Matthew Stafford

Young quarterbacks around the NFL are making opponents take notice and are establishing themselves as stars in the making.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford had a breakout season last year and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year by The Associated Press. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft passed for 5,038 yards and joined DREW BREES (5,476 in 2011; 5,069 in 2008), TOM BRADY (5,235 in 2011) and Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO (5,084 in 1984) as the only quarterbacks in NFL history to pass for at least 5,000 yards in a season.

"I think we saw his potential last year," says former NFL MVP quarterback and NFL Network analyst KURT WARNER. "I don't know what the limit for him is. That was a great year. That's an MVP year in most seasons and he's only 23 years old. If he can continue that, and improve in some areas, he's going to be really, really impressive."

Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was named the 2011 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by The Associated Press after a record-breaking season.

The No. 1 overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft recorded an NFL rookie-record 4,051 passing yards, surpassing PEYTON MANNING (3,739 in 1998). Newton also accounted for 35 total touchdowns (21 passing, 14 rushing), eclipsing the rookie record formerly held by CHARLEY CONERLY (27 in 1948). Newton's 14 rushing touchdowns were the most in a single season by any quarterback in NFL history.

Stafford and Newton are two of the many young quarterbacks taking the NFL by storm. Second-year quarterback ANDY DALTON of Cincinnati, third-year QB SAM BRADFORD of St. Louis and fourthyear quarterbacks JOSH FREEMAN of Tampa Bay and MARK SANCHEZ of the New York Jets hope to build on their experience going into 2012.

A few of the rising stars at quarterback who were drafted since 2009:

Sam Bradford, St. Louis

"I stand with most of the personnel people and coaches in the league that evaluated him: he's an outstanding person, he's very, very talented athletically and he's got a great future. He's a very, very good player and we have to do whatever we can to surround him with good people. I think he has the chance to be a top quarterback in the National Football League very soon." -- St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati

"We obviously have a strong belief in the ability of Andy Dalton to continue playing well and to be the leader of our offense. He was exceptionally effective as a rookie, and as good as he was, we know he has tremendous potential to be even better. Our players believe in him and have faith in the way he goes about everything he does. He's a tough young man." -- Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis

Josh Freeman

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay

"He really, really wants to be great. Just listening to him, the calmness, it overshadows how hungry he is inside. He badly wants to be successful. That to me is what makes him a different character and that's what's made him so eager to learn with this new staff and work his tail off to make sure he's got a chance to be what he wants to be. At 24 years old, he understands that the clock is ticking for everybody." -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik

Cam Newton, Carolina

"He's really maturing and becoming what you hope for in your starting quarterback. He's pushing himself. Cam doesn't just say it, he does it. I'm pretty excited about what we're getting from him as far as his overall development as a football player and as a leader." -- Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera

Mark Sanchez, NY Jets

"His body of work speaks for itself. He's led this team to big games. You evaluate quarterbacks by wins and losses and I think Mark has already proven that he can win in this league." -- New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan

Matthew Stafford, Detroit

"Obviously it's great having Matt as our quarterback. The more experience he has, the better he we will get. You can't help but get excited for him." -- Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson

Additionally, the top two picks in the 2012 NFL Draft were quarterbacks. The Indianapolis Colts selected Stanford's ANDREW LUCK with the first pick and the Washington Redskins made Baylor's ROBERT GRIFFIN III the second overall selection. Luck and Griffin III became the fifth pair of quarterbacks selected No. 1 and No. 2 overall in the same year since the common draft was instituted in 1967.

QBs Selected No. 1 and No. 2 overall in the same year