The NFL is a quarterback league now more than ever. However, the quarterback position is hardly thriving like the primes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Where do teams fall in the pecking order regarding the position as a whole?
Last season, 94 players completed a pass in the NFL during the regular season. 81 of those players were quarterbacks, showing how important it is to have depth at the position. Teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens had to rely on backups (or worse) in the postseason. So, when ranking quarterbacks, it's best to look beyond the starter. Heck, even the Kansas City Chiefs needed Chad Henne to direct a touchdown drive on the way to a Super Bowl Championship.
That's not to say that teams with rock-solid starters are going to lose major points based on who the backup is. With the rules protecting quarterbacks, the stars stay upright more often. Players like Tom Brady or Josh Allen can go their entire careers with very few missed games.
So, with all that said, let's take a look at this team by team. This is a year where three quarterbacks were taken in the Top 5 of the NFL Draft. Eventually, the hope is they will be high on the list one day. However, right now, they are definitely toward the back end of this list. But they are definitely not last. In fact, the last-place team could jump up if we just get some positive injury news.
Who has the best quarterback depth chart in the NFL right now?
32. Arizona Cardinals
Projected Starter: Colt McCoy
Kyler Murray would be way higher on this list. He suffered a knee injury in Week 14, so there's very little chance he will be under center in Week 1. It's starting to look like it could be a long time before he's back on the field. His new head coach Jonathan Gannon said the same thing.
That leaves the Cardinals with Colt McCoy as the starter. That's a bad spot to be. McCoy was a serviceable backup for a long time, but he's 36 years old, and even when he gets into games, he usually gets hurt.
If McCoy gets hurt, the Cardinals are looking at either Clayton Tune or David Blough. That is a bad place to be. The Cardinals need Murray back, but he might not come back. This could lead to a very hard season. If the Cards also get rid of Deandre Hopkins, this might be the worst offense in football by a long margin.
31. Washington Commanders
Projected Starter: Sam Howell
The Washington Commanders are going into this season with a brand new ownership group, looking to make a splash. Josh Harris isn't new to buying distressed assets in sports and building them from the ground up. He bought the Philadelphia 76ers and watched as they instilled "The Process" that led to years of losing before a run of playoff appearances. His New Jersey Devils went through multiple rebuilds before finally breaking the franchise record for wins this past season. Now, he's looking to do the same with the Commanders.
It looks like the winning ways will be hard to come by at first. Unlike the Cardinals, there is no superstar on the injury report. The Commanders chose to go with Sam Howell. The North Carolina product is definitely talented. At one point in college, some considered him worthy of a first-round pick. Things began to fall apart, and the Commanders ended up taking him in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Howell played in one game last season, and he looked all right. Ron Rivera wasn't given much to work with at the position, with Carson Wentz completely flopping and Taylor Heinicke couldn't find consistency under center. Howell led the Commanders to victory, beating their rival Dallas Cowboys in Week 18.
Despite the win, the stat line shows this isn't a quarterback to be excited about. Howell is keeping the seat warm for the next guy. They have a legit backup in Jacoby Brissett. Expect to see him take over at some point this season. Howell does have Eric Bieiemy as the offensive coordinator, so hopefully that's something.
30. Atlanta Falcons
Projected Starter: Desmond Ridder
Like the Commanders, the Atlanta Falcons are trusting a mid-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft to control its offense. The team put a ton of weapons around Desmond Ridder, with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and a trio of talented running backs (Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, and rookie Bijan Robinson) to facilitate the offense. However, has anyone seen anything out of Ridder to make them feel he can help this offense succeed?
Ridder played in four games last season, completing 62 percent of his passes. That number looks pretty good. Paired with his zero interceptions, maybe the Falcons have something here. However, Ridder took exactly zero chances last season. He averaged 6.2 yards per attempt. That has him ranked toward the bottom of the league. Also, he only had two touchdowns in four games. It's clear the offense was built in spite of him.
Maybe with such a potent offense around him, the Falcons could create chaos without Ridder doing much. The NFC South is a tire fire, and the Falcons could win the division if just a few things go the right way.
Nobody is going to say Ridder is the answer here. Even coming out of the University of Cincinnati, he wasn't known as a big arm. He has always been smart, and IQ can get a quarterback far, but there's more expected out of the position today.
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projected Starter: Baker Mayfield
This one isn't set in stone, but we think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to go with Baker Mayfield under center. They are replacing Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, with Mayfield, one of the worse first-overall picks of this century. Maybe they will just bite the bullet and go with Kyle Trask. Either way, this is a terrible quarterback situation.
Mayfield couldn't hold the job in Carolina last year. He was fighting off PJ Walker and Sam freaking Darnold all season. He ended up playing in seven games, throwing for six touchdowns while throwing six interceptions. When looking at QBR, he is the worst quarterback in the NFL among those qualified QBs.
