NFL 100: Quarterback index ahead of week six

The first-year starters

Gardner Minshew

While this category should be self-explanatory, I want to be point out that it is remarkable how well these rookies and that one second-year guy have played up to this point. Only one of them started the season-opener and they all took over for teams with a losing record, but have turned things around since stepping into the lineup.

#17 Gardner Minshew

I have been so impressed with what I’ve seen from Gardner Minshew through his first four-and-a-half games. I watched a lot of him at Washington State and liked his play, but never did I see his game transfer so flawlessly into the pros. He is completing two thirds of his passes and has thrown nine touchdowns compared to one freakish interception by a defensive lineman in week one. Minshew has given the Jaguars a chance to win every week and he has made some magical plays off script to do so. Right now I don’t see how Nick Foles gets back his job.

#18 Kyler Murray

After talking about an afterthought sixth-round pick, we now get to the first overall selection in this most recent draft. Kyler Murray finally got his first win of the season last Sunday at Cincinnati, but I think he has been playing well pretty much all season long. He seemed a bit rattled in the first half versus Detroit, but since then he has been as cool as it gets. Murray has made big-time throws down the field and his ability to take off has been a major weapon these last two weeks. Once the Cardinals surround him with a better O-line and skill position talent, he will be a nightmare to defend.

#19 Daniel Jones

Then there’s the new prince of New York city. The young man they call Danny Dimes has gone from laughed at top ten pick to a savior-type player in a matter of weeks, even though he struggled against Vikings. His athleticism and arm talent are so much better than Eli Manning’s that the plays Pat Shurmur has been able to run with him are already a lot different. Daniel Jones has looked really poised, despite being without his superstar running back and with a banged up receiving corp, as the G-Men have converted 53.3 percent of third downs passing with him. However, his toughest test is coming up with a trip to Foxborough.

#20 Kyle Allen

And then there’s the one second-year man among these four names. Kyle Allen was asked to take over for Cam Newton after he clearly didn’t look like himself through the first two weeks of the season. In his debut he tossed four touchdowns to give the Panthers their first win of the season at Arizona. Since then he has only thrown one touchdown, but he also has yet to throw an interception and the team is now 3-0 with him under center. Carolina should continue to rely on MVP candidate Christian McCaffrey, but Allen can make plays when they need him to, indicated by his 50 percent third down conversion percentage.