Strong offensive line play is important. A dynamic trio of wide receivers is great to have. An excellent defense can push teams closer to contention. But there is no position more important than quarterback.
In the modern NFL, teams can essentially be split into groups of the haves and have-nots. Those that have their franchise quarterback also have a cornerstone of their roster’s foundation. They are most often the ones in position to seriously contend for a Super Bowl title.
Teams still searching for their franchise quarterback – or teams stuck in a limbo of uncertainty at the game’s most important position – are the same teams usually stuck outside the bubble of contention. It’s no coincidence that the teams that have failed to identify a franchise quarterback are perennial owners of a top-10 pick in each year’s draft rather than playoff teams.