Any list of the best QBs ever has to be heavily made up of QBs from the past 30 years because the role of the QB has been much greater.
You cant really compare QB of the 60s and 70s who threw 15-20 times a game to those that throw 40 times a game. It doesn't eliminate them but must be considered.
So here is my top 10.
1) Montana. This one isn't even debatable until Brady gets his 4th ring. Montana has 4 and Montana is far and away the biggest reason they won them.
2) Brady. The 4th ring would make him #1 on my list.
3) Unitas. Here you have a QB who did throw a lot in an era where most teams didn't. If you compare all QBs to their peers at the time they played Unitas stands out.
4) Graham. Again, the era and style of play must be considered, but he won like no one ever has.
5-10 is very, very tough to rank, and the order is very debatable.
5) Elway. 2 rings and led a flawed team to many AFCCGs and won many of them.
6) Aikman. Usually gets overlooked because the Cowboys had a strong running game, but he has 3 rings and he was as good as any QB at his peak.
7) Bradshaw. Can't put him and his 4 rings higher because he doesn't have all 4 without that dominant D. Cant justify putting 4 rings any lower though.
8) Manning. The ring puts him ahead of Marino.
9) Favre. Most people would have him higher on their own lists than he is if he had just retired in his late 30s and not become a circus side show.
10) Marino. Revolutionized the passing game ahead of its time.
Fouts would be one step behind Marino
Starr was a tough omission