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NFL 2017: 20 Quarterbacks with best chance at 5,000 yards passing

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:14 p.m. ET

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Fansided, Dan Parzych/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

With plenty of pass-happy quarterbacks to choose from, let's take a look at which players have the best chance at 5,000 yards passing for the 2017 NFL season.

Not long ago, it was rare for an NFL quarterback to break 5,000 passing yards in a single season when considering up until the 2008 season, Dan Marino was the only player to do so (5,084 in 1984). Since that 2008 season, there have been eight occurrences in which quarterbacks have been able to break the 5,000-yard milestone, and believe it or not, there are a handful of candidates who seem capable of doing so during the 2017 NFL season.

From Drew Brees (who has thrown for 5,000+ yards five times since 2008) of the New Orleans Saints to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (who threw for 5,235 yards in 2011), it's crazy to think how there are multiple quarterbacks who could record 5,000 yards passing in 2017. In fact, Brees and Brady were two of three quarterbacks, with Matthew Stafford being the other, who managed to do so back during the 2011 season.

Over the years, the NFL has evolved into more of a pass-happy league thanks to elite quarterbacks like these players, and it doesn't look like that's going to change any time soon. So without wasting any more time, let's take a look at the rankings of 20 quarterbacks who have the best shot at joining the exclusive club in 2017 by throwing for more than 5,000 yards.

Jan 1, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) reacts to the touchdown by running back Rex Burkhead (not pictured) against the Baltimore Ravens in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

20. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Last year was an interesting season for Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals since it marked the first time in his career the team failed to make the postseason after only finishing with six wins. Coincidentally, 2011 was also the same year in which A.J. Green was drafted by the Bengals along with Dalton, so the duo have benefitted from playing together all of these years.

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Frustration doesn't even begin to describe what Cincinnati was feeling for a majority of the 2016 season, but thanks to some key additions to the offense such as John Ross and Joe Mixon, early signs point to Dalton's squad one of the likely candidates to become contenders once again. But if that's going to happen, Dalton will need to be on top of his game by finding more ways into the end zone, unlike last year.

Finishing the 2016 season with 4,206 passing yards was quite impressive for a quarterback like Dalton since this marked the second time in his career he topped the 4,200-yard mark, but he could have done better than throwing for 18 touchdown passes. If all goes according to plan, Dalton could be in for a career season with Cincinnati to give them a better chance of competing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens for the AFC North title.

Nov 13, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks to throw a pass in the second quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Houston Texans won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

19. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Before anyone freaks out over the fact that a quarterback like Blake Bortles is even on this list, keep an open mind about the weapons he has to work with on offense with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Over the years, Bortles has established a reputation for having a majority of his numbers come during garbage time when the Jaguars are heading towards a loss, but things could be different for the fourth-year quarterback in 2017.

For starters, Bortles is facing more pressure than ever to prove he deserves consideration for being the quarterback of the future in Jacksonville. The bar was set high for Bortles heading into the 2016 season after recording 4,428 passing yards with 35 touchdowns the year before. But unfortunately, he failed to live up to the hype, even with a duo most quarterbacks would do anything to work with in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.

Bortles may have finished the year with 3,905 passing yards, but as mentioned before, most of those numbers came during garbage time while opposing defenses were taking a softer approach since the outcome had basically already been determined. This time around, Bortles will have stronger support in the ground game after the Jaguars used the No. 4 pick in this year's NFL Draft on Leonard Fournette, and hopefully the running back's presence helps him finally reach that true potential on offense.

Oct 16, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws the ball against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

18. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

After trading up in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles obviously had the intentions of making Carson Wentz the quarterback of the future, and even though the original plan was to have him learn from the sidelines as a rookie, that plan failed to happen. Thanks to the Minnesota Vikings desperately trading for Sam Bradford following a devastating injury to Teddy Bridgewater, Wentz was thrown into the mix right away for the Eagles, and ended up starting all 16 games as a rookie.

For the most part, Wentz's numbers from his first NFL season weren't all that bad when considering the lack of weapons he had to work with on offense. In a way, Wentz still finding a way to throw for 3,782 yards was kind of impressive, but Philadelphia knew the only way for the quarterback to reach his true potential was to build a better offense around him.

Lucky for Wentz, the Eagles made a splash in free agency by not only bringing in a speedy deep threat to work with in Torrey Smith, but arguably the top wideout the market had to offer in Alshon Jeffery. Take all of this into consideration along with the boost the ground game should have following the surprise signing of LeGarrette Blount, it's going to be exciting to follow Wentz during his sophomore season in Philadelphia.

