Best Young NFL Quarterbacks on the Come Up

These guys are the next wave of franchise signal callers.

These NFL QBs Are on the Come Up - Russell Wilson, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick might come to mind first when discussing the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. However, there’s a new wave of mostly 26-and-under QBs who are on the come up. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is just one out the bunch. Foles, 25, has shown early this year that his 2013 stats weren’t any fluke, considering the 331 yards and one touchdown he threw for in the Eagles’ 30-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. It definitely feels like Foles will be in the Eagles pocket for years to come. Peep how BET.com goes on the offense, pointing out more young signal callers who could soon join the elite QB conversation. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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These NFL QBs Are on the Come Up - Russell Wilson, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick might come to mind first when discussing the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. However, there’s a new wave of mostly 26-and-under QBs who are on the come up. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is just one out the bunch. Foles, 25, has shown early this year that his 2013 stats weren’t any fluke, considering the 331 yards and one touchdown he threw for in the Eagles’ 30-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. It definitely feels like Foles will be in the Eagles pocket for years to come. Peep how BET.com goes on the offense, pointing out more young signal callers who could soon join the elite QB conversation. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

No Mediocre - Like Jay Cutler, Andy Dalton inked a huge offseason extension — his with the Cincinnati Bengals — worth $115 million over six years. And like Cutler, Dalton has underwhelmed. Yes, his Bengals have a 5-3-1 record, very much still alive in the AFC playoff picture, but Dalton, with only twelve touchdown passes, hasn’t done anything that should make Cincy’s fan base believe this year could be special. Even if they make the postseason, Dalton will be fighting history as he sports an 0-3 playoff record.  (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Andy Dalton - Fresh off of signing a six-year, $115 million contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals last month, Andy Dalton has led the orange and black to a 2-0 record atop the AFC North. In doing so, Dalton has piled up 553 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception through two games. Of course, the true test for Dalton will come in the postseason, where he has struggled mightily. The biggest knock on the 26 year old is that he has never led the Bengals to a postseason win. (Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Ryan Tannehill - Just who is Ryan Tannehill? The Miami Dolphins quarterback definitely has talent, but consistency is his problem. Take this short season thus far as an example — Tannehill throws two touchdowns in leading the ’Phins to a huge 33-20 victory over division rival New England Patriots in Week 1, but can’t get much going in Miami’s 29-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. As the Dolphins continue to try to bolster their roster, perhaps Tannehill could be more consistent. If he does that, Miami could return to the top of the AFC East. (Photo: Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

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Ryan Tannehill - Just who is Ryan Tannehill? The Miami Dolphins quarterback definitely has talent, but consistency is his problem. Take this short season thus far as an example — Tannehill throws two touchdowns in leading the ’Phins to a huge 33-20 victory over division rival New England Patriots in Week 1, but can’t get much going in Miami’s 29-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. As the Dolphins continue to try to bolster their roster, perhaps Tannehill could be more consistent. If he does that, Miami could return to the top of the AFC East. (Photo: Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

EJ Manuel  - Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Bills are 2-0 on this young 2014 season and EJ Manuel is a big reason why. The 24-year-old quarterback completed 72.7 percent of his passes in a Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears and threw for 202 yards and a touchdown without an interception in a Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Adding excitement to Manuel’s continued growth is the fact that he has a serious young weapon in explosive wideout and fourth overall draft pick Sammy Watkins. The rookie out of Clemson racked up eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown Sunday, showing early chemistry with Manuel. (Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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EJ Manuel  - Don’t look now, but the Buffalo Bills are 2-0 on this young 2014 season and EJ Manuel is a big reason why. The 24-year-old quarterback completed 72.7 percent of his passes in a Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears and threw for 202 yards and a touchdown without an interception in a Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins. Adding excitement to Manuel’s continued growth is the fact that he has a serious young weapon in explosive wideout and fourth overall draft pick Sammy Watkins. The rookie out of Clemson racked up eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown Sunday, showing early chemistry with Manuel. (Photo: Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Kirk Cousins - Nobody likes to see a player get injured, but injuries are a part of the NFL and that will never change. Besides sadness, injuries do create opportunities for other players to step up and perform. That’s the current case with the Washington Redskins. When starting QB Robert Griffin III dislocated his ankle Sunday, back-up Kirk Cousins came on to throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Redskins to a 41-10 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, it’s the lowly Jaguars, but at 6-foot-3 and with a solid arm and decent mobility, Cousins might be able to put together a longer string of solid play. (Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Kirk Cousins - Nobody likes to see a player get injured, but injuries are a part of the NFL and that will never change. Besides sadness, injuries do create opportunities for other players to step up and perform. That’s the current case with the Washington Redskins. When starting QB Robert Griffin III dislocated his ankle Sunday, back-up Kirk Cousins came on to throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Redskins to a 41-10 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, it’s the lowly Jaguars, but at 6-foot-3 and with a solid arm and decent mobility, Cousins might be able to put together a longer string of solid play. (Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Geno Smith - Geno Smith is growing in front of our eyes. While the New York Jets quarterback struggled in his rookie year, his sophomore campaign has already demonstrated that he has more poise and confidence in the pocket. Smith has thrown for 397 yards and two touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his passes through two games in leading the Jets to a 1-1 record thus far. If he can keep his interceptions down, perhaps Smith and the Jets can even make a playoff push. They have a solid defense with enough weapons on offense to at least be in the conversation. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Geno Smith - Geno Smith is growing in front of our eyes. While the New York Jets quarterback struggled in his rookie year, his sophomore campaign has already demonstrated that he has more poise and confidence in the pocket. Smith has thrown for 397 yards and two touchdowns while completing 65 percent of his passes through two games in leading the Jets to a 1-1 record thus far. If he can keep his interceptions down, perhaps Smith and the Jets can even make a playoff push. They have a solid defense with enough weapons on offense to at least be in the conversation. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

Brian Hoyer - For all the hype in Cleveland centered around rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer is the man under center. At 28, he’s the oldest quarterback on this list, but he occasionally shows flashes that make us think that his best days could still be ahead of him. After suffering a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, Hoyer led the Browns to a raucous 26-24 home win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday with 204 passing yards and one TD. If he continues to play mistake-free football, Hoyer might have us forgetting about Johnny Football altogether.(Photo: Leon Halip/Getty Images)

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Brian Hoyer - For all the hype in Cleveland centered around rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel, Brian Hoyer is the man under center. At 28, he’s the oldest quarterback on this list, but he occasionally shows flashes that make us think that his best days could still be ahead of him. After suffering a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, Hoyer led the Browns to a raucous 26-24 home win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday with 204 passing yards and one TD. If he continues to play mistake-free football, Hoyer might have us forgetting about Johnny Football altogether.(Photo: Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Jake Locker - The Tennessee Titans fell to 1-1 Sunday after a 26-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. And already quarterback Jake Locker has shown his good and bad sides. In Week 1, the 26-year-old QB completed 66.7 percent of his passes and two touchdowns in leading the Titans to a 26-10 win over the Chiefs, but on Sunday had more interceptions (two) than touchdowns (one). Not coughing up the ball will help Locker keep his starting locker in Tennessee for years to come. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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Jake Locker - The Tennessee Titans fell to 1-1 Sunday after a 26-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. And already quarterback Jake Locker has shown his good and bad sides. In Week 1, the 26-year-old QB completed 66.7 percent of his passes and two touchdowns in leading the Titans to a 26-10 win over the Chiefs, but on Sunday had more interceptions (two) than touchdowns (one). Not coughing up the ball will help Locker keep his starting locker in Tennessee for years to come. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)