcaller Todd Monken to help maximize Jackson’s game from the pocket.“
#5. Matthew Stafford
“Some evaluators see Stafford as a bit of a kingmaker … ‘He elevates the play of those around him,’ a high-ranking official with an NFL team said. ‘Puka Nacua is a good player — but he’s not the same guy without Stafford. He helps those guys reach their potential.'”
#6. Justin Herbert
“Herbert critics are quick to point out his pedestrian 30-32 career record as a starter. But most agree that the weight of the Chargers’ struggles doesn’t fall squarely on Herbert, an otherworldly talent who helped that record more than he hurt it … And then there’s this: He’s on the short list of best pure arm talents, possibly the best when you consider strength and the ability to reach all parts of the field.“
#7. C.J. Stroud
“Stroud appeared on nearly 90% of the ballots, and a few of the voters believe he’s top-three already … ‘He’s as good as anybody, honestly,’ a veteran NFC scout said. ‘He’s got to do it again, but the arm talent combined with taking care of the ball and the ability to process was impressive.'”
#8. Aaron Rodgers
“Old and injured is not the typical description of a top-10 quarterback … Rodgers’ presence feels like a mild upset after a pedestrian (for his standards) 2022 in Green Bay and the Achilles tear heard ’round the world on his fourth snap as a New York Jet … Rodgers, the oldest active quarterback in the NFL, is set to become the sixth in history to start 10-plus games at age 40 or older, joining Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Warren Moon and Vinny Testaverde … No matter. Still elite … ‘He’s probably fringe top 10 at this point, but he still has the rare ability to throw the football,’ an AFC exec said. ‘That hasn’t gone away. I think he’s got a major opportunity to lift the Jets and show what he can still do.'”
#9. Jared Goff
“Goff’s two-year run in Detroit is one of the league’s best success stories in recent years. In 2021, he was discarded by the Rams for Matthew Stafford, then suffered career lows in passing for a three-win Lions team. Voters didn’t see him as even a top-15 option at that point … But since 2022, he ranks second in passing yards (9,013) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.1).”
#10. Dak Prescott
The Dak Dilemma persists: He’s consistently very good but outside of the top tier, despite huge numbers … For the second consecutive year, Prescott appeared on the majority of ballots — 63%, a slight improvement from the year before. But he’s the only quarterback in the top 10 without a single top-six vote … ‘He’s lacking that high-end ceiling, plays the position really well, but not an elite athlete and passer [that] Mahomes and Allen are,’ an NFL personnel director said. ‘They need to support him in those big matchups. He’s really good but not quite good enough to elevate the entire team in those matchups.'”
While Rodgers is certainly one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and may very well be the most naturally-talented to ever play the position, too many people have forgotten just how special Joe Burrow is.
Burrow is back from injury and is no doubt anxious to remind everyone just how dangerous he is. Let’s all remember, if there is one kryptonite to Patrick Mahomes, it feels like it’s Joe Burrow.
That of course is taking nothing away from Rodgers who can still play at an extremely high level.
What are your thoughts on Scott’s comments?
If all things are equal, who are you taking to win one single game right this second: Burrow or Rodgers?
Speaking of rankings, what does YOUR top 10 quarterback list look like???