Power Ranking the NFL’s 10 Best Quarterbacks

7. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Some may say that Colin Kaepernick doesn’t have enough experience or talent to be here on this list, but that didn’t seem to be the case in the playoffs.

Kaepernick shredded the Green Bay Packers and had his way with the Falcons and Ravens, going 2-1 in the playoffs and winning seven of his 10 starts in 2012. Kaepernick took over and took off in the second half of the season, and he has proved all of his doubters wrong.

While the pistol attack helped fuel Kaepernick’s success, there’s no doubt that the prodigy can throw the ball. Kaepernick averaged 9.98 yards per passing attempt in the playoffs, and he averaged 8.32 in the regular season, which was more than all qualifying starters. Kaepernick was intercepted five times (including the playoffs), even though he threw the ball 80 more times than Alex Smith.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the blackout of the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Expect lots of improvement from Kaepernick once he has a full offseason under his belt. It’s incredibly impressive to be thrown into the fire, win seven games and take a team to the Super Bowl, especially considering the 49ers had to beat the Bears, the Saints, the Patriots, the Dolphins, the Packers and the Falcons, all of which will contend in 2013.

Flacco got the best of Kaepernick in the Super Bowl, but I would rather have Kaepernick on my team. Linebackers are confused, because if they stay back Kaepernick will run, but if they protect the run, Kaepernick will find one-on-one coverage on semi-deep routes over the middle. He knows how to use his talent, and he knows how to be a good quarterback.

Which is why only one other young quarterback is better than he is.