Here’s an intriguing exercise from Steven Ruiz at the Ringer, who ranked all 32 starting quarterbacks entering Week 1 — including New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston. Coming off of an efficient seven-game start to 2021 that got derailed by a major injury, Winston is now ranked at No. 17 — almost making him a prime meridian within the league’s haves and have-nots.
To break it down further, Winston is part of a thin middle class at quarterback in Ruiz’s rankings, slotting in on the same tier as Trevor Lawrence (81.8 overall grade), Kirk Cousins (81.7), Ryann Tannehill (81.4), Mac Jones (78.6), and Marcus Mariota (77.2). It’s a group made up of a few highly-drafted youngsters (Lawrence and Jones) and some embattled veterans trying hard to hang onto their starting jobs. They may or may not prove to be franchise quarterbacks — long-term solutions to the game’s most important position — but they occupy the space between the league’s sure things and the passers who aren’t likely to cut the mustard.
