As Week 1 of the 2025 NFL Season continues, which quarterbacks will emerge as being under the most pressure? For the most part, the one player under the most pressure on an NFL team is the quarterback, and that is the case for a plethora of teams as the regular season ramps up.
The bulk of Week 1 is on Sunday, and we'll see many of these quarterbacks in action. Whether they like it or not, though, they're under a ton of pressure in the 2025 NFL Season for a multitude of reasons.
Let's power rank the 10 QBs under the most pressure for the 2025 NFL Season.
Which QBs are under the most pressure as Week 1 continues?
10. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans put the NFL on notice in the 2023 NFL Season, and many people, including myself, thought that 2024 would bring even more success, but they regressed a bit on offense and actually ended up with the same exact result; a 10-7, division title season and a loss in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The key here for Houston in 2025 is if they'll be able to one-up itself from the prior two seasons. If so, they could take a huge step in simply owning the AFC South for years to come, and seeing as Stroud has played both good and bad across his first two seasons, he's experienced quite a bit already, so a lot of pressure is on him to finally cement some sort of status in the NFL.
9. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love is entering a crucial third year as a starter in the NFL. He's been very good in 2023 and 2024, but he's not turned into a slam-dunk, no-question elite quarterback like many think he could be. Love just saw his front office add Micah Parsons in a clear-cut all-in move. Right now, there isn't a player under more pressure on this team than Jordan Love.
On paper, this is one of the most talented Packers' teams we've seen in quite some time, so it's truly up to Love to come through and show the NFL world why he could be among the best.
8. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is a perfectly fine franchise QB. He's good, sometimes very good, but the issue, at least in my eyes, with Herbert, is that he's been the same exact QB each year of his NFL career, and it doesn't feel like he's ever really improved. It honestly feels like he came into the NFL with a very high floor but a no-so-high ceiling.
He's not an elite QB but can put up some nice statistics in the regular season. The LA Chargers have gotten embarrassed in both playoff games in the Justin Herbert era, and there really isn't anything that separates him from many of his QB peers besides being huge with a cannon of a right arm. He's got to prove himself one way or another in 2025, so he's on our list.
7. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo NIx and the Denver Broncos are trending in the right direction, but all of a sudden, this team is getting a ton of hype, and with Nix entering a crucial second year in the NFL, you get the sense that the Broncos will either emerge as a contender or endure a sophomore slump from their QB, which is possible.
Nix is simply better than most people expected and could still have more of a ceiling. However, coming into the NFL, many people looked at Nix as being a 'low-ceiling' type of QB who would hit his stride early on in the NFL. Only time will tell for Bo Nix and the Broncos.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
When is it time to have a conversation about Trevor Lawrence? He's been in the NFL for four years now, and while the Jaguars did make the playoffs in 2022 and even win a playoff game, this franchise has fallen into an abyss over the past two seasons. While Lawrence doesn't get all the blame, he shoulders some.
He came into the NFL as a 'can't miss' propect who also had the generational label follow him. Now that he's got an innovative offensive head coach in Liam Coen and a new weapon in Travis Hunter, Lawrence and the Jaguars' offense could be lethal in 2025. However, what if Trevor Lawrence simply isn't that good? What if he remains as the average QB he currently is?
5. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Another QB who falls into the same category that Trevor Lawrence does is Kyler Murray, who has been solid-good for years upon years now. The Arizona Cardinals are set to field quite the competitive roster, and it's important to remember that this team was 6-4 at one point in 2024, so they're close, but if Murray can't take another step forward, which he hasn't done, will he ever?
Would this newer Cardinals regime continue to stick with him if it's another 'ho-hum' season from their QB1?
4. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
To his credit, Tua Tagovailoa has never finished any season during his career with a losing record, so he is a winner. However, his limited ceiling is obvious, and the Miami Dolphins are in for a major season in 2025. You get the sense that wholesale change could be made if the team doesn't get back into the playoffs.
And if a new regime were to come aboard, would that guarantee Tagovailoa survives? It's clear that he's a good, not great quarterback, but perhaps he can change the narrative in 2025. He still has very good weapons around him and is capable of staying on the field for a full season, even if he's barely done it. Tua Tagovailoa is under some pressure in 2025.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are in for an interesting season. The team hired Ben Johnson and fixed their offensive line in the offseason, which were great moves, but it's time for this team to go out there and prove itself, as the roster has more talent than you think, and Williams was another QB given the generational label coming into the NFL.
The Bears have also suffered for years now and haven't even had a 4,000-yard passer in their franchises' history. It feels like much of this could come to a boiling point in 2025, whether good or bad. Caleb Williams holds the entire fanbase on his fingertips and is under insane pressure.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen has done everything there is to do in the NFL besides appear in and win a Super Bowl. He's helped the Buffalo Bills to a ton of AFC East titles and won his first MVP award in 2024. Buffalo has simply run out of accomplishments to attain, besides one.
And in 2024, many people had predicted Buffalo to win it all, but they again fell to the Chiefs in the playoffs. There isn't much more to say, here. Josh Allen is under a ton of pressure in 2025.
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Not a single QB in the NFL is under more pressure than Lamar Jackson, who is an all-time quarterback. He would walk into the Hall of Fame if he retired today. However, the one thing that has evaded him, obviously, is playoff success and a Super Bowl title.
Jackson and the Ravens seem to crumble when the playoffs roll around, and the franchise has not won multiple games in the playoffs since 2012. Lamar Jackson has a 3-5 record in the playoffs, tossing 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Will Jackson continue to be known as a regular season QB, or does he and the Ravens have a Super Bowl run up their sleeves in 2025?