NFL coaches and executives just dropped their annual quarterback rankings, and for the first time ever, Jordan Love crashed the top-10 party. That’s right, The Athletic’s Mike Sando polled 50 football minds, and the Green Bay signal-caller officially clocked in at number 10, a huge jump for him personally. This isn’t some hot take from a pundit; this is the brass tacks opinion from the people who scheme against these guys every Sunday.
Love’s Ascent: Tier 2 Talent With Tier 1 Flashes
Love wasn’t just sitting comfortably in Tier 2; he got serious respect. He snagged two actual Tier 1 votes, 37 Tier 2 votes, and only 11 Tier 3 votes. You can tell the league is buying into the guy. He moved up three spots from last year, leapfrogging QBs like Jayden Daniels, C.J. Stroud, Jalen Hurts, and Baker Mayfield. The only guy who passed him up was Drake Maye, which just shows how much buzz that kid has.
What do these coaches actually say about Love? It’s a mix, but mostly positive. One opposing defensive coordinator was straight up “surprised,” calling him “good” and “really solid, mobile, threw with better accuracy than I thought.” Another DC noted his “smart” play, “arm talent,” and “mobility,” adding that “if he plays good ball, you can win a Super Bowl with him.” Talk about high praise! But it’s not all sunshine. The same coach said he’s “Not a consistent killer yet.” Another defensive coach mentioned “some WTF plays and throws” and the need for more week-in, week-out consistency. An executive who threw a Tier 3 vote for Love pointed out his struggles under pressure: “If you can create pressure on him and make him move around, it ain’t the same.” They even brought up Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, questioning if Love can learn to manipulate the pocket like the legends. An offensive coach dropped a wild comparison, saying Love is the “Tier 2 version” of Josh Allen, meaning he’s productive even when it doesn’t look “by the book.”
Where Our Guy Sam Darnold Stands Amidst the Rankings
Okay, so Love is rising, that’s clear. But what about *our* guy? As we gear up for the season here in the Emerald City, it’s always good to see where the league sees our QB. In these same rankings, Sam Darnold came in tied at number 14, right there with Baker Mayfield. He’s below the likes of Love, Dak Prescott, and Justin Herbert, but ahead of Trevor Lawrence and Jalen Hurts. It just shows you how stacked this league is with talent, and how tight these tiers can get. Darnold’s ranking means coaches and executives see him as a solid starter, someone who can lead a team. It’s not top-10, but it’s not chopped liver either. This is the kind of stuff coaches are thinking about heading into the regular season.
So, while Love is getting all this attention for his jump into the top-10, don’t forget where our very own Sam Darnold is positioned. He’s clearly valued by these same football minds, right there in the middle of Tier 3. It gives you something to think about as we look forward to seeing Sam and the rest of the Seahawks take the field this year. Let’s see what he shows the league on the field when the games really count!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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