2024 Team Quarterback Rankings

Next up in our position group rankings we have the most important position in the sport – quarterbacks. It’s the most important position in the NFL by a landslide, and performance at the position can make or break a team’s entire season. The best of the bunch are capable of single-handedly elevating teams to greatness. Meanwhile, those on the opposite end of the spectrum all but guarantee their teams have no shot at success in the postseason.

To help formulate these rankings, I asked myself a simple question. “If I’m trying to win a Super Bowl this year, which quarterback room would I select to help me do it?”

Because quarterback is a position that’s largely operated by one individual, a team’s projected starter is the primary influence on these rankings. There are a few instances where noteworthy backups or guys competing for a starting role play a factor, but more often than not it’s one guy determining where a team falls on this list.

Track our whole position group rankings series: Offensive Line | Pass-Catcher | Defensive Line | Backfield | Linebacker | Secondary  | Special Teams | Coaches and Coordinators | more to come!

2024 Team Quarterback Rankings

1. Kansas City Chiefs

(Starter: Patrick Mahomes; backups: Carson Wentz, Chris Oladokun, Ian Book)

No surprises at the top of this list. Patrick Mahomes isn’t just the best quarterback in the NFL right now – he’s making a stronger and stronger case every year to be considered the greatest of all time. Mahomes now has 2 NFL MVP awards, 3 Super Bowl rings and 3 Super Bowl MVP awards. The accolades continue stacking up, and he’s proven capable of dominating with numerous supporting casts, and a variety of play styles. There’s nothing this guy can’t do, and at 28 years old, he might have another decade of elite football left in the tank.

Fun Stat: Mahomes led the league in playoff passing yards last season (1,051).

2. Baltimore Ravens

(Starter: Lamar Jackson; backups: Josh Johnson, Devin Leary, Emory Jones)

Lamar Jackson might just be the most fun quarterback to play in the NFL for quite some time. He’s a human highlight reel on the ground, and his most recent MVP season showed the world just how dominant he can be through the air as well. In his first year outside of Greg Roman’s offense, Jackson set a career high in passing yards, and still managed to finish the season with over 800 rushing yards. He’s as close to a one-man offense as you’ll see, and he’s finally starting to get the recognition he deserves for much of his dominance.

Fun Stat: 3,678 – the passing yards number Jackson hit to set his personal career high.

3. Buffalo Bills

(Starter: Josh Allen; backups: Mitchell Trubisky, Shane Buechele)

There may be no quarterback in the NFL who fits the “hero ball” mantra more perfectly than Josh Allen. He’s a gunslinger in every sense of the word, and his absurd arm talent and fearless mentality mean he’s constantly making throws that cause your jaw to drop. That fearlessness can come back to haunt him at times, but more often than not, it’s what leads the Bills to victory rather than defeat. When you pair those traits with the elite athleticism and rushing ability he brings to the table, you wind up with a truly elite player.

Fun Stat: Allen ranked second in the league in interceptions in 2023 (18).

4. Cincinnati Bengals

(Starter: Joe Burrow; backups: Jake Browning, Logan Woodside, Rocky Lombardi)

It seems as though the injury made people quick to forget just how dominant Joe Burrow can be. We’re just a few short seasons removed from him leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl. Pinpoint accuracy is Burrow’s trademark, and he knows how to use it. He pairs that accuracy with a strong understanding of NFL defenses, and an unflappable toughness that causes his team to consistently rally behind him. He lacks the mobility many of the other elite quarterbacks in the league today possess, but he more than makes up for that gap with his insane ability to dice defenses up from within the pocket.

Fun Stat: Jake Browning (Burrow’s backup) led the league in completion percentage last season (70.4%).

5. Los Angeles Chargers

(Starter: Justin Herbert; backups: Easton Stick, Max Duggan, Casey Bauman)

Justin Herbert is the type of guy who looks like he was grown in a lab to play quarterback in the NFL. He checks every single box imaginable, and his rocket launcher of an arm means no area of the field is safe for opposing defenses. Herbert’s ability to make pinpoint throws at every level of the field makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses to stop, and he pairs that arm talent with elite processing, plus athleticism and the prototypical size for an NFL quarterback. Simply put, he checks all the boxes, and does nearly everything you’d want from an NFL quarterback at an elite level.

Fun Stat: Herbert became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards (307) against the blitz during his Week 3 matchup with the Vikings.

