Carolina Panthers: Quarterback ranking impressive with small sample size

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 29: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers passes against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium on November 29, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 29: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers passes against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium on November 29, 2009 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers were ranked fairly in the latest quarterback rankings from NFL.com.

Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com compiled a list on Tuesday, raking each franchise according to the franchise’s best passers. It’s a pretty unique idea , and he gave the Carolina Panthers a favorable rating, so automatically this was a great idea.

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The quarterbacks that were put in place for the Carolina Panthers were Cam Newton, Jake Delhomme, and Steve Beuerlein.  Considering that the Carolina Panthers are one of the newer franchises in the National Football League, that is a pretty impressive list. Especially when you consider the success that Delhomme had, as well as the success that Newton has brought to the table, the Panthers all things considered are represented pretty well on this list. For the record, they are ranked 23rd overall.

In looking at those three quarterbacks on the list, one would have to wonder if Carolina would be even lower had Newton not been drafted. Let’s face it, we all want a Super Bowl. However, Newton has had success that many teams would gladly take part in. With multiple playoff appearances, a Super Bowl appearance, and an MVP Award, there is no doubt that Newton has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks over the past couple of seasons.

That is what made last year so frustrating. Hampered by injury and lack of an offensive line, we knew that Newton could play better than he was showing. Now with  new receiving corps and a better line, that should be able to happen. I’m excited to see how he heals, and I hope everything goes smoothly. The fact that Will Grier and Kyle Allen both have a ton of potential should allow for the Carolina Panthers to play the waiting game a little bit as they continue to monitor Newton’s health.

As far as the rankings go, they were detailed, and looking at some of the numbers side-by-side was very interesting. It just speaks to the fact that the Carolina Panthers have had solid quarterback play since they came into the league in 1995. There’s not many franchises out there that can say that.

"Who qualifies for the Panthers?— Cam Newton (2011-present): 122 starts | 68-53-1 | 3 Pro Bowls | 86.4 passer rating | 1 MVP— Jake Delhomme (2003-09): 90 starts | 53-37 | 1 Pro Bowl | 82.6 passer rating— Steve Beuerlein (1996-2000): 51 starts | 23-28 | 1 Pro Bowl | 87.7 passer ratingOf all the newer franchises, none have had a quarterback as dominant or talented as Newton. Delhomme’s just the whipped cream on top."

Hopefully, the Carolina Panthers will be ranked higher in the coming years. I definitely see a couple more Pro Bowls in Newton’s future, and I certainly can envision Grier  becoming a very solid starting quarterback once Newton retires. Fortunately, I think we still have a lot of time before that happens. With how many new offensive players Carolina has , I could see a very good year upcoming for the Carolina Panthers.

Next. Hogan a plus for Panthers. dark

These quarterback ratings were very interesting as it helps us get an idea of how the Panthers stack up against the rest of the league historically. Honestly, the Carolina Panthers certainly hold their own, just as they have overall in the National Football League since their inception.