Number 1 – Matthew Stafford
I suspect that people outside of the Detroit area might find my ranking completely ridiculous. That is because they don’t know that much about football, or don’t pay much attention to Matthew Stafford. Since the Lions have not had playoff success, most people will laugh off any idea that doesn’t jibe with their preconceived notions about what teams and players are good.
I will try to keep this simple for people laughing, or who can’t follow a more complex line of thought. Stafford is the most accomplished, individually, of any #1 draft pick. Matt has 34,749 passing yards, 216 TD’s, 118 ints, and 62% career completions. Newton’s career completion percentage is under 60%, at 58.5%, giving Stafford a decisive edge as a passer.
Why Stafford’s my number 1
Even taking into account that he only has 949 yards rushing with 14 rushing TD’s, that puts him at 35,698 yards from scrimmage in 125 games. Newton’s 29,394 total yards average out to 270 yards per game.
Stafford averages 286 yards per game of offense. His 230 total touchdowns (1.84 average/ game) versus Newton’s 212 total touchdowns(1.94 average) does favor Newton, slightly. So, Stafford has an edge in yards from scrimmage, but a slight disadvantage in TD production.
Looking at turnovers, Stafford has fumbled 57 times since 2009. Newton has 47 fumbles since his first season in 2011. Combining those numbers with their interceptions, the average number of turnovers for each is: Stafford (175 total,1.4 avg. per game), Newton (141 total, 1.3 avg. per game). That is a virtual tie.
End remarks
Newton has a chance to catch Stafford stats-wise, but it isn’t likely. Stafford has continued to set the record for quickest quarterback to statistical milestones, like 25,000 yards passing. Using team wins, playoff wins, and other team measures obscures an individual player’s impact. At the same time, not considering how good the team around a player is creates a false narrative about how responsible a quarterback is for overall success.
Next: Building the Lions monument to Super Bowl success
Matthew Stafford’s numbers are better than anyone else on this list, even in averages. Although Newton has very good numbers and has been voted to more individual awards, he has no discernible advantage in production. Laugh if you want to, but these numbers tell a story about who the best pick was at the top of the draft over the last decade.
Follow me on Twitter CoachKirk @mkirk2 for more Detroit and Michigan sports, plus other content from a fellow die-hard Lions fan. Sorry that I didn’t do better. See you next week!