6. Dallas Cowboys

(Starter: Dak Prescott; backups: Cooper Rush, Trey Lance)

Dak Prescott may get a ton of heat from the media, but he’s still an extremely talented passer. The first word that comes to mind when thinking of his game is “precision.” Whether it’s dissecting a defense before the snap even comes or delivering a strike up the seam between multiple defenders, the precision Prescott plays with is second to none. He’s truly a master of the Cowboys offense, and both his brain and his arm make him an elite NFL quarterback.

Fun Stat: Prescott led the league in passing touchdowns in 2023 (36).

7. Philadelphia Eagles

(Starter: Jalen Hurts; backups: Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee, Will Grier)

It can be hard to separate Jalen Hurts from the rest of the Eagles’ star-studded offense, but the 25-year-old has proven these past two seasons that he’s elite in his own right. Hurts’ rushing ability is well known, and he’s an unquestioned elite runner at the quarterback position, but in recent years he’s added to his bag through the air as well. Hurts’ main limitation as a passer is his ability to attack the middle of the field, but he’s an absolute surgeon when attacking deep and outside the numbers. With new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore now in town, it’ll be interesting to see if Hurts can take yet another step forward in 2024.

Fun Stat: Hurts ranked 3rd in the league in interceptions in 2023 (15).

8. Los Angeles Rams

(Starter: Matthew Stafford; backups: Jimmy Garoppolo, Stetson Bennett, Dresser Winn)

Matthew Stafford’s name doesn’t always crack the top 10 list of best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he and the Rams are absolutely deserving of a top spot in my book. Stafford’s been an absolutely dominant passer for well over a decade now, and his time in Los Angeles helped take his game – and the entire Rams organization – to another level. Even though he’s getting up there in age, Stafford can absolutely still sling it, and he’s on the short list of quarterbacks who make opposing defenses nervous when he has the ball with the game on the line.

Fun Stat: 2023 was Stafford’s 15th season as an NFL starter.

9. Houston Texans

(Starter: C.J. Stroud; backups: Davis Mills, Case Keenum, Tim Boyle)

C.J. Stroud just posted one of the greatest rookie seasons we’ve ever seen at the quarterback position. Every trait that made him a highly touted prospect coming out of Ohio State immediately translated to the NFL. Stroud is a pinpoint passer who attacks every area of the field with a seemingly effortless demeanor. His precision and ability to read defenses are already elite, and if he takes even a slight step forward in year two, he’ll enter the unquestioned upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.

Fun Stat: Stroud led the league in YPG during his rookie season (273.9).

10. Jacksonville Jaguars

(Starter: Trevor Lawrence; backups: Mac Jones, C.J. Beathard)

The start to Trevor Lawrence’s career hasn’t quite lived up to the astronomical hype he entered the NFL with. Still, Lawrence’s tape is much more impressive than the numbers may suggest. Despite a below average supporting cast in Jacksonville, Lawrence has flashed elite ability and the upside that could bump him and the Jaguars into the top five on this list in the near future. Lawrence checks all the boxes when it comes to what you want in a quarterback – great size, incredible arm, fantastic processing, plus athleticism and off-the-charts instincts. If the Jaguars can collectively take a step forward around Lawrence this year, we could see him and this offense reach another level in 2024.

Fun Stat: Lawrence became the first quarterback in Jaguars history to throw for back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons.

11. Green Bay Packers

(Starter: Jordan Love; backups: Sean Clifford, Michael Pratt)

I try not to overreact too much to just one impressive season, but just like the No. 9 team on this list, Jordan Love and the Packers have shown flashes of stardom at the quarterback position. Love got off to a slower start, but once he found his groove, he had the Packers offense running on all cylinders. He has an arm that can make any throw in the playbook, the mobility to extend plays, and he distributes the ball extremely well amongst his entire pass catching group. Opposing defense should be scared about the fact that what we saw from Love in 2023 is only the beginning.

Fun Stat: Love ranked second in the league in touchdowns last season (32).

12. New York Jets

(Starter: Aaron Rodgers; backups; Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, Andrew Peasley)

It remains to be seen what Aaron Rodgers’ return to form will look like after rupturing his Achilles in Week 1 last year. Still, Rodgers is a Hall of Fame talent who should still be able to dice up opposing defenses even if he’s lost a step. His arm talent is in the all-time elite category, and he’s been around the league long enough to beat defenders with his wits as well. It’s possible that the injury causes Rodgers and the Jets to fall significantly down these rankings come 2025, but for now, it’s reasonable to be optimistic about what he’ll bring to the table this coming season.

Fun Stat: Rodgers should eclipse 60,000 career passing yards this season (currently has 59,055).