The Bucs basically ran out of options this offseason when Brady retired. There were some interesting options that could have kept the window open with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but they chose the cheapest possible option. He got a one-year contract worth $8.5 million. Honestly, it's surprising he even got that much.
Trask is the Bucs' second-round pick from 2022. It's likely he will get an opportunity at some point this season. Nobody really expects much, but he could be something. He has the tools to be a good thrower. His stats at Florida speak for themselves. He just has to make immense strides this offseason.
28. Green Bay Packers
Projected Starter: Jordan Love
It finally happened. The Green Bay Packers decided the talent no longer outweighed the headache with Aaron Rodgers, and they traded him to the New York Jets. It all started when the Packers took Jordan Love with their first-round pick in 2020. Love was a fine prospect who needed a lot of fine-tuning when he came out of Utah State. He was given plenty of learning time and even looked better in limited time last season. This might be the worst take on this list by the end of the year, but the risk with Love is massive.
His preseason stats don't breed much confidence. He had three touchdowns and four interceptions in 74 attempts last preseason. He also only threw at a 55 percent clip. That's not good enough to be a starting quarterback in the league.
Listen, it's okay to take a chance on a quarterback. The Packers have to see what they spent their first-round pick on. Is Love the right player to take over the next generation of Packers football? As good as Rodgers was, the Packers only have one championship to show for it. That came back in 2011. Maybe Love is the answer to moving forward.
The real issue is what happens if he isn't. The Packers have NOBODY behind Love. No offense to Sean Clifford and Danny Etling, but can you name the teams they were previously on (Etling was drafted by New England, and eventually spent time with the Falcons and Seattle)? Can you name their college (Penn State and LSU)? Heck, Etling at one point transitioned to wide receiver. This is not what the Packers want as a backup. Expect the Packers to go shopping during training camp cuts to get a better veteran backup.
27. Tennessee Titans
Projected Starter: Ryan Tannehill
Tennessee is in such a strange position under center. Ryan Tannehill was very good after the Titans traded for him, but the injuries caught up with the former Texas A&M star. He will be 35 years old by the time the season starts. The Titans now have two options to be his replacement after taking Will Levis in the second round. You may forget, they took Malik Willis in the third round last year.
First, let's talk about Tannehill. There's no guarantee that Tannehill starts the season in Tennessee. He is clearly a cut candidate, or at the very least, a trade candidate. There are a lot of bad quarterbacks in the league playing games, and if one gets hurt, expect the phone to ring in Nashville.
For now, we expect Tannehill to start the year in Tennessee. He might be able to get something out of this roster. Derrick Henry is still hanging on to superstardom. Treylon Burks should be better in year two (if he stays healthy). The AFC South isn't exactly good (with two rookie QBs starting at the very least). The Titans could rise on this chart if only they get a little certainty.
However, there are too many situations that are a little rock solid to move the Titans up. It just seems like chaos in the QB room. Is Willis a cut candidate in year two? Will Tannehill move on? Is Levis ready after freefalling in the NFL Draft? Too many questions for our liking.
26. Houston Texans
Projected Starter: CJ Stroud
After what felt like months of C.J. Stroud slander, the Ohio State product ended up being the second-overall pick, exactly what the projections had been saying the entire time. Stroud was considered the "safe" pick amongst the first-round quarterback prospects (which included Will Levis). In two years as a starter, Stroud had 86 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for the Buckeyes. That is ridiculously proficient, especially against the great defenses of the Big Ten.
The only issue with Stroud is his perceived safeness. Anthony Richardson and Bryce Young have a higher ceiling, which might mean they have a chance to do more in their rookie year. They also have better situations, which we will get to in a moment.
Stroud can become something really good with time, but this doesn't seem like the season to do it. Robert Woods is not the number-one wide receiver anyone wants. Maybe Nico Collins finally hits, but relying on that isn't great. The Texans have a decent runner in Dameon Pearce, but that's the end of the top-end talent at the skill positions. Dalton Schultz is okay, but he needs a quarterback who can guide him.
We're not so sure that's Stroud out the gate. As for the backups, Davis Mills is a fine player, and even Case Keenum would be fine for a spot start. That's not the problem here. The issue is Stroud and the team built around him.
25. Carolina Panthers
Projected Starter: Bryce Young
The Carolina Panthers learned a valuable lesson last season. They thought it would work to go with a heavy veteran approach, signing Baker Mayfield to compete with Sam Darnold. It didn't. The Panthers could have legitimately beaten the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a playoff spot if they got ANYTHING from the position. Instead, they pushed themselves into a spot to reset. What better way to do that than trade for the number-one overall pick?
