For nearly two seasons, San Francisco 49ers gunslinger Brock Purdy has posted elite numbers while leading the NFL in numerous categories and being one score away from a Super Bowl victory. However, some NFL pundits and experts believe Purdy is a “product of the system” or just the beneficiary of stars Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Christian McCaffrey. Nevertheless, Purdy only largely quieted the haters last season, owning an NFL-best 113.0 rating and posting a 2-1 postseason record. Purdy undoubtedly deserves his flowers and should unquestionably belong in the same discussion as fellow passers Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, and Jordan Love, among other elite signal-callers
Below is the ranking of the NFL’s top 37 quarterbacks, broken down into tiers as the 2024 season rapidly approaches. Presumed backups Justin Fields and Jacoby Brissett are featured, while Las Vegas Raiders passer Aidan O’Connell is a glaring omission.
Top Two Tiers: Mahomes Stands Alone
With the tenth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected quarterback Patrick Mahomes despite housing Pro Bowl quarterback Alex Smith. The Chiefs dominated the successor plan, with Mahomes now a two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champ. Fresh off his second straight Super Bowl victory and two years removed from leading the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns, and QBR, Mahomes stands alone as the true alpha quarterback in the NFL.
In a tier below, Mahomes is the largest group of quarterbacks, or what some would consider the other elite passers that aren’t on the level of Kansas City’s future first-ballot Hall of Famer signal-caller. The owner of the two most remarkable seasons in NFL history regarding quarterback rating, aging passer Aaron Rodgers, is just three years removed from a 37-touchdown, four-pick season.
When healthy, Joe Burrow rivals any other passer in the NFL regarding regular season success and playoff accolades. He owns a career 98.6 quarterback rating and is the only passer not named Tom Brady to beat Mahomes in the postseason. Another veteran passer, Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams, is just one of three active starting quarterbacks with a Super Bowl victory.
Trailing Rodgers, Burrow, and Stafford is the quartet of Josh Allen, Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and CJ Stroud. Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen comes in at the fifth spot despite throwing 47 interceptions in his last three seasons. Thanks to his gaudy postseason numbers, Allen remains a clutch quarterback, posting 27 touchdowns to six turnovers across ten career playoff games.
Meanwhile, last season’s counterpart to Mahomes in the Super Bowl, Brock Purdy, clocks in at the sixth spot after posting a ludicrous 111.4 quarterback rating across his first two NFL seasons. Stroud is fresh off one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history, helping lead the Houston Texans from worst to first in the AFC South, highlighted by a postseason win against the Cleveland Browns. Following a fantastic 30-touchdown, 12-interception season, Goff led the Detroit Lions to their first NFC title game since 1991.
The final three tier two members are Green Bay Packers star Jordan Love, two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, and elite passers Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott. In his final ten games last year, Love threw for a ludicrous 23 touchdowns to three picks, including leading the Packers to a playoff win against the Dallas Cowboys. Speaking of the Cowboys, Dak Prescott narrowly cracks the top-12 after leading the NFL in passing touchdowns. However, Prescott remains one of the most criticized quarterbacks in the NFL for his lack of postseason success.
The only quarterback to struggle more than Prescott in the playoffs is the tenth-ranked quarterback on this list and one of the last members of tier two, Baltimore Ravens two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. The dual-threat passer owns a 98 rating in the regular season, but it drops off to a brutal 75.6 in the postseason.
Tier 3/4: Top Rookie, Resurgent Careers, and Rehabbing Stars
The third and fourth-tiers belong to the quarterbacks that could easily climb to top ten status or fall to complete obscurity come next offseason. Despite being a rookie, Chicago Bears quarterback and 2022 Heisman Trophy Award winner Caleb Williams has all the making to become the best passer in franchise history. Jalen Hurts took a massive step backward last year after earning MVP votes the season prior. A solid season under a Kellen Moore-guided offense would see Hurts back in his rightful spot as a top-ten passer in the NFL.
Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence figured it out in the post-Urban Meyer era circa 2022, throwing for 25 touchdowns against eight picks. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury and continued fumble concerns stunted his development last season. One of last season’s best success stories, Tampa Bay Buccanneers passer Baker Mayfield, went from journeyman quarterback to franchise cornerstone following a fantastic 28-touchdown, ten-pick season in 2023, including a playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles. The next trio of passers, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, and Kirk Cousins, house significant postseason question marks but, in the right situation, can dazzle with their playmaking ability and ball placement.
As for Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, Geno Smith, and Deshaun Watson, underwhelming 2023 seasons have their fanbases wondering if their best seasons are officially behind them. From a rookie standpoint, Bo Nix shined brightest during the 2024 preseason, while Penix Jr. had arguably the most remarkable college career outside Caleb Williams.
Tier 5/6: Rookies, Second-Year Pros, and Backups
As of the writing of this article, those quarterbacks who belong in the bottom two tiers are career backups, second-year pros off tough first seasons, or unproven rookies. Regarding backups, New Orleans Saints QB Jameis Winston and Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller Gardner Minshew are two of the best in the business. Winston has thrown 20 touchdowns to 11 picks in his four years with the Saints, while Minshew gained Pro Bowl honors last season for a 15-touchdown, nine-pick effort in relief of the injured Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis.
The bottom tier also houses an assortment of rookies and second-year vets. Bryce Young’s first season with the Carolina Panthers was a military disaster, but what quarterback honestly could have succeeded with the roster and management? Meanwhile, Drake Maye, JJ McCarthy, and Jayden Daniels will attempt to make their mark on the NFL as rookies.
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