13. Arizona Cardinals

(Starter: Kyler Murray; backups: Desmond Ridder, Clayton Tune)

The Cardinals poor performance in 2023 paired with Kyler Murray’s extended absence due to injury made the 26-year-old quarterback a bit of an afterthought. Murray has flashed MVP potential in his career, and his dual-threat ability makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses to try and contain. Now that he has a bonafide No. 1 receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray should bounce back in a major way in 2024. He’s a quarterback with game changing potential, and his dual-threat ability drastically raises the ceiling of the Cardinals offense.

Fun Stat: Murray has yet to eclipse the 4,000-yard passing mark, but in his three healthy seasons he’s come extremely close – 2024 might just be the year he passes the milestone

14. Atlanta Falcons

(Starter: Kirk Cousins; backups: Michael Penix Jr., Taylor Heinicke, John Paddock)

Coming off an Achilles injury means Kirk Cousins’ ability to produce in 2024 is a bit of a question mark. Still, the veteran passer commanded a $180 million contract for a reason, and the Falcons believe he can regain the borderline top-10 form he’s flashed in recent seasons. If Cousins himself isn’t enough (which, apparently he isn’t for the Falcons’ front office…), the team also invested a top-10 pick in Michael Penix Jr. in this year’s draft. Penix is an older prospect, but he may just be the best pure passer in a stacked 2024 quarterback class. Injuries and an ability to throw the ball short make Penix a question mark at the next level, but he should have time to get healthy and refine his game as he sits behind Cousins for a few seasons.

Fun Stat: Cousins ranked tied for second in completion percentage last season (69.5%).

15. Detroit Lions

(Starter: Jared Goff; backups: Hendon Hooker, Nate Sudfeld)

After being thrown to the curb by the Rams, Jared Goff has rebounded in a major way in Detroit. He led the Lions to an NFC Championship this past season and was extremely close to bringing the team to the Super Bowl had it not been for a few unlucky breaks. It’s clear that Goff has improved significantly from his time in L.A., and the veteran presence he brings to the quarterback position has done wonders for the Lions organization. He’s still a player who requires a great system around him to succeed, but he’s now proven capable of taking multiple teams on deep postseason runs, and those winning traits simply can’t be ignored.

Fun Stat: Goff ranked second in the league in passing yards in 2023 (4,575).

16. San Francisco 49ers

(Starter: Brock Purdy; backups: Joshua Dobbs, Brandon Allen, Tanner Mordecai)

I’ll admit I’m still not fully sold on Brock Purdy, but the resume he’s produced these past two seasons is undeniable at this point. He’s not necessarily a guy who will elevate an offense, but he’s certainly a guy who feels comfortable serving as the point guard of the high-octane 49ers group. His arm won’t wow anyone, but he understands the offense well, makes the right reads, throws with accuracy, and brings a sprinkle of playmaking ability to an offense that sorely needed it from their quarterback.

Fun Stat: Purdy ranked third in passing touchdowns (31) in 2023.

17. Seattle Seahawks

(Starter: Geno Smith; backups: Sam Howell, PJ Walker)

Geno Smith has one of the more intriguing career arcs in the entire NFL, and it’s still a bit shocking that he’s entering the 2024 season as the Seahawks starting quarterback. After serving as a backup for more than half a decade, Smith regained a starting job in Seattle in 2022, where he found his groove by bringing a gunslinger mentality to a passing offense littered with playmakers. While Smith doesn’t possess the astronomical ceiling many quarterbacks ranked above him do, he brings a fearless approach to the position that pairs well with a surprisingly accurate arm. If nothing else, the Seahawks should feel good about the stability he’ll bring to the position this season.

Fun Stat: Smith tied for first in the league in fourth-quarter comebacks in 2023 (4).

18. Miami Dolphins

(Starter: Tua Tagovailoa; backups: Mike White, Skylar Thompson, Gavin Hardison)

It’s been an up-and-down start to Tua Tagovailoa’s NFL career, but 2023 showed us glimpses of what made him such a highly touted prospect coming out of Alabama. Ranking Tagovailoa is a tough exercise though, because it’s hard to remove him from the offense he led in Miami. Head coach Mike McDaniel schemed up some easy throws for Tagovailoa, and having two studs on the outside in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle made his life significantly easier. Still, some of the accuracy and anticipation with which Tua played can’t go unnoticed. He’s a very rhythmic passer who does a great job keeping an offense on schedule, and doing what he needs to do to keep his team in games.

