The 32 NFL Quarterbacks and their Major League Pitching Equivalents

These comparisons were based on anything from a player’s successes, awards, honors, skill level, style of play, intangibles, personality, draft selection, physical tools, length of career, and/or anything else that seemed like a logical correlation.

AFC EAST

Trent Edwards and Manny Parra – Two solid mid-round draft picks that still have some question marks in their 3rd year as pros. Edwards throws a nice deep ball and Parra misses bats well, but neither seems to be putting it all together. Edwards can’t avoid the injuries, and Parra can’t avoid the walks and wild pitches. Both of these Nor-Cal athletes have the arms and the tools to stay in the league, but they’ll need to be a lot better and a lot more consistent to keep their starting jobs.

Chad Henne and Wade Davis – Henne and Davis seem like they’ve spent a decade in Michigan and Tampa’s farm system, respectively.  Both of these big physical prospects were drafted just outside the first round. Each has recently debuted in front of their Florida faithful with better than average results. Each has put together a least one great game: Henne a huge win over the Jets on a Monday Night, and Davis a 10 K shutout vs. Baltimore. Both have promise, but they’ll have to earn their way into a future starting rotation.

Tom Brady and Johan Santana - Overlooked as prospects (and both recent victims of season ending injuries) these 4 time all-pros actually had to wait for an opportunity. Now, with a season of 50 TD passes, an MVP award, three Superbowl rings, five sub 3.00 ERA seasons, five 200-plus strikeout seasons, and two Cy Young awards among them, these special talents have become two of the best to ever play the game.

Mark Sanchez and Rick Porcello – Budding young stars who achieved immediate success when thrown in the fire. Porcello won his first 5 and Sanchez won his first 3.  Both highly rated talents wasted little time getting themselves to the big leagues and both look poised to have solid careers.

AFC NORTH

Joe Flacco and Ubaldo Jimenez. These guys throw hard. Both young rifles who suffered from mild control issues and inexperience are taking the next step toward stardom now that the training wheels are off.

Carson Palmer and Ben Sheets – Don’t look at the overall records, these guys are all-world talents who’ve been stuck on mediocre teams. Both former first-rounders have been in the “best in the game conversation” at some point, yet both have been set back with major injuries in their primes. Still plenty left in the tank.

Derek Anderson and Brett Myers – Each registered a quality season, but they fell on their face the next. Both have the big arm and the tools to be successful, but neither one seems to rise to the occasion when the “ace of staff” or the starting QB reins are handed to them.

Ben Roethlisberger and Josh Beckett – Big time talents who consistently deliver in big games. As they should be, both of these Championship MVPs are frequently on the bubble of the “best in the game” discussion.

AFC SOUTH

Matt Schaub and Rich Harden – Two super talented hurlers who’d be annual all-stars if they weren’t so super fragile. Schaub may be finally putting it together.

Peyton Manning and Roy Halladay – The best in the business. Both are in complete control of their game. Both consistently dominate the opposition and they only seem to get better with age. Both are blessed with the elite physical tools: arm strength, accuracy, size, etc. But it’s their expert mental approach that really sets them apart.

David Garrard and Ricky Nolasco – Two 4th round draft picks who played back-up QB and middle reliever for their Sunshine State squads before landing a starting gig. Neither has an elite skill set but both combine effective game management and quality control to compete and win ball games. Nolasco keeps his walks to a minimum as does Garrard his with interceptions. Nolasco uses an excellent curve as an out pitch while Garrard will use his legs to make plays.

Vince Young and Luke Hochevar - Two former UT stars, one Texas, one Tennessee, both won player of the year awards in their respective conferences. Both top draft picks have been in and out of a starting job several times. Hochevar was sent back to the minors after struggling in his second year, and Young lost his job to Kerry Collins after struggling in his. Both players have recently been given another opportunity, but there’s a lot of work to be done if they hope to live up to their first and third overall draft selections.

AFC WEST

Kyle Orton and Jason Marquis – The “castoffs” with the mediocre stuff. No one seems to want them, but wherever they go they find a way to win.

Matt Cassel and Rich Hill – Two respectable talents who had to wait their turn to make a splash. Once opportunity presented itself, they ran with it. Both players excelled in their first full seasons as starters, yet both were traded shortly thereafter. Since the change of scenery, both have battled injuries and struggled to duplicate their initial success.

Jamarcus Russel and Rick Ankiel –  Two strong armed high draft picks who have no idea where the ball is going when they throw it. Ankiel found relief in a new position, Jamarcus and his 260 pound frame should probably try the same.

Phillip Rivers and Carlos Zambrano – Hot-tempered fiery competitors who hate to lose. Both favor a short-arm throwing style. Both are excellent talents who put up all-star numbers, but neither has been able to get his “looks great on paper” team over the hump.