Miami Dolphins

November 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) scrambles to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

17. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

All hope seemed lost for the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter of the 2016 season after only winning one of their first five games, but give the team credit for not hitting the panic button by winning nine of their final 11 games to earn a Wild Card spot in the AFC. With that being said, it's tough not to wonder what could have been if Ryan Tannehill were healthy enough to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the postseason.

The Dolphins quarterback was unfortunately forced to watch that game from the sidelines after a knee injury suffered in Week 14 prevented Tannehill from suiting up for the rest of the year, but based off the progress made from the last few months, he should have no issues bouncing back. Even though there was once a time when Tannehill seemed like one of the most criticized quarterbacks in the league, it should be noted that prior to last season, he did manage to complete back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons.

Offense will be a key factor for Miami if they're going to have any chance at competing for the AFC East title when looking at how many points Tom Brady and New England Patriots will be putting up on a weekly basis. Tannehill may not be on Brady's level, but at least having a receiving corps led by Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills will put him in good position to rank near the top of the league when it comes to quarterback play.

Nov 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Tennessee won 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

16. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

Unfortunately for Marcus Mariota, the Tennessee Titans quarterback was in a similar situation as Ryan Tannehill towards the end of last season after a broken leg forced him to miss the final few games. But unlike Tannehill's Dolphins, the Titans fell just shy of reaching the playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 9-7 record.

As painful as this was to deal with at the time, Tennessee has every reason in the world to be excited about what could be in store for the 2017 season since many expect them to make the leap to being serious contenders in the AFC. Not only did the Titans land one of the top receivers from this year's draft class in Corey Davis thanks to the Los Angeles Rams, but the team received an unexpected surprise with the signing of Eric Decker, who was recently released by the New York Jets.

With all of these news toys to play with on offense, Mariota has the chance to record his best season yet in Tennessee, as he continues to be that type of quarterback who seems to get better with experience. After an impressive sophomore campaign in which he threw for 3,426 yards to go along with 26 touchdowns, don't be surprised if Mariota makes a huge leap for the Titans during his third year with the team.

Dec 1, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) scrambles in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

15. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

It takes a special kind of quarterback to be able to put the Dallas Cowboys in a tough position of replacing Tony Romo with a rookie, but that was exactly the case in 2016 with Dak Prescott, who would lead the team to the best record in the NFC during the regular season at 13-3. Nobody could have predicted this outcome to turn out the way it did in a million years, and after seeing what Prescott was able to accomplish as a rookie, one can only imagine what's in store for his second season under center.

From his low turnover rate (only four interceptions as a rookie) to the level of comfort displayed from running the offense of the Cowboys, Prescott's maturity is already at a completely different level from most players his age, and part of the reason for that is due to a strong supporting cast. Having a big-handed receiver in Dez Bryant along with Cole Beasley using his speed to take advantage of playing in the slot is one thing, but Prescott benefitted last year from having another effective rookie to work with in Ezekiel Elliott.

Most young quarterbacks take a year or two before they begin to look fully comfortable playing at the NFL level, so to see Prescott this far ahead already has Dallas feeling all sorts of confidence when it comes to being early favorites to make a run at the Super Bowl. Having a running back capable of a heavy workload like Elliott could be the one factor holding Prescott back of making a run at the 5,000-yard mark, but if that's the biggest problem for the Cowboys heading into September, they're not going to be too mad about it.

Dec 19, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (not pictured) against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

14. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Expectations were high for Cam Newton at the beginning of last year since the Carolina Panthers entered Week 1 as defending NFC Champions. Not to mention, Newton was reigning MVP after recording 45 total touchdowns (10 rushing) during the regular season to go along with just 10 interceptions during the 2016 season.

Instead of living up to expectations, the Panthers ended up being one of the biggest disappointments from 2016 after failing to even make the postseason following a 6-10 finish. While the defense was part of the reason to blame for the struggles surrounding Carolina, it certainly didn't help that Newton looked like anything but an MVP after setting a career low by completing just under 53 percent of his passes.

To top it off, Newton has been limited over the last few weeks while recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason, and it would absolutely crushing to see this injury have an impact on the offense once Week 1 rolls around. But on a positive note, at least Newton, assuming he remains healthy enough throughout the regular season, should benefit from having one of the biggest playmakers from this year's NFL Draft in Christian McCaffrey since he can help be effective in the slot when he's not in the backfield.