The price was somewhat steep, depending on how one looks at the package. They lost DJ Moore, a dynamic receiver looking for someone legitimate to throw him passes. However, most of their team is still intact. Now, Alabama's Bryce Young looks to bring his own dynamic version of football to Carolina Blue.
Young's size was largely a narrative ahead of the NFL Draft, but it didn't stop him from going first overall. The size argument is legitimate in a sense, but it doesn't stop a player like Young from balling every Sunday. He can put together star performance after star performance behind any offensive line.
The Panthers brought in Andy Dalton as either the backup or the starting man under center. He's a fine player to teach Young about becoming an NFL quarterback. While he can't teach him the style of football Young plays, he can tell him about the IQ plays he needs to make. Dalton will be a net positive on this team.
24. Indianapolis Colts
Projected Starter: Gardner Minshew
The Indianapolis Colts were patient and still got what could be the best quarterback in the draft. It will be a long time before we know exactly what Anthony Richardson is. He didn't get the kind of development in college that other top-five quarterbacks have had. This is a pure talent pick, and honestly, it could lead to future picks if it works out.
As you can see with the ranking, we like Richardson. He has arm talent that can't be taught. He needs to learn a system, but he's behind an offensive line that theoretically will give him time and space to make decisions. He has a legit number-one wide receiver in Michael Pittman.
However, the reason the Colts are ahead of the Panthers and Texans is Gardner Minshew. The man behind Minshew Mania was the backup for the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles last year. He had to play in two games when Jalen Hurts went down with an injury. He looked like a star against the Dallas Cowboys, and then he legitimately had one of the worst performances of the year against the New Orleans Saints. That's Minshew. Boom or bust in the literal sense.
So, the Colts are in a decent spot. It's better than Carson Wentz or a washed-up Matt Ryan. They learned their lesson and could legitimately move way up this list with just an impressive preseason.
23. Denver Broncos
Projected Starter: Russell Wilson
Let's be straight here, this one moved six or seven times during the ranking process. How do you rank a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback after one of the worst seasons in recent memory? Wilson was only better statistically than Mac Jones, Baker Mayfield, and Davis Mills among starting quarterbacks.
Even this version of Russell Wilson isn't this bad a quarterback, but we're rating situations here. This is an awful situation, and some might even argue with his contract and control, it could be even worse than this. However, this is the worst-possible ranking one might feel comfortable giving a player of this caliber with a brand-new coaching staff.
Sean Payton can get the most out of anyone offensively. Wilson will get a reality check, which will either humble him enough to find his true greatness, or it will break him. Either way, it's probably better for the Broncos long-term. They are STUCK with Wilson. There is no happiness in this deal as of this point.
Wilson is a clear bounce-back candidate just because of how bad it went last season. Now, with Payton putting together the playbook, he might find the best of this former star. For now, he's still considered one of the worst starters in the league.
22. Cleveland Browns
Projected Starter: Deshaun Watson
Similar to the Broncos, the Cleveland Browns are saddled with a quarterback situation that is far from envious. Ignoring the allegations against Deshaun Watson (which is incredibly hard), his on-field play left much to be desired. His 38.3 QBR is by far the worst of his career. Sure, he was coming back from a year and a half away from football, but it looked like he legitimately looked lost. It wasn't like he didn't have time to learn the system.
There are some stats that are incredibly concerning. The six yards per attempt chief among them. Watson seemed tentative in his process. We don't want to use the word scared, but there was a hesitance to Watson's game that cannot happen in 2023.
The contract the Browns signed Watson to will be a killer if he doesn't perform as he did in Houston. He's only 28 years old, so it's hard to believe he could have just lost the ability to play quarterback at an elite level. However, it's worth the conversation. After two years of constant allegations and negative speech, Watson might be fried mentally. That could impact his career on the field.
Nobody feels bad for Watson. A controversial figure like this needs to perform on the field. He didn't. With a fully guaranteed contract, the Browns desperately need him too.
21. San Francisco 49ers
Projected Starter: Brock Purdy
This one is tough. The San Francisco 49ers spent a lot to move up to third in the 2021 NFL Draft to take Trey Lance. They kept Jimmy Garoppolo for two seasons to supplement the injury concern. It worked out after Lance tore up his ankle at the beginning of last season. However, Garoppolo got hurt, too. That left seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy to lead the team as far as possible. Then, he blew out his elbow.
Now, the 49ers are looking at two injured starting quality quarterbacks and Sam Darnold. How injured are the 49ers QBs? That will decide where they end up falling on this list after training camp. If Lance is ready and actually a good quarterback, it can propel the 49ers to legitimate contender status.
Same might actually go for Purdy. He was really good in his limited time under center. It might be the narrative talking, but analysts believe Purdy could be a very good player if he successfully returns from injury.
