The debate over which NFL quarterbacks are elite will continue until the end of time. The ability of a superstar quarterback to change the complexion of a team is, however, without question. Anyone who watched Peyton Manning simultaneously transform the franchises in Denver and Indianapolis can attest to that fact. But beneath that level of eliteness exists a layer of mediocrity. Quarterbacks who aren’t bad by any means, but haven’t been particularly impressive either. These quarterbacks are just okay.

But okay can be, well, okay. Some teams have found ways to compete, reach the playoffs, and even win Super Bowls with utterly marginal quarterbacks under center. Maybe your team has an okay quarterback. Congratulations! He isn’t going to be a world beater, but maybe he won’t have to be.

These are the five okayest quarterbacks of 2015 …

1. Carson Palmer

Palmer is the quintessential okay quarterback. You look at his 2014 record with the Cardinals, a team resplendent with talent, and you see that he was 6-0, averaging 270 yards, nearly two touchdowns a game and half an interception along with a 95.6 passer rating. Palmer’s season was cut short due to injury, but if you project those numbers out over a 16-game season, you’re looking at season comparable to that of Matthew Stafford or Ryan Tannehill. Without Palmer, Arizona went 5-5, a stark dropoff, but impressive considering they had a fourth-string quarterback for their final three games.

In contrast, Arizona had the ninth-best defense in yards allowed, and fifth-best in points conceded last season. This was a team that won through phenomenal defense and a passable offense. If Palmer stayed healthy, who knows the damage the Cardinals might have done in the playoffs.

2. Matt Ryan

Calling Ryan okay might be an understatement. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know where his Falcons teammates’ struggles end and his begin. Ryan has shouldered a heavy load in his seven years in Atlanta, and maintained impressive numbers while surrounded by a fairly unimpressive cast.

A knock on Ryan is his propensity to turn the ball over – he threw 14 picks in 2014, tied for eighth most, and 17 in 2013 good for seventh most. Would those interceptions disappear with a run game, receivers, and an offensive line? Probably. Unfortunately, Ryan doesn’t have much in any of those departments to lean on.

3. Joe Flacco

Yes, Joe Flacco has won a Super Bowl and makes superstar money. He also has one of the most perfectly marginal stat lines in the NFL. The Ravens Super Bowl run was marked by two staples of the organization: Defense and rushing. Flacco has never been asked to elevate his system, simply maintain it. He does that perfectly, admirably well. It will be fascinating to see how Flacco’s numbers change in 2015 under the play-calling of Marc Trestman, who operated with a pass-first mentality as the coach of the Chicago Bears.

4. Andy Dalton

There is nothing spectacular about Dalton. On one hand, he’s made the playoffs every year he’s been in the league. On the other, he’s lost every playoff game he’s ever played. Such is the existence of Andy Dalton. In the Bengals most recent playoff exit, Dalton passed for 155 yards. That’s not very many yards. But he also didn’t throw an interception, and he was without star receiver A.J. Green.

Dalton doesn’t lose big games, he just doesn’t win them either. Surround him with a talent and he can get them the ball. Rely on him to win football games when it matters, you will probably be disappointed.

5. Tony Romo

WHAT!? Romo!? No way!

Way. What is Tony Romo in 2014 without DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant? Probably pretty okay. He’s reckless with the football, but when it works out, Romo is brilliant. The Cowboys running game saved Romo from himself throughout 2014. That’s why Dallas found themselves in the playoffs last year. And when he did throw, Romo was placing the ball in the hands of the NFL’s best receiver. All that said, there is no question Dallas would struggle without him under center as evidenced bythe Cowboys’ game against the Cardinals in early November, in which Brandon Weeden effectively brought chaos and ruin to the huddle for four quarters.