USA Today ranks QBs - Saints are 7th

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1. New England Patriots: Go ahead — ding Tom Brady for his unspectacular arm strength, subpar athleticism or say he's profited from unprecedented coaching continuity and brilliance. But does a tenable argument that he's not the best in the business right now — and forevermore — honestly remain? Don't kid yourself. And after he played meaningful snaps effectively in 2016, Jimmy Garoppolo's presence makes any notion that another team has a better QB situation virtually indefensible.

2. Green Bay Packers: When it comes to pure arm talent, atomic clock accuracy, the ability to leverage mobility in or out of the pocket and execute at crunch time, is anyone better than two-time MVP and Hail Mary maestro Aaron Rodgers? He probably needs more rings to cement himself on the quarterbacking Mount Rushmore, but it can be argued no more physically talented passer has played the position. Watch Brett Hundley in preseason — he might be the kind talent the Packers can spin off for a high draft pick down the road.

3. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan was dialed in from start to finish in 2016 — at least until the final quarter of that last game anyway. Still, the league MVP had one of the finest individual seasons of any quarterback in league history, taking a meteoric jump on his ninth year. The question now, was it an aberration, or can he keep it up?

4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Everything appears to be in place for Ben Roethlisberger to put together an MVP season ... assuming he doesn't miss four games with ... something. Landry Jones is the backup, but rookie Josh Dobbs could push him.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Statistically, 2016 was Russell Wilson's worst year, largely because he was fighting knee and ankle issues that limited his mobility behind a line that got him sacked 41 times. Still, for a guy who wasn't highly regarded entering the NFL five years ago, he's blossomed into one of its best passers. Wilson has a great arm, uses surreal escapability to sidestep rushers and extend plays rather than bail out of them, always keeps his eyes downfield and rarely makes a killer mistake.

6. Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr's steady, incremental improvement culminated last year with an MVP-caliber season highlighted by 28 TD passes against just six INTs. Now that he's averaging $25 million annually, that upward arc needs to continue.

7. New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees has thrown for 5,000 yards five times. The rest of the world has done it four times, and no one else has managed it twice. And even at 38, he shows little sign of slowing. Sure, the offense and playing indoors have helped him pile up huge numbers. But don't discredit Brees' body of work — it doesn't exist without his moxie, brilliance and precision, all despite a steady churn of players around him.

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