NFL QB Tier List: Where's Rams' Matthew Stafford Rank?

Stafford's solidified himself as one of the best veteran signal-callers in the league after winning a Super Bowl in February

Zach Dimmitt | May 5, 2022

Even after 12 respected years with the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford still had a world of things to prove when the Rams traded for him last offseason.

But now with a Super Bowl ring, he has easily solidified himself as one of the best QBs in the league. And apparently, CBS Sports agrees.

The site released its 2022 NFL quarterback tier list on Wednesday and has Stafford ranked with the best-of-the-best in tier No. 1, which has been labeled "Bona Fide Franchise QBs."

Matthew Stafford

Here's last year and this year's tier No. 1 along with analysis of the selections:

2021:

Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert, Deshaun Watson

2022:

Mahomes, Brady, Rodgers, Jackson, Allen, Wilson, Herbert, Joe Burrow, Matt Stafford

If your team doesn't have a top-flight quarterback, it probably has no real chance to compete in 2022. They are the ultimate equalizers. They are essential in the modern game. Look merely at the recent upgrades that the

Buccaneers

and

Rams

made at this position which resulted in a Lombardi Trophy the following year. It tells you all you need to know.

The only reason Burrow was not on this list this time a year ago was because he was rehabbing from major knee surgery. It was fair to wonder when he would be fully back and when he would overcome the mental and physical aspect of the process, to say nothing of him having to play behind a shoddy offensive line. Well, we all know how that went. Amazing. And for years people would look at this column and rip me for having Stafford too high in their estimation. People thought I'd over-valued him. Ask Sean McVay about that.

Matthew Stafford

Last season, Stafford threw for the league's third-most passing yards (4,886), the second-most touchdowns (41), and tied his own career-high for single-season completion percentage (67.2 percent). Only Justin Herbert and Tom Brady, who are also in the first tier, had more passing yards.

Stafford's passing performance throughout last season is even more impressive when considering how porous LA's running game was. The Rams had a forgettable, eighth-worst rushing attack that averaged just 99 rush yards per game.

From bad defenses during his years in Detroit to subpar rushing attacks last season, Stafford proved he can lead a team to victory through it all and comfortably deserves his spot amongst the best QBs in the NFL.

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Published May 5, 2022

ZACH DIMMITT