Big things are being expected from the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, thanks in large part to the play of starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017. The team has several prime time games to play and Garopollo himself is climbing up the ladders as one of the league’s better quarterbacks.
One of those ladders is none other than Fox Sports radio personality Colin Cowherd. I’m aware that some of you are not fans of Colin Cowherd and some of his methods, most notably his straw man usage is a bit strange, but once in a great while he can put good logic behind his takes.
This is one of the better ones. Cowherd gave his “Herd Hierarchy” for quarterbacks and put Garoppolo at No. 6:
“Big, he’s got the girth, he’s got the arm, he’s mobile, I’m taking a little flier on him. I didn’t understand couple of years ago when the NFL, he was sitting out there. Everybody knew New England would take a call or two and it was San Francisco who stole him. I would have no problem nor do I with what San Francisco just paid him when the season ended.”
The rankings were based not just on ability but maturity and if the quarterback “Was a grown-up” (something Cowherd emphasized several times). Which is why he didn’t put quarterbacks like Cam Newton on the list. In front of Garoppolo in order were Russell Wilson Ben Roethlisberger (I’ll let you argue that one) Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers.
Regardless of what you may think of the ranking, isn’t it nice having a top-10 quarterback again?