Dec 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) celebrates his touchdown pass against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

13. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts

Speaking of quarterbacks dealing with injuries, there's plenty of concern surrounding the Indianapolis Colts when it comes to whether Andrew Luck will be healthy enough to suit up for Week 1 against the Los Angeles Rams. Just like Cam Newton, Luck has been recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason, and if he's not ready to go for that first game, the Colts could find themselves in serious trouble.

When healthy, Luck has proven to be capable of single-handedly taking over games for Indianapolis on offense, and some of his performances from over the years back it up. There's a reason why the Colts were willing to reward Luck with such a hefty contract (six-year, $140 million) last June, but with the team failing to reach the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, the pressure is on for the former No. 1 pick to come through in 2017.

Keep in mind how close Luck was to achieving the milestone back in 2014 when he finished the year with 4,761 passing yards to go along with 40 touchdowns (career high). In other words, Luck is certainly talented enough to make another run at the mark, but his health could end up being the deciding factor on whether or not it could happen.

Dec 19, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

12. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins

In all fairness, Kirk Cousins most likely would have been much higher on this list if it wasn't for DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon bolting in free agency since they gave the Washington Redskins one of the top duos in the NFL at wideout. Adding Terrelle Pryor in free agency along with Jamison Crowder hopefully taking on a larger role will certainly help fill the void at wideout, but only time will tell when it comes to whether these two have the same type of chemistry with Cousins.

The fact that Cousins fell just 83 yards shy of hitting 5,000 passing yards last year shows why he deserves consideration for this list, and when looking at all of the effort he's put towards fighting for a long-term deal, 2017 is the perfect opportunity to prove himself. For whatever reason, Washington felt more comfortable placing the hefty franchise tag on their beloved quarterback for the second year in a row, but if Cousins can find a way to come close to last year's level of production, it's going to be tough to ignore his demands much longer.

Cousins finds himself in a perfect scenario to show he's worth every penny of a long-term contract by showing the organization he's capable of producing big numbers, no matter who the receiving corps is made up of. Plus, after Washington fell just shy of reaching the playoffs after losing to the New York Giants during their regular-season finale, Cousins may be playing with an extra chip on his shoulder this year.

Dec 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) gestures in the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

11. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

Isn't it amazing that since taking over the starting role for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2006, Philip Rivers has managed to start every game at quarterback? Throughout his career, Rivers has always been considered one of the most competitive quarterbacks in the league, and thanks to this, he's been able to put up impressive numbers on a consistent basis, even if the Chargers aren't always in contention.

Dating back to the 2008, Rivers has been able to pass for at least 4,000 yards in eight of the last nine seasons, with his most impressive year coming in 2010 when he completed 4,710 passing yards. Even for a quarterback 35 years of age, Rivers doesn't seem ready to be slowing down any time soon, and when looking at the weapons he gets to work with in the passing game, the Chargers quarterback should be feeling plenty of excitement.

Hopefully if all continues to go well, Keenan Allen will return to his old self, and become a favorite target for Rivers once again on offense like he has in the past when healthy. And if the return of Allen wasn't exciting enough, Los Angeles hopes Mike Williams can also get healthy enough to make an impact during his rookie season to give Rivers another dangerous target to work with in the passing game.

Dec 4, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

10. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks experienced all sorts of issues last year with the offensive line, and yet Russell Wilson still found a way to set a career high in passing yards with 4,219. And if putting up these kind of numbers with a struggling offensive line wasn't impressive enough, it should also be noted that Wilson managed to do so while dealing with ankle and knee injuries throughout the regular season.

Wilson has been described as superhuman at times over the years for all of the miraculous plays he's made, and now that he's entering the 2017 season fully healthy, it will be exciting to see what kind of numbers he puts up on offense for the Seahawks. In fact, if Wilson's first five years are any indication of what to expect, the Seattle quarterback will most likely set another career high in passing yards since his numbers have improved each season since he was a rookie.

With the elite defense of the Seahawks failing to look as dominant as the past, how far this team goes in 2017 will fall on the shoulders of Wilson running the offense. Based off the weapons he has to work with along with the fact that he's going be much healthier, that shouldn't be a problem for Wilson at all.

Oakland Raiders

Dec 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) prepares to throw a pass against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

9. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

Watching Derek Carr grow as an elite NFL quarterback in such a short time has been simply amazing not just for the Oakland Raiders, but for football fans in general. To see Carr go from a 3-13 record as a rookie in 2014 to playing a key role in the Raiders finally putting an end to their long overdue playoff drought last season shows he's worth every penny the organization is about to pay him.

