Pete Prisco Rates Andrew Luck Sixth-Best Player in NFL

There is no debate that Andrew Luck is a rising star in the NFL. He’s carried the Indianapolis Colts a step further each season into the playoffs and his brilliance minimized the team rebuild to just one bad season.

On Tuesday, CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco released his rankings of the top 100 players in the NFL. He had Luck at number six. Here’s what he had to say:

"He carries the Colts on his right arm. They came within a game of the Super Bowl last season with a lot of flaws because of him. Entering his fourth season, it’s scary how good he can be."

There isn’t much to argue about with Prisco, Luck is the third QB on the list behind Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. J.J. Watt was number one, and just Ndamukong Suh and Rob Gronkowski were ahead of Luck on this list.

In his third year, Luck led the NFL in passing touchdowns and besides Dan Marino, no QB has more TDs through three seasons than Luck. He also set the rookie passing yardage mark and broke Peyton Manning‘s (who was 12th on the list) franchise passing record in 2014 with 4,761 yards.

Luck is poised for a big payday in the next year and he will be worth every penny of the deal. Life in the NFL without a franchise QB is cold and lonely, but life with an overpaid, mediocre one might be worse. Luck is heading in the quarterbacking elite and with it comes the big deal, and greater pressure.

Luck wasn’t the only member of the Colts to make the cut either.

Vontae Davis came in at number 40.

"He had four picks last season and did a great job in man coverage. The Colts can lock him up on top receivers and not worry if he will do the job. He is their best defender."

T.Y. Hilton was 66th on his list.

"His big-play ability is huge in the Colts offense. He is small at 5-9, but he can fly. He averaged 16.4 per catch last season with seven touchdown receptions. With more weapons this season, those numbers should go up."

And Robert Mathis nearly finished up the list at 98.

"He is coming off a season lost to suspension and a torn Achilles tendon. But he is expected to be ready to go for the 2015 season and he should be back to his double-digit sack ways."