If you don’t have a quarterback in today’s NFL, you don’t have anything. Some teams have long-term plans, other teams have short-term fixes. Some teams have no direction whatsoever (looking at you, Cleveland Browns).
Which divisions have the best quarterback play in football heading into the meat of the 2025 offseason? As always, the game of musical chairs at the quarterback position has been fascinating to watch, but this year’s rookie class is not as promising as the vaunted 2024 class and a couple of big names (Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins) still have uncertain futures.
We’re going to look at every projected starting QB situation around the league right now and rank every quarterback within every division. Which division has the worst quarterback play? Which division has the best? We’re ranking each division by proven production as well as potential to make an impact this coming season.
NFL Power Rankings: NFC South has worst quarterbacks heading into 2025
8. NFC South
1. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The best quarterback in the “worst” quarterback division in the league is Buccaneers starter Baker Mayfield, who has found a career resurgence since coming to Tampa Bay. Mayfield is a gamer and gunslinger out there whose style of play can get him into trouble at times, but he’s a plus starter who can help the Bucs make noise in the postseason.
2. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
I’m fully bought into Bryce Young’s breakthrough last season. The former #1 overall pick looked like he was completely lost as a rookie in the league but the hiring of Dave Canales really stabilized his play. I think he’s got a bright future and love the addition of Tetairoa McMillan to give him a receiver with a big catch radius.
3. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
We got a very small sample of Michael Penix Jr. late last season, but I liked what we saw. Penix is a playmaker at the quarterback position who can work all three levels of the field. The Falcons have so many playmakers around him, it feels like it’s going to be impossible for him to stink, right?
4. Spencer Rattler/Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Yes, the Saints still technically have Derek Carr, but do they really have Derek Carr? Who knows when we’re going to see Carr again? I would guess that we’re going to see Tyler Shough as the primary starter this coming season for the Saints, but things are a bit of a mess right now at this position in New Orleans.
7. AFC South
1. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
We saw a bit of a sophomore slump from CJ Stroud this past year, but I’m not buying that as the new norm. Stroud has some new targets in the passing game and a revamped offensive line in front of him, and I see him making a big jump into the NFL’s upper echelon of quarterbacks in year three. The guy is an absolute stud, but he took way too many sacks last year.
2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
If you would have asked me two years ago, I would have said Trevor Lawrence was in line to be an annual lock for the top-10 quarterbacks in the league. The last two years have been brutal for both Lawrence and the Jaguars, but they will hopefully take a turn for the best in 2025. Lawrence has his massive contract and now he needs to prove he was worth it.
3. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Sometimes it’s the devil you don’t know, am I right? Cam Ward hasn’t played a single snap in the NFL, so he should probably be ranked 4th on this list by default, but we like to project here as well. As disastrous as things are with the Colts, I like Ward to come in and at least provide a decent floor for the QB position compared to Will Levis with the Titans in 2025.
4. Anthony Richardson/Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson struggled to hit the broad side of a barn last year. Daniel Jones was cut in the middle of the season by a team that gave him a big-money deal. These are not good players at the position but they are in a good situation with the Colts. I still blindly trust Shane Steichen to get the most out of either or at least one of these guys.
6. NFC West
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is undoubtedly entering the twilight of his NFL career, but he’s still playing at a high enough level that the Rams are competing for championships. Stafford has been dealing with injuries for a long time but he’s extremely tough and still one of the best in the NFL. If he can stay on the field, the Rams can contend in the NFC.
2. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has become about as streaky as any quarterback in the NFL, but on a given week, you have to expect that he’s going to be one of the most dynamic dual-threat players on the field. With the expected progression of players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray and the Cardinals offense should take another step forward this coming year, and if that happens, they might land Drew Petzing a head coaching gig.
3. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
I do think Brock Purdy is a bit unfairly typecast as a game manager who is just routinely carried by his teammates, but last season didn’t do him any favors. The 49ers are banking the entire future of the franchise on Purdy returning to his 2022/23 form, and if he can get there, he’s going to vault into everyone’s top-12.
4. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
I’m not going to say that Sam Darnold absolutely cannot keep things going from what we saw last year, but I’m skeptical. Darnold did so well playing in Minnesota’s offense under Kevin O’Connell, but he no longer has that same supporting cast around him. If he can be even close to what we saw last year in Minnesota, I’ll eat crow on this one.
5. AFC East
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen’s game has just continued to evolve through the years, but it remains shocking that he hasn’t even gotten to play in a Super Bowl at this point. He’s got to get oer that hump. This is the best all-around player in the league and an absolute cheat code when he’s locked in. Allen deserved the MVP last year but he’s got to start adding some different hardware to the collection soon, or his window will pass him by.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
I’m still pretty high on Tua Tagovailoa, even though the Miami Dolphins probably can never rely on him to play a full 17-game slate. Tua’s injury history is a severe concern, which is a big reason they brought in Zach Wilson this offseason to be his backup. There’s no denying that this offense can put up a boatload of points when Tua is on. He’s a good player.
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye is likely to be one of the top overall breakout player candidates in the 2025 season. With Josh McDaniels returning to the Patriots to run the offense, we have seen plenty of other quarterbacks have success. Whatever McDaniels lacks as a head coach, he more than makes up for as an offensive coordinator, and getting the most out of guys. Maye is the most naturally gifted QB McDaniels has ever worked with.
4. Justin Fields, New York Jets
I really like the risk the Jets are taking by bringing in Justin Fields as their starting quarterback this year. Fields is a phenomenal athlete and dual threat at the position, and he shouldn’t be written off just yet as a passer based on what we saw from him in Pittsburgh early last season. This will be his last great opportunity before he becomes a high-upside backup journeyman. He has to take advantage.
