If you don't have a quarterback in today's NFL, you have nothing. The quarterback position is often referred to as being the most important position in professional sports, and while that seems hyperbolic, it's true.
There are 32 starting quarterback jobs in the NFL, and it doesn't ever feel like the league is really capable of figuring out a way to fill them all.
In the NFL, there are the "haves" and the "have-nots" when it comes to this position, and that's what we're exploring in the latest NFL Power Rankings. How does every quarterback in the NFL stack up right now? Which ones are the most unproven? Who has the highest upside? Let's take a look at our final quarterback power rankings with the preseason in the rearview and the regular season now on deck.
NFL Power Rankings: Final QB rankings before 2025 season
32. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
Regardless of whether it’s Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough starting for the New Orleans Saints, it’s probably fair to say that this team has the worst QB situation in the league right now. Maybe not long-term because they might have a more realistic shot at discovering a franchise QB than, say, the Browns. But the Saints are undoubtedly in a rough position after the surprise retirement of Derek Carr this offseason.
31. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones has a chance to revive his career with the Colts under head coach Shane Steichen, who has been a bit of a QB whisperer in his coaching career. The whispering didn’t work for Anthony Richardson, though. Jones is one of the most turnover-prone quarterbacks we’ve seen in recent years, and it would be the most shocking storyline of the year if he found a way to be a successful reclamation project with the Colts.
30. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward certainly isn’t the 3rd-worst starting quarterback in the NFL right now in terms of talent, but this list isn’t just based purely on talent. Obviously, Ward has a chance to climb this list quickly, but he’s unproven at this stage. There’s no guarantee that he’s going to come in and light it up like we saw from a few rookies last year. The Titans obviously believe they’ve got their guy, which right now is all that really matters.
29. JJ McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
JJ McCarthy is in a similar boat to that of other young quarterbacks in the league going into this season. He’s unproven. As a former high draft pick, the talent level is obviously there, and McCarthy has some serious moxie and charisma about him. He’s also got a great coaching staff and a situation in Minnesota that has been pretty favorable to quarterbacks in recent years. It would be surprising if McCarthy was bad this year, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if he proved to be more of a work in progress than people seem to assume.
28. Russell Wilson, New York Giants
I’m not so sure it’s going to be all that long of a tenure for Russell WIlson with the New York Giants. The Giants got a great look in the preseason at Jaxson Dart, and while it’s only preseason and obviously still very early, they might want to turn to Dart sooner rather than later given some of the things he showed situationally and just in terms of operating that offense. Russ is past his prime, and he’s not the same guy when it comes to making plays outside the pocket. He’s 28th on this list but the arrow is trending down.
27. Justin Fields, New York Jets
The upside for Justin Fields in New York is high, but the floor is also lower than most. We’ve seen what Fields can do as a full-time starter in Chicago, and we saw him maybe take a few strides last year with a better overall situation in Pittsburgh. If the young Jets offensive line struggles this year, it’s going to affect Fields tremendously. If they can protect him well, he might be in line for a career year in 2025. I have no idea what to expect out of Fields this year but he’s obviously a talented player with the ability to beat you with his legs.
26. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
Don’t hate on Joe Flacco for being this “high” on the final preseason quarterback power rankings. Flacco is not a bad starting quarterback. He might be a bit of a mixed bag on a week-to-week basis, but he’s still capable of filling up the stat sheet. At this stage of his career, it seems like the more success Flacco has, the more it comes with the caveat that he’s going to throw more picks. He’s become a little bit of a gunslinger in his older age.
25. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
I liked what we saw out of Michael Penix Jr. late last season for the Falcons, but I’m also giving him a pretty significant boost for potential here in these rankings. Penix has a good cast of characters around him. He can run. He’s got a big arm. Last year, we only really scratched the surface of his potential at the NFL level and we’ll see how much he’s grown here in his second season. And also, what are the Falcons going to do with Kirk Cousins? If he gets traded, he’d probably wind up somewhere between the 22-25 spots on a list like this.
24. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
After getting benched last season for Andy Dalton, Bryce Young came back later in the year and looked really focused. He actually looked like a completely different player. Getting benched was just what he needed, apparently, because the Panthers seemingly rediscovered their franchise QB after it looked like they might be back in the market after the start of the year. Young has much better playmakers around him now, so we’ll see if he can continue that upward trajectory entering year three.
23. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
The #1 pick in last year’s draft has all the talent in the world, but is he going to be able to keep up with the pace of the NFL? There are times when Williams looks like a superstar in the making, and other times when it looks like he’s not processing the field well at all. I’m in the camp that’s still buying his raw talent and the marriage between he and Ben Johnson. Johnson’s offense should be perfect for Williams and his growth as an NFL player. I expect a big breakout in 2025.
22. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Geno Smith is the epitome of a solid NFL quarterback. He’s not going to really blow you away, but he’s a solid player who will occasionally come through in the clutch and also occasionally make bone-headed mistakes. How will Smith do now that he’s moving on from Seattle and switching from throwing to DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. It’s a great opportunity for Smith in the latter stages of his career to reunite with Pete Carroll, but there’s also a lot of pressure on him because he’s perceived as such a huge upgrade for this Raiders team.
21. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Seeing the resurgence of Sam Darnold last year was relatively unexpected, but also very welcome. Darnold got a really unfair situation thrown at him when he was a high draft pick of the Jets, and it isn’t surprising that when his talent was being coached up by, you know, real coaches in San Francisco and Minnesota, he was able to figure it out. I don’t love that he’s changing NFL cities and offenses yet again, but Darnold gets a chance to prove he’s got a new “floor” for his game in 2025.
20. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
I might be living in the past a little bit with Trevor Lawrence. The former #1 overall pick looked like he was on the fast track to superstardom as of the 2022 and 2023 seasons, but injuries have derailed that a little bit. Not in terms of Lawrence’s paycheck, but in terms of his on-field performance, for sure. Maybe I’m just being overly optimistic, but I’m buying the turnaround for Lawrence with Liam Coen as his head coach as well as the addition of Travis Hunter to that offense in 2025. I’m buying that 2022 season as more than just a mirage or flash in the pan.
19. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray might not be quite at the same level he was prior to his knee injury a couple of years ago, but he’s still a very good dual-threat at the position and he finally has some stars around him in the passing game. We’re projecting a little bit here with a possible breakout on the way for Marvin Harrison Jr., but Murray looked like he rediscovered himself as the 2024 season went along. He’s still got the ability to come through in clutch situations with three game-winning drives last season.
18. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Injuries will always be the biggest limiting factor for Tua Tagovailoa, but when he’s healthy and right, he’s able to put up huge numbers. He has a three-year sample of his touchdown percentage averaging 5.4 percent. His completion rate was as high as we’ve ever seen it last year at nearly 73 percent. Even if you want to diminish what Tua does as a player by labeling him a system quarterback, he’s in a good system for his skills and has proven over a large sample that he can thrive. He’s just got to stay on the field.
17. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers’ stint with the New York Jets was an abject disaster, but he did play pretty well down the stretch last season. I’m as intrigued as anyone to find out how he’s going to mesh with Arthur Smith’s offense, with DK Metcalf as his #1 target in the passing game, and with an offensive line that has so many young guys still learning the ropes. I feel like so many people still assume that Rodgers is still the guy who won multiple MVPs with the Packers, but he wasn’t even that guy in the last year he had with the Packers.
16. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
We saw a lot of really, really good stuff late last season from Drake Maye. Remember when the Patriots were messing around with Jacoby Brissett at the beginning of the year? That feels like a distant, funny memory at this point. Maye proved to be the elite talent many saw at North Carolina, a true star in the making. He had 15 touchdown passes in his 13 games played along with 421 rushing yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. If the Patriots can protect him better in 2025, he’s going to be a Pro Bowl player.
15. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
There are a lot of mixed opinions out there about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Is he a top-10 quarterback or is he a product of his surroundings? This ranking is not meant to be a diss to Hurts, nor is it meant to indicate that he’s a bad starting quarterback. Quite the contrary. Hurts is a really strong starter and dual-threat at the position. The Eagles found out the hard way last year, however, that adding too much to Hurts’s plate results in inefficient offense. He was unleashed in 2023 and turned the ball over at the highest rate we’ve seen. The reins were pulled back in 2024, and his efficiency was back. He’s solid, not elite.
14. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix didn’t throw a single touchdown pass until Week 4 last season, and he still wound up just two touchdown passes shy (29) of the NFL record for rookie quarterbacks (31). Nix had 34 total touchdowns in his rookie year with the Broncos, proving to be a great fit for the Sean Payton offense as well as the NFL, in general. Nix is a great athlete, a smart player, and doesn’t take unnecessary sacks. He’ll throw the ball into harm’s way at times but he’s a playmaker at the position and the arrow is pointing up.
13. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy is, at this point, extremely underrated. He had a down year last year as everyone on the 49ers dealt with injuries, but Purdy can do a little bit of everything at the position. He’s accurate, he’s on time, he’s got the ability to push the ball deep, he can navigate the pocket well, and he’s come through in clutch situations. The 49ers’ investment in Purdy speaks volumes to his abilities not only as a player but as the leader of the franchise. He’s a stud.
12. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
It’s a little too easy to forget that the Dallas Cowboys won 12 regular season games three years in a row when Dak Prescott was mostly healthy. This is a team that obviously took some hits last year, but Prescott has the chance to bounce back in a big way in 2025. The addition of George Pickens gives him arguably the best set of weapons at receiver he’s had as a pro quarterback, and if he can limit turnovers, the Cowboys might even be able to surprise people in the NFC East.