If you ask head coach Kyle Shanahan, his quarterback room deserves more credit. He believes Purdy returns for training camp, which seems unlikely. However, crazier things have happened. If the 49ers have healthy QBs, they rocket up this list. If not, they could theoretically fall.
20. New England Patriots
Projected Starter: Mac Jones
This is another complicated situation. Mac Jones was one of the worst quarterbacks of last season, but he legitimately was in one of the worst situations possible. A defensive coach was running his offense. Matt Patricia had no business calling plays. Yet, there he was, running the Patriots' offense into the ground.
Still, Jones wasn't making plays. There was still talent there. Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson were a great one-two punch in the backfield. Devante Parker was added to a wide receiver room that included Nelson Algholor, Kendrick Bourne, and Jakobi Meyers. On top of that, they still had Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry at tight end. Despite all this, Jones was rated as one of the worst quarterbacks in football.
This season, he has Bill O'Brien running the offense. Not only is O'Brien a former Patriots coordinator who coached Jones at Alabama. He knows Bill Belichick and he knows Mac Jones. If anyone is going to get something out of this offense, is he not the perfect candidate?
Still, this could go very, very badly. This is a player one year removed from losing the rookie of the year to Ja'Marr Chase. Maybe it was just a sophomore slump. If it wasn't, he won't even be on this list by midseason. There's still Bailey Zappe as the backup. If he gets better, he could be a legitimate option as well. However, expect the Patriots to go one way or the other.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
Projected Starter: Kenny Pickett
The Pittsburgh Steelers went for the top quarterback in a weak class, picking up the local kid Kenny Pickett out of Pitt last season. He showed signs of greatness while understanding there was a huge learning curve. He eventually took over for Mitch Trubisky in October. He had seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. This wasn't a good season, but he was a rookie on a confusing offense.
The big issue here is Matt Canada is still in Pittsburgh. Many thought the Steelers would be looking for a new offensive coordinator, but Mike Tomlin is backing his guy. That might impact how good Pickett is in year two. Still, Pickett has a much higher ceiling in his second year.
The Steelers made an effort to build around Pickett, bringing in Allen Robinson to add to George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Friermuth. This is a sneaky-good offense. If Najee Harris is even close to the impactful running back he was at Alabama, and this could be a great offense.
It all comes down to Pickett. Trubisky and the newly re-sign Mason Rudolph are pretty good options behind him, but Tomlin is going to give Pickett every chance to succeed. It will either work, or it won't. We don't expect Pickett to finish in this spot on the list. He will either go up or down. It all depends on his growth in the offseason.
18. Las Vegas Raiders
Projected Starter: Jimmy Garoppolo
The Las Vegas Raiders lost their franchise quarterback this offseason, letting Derek Carr head to New Orleans. They needed someone to replace him. Many thought they would look to the draft to find the quarterback of the future. Instead, they went with a safe choice in Jimmy Garoppolo. The former 49ers and Patriots quarterback signed a three-year deal to play under former coach Josh McDaniels.
Garoppolo is an interesting quarterback. He's definitely a player who can do above-average things with a great lineup around him. That's what he did in San Francisco. In Las Vegas, he has one of the best wide receivers in the league in Davante Adams. They signed former Patriots receiver Jakobi Meyers to go along with Hunter Renfrow. They did trade away Darren Waller in the offseason, but this is still a very good receiving core.
If the Raiders are going to do anything this year, Garoppolo has to stay healthy. He missed most of the second half of last season with a foot injury. That's expected to fully heal, but Garoppolo isn't the model of health. He's played 16 (or 17) games in his career once. That was in 2019.
When healthy, Garoppolo is a wonderfully average quarterback. That's enough to win in today's NFL. With Adams by his side, he could do more than that. The offensive line has to hold up, but Garoppolo can be somewhat decent if things go his way.
17. Los Angeles Rams
Projected Starter: Matthew Stafford
It seems like the entire football world has given up on the Los Angeles Rams. One year removed from a Super Bowl Championship, the Rams absolutely fell apart last season. Nothing went right, primarily Matthew Stafford's health. The team tried to downplay his elbow injury to start the year, but it was clearly a major issue. He only played nine games, and he was clearly half the quarterback he was the year prior.
With so little expected of this franchise, maybe Stafford can fly under the radar. They still have Cooper Kupp, one of the best wide receivers in football. Sean McVay is still the head coach here. While there are major issues coming to roost after years of spending theoretical salary cap money, (the Rams have $73 million in dead cap according to Spotrac) there are pillars that could see the Rams beat the expectations.
However, it all starts with Stafford. He has to be fully healthy, and he must be at the top of his game. If the Rams get anything less, the quarterback situation is going to look much worse. Behind Stafford is *checks notes* Stetson Bennett?? We know he won the championship at Georgia, but this is a former walk-on who most thought had no business in the NFL.