Fun Stat: Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards in 2023 (4,624).

19. Indianapolis Colts

(Starter: Anthony Richardson; backups: Joe Flacco, Sam Ehlinger, Kedon Slovis)

While Anthony Richardson’s rookie campaign was cut short by injury, it was nothing short of electric when he was on the field. Basically, upon arrival Richardson established himself as one of the best athletes on the field any time he laced up the cleats. His physical profile is off the charts, and he has an arm that can make every throw on the field, even if his accuracy could use a bit more refinement. It’ll be interesting to see how much of a step forward the sophomore QB can take in 2024, and if he takes a major step forward, his upside could help this Indianapolis offense skyrocket.

Fun Stat: Richardson averaged 5.4 yards per rush attempt in 2024.

20. New England Patriots

(Starter: Jacoby Brissett; backups: Drake Maye, Bailey Zappe, Joe Milton III)

The Patriots are a great example of balance in the quarterback position. They drafted Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, knowing he would be a bit of a project with a longer learning curve to get up to speed in the NFL. To accommodate this, they paired Maye with Jacoby Brissett, a savvy veteran who knows New England well, can efficiently run an NFL offense and show Maye the ropes along the way. This may not be a high-ceiling group in 2024, but their floor is high and the long-term outlook with Maye under center is extremely optimistic.

Fun Stat: Maye’s air yards per attempt went down each year he was in college (10.9, 9.2, 8.7).

21. Chicago Bears

(Starter: Caleb Williams; backups: Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien, Austin Reed)

The term “generational” has been thrown out a few times to describe Caleb Williams, and it’s for good reason. Williams is one of the more highly touted QB prospects we’ve ever seen, and it’s for good reason. His arm talent is off the charts, he’s a great athlete, and by all accounts he’s a fantastic leader in the locker room. His escape artist style of play may take some time to blossom at the NFL level, but it appears with Williams in the mix, the Bears finally have a franchise quarterback they can get excited about.

Fun Stat: Williams threw for 904 yards more in his sophomore season than in his junior (final) season.

22. Cleveland Browns

(Starter: Deshaun Watson; backups: Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley, Dorian Thompson-Robinson)

The Browns quarterback room is arguably the toughest to rank on this list. At one point in his career, Deshaun Watson was an unquestioned stud who looked the part of a future Hall of Famer. Now, due to both injuries and off-field concerns (and frankly, performance), we’re not even sure if he’s a starting-caliber player at all. The range of outcomes for Watson is extremely volatile this year, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if he regained some of his elite form and led the Browns on a playoff run. Unfortunately for Browns fans, the flip side is also true, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Watson wind up on the bench come season’s end.

Fun Stat: Watson’s 6.5 Y/A last year were actually higher than his career average.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers

(Starter: Russell Wilson; backups: Justin Fields, Kyle Allen, John Rhys Plumlee)

Russell Wilson’s career is certainly on the downswing, but he showed us in 2023 that he’s still got a little left in the tank. He’s not the elite playmaker that he once was, but he should be able to efficiently orchestrate the run-heavy offense the Steelers are looking to run this upcoming season. Adding some additional intrigue to this quarterback room is Justin Fields, who’s physical profile still provides immense upside, despite the lack of team success his first few years in the league. The Steelers took the cost-effective approach at quarterback this offseason, but double dipping on Wilson and Fields provides them with both a little bit of stability, and a splash of long-term upside at a reasonable price.

Fun Stat: Wilson tied for first in the league in fourth-quarter comebacks in 2023 (4).

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Starter: Baker Mayfield; backups: Kyle Trask, John Wolford, Zack Annexstad)

After being relegated to backup roles in Carolina and Los Angele, Baker Mayfield signed a one-year “prove it” deal with Tampa Bay in the 2023 offseason. Mayfield came back with a vengeance and posted a career high in receiving yards and touchdowns this past season and was rewarded with a lucrative contract that will keep him in Tampa Bay for the next three seasons. While he’s not the elite passer the Browns hoped he would be when they selected him first overall in 2023, Mayfield has proven to be an NFL caliber starter who can operate an NFL offense.

Fun Stat: Mayfield ranked third in the league in intended air yards in 2023 (4,831).

25. New York Giants

(Starter: Daniel Jones; backups: Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, Nathan Rourke)

Yes, the Giants tried aggressively to move on from Daniel Jones in the 2024 draft, but he’s still a starting-caliber NFL quarterback. The 2023 season was atrocious and injury riddled for Jones, but we’ve seen better football from him in the past. While I don’t expect Jones to suddenly evolve into a top-10 passer, I do think the addition of Malik Nabers will help remind NFL fans that Jones isn’t quite the laughingstock many paint him to be. He’s still a serviceable NFL quarterback who led his team to the postseason just two seasons ago.

