Buccaneers NFC South Position Rankings: Quarterback

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers controls the offense during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers controls the offense during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on December 18, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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Matt Ryan

The signal caller for the Dirty Birds has been flirting with upper echelon quarterback status since his third season in the league. Matt Ryan is frustrating that way. One season he’ll pass for 38 touchdowns, nearly 5000 yards, and win the MVP of the league, but another he’ll throw for 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. With that said, Ryan is a quality player more often than not and a top ten passer in the league.

Ryan is a classic drop-back quarterback and prototypical in every way – an old school coaches ideal mold (which is a good and bad thing). He’s not particularly mobile if protection breaks down and has a slightly long delivery, but Ryan gets the job done inside the pocket all the same by making quick decisions with the football.

2016 was Ryan’s strongest season as a pro, the previously mentioned 5K, 38 touchdown masterpiece which ended with an MVP and a Super Bowl….appearance. With offensive coordinator Kyle Shannahan gone to the 49ers, Ryan regressed a bit last season throwing for 18 less touchdowns and five more interceptions. Still, he managed to be Pro Football Focus’s second ranked quarterback on the season, which tells you he’s still near the top of his game.

At 33 years old it seems like Matt Ryan will be around for the foreseeable future, likely towards the top of this list the entire time.