Stafford is 35 years old. He theoretically should have at least a year or two of elite football left. We do need to see it to believe it. For now, he's just under the halfway point for quarterbacks in the league.
16. New Orleans Saints
Projected Starter: Derek Carr
Since Drew Brees retired in 2021, it seems like the Saints have been trying to scrape together quarterbacks to stay relevant. They first tried Jameis Winston. Then, it was Andy Dalton. Somewhere in there, Taysom Hill was given a shot. None of it looked like the long-term solution, so the Saints scrapped it all and threw money at former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
He signed a five-year, $125 million deal. The Saints believe they were a quarterback away in a weak NFC South. Now, Carr can prove he can be a star in a more solidified environment. The Saints are an interesting environment. They have talent at receiver with Chris Olave, Tre'Quan Smith, and a weirdly returning Michael Thomas. Alvin Kamara is still on the roster, and they signed Jamaal Williams to back him up.
Carr is a very talented thrower. He minimizes mistakes, and he gets the ball downfield when necessary. With the Saints, he might have a situation that suits him perfectly. While the receiving weapons can stretch the field, that's not what they need to do to succeed. Olave can build space for himself underneath and break away from defenders. Thomas at his peak was the best possession receiver in football.
This is an ideal position for Carr. He just has to make the right decision. Use his football IQ to push the ball downfield. He is in the perfect situation. Now, he just needs to prove he's more than he showed in Oakland/Las Vegas.
15. Seattle Seahawks
Projected Starter: Geno Smith
The surprise of the offseason was when the Seattle Seahawks did not add a young quarterback to the roster. They had the Denver Broncos draft pick thanks to the Russell Wilson deal, which ended up being fifth overall. After Young, Stroud, and Richardson went one, two, and four, the Seahawks decided to go with cornerback Devon Witherspoon. With their own first-round pick, they took Jaxon Smith-Njigba, probably the best wide receiver in the class.
So, instead of going for Smith's replacement, the Seahawks built around Smith after giving him a contract extension. Smith earned this after driving what many thought was a dead-in-the-water Seahawks team to the playoffs. He threw for north of 4,200 yards and 30 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions. He earned himself a Pro Bowl invite after winning Comeback Player of the Year.
Smith is a comeback story for the ages. This is what movies are made about. Multiple franchises gave up on him. Nobody thought he was a viable starter. Most thought he'd be a backup for another year or two before riding off into the sunset. Now, he has a $26 million signing bonus. It's wild how the NFL works sometimes.
Behind Smith is still Drew Lock. So, that's not the best security if Smith's clock hits midnight on his Cinderella story. This was a great quarterback year, but he still has to be ranked in the middle of the pack for 2023.
14. Detroit Lions
Projected Starter: Jared Goff
Jared Goff is like The Undertaker. Everyone tells us he's dead, but he keeps sitting up in the casket. Goff had another superstar season, throwing for 4,400 yards with 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. His 61.1 QBR was the best he put up since 2018. Goff was once a throw-in to the Matthew Stafford trade. Now, he's ranked higher than Stafford in the quarterback rankings.
What is Goff going to be this season? Nobody has the slightest clue. Goff has never been consistent. The former number-one overall pick will have one legitimately great year followed by two mediocre to bad years. The last time he had such a good season, he followed it up immediately with 16 interceptions. We're on to you Jared.
There just isn't trust here. That's why Goff can't be near the top ten despite the stats. Maybe he finally turned the corner at age 28. This is a Lions team that replaced D'Andre Swift with a rookie in Jahmyr Gibbs and a newly-signed David Montgomery. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Marvin Jones are still on the roster, and Jameson Williams will eventually be back after his gambling suspension is up.
If Goff doesn't work out for whatever reason, the Lions decided to take a chance on a player that was once getting first-round buzz. The Lions took Hendon Hooker with their third-round pick. However, that's not a 2023 move. His massive knee injury will keep him out for most if not all of this season. So, behind Goff, the Lions have Nate Sudfeld. Uh oh. For the Lions' sake, let's hope Goff works out.
13. Chicago Bears
Projected Starter: Justin Fields
The Chicago Bears have been looking for a great quarterback… well forever. After Sid Luckman, the best Bears quarterback is Jay Cutler. No, really. Then, it's Jim McMahon and… wait is it Mitch Trubisky next? Wow. Anyway, if Justin Fields builds on his sophomore season, he could easily become the greatest Bears quarterback ever.
Fields was as dynamic as any player in the league. In Weeks 9 and 10 last season, Fields looked like one of the top three weapons in all of football. Against the Cowboys, Dolphins, and Lions, Fields had six touchdowns and one interception throwing while rushing for a total of 405 yards and four touchdowns.