Even though Matt Ryan took home MVP honors from the 2016 season, Carr wasn't too far behind him from a performance perspective after finishing the year with 3,937 passing yards to go along with 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 15 games. Of course, it's difficult not to wonder what would have happened in the postseason if Carr was healthy enough to play, but the only thing Oakland can do moving forward is build off last year's success to make sure they remain contenders.

Assuming there are no setbacks from his leg injury, Carr should be able to put up MVP kind of numbers once again for the Raiders, as they could be even more dangerous on offense than last season now that Marshawn Lynch is in the picture. Lynch will certainly take some of that pressure off Carr running the offense, but the thing that sets Oakland apart from the rest of their competition is the dynamic duo their quarterback gets to work with at wideout in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree.

Dec 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates after throwing a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Lions defeated the Saints 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

8. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

After a rocky first two seasons of his career filled with injuries, Matthew Stafford has worked his way to the top of the list when it comes to the top quarterbacks in the league, as he's started every game dating back to the 2011 season. What's even more impressive is Stafford actually threw for 5,038 yards during that first full year as a starter in 2011, which is truly amazing to think about since it helped the former No. 1 pick silence a ton of his critics.

Even last year, many assumed Stafford would struggle during his first year without Calvin Johnson to work with following his surprise retirement, but that was far from the case after he finished the season with 4,327 passing yards to go along with 24 touchdowns. And to top it all off, Stafford played a key role in helping Detroit land one of the Wild Card spots in the NFC, although it was frustrating to see them allow the Green Bay Packers to win the division after holding a comfortable lead in the final weeks.

Either way, the important factor is the Lions overcame all sorts of odds to be serious contenders in the NFC, and as long as Stafford can stay healthy, that should be able to happen for the second year in a row. Stafford currently has an impressive streak going of six years in a row with at least 4,200 yards passing, and that alone makes him a likely candidate to hit 5,000 for the second time in his career.

Dec 24, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) makes a throw in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

7. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

For a quarterback that was heavily criticized coming out of Florida State about whether he would be ready to handle the responsibilities of a starting quarterback in the NFL, Jameis Winston has looked impressive by throwing for more than 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. And with the Buccaneers being one of the big winners this offseason by making key additions to the passing game in DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard, one can only imagine the type of numbers Winston will produce during his third year at quarterback.

The former No. 1 pick was already fortunate to play with some of the best hands the NFL has to offer in Mike Evans, as this duo is going to continue being a nightmare to cover on defense for years to come. But with Jackson and Howard officially in the mix of the passing game, it's going to be scary to see how many points Winston and the rest of the Tampa Bay offense are going to put up on a weekly basis.

The Buccaneers were one of the surprise teams from the 2016 season after finishing with a 9-7 record, but falling just shy of a playoff berth left a bad taste in this team's mouth during the offseason. At least with Tampa Bay having one of the top receiving corps for Winston to work with, the team should be able to make the leap to becoming serious contenders in the NFC.

Jan 8, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

6. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Three years ago, Ben Roethlisberger actually fell 48 yards short of hitting the 5,000-yard mark, and even though he hasn't come close over the last two seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has the type of supporting cast to hit the big mark. Around this time last year, the Steelers were predicted to have an offense capable of shattering numerous records, and even though they struggled at times throughout the regular season, the unit can still explode for numerous touchdowns at any given time.

Big Ben realizes how lucky he is for having one of the quickest and most dangerous receivers to work with in Antonio Brown, but it doesn't stop there for Pittsburgh on offense. It's one thing for opponents to be concerned over the whereabouts of Brown, but throw a running back who is just as dangerous of a receiver into the mix in Le'Veon Bell, it's no wonder Roethlisberger and the Steelers are constantly finding the end zone.

When looking at all of the hits he's taken over the years at quarterback, Roethlisberger realizes his time in the NFL is coming to an end, and he's even hinted in the offseason that retirement is already on his mind. After taking this into consideration, there's nothing Big Ben would love more than to end his career on a high note by with a monster year at quarterback while hopefully leading his teammates to another Super Bowl victory.

Jan 14, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter in the NFC Divisional playoff at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

For years, Matt Ryan was always considered to be the type of quarterback who deserved consideration for being elite, but could never make the Atlanta Falcons the contenders in the NFC everybody expected them to be. Then it finally happened last year when Ryan not only took home his first MVP honors by throwing for 4,944 yards to go along with 38 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, but led the Falcons to a berth in the Super Bowl.

Minus the historic collapse against the New England Patriots that everyone in Atlanta would love to forget about, Ryan deserves all of the credit in the world for finally getting his teammates over that hump of becoming the team to beat in the NFC. Sure, the argument can be made that Ryan's job is much easier thanks to Julio Jones, but the quarterback deserves plenty of praise for his leadership skills as well.