NFC EAST

Tony Romo and Daisuke Matsuzaka– Two relatively unknowns who’s quick successes with major market teams rocketed them to stardom. Now as minor celebrities they’ve been expected to live up to the unreasonable hype.  Both are excellent players but they’re probably not the superstars their respective cities seem to think they are.  While both have a couple of great seasons under their belts, at times they can look rather ordinary.

Eli Manning and Jered Weaver– Two lanky framed and highly rated first round draft picks who have looked overrated at times. After a few years of maturation, both players (who each have an older brother in the league) are clearly arriving as the elite players they were pegged to be.

Donovan McNabb and Roy Oswalt – Two veteran superstars who have anchored their teams for nearly a decade. With 8 pro-bowl and all-star selections between them,  they’ve consistently been two of the best at their positions. Both 32 year olds have hall of fame potential, and while each has taken his team to a championship game, neither has been able to bring home the coveted title. Both are still performing at a high level and should continue to do so in the forseeable future.

Jason Campbell and Andrew Miller – Big time college stars, first round draft picks, major league busts.  Still young, both players have the physical tools and some time left to develop, but neither has given reason to believe they’ll turn it around. A change in scenery hasn’t done much for Miller, maybe it could for Campbell.

NFC NORTH

Jay Cutler and Justin Verlander –Immensely talented players. Insanely strong arms. Verlander can make any hitter look bad. Cutler can make any receiver look good. Both have the look of future superstars but they’ll have to win a meaningful game to get there.

Matthew Stafford and David Price – Two toolsy number 1 picks who put up huge numbers in the SEC.  A small sample of up and down big league performances leaves much to be desired, but each has shown glimpses of great things to come.

Aaron Rodgers and Adam Wainwright – Late first round draft picks with loads of talent who spent a few years waiting for an opportunity. Rodgers behind Favre and Wainwright as a middle reliever and a temporary closer. Finally given the green light, both have become statistically dominant. Both have top notch skills and the job security to become two of the better ones in their sports.

Brett Favre and Pedro Martinez – Legends in their respective sports, both are widely considered two of the best of all time. Both single-handedly dominated the game in their prime. Both have laser-rocket arms. Their handful of records, MVPs, Cy Young’s and championships only confirms their legacy. They both shine in the spot light and they both love to be there. Both are cursed/blessed with the never-ending competitive drive and neither can bear retirement. Both tried a stint in New York and another one with a “team they think they can win another title with.”

NFC SOUTH

Matt Ryan and Tommy Hanson – Super prospects who found immediate success in the Bigs looking like seasoned veterans from day one. Both have the big time talent to anchor their teams for years to come. A Cy Young or an MVP from either of these Atlanta stars would surprise no one.

Jake Delhomme and Jose Contreras – Two undrafted veterans who’ve had successful careers. Their talent levels have declined over the years, but both have played in all-star and championship title games. Unfortunately, after a number of solid seasons, both players careers are now being defined by their inconsistent play. One week its 4 TDs, the next its 6 INTs, one game its 9 Ks, the next its 9 earned runs. It’s been a good run, but the well seems to be running dry.

Drew Brees and Tim Lincecum – Statistically speaking, these two are second to none. Undersized superstars who are perhaps the best in the game. They can beat you with any pitch or any throw on any count or any down.

Josh Freeman and Phil Hughes – Freeman is difficult to project with only one game under his belt, but his rocket arm and massive 6′6″ 250 pound frame resembles that of Hughes. Both big time prospects were first round picks. Both made their professional debut at the ripe old age of 21. Hughes faced early injuries and stumbled a bit as a starter, but has been excellent recently as a reliever. It’s unlikely that Freeman won’t encounter similar growing pains as a young QB, but both of these big arms have the makeup of future front line starters.

NFC WEST

Kurt Warner and Chris Carpenter – Potential Hall of Fame arms who have both led St. Louis to titles. Both have been regarded as the best in the game with 2 MVPs and a Cy Young between them. Injuries have sidelined them at times, but both continue to reinvent themselves as all-stars, even as they age.

Marc Bulger and Barry Zito – Two Multi-time all-stars who were top players in their leagues for a number of years. Zito overcame his mediocre arm strength with nasty curveballs and Bulger, his precision passing. In 2007, both were rewarded with massive multi-million dollar contracts, yet both were huge disappointments in each of their following seasons.  Injuries and high expectations have clearly played a role, but their annual all-star potential now seems long gone.

Alex Smith and Homer Bailey – Top draft picks who stumbled miserably out of the gate. The talent was there but maybe not the maturity. A few seasons later, each has been given another opportunity and both are showing glimpses of why they were so highly rated.

Matt Hasselbeck and Derek Lowe – Two rock solid reliables with at least 10 years of service and some tread left on the tires. Both have been measured not by their overwhelming tools, but by their consistent quality year after year. Both players have been to multiple all-star/all-pro games, and both have played in a title game.