NFC West quarterback power rankings: Seahawks' Geno Smith versus the field

The NFC West is one of the best divisions in the NFL for several reasons. One of the key reasons is that each team has a good quarterback. Some QBs get a bit more respect than others, of course.

For instance, Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks gets national criticism without any real statistics to back up the hate. More on that in just a minute, of course, but maybe the critics need to come up with something other than "Smith isn't good." Some context would be needed to back up that argument.

Below there is an attempt to add context to why each quarterback ranks where they do in the power rankings. By the end of the season, the rankings could completely change, however. That is because every quarterback in the NFC West is capable of excellence.

Power ranking the NFC West quarterbacks: Where does Seahawks QB Geno Smith rank?

4. Kyler Murray - Arizona Cardinals

Murray is the most gifted athletically among the quarterbacks of the NFC West, but he is also the most fragile. He has not played a full season since 2020. He missed three games in 2021, six in 2022, and nine last year. He also has led his team to just a 6-13 record in his starts over the past two seasons.

Murray has a lower interception percentage than Matthew Stafford over the last two seasons, and the same as Geno Smith. Murray has a far lower touchdown percentage than Stafford and Smith, however. His overall offense should be better in 2024, however, so Murray might have the best season of his career this year.

3. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams

Stafford has one thing the other quarterbacks here don't have and that is a Super Bowl ring. He wasn't perfect in that game and his defense is why LA won, but there is little doubt that as far as pure arm talent, he is the best QB in the division. The reason he ranks third here is because his touchdown percentage the last two seasons combined is lower than Smith's and he has a higher interception percentage.

His Total QBR and passer rating is also much lower than Smith's. The argument could be made that if Smith played for the Rams, Los Angeles might even be better.

2. Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks

Smith is the most underrated and most disrespected QB not only in the NFC West but possibly in the entire NFL. He led the league in completion percentage in 2022 and led the NFL in both game-winning drives and fourth quarter comebacks last year. He also has made the Pro Bowl in each of his two seasons as a starter for the Seahawks.

There is a good chance that Smith has the best year of his career this year because new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's scheme seems to match extremely well with Smith's strengths. The quarterback throws a fantastic deep pass and is deadly accurate. Both are musts in Grubb's offense and the OC will know how best to use Smith.

1. Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers

Purdy might be a product of the scheme the 49ers run, but that could be said about almost every quarterback. Even Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is a better quarterback he plays under Andy Reid. A quarterback still has to produce even if the scheme is perfect. And boy, did Purdy produce in 2023.

The 49ers quarterback led the league in touchdown percentage (7.0 which was actually lower than his previous year of 7.6), yards per attempt (9.6), yards per completion (13.9), quarterback rating (113.0), and Total QBR (72.8). He threw 31 touchdown passes and just 11 interceptions.

Is Purdy the most athletically gifted quarterback in the NFL? Not by a long shot. But he might run the 49ers offense better than anyone else and that is all that matters currently.

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