A new generation of elite quarterbacks is in the early stages of taking the NFL by storm.
The Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes put together one of the finest seasons of all time as a first-year starter in 2018, becoming the youngest MVP since Dan Marino. Baker Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to a franchise-altering second-half turnaround as a rookie, and the Houston Texans' Deshaun Watson came off a torn ACL last season to reestablish himself as one of the most unique dual-threat signal-callers in NFL history. There's surely more MVP contention in Jared Goff's future as the Los Angeles Rams continue fighting for Super Bowls. Many believe No. 1 overall draft pick Kyler Murray is poised to revolutionize the position, lifting the Arizona Cardinals to perennial contention along with him.
Just because another golden age of quarterbacks is imminent, though, doesn't mean remaining leaders of the latest one are no longer some of the best in the league. Pro Football Focus, in fact, recently listed New England Patriots icon Tom Brady as the league's second-ranked overall player heading into 2019, with the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees three spots below him, second in the overall quarterbacking pecking order.
According to Chris Simms, Brady and Brees aren't even best veteran quarterbacks in the NFL, either. In his Top 40 quarterback countdown, the NBC Sports analyst placed Brady and Brees ninth and tenth, respectively. Where does that leave Ben Roethlisberger? The full list has yet to be unveiled, and the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has yet to appear.
Mahomes, Mayfield, and company will soon be duking it out for Super Bowls, perhaps as early as this season. But as long as Brady, Brees, and Roethlisberger are playing, no matter who's the better player among them, it's safe to say the older generation will be heard from this season and beyond.
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