Fields was doing this with an injured Darnell Mooney and whatever Chase Claypool is at this point. There was nothing on this Bears offense last season. This year, the Bears added DJ Moore, D'Onte Foreman, and Robert Tonyan. They added Nate Davis in free agency and Darnell Wright in the draft. The offensive line might be able to give Fields more than half a second to make a decision in the pocket.
The backups in Chicago are not worth talking about. Seriously, we have no interest in talking about Nathan Peterman again. Fields must stay healthy or he might not be the starter next season. The Bears would no doubt be a number-one overall pick candidate without Fields.
12. New York Giants
Projected Starter: Daniel Jones
The New York Giants went all in on what was already working. Daniel Jones was signed for four years and $160 million. It's really a two-year deal for $80ish million if looking at the guarantees, but still. This is quite the sum for a quarterback of Jones' caliber. We're not trying to disparage him, but it is a lot of money for what he brings to the table.
Jones needs a lot around him to succeed, but the Giants have given that to him. Saquon Barkley is coming back (we assume), the offensive line is pretty good, and they just added Darren Waller. The wide receiver corps isn't great, but the rest of the team is in a great spot. This is a playoff team if nothing goes terribly wrong.
That pretty much comes down to Jones. If he can replicate his success of last year, He led the league in interception percentage, getting picked off on just 1.1 percent of his throws. Prior to last season, nobody would peg Jones as the pinnacle of safe football, but that's what he did. He found the open man, and if he didn't, he ran. Jones's running ability is very underrated. He had 700 yards on the ground last season.
Jones is looking to do more this season now that he's under contract. Was he as good as he was last season because of the money, or did he truly turn a corner? It will be fun to watch.
11. Miami Dolphins
Projected Starter: Tua Tagovailoa
Tua Tagovailoa in a vacuum is definitely a top-10 quarterback. He's probably somewhere around the top seven. However, Tagovailoa isn't living in a vacuum. He might want to think about playing football in a bubble. The concussion concerns might be the biggest "what if" in the entire NFL. If Tagovailoa can be the player he was at his best last season, the Dolphins have a chance to win it all.
Legitimately, this is a contender. They just added Jalen Ramsey to a really good secondary. They have stars at every position except running back. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle could be the best one-two punch at the position in football. If this is a team that gets great quarterback play, and not Skylar Thompson in the playoffs, they can beat anyone.
Here's the thing, we are one concussion away from Tagovailoa possibly retiring. He had at least two major concussions last season, and many suspect he had a third. It's a sad reality for a player who worked so hard to come back from his hip injury he suffered in college. He was finally looking like the superstar everyone thought he could be.
There is just so much risk with Tua. To supplement this risk, the Dolphins signed former Jets quarterback Mike White. He looked good in spurts last season, so at least he has something to give this franchise. They also still have Thompson, who maybe learned a thing or two in his playoff game.
10. Minnesota Vikings
Projected Starter: Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins is once again playing for a new contract. Every single time this happens, he comes to play. He just keeps betting on himself, and every time he earns a new spectacular deal. During his last seasons with Washington, he proved he was a very good starter in this league. After signing a fully-guaranteed deal to start his career in Minnesota, he crushed it in the third and final year of the deal, forcing the Vikings to sign him again.
Now, Cousins is once again staring free agency in the mouth. Only this time, he's 35 years old. He had kind of a rough season in 2022, throwing for 14 interceptions. It was his career high, although it was also the first time he played 17 games. The Vikings still won 13 games, playing the comeback kings all season.
Cousins still has an offense that's led by Justin Jefferson. Even if the team cuts Dalvin Cook, they have weapons on top of weapons. TJ Hockenson is still a huge weapon at tight end. They have a decent offensive line that gives Cousins time. The Vikings are a clear regression candidate as Cousins looks to hang onto his star.
Can he keep that star status? As you can see, he's barely holding on to his top-ten ranking, and it's really down to his situation more than him as a QB. Tagovailoa and Fields could pretty easily pass him early next season. However, this is contract-year Kirk Cousins. He could be a star again.
9. Dallas Cowboys
Projected Starter: Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is the last quarterback on the list who isn't a legitimate star who can crush the competition. Prescott is still great, but his play isn't the reason the Cowboys are winning anymore. They won with a stellar running game and fantastic defense. They did add to the wide receiving corps. Brandin Cooks became available, and the Cowboys pounced. Adding him to CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup gives Prescott a triumvirate worth bragging about.
Prescott was actually quite bad last season. 23 touchdowns against 15 interceptions over just 12 games. There were multiple occasions the Cowboys quarterback threw them out of games. He threw interceptions in every one of the last seven games of the season, including two in four games. If you remember, the Cowboys were still desperately trying to win the NFC East, get the number-one seed, and make themselves a true contender for a Super Bowl.
