The new generation is ready to claim the throne of the best quarterback in the NFC from Dak Prescott, or at least that's what Shannon Sharpe believes. The former player turned analyst assured that newcomers Jordan Love and Brock Purdy have already surpassed the Dallas Cowboys veteran.
During one of the sections of his podcast, Sharpe talked about his list of the best quarterbacks in the NFC. The Denver Broncos great's list surprised everyone, leaving Prescott out of the Top-3.
"I would take Jordan Love over Dak Prescott. I would probably have Matthew Stafford first. I put Jordan Love in two. I put Brock Purdy 3," declared the former tight end.
Sharpe's statements caused a stir not only because he preferred young guns but also because he went against other analysts' assessments. Specialized portals such as Pro Football Focus (PFF) place Prescott as the best in the NFC, especially after his performance last season.
Prescott vs. Love and Purdy
With 89.3 points in his passing grade, PFF considered Prescott the best quarterback in the NFC and sixth in the NFL behind Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Justin Herbert.
Although the portal's analysts recognized that Prescott's loss to Love's Green Bay in the postseason was a complete debacle, they assured that his other qualities will bring him to the fore next season.
With a 90.4 passing grade, Love ranks 11th overall on PFF's list. The portal admitted that the rookie had a slow start in the Packers' controls but noted that his second half of the season was great.
Purdy, for his part, has a grade of 94 and is PFF's 13th overall. The story of the young signal-caller of the San Francisco 49ers is well known, and, although many have considered him only a "game manager," others believe that he has the necessary qualities to be among the best.
Sharpe's vision
Although Sharpe is very clear about his Top-3, the rest of the positions were more complicated to asses. While analysts like the PFF staff rely on their metrics and cold numbers, former players like Sharpe and his co-host Chad Ochocinco have a very different perspective.
The former Broncos tight end sees intangible factors such as a player's potential, the so-called "clutch gene," which is the factor that makes players perform better under pressure, or a player's character and determination to get ahead in adverse circumstances.
Both views have their merits, whether it is the cold measurement of numbers or the evaluation of the invisible factors that make a player great. Whatever the case, the only way to know if either is right is on the field.