Fun Stat: In 2022, Jones was the third-best QB in the league when under pressure; he posted a +4.3% completion percentage over expectation when pressured.

26. Washington Commanders

(Starter: Jayden Daniels; backups: Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel, Sam Hartman)

A few considered Jayden Daniels to be the best quarterback in the 2024 class, but the Commanders still find themselves below a few other teams with rookie signal callers this year. Daniels should instantly bring some electrifying upside to the table due to his impressive rushing ability, but I’m a bit skeptical about his ability to contribute purely as a passer. The long-term ceiling is extremely high for the rookie passer, but I’m expecting a rocky start in Year 1.

Fun Stat: Daniels threw for a whopping 11.7 Y/A in his final season at LSU.

27. Tennessee Titans

(Starter: Will Levis; backups: Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis)

Will Levis’ rookie tape was a bit of a roller coaster. The volatile passer flashed many of the traits that caused scouts to believe he had a first-round physical profile, but he also showcased the reasons why he fell into the second. He made a few highlight worthy plays, but also left fans scratching their heads wondering “what was he thinking?” on more than one occasion as well. If Levis takes another step forward when it comes to grappling the nuances of the NFL game this year, he could skyrocket up these rankings come 2025, but that step forward is far from a guarantee.

Fun Stat: Levis ranked first in the league in intended air yards per attempt (10.6).

28. New Orleans Saints

(Starter: Derek Carr; backups: Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, Nathan Peterman)

At one point in time Derek Carr was a legitimate MVP candidate, but in 2024, he’s a far cry from that caliber of player. Carr is an extremely risk-averse passer who rarely strikes fear in the eyes of opposing defenses. He’s a competent NFL starter, but his ceiling is low, and his best days are likely behind him. He’s not the type of quarterback who will lose the Saints many games on his own this season, but he surely won’t be the reason they emerge victorious very often either.

Fun Stat: Carr’s 68.4% completion percentage ranked sixth in the league last year.

29. Minnesota Vikings

(Starter: J.J. McCarthy; backups: Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall)

The decision to move on from Kirk Cousins was surely a tough one for the Vikings front office, and only time will tell if it was the right one. Strictly for the 2024 season though, it’s hard to envision the transition to J.J. McCarthy being anything but a downgrade. McCarthy was a late riser in the 2024 draft process, but his championship pedigree made him an appealing prospect for the Vikings. He seems to have the necessary skills to top out as an above-average starter in the NFL, but his upside may be somewhat capped relative to the rest of the rookie class.

Fun Stat: McCarthy completed 72.3% of his passes during his final season at Michigan.

30. Las Vegas Raiders

(Starter: Gardner Minshew; backups: Aidan O’Connell, Anthony Brown Jr., Carter Bradley)

The early favorite to start at quarterback in Vegas this year is Gardner Minshew, but all signs indicate it’ll be a competition between him and Aidan O’Connell. While these two at least bring a little bit of experience to the table, they aren’t bringing much in the way of upside. Luckily, whoever winds up getting the start should have a favorable supporting cast, as the Vegas pass-catcher group is stacked with weapons at multiple positions.

Fun Stat: Minshew set a career high in passing yards (3,305) in 2023.

31. Carolina Panthers

(Starter: Bryce Young; backups: Andy Dalton, Jack Plummer)

It’s probably too early to fully label Bryce Young as a bust, but man, the 2023 tape was brutal. The former No. 1 overall pick really struggled in his debut season. Sure, he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast, but even in a vacuum, Young’s play was nothing short of disappointing. Panthers fans will be crossing their fingers and hoping that changes in 2024, but the likelihood of a turnaround looks slim at this point.

Fun Stat: No one lost more sack yards (477) than Young in 2023.

32. Denver Broncos

(Starter: Bo Nix; backups: Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson)

The addition of Bo Nix will help the Broncos usher in a much-needed new era of football. Even this change won’t keep Denver out of the basement of these rankings though. Nix was considered by most to be a Day 2 pick, and the Broncos reaching for him on draft night doesn’t raise anything except for his expectations. There’s not a great veteran presence in this room to help with Nix’s development either. It could be a rough 2024 for Broncos quarterbacks.

Fun Stat: Nix threw just 3 interceptions during his final season at Oregon.