This was very uncharacteristic of Prescott. While he is prone to interceptions, the manner in which he was throwing them was not what we expected to see from him. He is still one year removed from 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in a full season.
The Cowboys still have Cooper Rush, who everyone fell in love with last year. While the hype seemed a little much at the time, he's still a pretty good backup plan.
8. New York Jets
Projected Starter: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers went into last season as the back-to-back MVP winner, controlling a Green Bay Packers team that just traded his best playmaker in Davante Adams. They were going with a collection of really young and really old receivers. He tried to make it work. At least, we think he did. However, he had one of his worst seasons ever. He threw 11 fewer touchdowns while tripling his interceptions year over year.
This offseason, the worst-kept secret was that Aaron Rodgers was getting traded to the Jets. He told Pat McAfee he wanted it after his "darkness retreat." It's hard to call it a secret when it's revealed on the biggest radio show in the country. Now, Rodgers is looking to make a championship run, something he hasn't done since 2011.
He joins an offense that already has Garrett Wilson, who looked like a star despite having Zach Wilson under center. Mecole Hardman joins the team, and he has so much more than he was able to show thanks to his injuries. Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard joined Rodgers coming from Green Bay. And, this team still has Denzel Mims (for now).
Rodgers is looking to prove he is more Tom Brady than Drew Brees. He wants to be a star from the day he retires. After a rough season, he has a chance to dominate in a new conference. He could easily move up this list. If he moves down, the Jets are in trouble.
7. Baltimore Ravens
Projected Starter: Lamar Jackson
Oh, what an offseason for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Over the last 365 days, literally every possible rumor came out about Jackson. It was like he was on TMZ (actually, he has his own TMZ page). Everyone was talking about Jackson, who signed a five-year, $260 million in late April. The drama was over, and now they could get back to football.
Jackson, despite dealing with injuries last season, is still one of the scariest quarterbacks in the league. He can run better than anyone at his position, but he still has a cannon for an arm. The issue last season was the weapons around him. Outside of Mark Andrews, Jackson wasn't throwing at much. Demarcus Robinson was their leading receiver. Do you even know where he went in free agency? (It was the Chargers, by the way.)
This season, Jackson has Odell Beckham Jr., a healthy Rashad Bateman, and a healthy Zay Flowers. This is the best receiving corps he's had regarding talent. There are still questions (especially about health), but this team is full of talent. Add a healthy JK Dobbins, and this team is in business.
Jackson could very easily get back into the MVP race next season. Now that the narratives are over and he can focus on football, the Ravens can once again get back into contention. Don't be surprised if Jackson gets himself in the top three by year's end. However, he has to stay healthy and dominate on the ground and through the air to do that.
6. Philadelphia Eagles
Projected Starter: Jalen Hurts
This one is going to be controversial. Jalen Hurts led the Philadelphia Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl, losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was second in MVP voting, again to Mahomes. There is no shame in falling to second to possibly the best quarterback we've ever seen. However, it's hard to trust that Hurts is this quarterback for the long haul. Who knows, maybe this is cynical, but would it be the most surprising thing if Hurts couldn't do it again?
We're talking about a top-six quarterback still. Hurts was so dynamic for Philadelphia last season, pairing perfectly with AJ Brown, who came from the Tennessee Titans. It's hard to think of a better pairing in football than Hurts and Brown. Add in the talents of Devonta Smith, and this team is just as scary as last season.
Even the additions are falling into place. Miles Sanders cashed in this offseason, but the Eagles were able to get D'Andre Swift who was unhappy when the Lions drafted Gibbs in the first round. This is an amazing offense.
It's very unlikely Hurts will fall further than this. He will likely rise based on injury and the ineffectiveness of the players ahead of him. yet, there is a chance he will regress. We've seen this from quarterbacks before. Can everything fall into place as perfectly as it did last season? Something says that's just not likely.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Projected Starter: Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence arrived last season, showing he can be the catalyst of a potent offense. The Jacksonville Jaguars went from the number-one overall pick to the playoffs in one season thanks solely to the development of Lawrence. He became elite seemingly overnight.
Things didn't start off well. It looked like Lawrence was another struggling quarterback from the 2021 NFL Draft. He lost every game in October. There were five weekends in October. He didn't look good, either. He threw for four touchdowns and five interceptions in the five losses. At that point, the Jaguars were 2-6.
Over the final nine games, Lawrence threw a total of two interceptions. He took advantage of easy matchups, and he even proved himself in the few games he absolutely had to. The Jaguars ended up winning the final five games of the season, and the playoffs is where Lawrence solidified his legend. After going down 27 points to the Los Angeles Chargers, Lawrence led a comeback for the ages. He threw for four touchdowns, leading the comeback on his own. Then, against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chiefs, Lawrence fell just short, losing by one score.