It's rare for the most part to see any quarterback throw for more than 4,500 yards on a consistent basis, but seeing Ryan manage to do so in each of the last five seasons shows how special of a quarterback he truly is. Playing in a tough division like the NFC South may be difficult to overcome, but Ryan seems up for the challenge to help his Falcons teammates earn a shot at redemption to makeup for what happened in the Super Bowl last February.

Nov 20, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) throws a pass during warm ups before a game against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

4. Eli Manning, New York Giants

Two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning has taken plenty of heat over the years for his high number of interceptions, but it's tough to ignore the fact that he's thrown for more than 4,000 yards in each of the last three seasons. One of the reasons why Maning has been able to find so much success is due to the rise up Odell Beckham Jr. emerging as a tope receiver in the league, but the receiving corps of the Giants is about to hit a whole new level.

While there's plenty of excitement surrounding Sterling Shepard heading into his sophomore season with the team now that he's got a year of experience under his belt, the top story surrounding this offense during the offseason was the signing of Brandon Marshall. Thanks to the New York Jets deciding to part ways with numerous veterans over the last few months, the Giants were able to convince Marshall to come on board to give Manning a trio of dangerous receivers to work with.

The verdict is still out over how all three of these players will play together, but Manning will be licking his chops about the potential numbers he may post during his 14th NFL season. If Manning and the offense can live up to the high expectations, the Giants are going to be a tough team to beat.

Jan 15, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) reacts after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional playoff game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Don't act surprised to see Aaron Rodgers on this list since there's a reason why he's seen by many as the most dangerous quarterback in the NFL. Just look how the 2016 played out when the Packers seemed all but eliminated from postseason contention when they were sitting at 4-6 before Rodgers literally carried the team on his shoulders by winning the final six games before eventually going on to claim the NFC North title.

Earning a playoff spot was impressive, but Rodgers wasn't done there after nearly leading Green Bay to a Super Bowl berth before falling to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship. Crushing doesn't even begin to describe how the Packers felt after losing to the Falcons since running the table against all odds would have been simply amazing, but at least Rodgers and company enter this season as favorites in the NFC once again.

Any quarterback who has thrown 109 touchdown passes in a three-year span like Rodgers is going to earn a high ranking on a list like this, especially when seeing how having him in the lineup always makes Green Bay early Super Bowl favorites. But if there were anything that could give Rodgers an extra advantage when compared to other years, it would be the Packers may need him to throw more this year now that Eddie Lacy and James Starks are out of the picture.

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) signals during the second quarter during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Tom Brady will officially be 40 at the start of the 2017 regular season, and the scary thing is the New England Patriots quarterback doesn't seem ready to call it quits any time soon. The fact that Brady seems to believe he could play another five years in the NFL seems absolutely ridiculous to think about at first, but he may actually be able to pull it off when looking at the offense the organization has surrounded him with.

New England was already loaded with some of the best receivers the NFL has seen over the years in Julian Edelman and Rob Gronokowski, but seeing them land one of the fastest playmakers in Brandin Cooks from a trade with the New Orleans Saints is completely unfair. To see the Patriots get even stronger with Cooks after pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in history against the Atlanta Falcons during last year's Super Bowl makes them heavy favorites to repeat, and Brady will most likely be in line for another MVP award to add to the collection.

If Brady was able to throw for 5,235 yards during the 2011 season, it's easy to assume he has what it takes to make a similar run with this high-powered offense of the Patriots. There's a popular saying about the rich getting richer, and that quote fits New England perfectly when seeing the potential surrounding Brady running this offense with the intention of repeating as champions.

Nov 17, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Right off the bat, there are most likely a ton of readers upset over Drew Brees earning the No. 1 spot on this list over Tom Brady since the New England Patriots star is arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL. But if there's one area Brees has Brady beat in, it's the amount of 5,000-yard seasons he's been able to record during his time with the New Orleans Saints.

Being able to reach that milestone has been no easy task for quarterbacks at the NFL, so to see Brees managed to pull off the accomplishment five times dating back to the 2008 season shows how important he's been to the Saints' offense. Even if Brandin Cooks is no longer in the picture following his trade to the New England Patriots, part of the reason why Brees is so amazing is his history of making the players around him better, no matter what kind of role they play.

New Orleans is desperate to put an end to their three-year playoff drought in 2017, and if that's going to have any chance of happening, Brees will need to have another monster season like he has been over the years. Lucky for the Saints, that shouldn't be an issue with Brees when seeing how consistency tends to be one of his strengths.

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