4. NFC North
1. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. Even after a slight step back in terms of his overall production last season, he’s one of the biggest difference-makers in the league and the best quarterback (for now) in a very good division at the position. Entering his third full year as a starter, I expect Love to make a big leap in 2025.
2. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has thrown 29 or more touchdown passes in each of the last three seasons, but he lost a huge component of his success in the 2025 offseason: Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson isn’t some master puppeteer or something like that, but it’ll be fascinating to see how Goff plays this season without Johnson calling the plays. He’s one of the most efficient and probably underrated QBs in the league at this point.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Everyone expects Caleb Williams to make a huge jump in his overall play in 2025 with the arrival of Ben Johnson, an upgraded offensive line, and somehow even better offensive weapons in 2025 than he had as a rookie. Williams took way too many sacks last year, so I’m keeping my projection on him pretty conservative. The talent is undeniable.
4. JJ McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
I was really high on JJ McCarthy coming out of last year’s draft, but he’s obviously got a lot stacked against him right now. He needs to prove he can come back from a major injury and prove that he can lead this Vikings team despite being one of the youngest starters in the NFL. Can he handle a much higher volume of responsibility as a passer compared to when he was at Michigan?
3. AFC North
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Other than Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson is the biggest cheat code in the NFL today. Just like Josh Allen, the cheat code doesn’t work in late January, for whatever reason. Lamar Jackson has got to figure out a way to get it done when it matters the most but you can’t exactly fault him for a dropped two-point play, right? Jackson is at the top of his game and seemingly just getting better year over year.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
No matter what way you slice it, Joe Burrow is just a tough out. He’s got the best pocket presence in the NFL and he’s capable of keeping his team in a game no matter how many times he has to go out there and orchestrate a drive. Burrow seemed to hit another level last year throwing for over 4,900 yards and 43 touchdowns. Despite the volume of passes, he still completed over 70 percent of his throws.
3. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
I suppose you could put any number of players in this slot for the Browns. I would almost argue that no matter who they put in this spot, it would be a better alternative than Mason Rudolph with the Steelers. Joe Flacco won NFL Comeback Player of the Year two seasons ago with Cleveland and works well in the Kevin Stefanski offense. He could be a nice short-term placeholder for Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel, who will hopefully get a chance to play this season.
4. Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers
At some point, we’ve got to be talking about Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins as the starter this year for the Steelers, right? That’s my assumption at this point, but this list can’t make any assumptions. Mason Rudolph would be the QB if the Steelers had a game today, and I’m not a fan. Even though Rudolph has done solid in smaller samples in the past, he is what he is at this point – a quality backup.
2. AFC West
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is the best football player in the world, and nobody should care what the stats say. Do you need him to gut out a game-winning drive for you in a low-scoring game? He’s got it. Do you need him to help you win a 41-38 shootout? He’s got you covered. Mahomes may not be posting MVP numbers year over year, but it’s ridiculous to think he’s fallen off or that he’s not one of the best players in the league.
2. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix didn’t throw a touchdown last year until Week 4, and he wound up finishing just two touchdown passes shy of breaking the NFL’s all-time rookie record. Nix is a dual-threat and a stud. He carried the Broncos’ offense last season and figures to be even better here in his second NFL season. He’s got a higher ceiling than Justin Herbert, who has seemingly reached his.
3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert would get a statue outside the Hall of Very Good. He’s just very good. There are weeks when he’s great, and there are weeks when he’s mind-numbingly bad. Remember the playoff game against the Texans? Herbert is mostly efficient. He can take advantage of mistakes. But he’s not in the conversation as an elite NFL quarterback despite having elite traits.
4. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Geno Smith is a nice upgrade for the Las Vegas Raiders this year, especially as they look to remain relevant in the loaded AFC West. Every other team has a quarterback to build around except the Raiders. While this isn’t a long-term option for them. Smith should be able to get the ship on course and keep the top playmakers progressing in their development. He can help this team win eight or nine games.
1. NFC East
1. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
This may seem like a hot take, but I’m calling my shot a little bit here. I think Jayden Daniels is the best quarterback in the NFC East, which I’m also saying is the best quarterback division in football right now. Daniels has MVP-type skill at the position and can beat you in a variety of different ways. The way he took this Commanders team to the NFC Championship as a rookie was astounding, and the supporting cast around him got even better this year.
2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Absolutely no disrespect to Jalen Hurts, a fine quarterback who can help a team win a lot of games. I think if you threw Jalen Hurts onto the Cleveland Browns, they would win seven or so games. Maybe eight. He’s not going to carry a team on his own. Having a 2,000-yard back helps a lot, and having guys like AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith helps a lot. Hurts is still a significant difference-maker, but not to the level of Jayden Daniels.
3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott has been, at times, one of the best pocket passers in all of football. His injury last year is obviously a huge concern, but if the Cowboys are getting the best of Prescott, it’s possible he is the best QB in this entire division. Now, he’s got George Pickens coming to join CeeDee Lamb in that offense and we’ll see him with the best assembly of weapons he’s maybe had his entire pro career.
4. Russell Wilson, New York Giants
Russell Wilson sort of rounds out this list of NFC East quarterbacks and also sort of brings the whole group down slightly. He had a great stretch last year for the Steelers, but he’s just not the same dual-threat at the position anymore. The Giants are hoping Wilson can take them back to the playoffs but is it more likely that we see Jaxson Dart at some point this year?