Lawrence is coming into this season with much better weapons. The Jaguars added Calvin Ridley to go with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones. He has to prove himself if he is going to keep this position, but he absolutely can stay a top-five quarterback all season.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
Projected Starter: Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert seems to fall under the radar quite often, but he is one of the very best at the position. It's such a shame his team never seems to go far when it matters. He was on the other side of that historic comeback at the hands of Trevor Lawrence. Still, he is the best traditional quarterback in the league today. As far as pure throwers, Herbert has everyone beat.
It's such a shame he's stuck with this Chargers team. He's forced himself to make plays, which leads to double-digit interceptions in every season of his career. Now, he could be doing it without one of his most important weapons. Keenan Allen is on the Chargers for now, but many expect that to end. Austin Ekeler asked for a trade, but for now, he's in Southern California. Also, Herbert is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, but he's expected to make a full recovery.
This is a player who can sling it one on one with anyone. He finished the season fourth in MVP voting despite having fewer passing yards and touchdowns than the year before. Even if they lose Ekeler and Allen, Herbert will find a way to put up numbers.
If Mike Williams is the top receiver, expect the Chargers to go vertical for its offense. That could be really good for Herbert, who has the skill set to make that work. There is a chance this could be putting a lot on Herbert's shoulders (which we already brought up were operated on). They really don't have a backup plan, with Easton Stick and Max Duggan backing up Herbert. He cannot get hurt this season.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Projected Starter: Joe Burrow
We've jumped a stratosphere. Any of the next three quarterbacks could be number one on this list. Joe Burrow is really 1C, not three. However, that's not how this list works. Burrow is a superduper star. He could win MVP this season and nobody would blink an eye. He's one year removed from his first Super Bowl appearance, and he destroyed the number two on this list in the playoffs. He's etched out because of the slight uncertainty with his offense.
The Bengals might be losing Joe Mixon, who plays a key role both rushing and passing. They have Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd, about as good a one-two-three punch as a team can ask for. They won't hurt too much with no Mixon, but it will impact Burrow's stats.
Burrow had a rough start to last season. He had four interceptions in his first game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He lost the next week to the Dallas Cowboys. However, he played incredibly well down the stretch, and he didn't lose a game from November 6th to the AFC Championship. This is a winner; he will do everything he can to win football games.
Burrow is looking at an upgraded schedule this season. The Steelers, Browns, and Ravens should all be better with healthy and available quarterbacks. However, meetings with the AFC South and NFC West probably won't hurt as they would have in years past.
2. Buffalo Bills
Projected Starter: Josh Allen
Allen over Burrow might be the biggest controversy on this list, but Allen has been doing it for a long time and deserves his spot near the top. His mix of skills and cannon arm is unmatched. He's one a constant contender, even if the Bills haven't been able to push themselves over the top. Something was off with him at the end of last season. Was he regressing, was he injured, or is this in his head? It's hard to answer that now, but this is still the second-best quarterback situation in the league.
The Bills added to their potent offense this offseason. They signed Damien Harris to pair with James Cook in the backfield. They also used their first-round pick to draft tight end Dalton Kincaid. Adding those two to Stephon Diggs, Gabe Davis, and Dawson Knox makes this a prolific unit that can win any game.
If Allen continues the struggles he had in the regular season, he will fall behind Burrow with quickness. However, he deserves credit for doing this for four years now. He was also great in the regular season, and that shouldn't be discounted.
Meanwhile, the Bills bolstered their backups by adding Kyle Allen. Now, they have a legit plan in case Allen gets injured.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Projected Starter: Patrick Mahomes
Yeah, there was nobody else. Patrick Mahomes is going to keep the mantle as the best quarterback in the NFL until someone literally takes it from him. We're not saying a quarterback has to beat Mahomes in a game. No, it will take more than that. This is a player who changed the way quarterbacks are seen in the NFL. This is already the most important position in sports. Mahomes was able to spin that on its head.
Mahomes put together a performance worthy of everyone's attention in the Super Bowl, coming back from 10 points down at halftime to beat the Eagles 38-35. He led the Chiefs to 17 fourth-quarter points and the biggest win of his career.
To top it all off, Mahomes won the MVP again. He led the league with 41 touchdowns and 5,250 yards. Mahomes had ice in his veins all season, performing a career-high four fourth-quarter comebacks in the regular season. He did EVERYTHING.
Mahomes is the best. It would take a lot for Burrow or Allen to usurp him. The only thing that could get in his way is a major injury. He does have a new offense, with Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdez Scantling as the starters at wide receiver. We do like Skyy Moore, but he has to prove it a little more. Still, Mahomes could make the Chiefs a contender with a pee wee team at wide receiver. He's number one with a bullet.
