Ranking Every NFL Starting Quarterback

Franchise hopes hinge on the quarterback position more than ever. So who’s still elevating—and who’s being elevated?

With training camps less than a month away, we’re ranking all 32 starting NFL quarterbacks based on recent performance and career trajectory heading into the 2025 season.

The rankings also consider overall ability, consistency, and how each quarterback fits within their system. Past results matter—but so does where they’re trending.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs weren’t their usual juggernaut in 2024, and Mahomes wasn’t perfect. But no quarterback inspires more confidence when the stakes are highest. He got Kansas City back to the biggest stage, even with a shaky receiving corps and protection that often faltered.

His command in high-leverage moments, postseason brilliance, and uncanny ability to operate off-script still give the Chiefs an edge no one else can claim. The three-time Super Bowl MVP isn’t just the most talented quarterback in football—he’s the most trustworthy.

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Jackson delivered the most complete season of his career, capturing his second MVP and leading a reinvented Ravens offense that finally matched his talent. His speed still warps defenses, but his poise, timing, and vision from the pocket now define his game.

He’s no longer just a dual-threat anomaly—he’s a full-field quarterback capable of winning from anywhere. The only thing left is a deep postseason run. If that breakthrough comes, Jackson won’t just be one of the league’s most electrifying players—he’ll be one of its most decorated.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

No quarterback carries more of his team’s offense than Allen.

In 2024, he finally struck the right balance, reining in the turnovers without losing the chaos that makes him special. The result was the most efficient season of his career and a reminder that, when he's locked in, few players are more overwhelming. Allen enters 2025 as a controlled storm, fully in command but still capable of breaking the game open at any moment.

4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

When healthy, Burrow is as precise as it gets—touch, timing, and field vision all wired to perfection.

He doesn’t overwhelm defenses with arm strength or athleticism. He just beats them with anticipation and control. The Bengals’ ceiling still hinges entirely on his health. If he stays upright in 2025, they’ll be right back in the mix.

5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

The reigning Super Bowl MVP isn’t a stat-chaser—he’s a closer. Hurts wins with toughness, balance, and command, thriving in the moments that decide games.

He brings a calm edge to one of the NFL’s deepest rosters, leading with presence as much as production. Built to win now, and already proven.

6. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Maybe it’s early to place him this high, but 2024 was that convincing. Daniels played with poise, vertical touch, and late-game composure well beyond his years.

It didn’t feel like a hot streak. It felt real. Now comes the harder part: sustaining it with more tape, more pressure, and a target on his back.

7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

The reckless flashes gave way to cleaner decisions and sharper processing. Under Jim Harbaugh, Herbert played with more discipline, more intent, and a better feel for the game around him.

The numbers won’t always pop, but the control is there now. He enters 2025 with more structure, more trust, and fewer question marks than ever before.

8. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

At 37, Stafford is still as sharp as ever—quick with his reads, decisive with the trigger, and unafraid to take shots others won’t.

When Sean McVay leans into tempo and the protection holds, few quarterbacks throw with more aggression or touch. Now, with a Puka Nacua–Davante Adams duo at his disposal, Stafford enters the season armed for one more run.

9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Goff isn’t flashy, but he’s been rock-solid, efficient, durable, and deadly when working off play-action.

Losing Ben Johnson stings, and some regression is expected. But Goff’s command of the system, rhythm as a passer, and ability to stay on schedule give Detroit a steady hand at the wheel heading into the season.

10. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud came back to earth a bit in Year 2, but the traits that made his rookie season special—anticipation, timing, and ball placement—are still intact.

What holds him back here is the situation. Compared to the quarterbacks ahead of him, Stroud’s offensive infrastructure is clearly lacking—especially up front. He’s talented enough to overcome it, but the margin for error in Houston is thinner than it should be.

11. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

He’s not just a system quarterback—he’s an extension of Shanahan. Purdy processes fast, attacks the middle of the field with timing, and plays bigger than his frame.

He’ll never wow with traits, but the command is there, and the results keep coming. He’s led one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses over the past three seasons, thriving in a scheme that demands precision—and delivering exactly that.

12. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Love is all volatility—thrilling deep shots one drive, baffling misses the next. But his physical traits are undeniable, and the growth he showed late in 2024 was impossible to ignore.

He’s still ironing things out, but the signs of progress are there. There’s enough on tape to buy into the idea that a full breakout could be just around the corner.

13. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Prescott still gets the job done more often than not, but the late-season fade and another injury setback leave familiar doubts lingering.

The Cowboys are talented enough to hang with anyone, but for them to finally break through, Prescott has to be more than steady. He has to be great.

14. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

Now in Las Vegas, Smith gets a sturdier offensive line, a creative play-caller in Chip Kelly, and an offense that’s in a much better place than it was a year ago—significantly more explosive, too.

If the pieces click, he’s set up for one of the most quietly productive seasons of his career.

15. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Murray is entering his seventh year, still chasing consistency. He has the twitch, the touch, and the arm. What’s missing is stringing it all together.

With the Cardinals finally building some stability around him, 2025 could be the make-or-break moment.

16. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mayfield’s revival in Tampa is real. His aggressive mindset fits the offense, and he’s done a better job protecting the ball.

The floor is lower than the names ahead of him, but the confidence, command, and production resemble that of a good starting NFL quarterback.

17. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

Tua remains hyper-accurate in rhythm and operates Miami’s offense with timing and precision. But when the play breaks down, so does the advantage.

The Dolphins’ speed covers up plenty, but his limited second-reaction ability caps the offense against elite defenses. The structure has to stay clean—because when it doesn’t, things unravel fast.

18. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence’s tools remain impressive—size, arm, mobility—but the results haven’t caught up. He makes the right throws, just not the game-breaking ones.

With a new play-caller and a fresh group of young weapons, the excuses are running out. It’s not about potential anymore—it’s about production.

19. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

At 41, the flashes are still there—but they come with more space between them. As a Jets fan who watched every Rodgers snap last season, I can say this: when he’s healthy and able to move, he’s still effective. That’s the risk with a 41-year-old quarterback—it can vanish fast.

Rodgers still sees the field as well as anyone, but in Pittsburgh, he’ll have to overcome playcalling limitations, an unproven offensive line, and questions at the skill positions. He can still be good—but to get this team to a winning record, he’ll have to be great.

20. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Maye survived his rookie season behind a patchwork line and an erratic scheme, but the glimpses of talent were undeniable. He showed toughness in the pocket, NFL-level arm strength, and just enough playmaking to build belief.

With improved structure and a clearer plan in Year 2, Maye has a chance to take a real step forward. The foundation is still being built, but the tools are in place.

21. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Young’s late-season stretch brought signs of life. He looked more confident, processed quicker, and started trusting his arm in ways he hadn’t earlier in the year.

There’s still plenty to prove. Young has to show he’s the kind of quarterback a franchise can build around—but the supporting cast is improving.

If the protection holds and the young skill players develop, this offense has the potential to be a top-12 unit. That path depends on Young sustaining, or even building on, how he finished 2024—and proving he can elevate the group around him.

22. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

The big question for Darnold and the Seahawks is which version of the quarterback shows up in 2025. Will it be the player who struggled for years with turnovers, inconsistency, and shaky decision-making? Or the one who looked sharp for most of 2024 in Minnesota, helping the Vikings to 14 wins with efficient, poised play?

His late-season dip and playoff struggles raised fair concerns, and he won’t have quite the same level of talent around him in Seattle. The margin for error is objectively thin.

23. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Nix was protected well as a rookie, and Sean Payton tailored the offense to his strengths. He operated with rhythm and avoided mistakes, looking more comfortable as the season progressed.

He’ll need to push the ball more in Year 2, but the early returns suggest he can be more than just a game manager.

24. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

McCarthy steps into an ideal setup—a creative play-caller, a strong offensive line, and elite weapons on the outside. He hasn’t played a regular-season snap yet, but expectations are high after what Sam Darnold showed in the same system, and McCarthy looks well-positioned to thrive.

25. Justin Fields, New York Jets

Fields is running out of chances. The tools have never been in question—it’s the pocket presence, accuracy, and situational awareness that have held him back.

He’ll get one more shot with the Jets, likely in one of the league’s most run-heavy offenses. If he can play within structure and use his elite running ability to add a dynamic layer to the ground game, he has a real chance to be the steady, winning player the Jets have long needed at quarterback.

26. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

Penix showed off his arm talent in limited action last season, but the pressure often rattled him, and the inconsistency was hard to miss.

If he’s going to lead an efficient offense in Atlanta, he’ll need to speed up his internal clock and find more rhythm under pressure.

27. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Williams’ rookie season had all the expected turbulence—long holds in the pocket, questionable decisions, and too many plays made harder than they needed to be.

The talent isn’t in doubt. He can make every throw and create off-script. But for Chicago to take a step forward, Williams has to settle in, trust the structure, and show he can execute when it’s not all on him.

28. Russell Wilson, New York Giants

The arm is still there, but the mobility isn’t. Wilson can still win with timing and deep shots, but the magic is fading—and Jaxson Dart is waiting in the wings.

29. Cameron Ward, Tennessee Titans

Ward’s creativity was fun to watch in college, but NFL defenses are faster, smarter, and less forgiving. He’ll get a shot to learn on the fly, but instant success is unlikely.

The Titans still have a very flawed roster overall—and arguably the worst supporting cast in the league. Ward’s talent is intriguing, but the circumstances make for a steep uphill climb.

30. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

Flacco still has the arm and savvy to win games, but he’s 40 and holding down the fort while the Browns figure out their future. He can still deliver in stretches, but the role is temporary—and everyone knows it.

31. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

The tools are off the charts—but the tape isn’t. Between injuries and inconsistency, Richardson has to prove he can string together drives, let alone full games.

The upside is real, but the questions haven’t gone anywhere.

32. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Shough wasn’t expected to start this soon, but with Carr retired and no clear backup plan, the job is his to lose. He’s tough and will benefit from having a proven, winning play-caller in his corner.

Ultimately, Shough may do enough to start the majority of the season in New Orleans, but not enough to stop the Saints from exploring quarterbacks again in the 2026 NFL Draft.