All-NFC South Team of the 2010s: Drew Brees headlines the decade's QBs

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All-NFC South Team of the 2010s: Drew Brees headlines the decade's QBs

John Sigler, Saints Wire · Saints Wire

Sat, Jul 11, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Methodology

One key stat we're relying on is Approximate Value from Pro Football Reference , which PFR defines as "an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year." In practice, that means giving higher numbers to player who start more games, play more snaps, and do more to help their team win by racking up yards, scoring touchdowns, creating turnovers and sacking quarterbacks, and so on. We're also assigning point values to being named a first-team All-Pro (ten points), second-team All-Pro (five points), and Pro Bowler (three points). And then we're adding those numbers together. Remember, these are all-decade teams for the NFC South, which didn't exist until 2002, and only contributions on the four teams in the division factor into our formula. So Drew Brees earning a Pro Bowl nod with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 doesn't help him, for example.

First team: Drew Brees

Feb 7, 2010; Miami, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) hoists the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Team: New Orleans Saints (2010-2019)
AV:156
Awards:All-Pro second team (2), Pro Bowler (9)
Score:193

What more can you say about Brees? The only time he missed the Pro Bowl this decade was when he was an egregious snub in 2015, a year he still led the league in passing yards. He bounced back from that down season (by his standards) to throw for 5,208 yards in 2016 and lead the NFL in passing success rate four years in a row. He's our highest-graded player of the decade, regardless of position, and the only quarterback on this list who will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brees went 20-14 against Matt Ryan and Cam Newton from 2010 to 2019.

Second team: Matt Ryan

Sep 7, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) calls a play at the line of scrimmage in the first half of the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 37-34 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Atlanta Falcons (2010-2019)
AV:156
Awards:All-Pro first team (1), Pro Bowler (4)
Score:178

Ryan would have an argument for being the division's best quarterback this decade -- if Brees didn't exist. After winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and showing modest growth in 2009, his production skyrocketed once the Falcons traded for Julio Jones and hired Kyle Shanahan a couple of years later. While he didn't give Atlanta an extra element with his legs (Ryan scored just 9 touchdown runs from 2010 to 2019) he did win the franchise record for touchdown passes.

Honorable mention: Cam Newton

The Carolina Panthers are expected to release quarterback Cam Newton (1) on Tuesday.Cincinnati Bengals Vs Carolina Panthers Sept 23 Week 3 — The Carolina Panthers are expected to release quarterback Cam Newton (1) on Tuesday. Cincinnati Bengals Vs Carolina Panthers Sept 23 Week 3

Team: Carolina Panthers (2011-2019)
AV:125
Awards:All-Pro first team (1), Pro Bowler (3)
Score:144

Newton peaked as the 2015 league MVP, scoring 35 touchdown passes and 10 more touchdowns as a rusher. All told, he was an incredibly challenging player to defend; Newton scored 252 combined touchdowns in this decade between 132 regular season and playoff games. He wasn't a perfect player (his 75-68-1 record and lack of a Super Bowl ring is proof of that) but he proved the Panthers were a worthy rival for the Saints.