11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford’s injury issues are an obvious concern, but when he’s healthy, I’m not sure many quarterbacks are capable of operating the offenses they are tasked with running better than Stafford. Stafford is older, but he still has the ability to blow you away with no-look throws, ridiculous throws on the run, and big plays in clutch moments. At this stage, the only question mark with Stafford and his ability to lead the Rams to another Super Bowl is whether or not he can actually stay on the field.
10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is the best, most overrated quarterback in the NFL. He’s a great quarterback, but there are folks out there who have made him out to be something that he’s not, or at least that he’s not consistently. Herbert has everything you look for physically in a franchise quarterback. He’s big, strong, has a great arm, athletic, and smart. The issue with Herbert is, he disappears in the worst possible moments, and consistently has done exactly that throughout his five years in the NFL. Herbert gets way too much credit for his high moments, and not nearly enough for his low ones. But he’s still a really good player.
9. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud and the Texans may have collectively taken a bit of a step back last year, but I’m still buying him as one of the coldest dudes in the NFL at the quarterback position. Stroud is fearless, which is such an important trait in this position. He’s got the ability to take over games, but even when things aren’t going well, he’s the type of quarterback who can dig your team out of a hole. He’s a true game-changer at the position and someone the Texans know gives them a chance to win every single week.
8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I love Baker Mayfield, and I won’t apologize for it. While Mayfield has the gunslinger trait to him – and that is a double-edged sword, to be certain – he’s also grown so much as the leader of a franchise. The situation for him and the Bucs was tailor-made and almost feels like the football gods intervened on this one. He’s got arguably the best collection of playmakers in the NFC South and even with the offensive staff continually having guys plucked away, Mayfield has a new “floor” as a starter and it’s near the top tier.
7. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
There is so much to love about Jayden Daniels and what we saw from him as a rookie. When the Commanders needed a big throw on third down, he delivered. He spreads the ball around to all of the guys in the offense. He was the tide that raised all boats in the harbor last year. He can run exceptionally well. The Kliff Kingsbury offense seemed to be perfect for him. Daniels showed in his rookie year that his Heisman season at LSU was anything but a fluke and now he’s got a chance to establish himself as maybe a top-5 QB in the league this coming season.
6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Over the past two seasons, Jared Goff has thrown 67 touchdown passes. It’s going to hurt a little bit to have Ben Johnson gone, but Goff is ready to spread his wings and do this thing on his own, too. Goff isn’t a puppet out there on the field, but instead is one of the NFL’s best field generals. He’s accurate, he sees the field well, and he’s got a killer instinct. His touchdown percentage last year climbed up to 6.9 percent, and his floor as a player right now might be a 30-touchdown type of thing. The game has slowed down for him every year since he got to Detroit.
5. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
This might feel like my hottest take yet, but Jordan Love looks like a top-5 quarterback in the NFL, and I think he’s going to prove that he definitively is in 2025. Love is an elite talent with his ability to put the ball in spots that most quarterbacks wouldn’t even dare to try and get it. He’s got a great feel for navigating the pocket, he can change arm slots, and he hits layups as well as he can hit deep shots. Love has grown tremendously in his first two years as a starter in Matt LaFleur’s offense, and he’s going to take the leap into superstardom this season.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have struggled to find success offensively over the last two years, relatively speaking. They’ve ranked in the middle of the pack in points scored, and while that’s not exactly on Patrick Mahomes, this team has had to adjust its offensive identity because of the way teams defend them. Mahomes has adjusted admirably in many ways. Even though he’s turned the ball over more, he continually comes through in big moments and is the most clutch player in the league right now. Situationally, there’s no better quarterback in the NFL.
3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
When it comes to playing the quarterback position in its purest form, nobody does it better than Joe Burrow. He’s elite in every possible way. He navigates pressure in the pocket better than anyone I’ve seen since Tom Brady in his prime. He spreads the ball around, he fits the ball into tight windows, and he’s the type of quarterback you don’t want to have the ball last in a one-score game. Burrow is just elite, top of the line, great at everything.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
When I was a kid playing Madden video games, I would have created players like Josh Allen all the time. If being a quarterback were scored like a dunk contest, Allen would get 10/10 in every major category. He’s big, he has one of the strongest arms in the league, he’s smart, and he’s one of the most athletic players at the position. Allen’s “create-a-player” abilities have only become more of an advantage the longer he’s been in the league. He’s now got an MVP in the trophy case and has a chance to add even more important hardware this year.
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is on another level compared to most other quarterbacks in the NFL. While he’s not as impressive physically as Josh Allen, he’s been equally, if not more, dominant as a dual-threat player over the last handful of years. Once he got his new contract from the Ravens, Jackson seemed to take on another evolution in his form as a player. Have we ever seen someone throw for over 4,100 yards with 41 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions before? This guy is absolutely insane right now, and if he doesn’t lead his team to a Super Bowl win this coming season, it will be the ultimate failure for them.