The NFL quarterback hierarchy is beginning to shake out. Let's see how all 32 starters stack up with each other as Week 4 closes out. Yet again, there was a ton of action in Week 4. This truly feels like one of the more wild starts to an NFL season we've had in quite some time.
There have been more blocked field goals and more dramatic finishes than I think I have seen in quite some time. As it stands, the current QB hierarchy is beginning to take shape, as it's only a matter of time before the best QBs in the league and the worst end up sorting themselves out.
Let's dive into our latest QB power rankings as Week 4 closes out.
Week 4 NFL quarterback power rankings for the 2025 season
32. Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning and the Cincinnati Bengals play the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Footbal, and this is not going to be a pretty outing. Browning is now likely the starter for Cincy for the rest of the season, but he’s a backup QB for a reason, and this subpar Bengals’ offensive line only makes things harder. Browning is our last-ranked QB in our latest rankings.
31. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
There just isn’t much to say about Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans. From top to bottom, this franchise is flat-out pathetic. The coaching staff gets out-coached each week, and Ward himself has not only had to deal with some subpar WR play, but he’s not been very good himself despite a strong offensive line.
I would honestly be shocked if Brian Callahan and his coaching staff survived into the 2026 NFL Season, as the Titans really need to rip this thing down to the studs and start fresh. There is virtually nothing for this team to hang their hats on through three weeks, as the Titans fall to 0-4, and it’s hard to see when their first win could even happen.
30. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are now 1-3 on the season after a bad loss to the Detroit Lions, and it simply has to be a matter of time before Flacco is sent to the bench. He’s been bad this year, and that really isn’t much of a surprise. Flacco can hang around for the most part, but he makes horrid decisions with the football most of the time.
The Browns also have Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders sitting behind him on the depth chart, and the Browns would be wise to see both of those rookie QBs getting some action in 2025.
29. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
I don’t know about you, but I am about ready to throw in the towel with Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. This franchise again needs a huge reset, and its decision to take Young with the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was the wrong move.
It’s just been a brutal start to his NFL career for Young, but he’s also simply a bad quarterback, and with each passing week, it’s hard to keep making excuses and finding reasons why he might put it together.
Young is no. 29 in our QB power rankings as Week 4 of the 2025 NFL Season closes out. What is there to hang your hat on with this quarterback or franchise?
28. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Justin Fields returns to the lineup for the New York Jets. They play the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, but I do believe the Dolphins win this one. Fields is a bottom-tier quarterback and not someone an NFL offense can deploy to run efficiently.
Sure, Fields can make some noise with his legs, but he’s not an NFL-caliber passer and will never be one. There isn’t much more to say - Fields has historically been a losing QB and is constantly on bad teams. The Jets will likely keep Fields as the starter through the 2025 NFL Season and reset with a QB in the 2026 NFL Draft, a class that could bring several first-round prospects at the position.
27. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
How about Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants? This team came into Week 4 against the LA Chargers with a plan, and they stuck to it. Dart threw for 111 yards and one touchdown and did also add 54 yards on the ground, so he was about as good as you can possibly expect from a rookie making their first start.
And heck, it came against a defense led by Jesse Minter, one of the best coordinators in the NFL. For the time being, Brian Daboll seems to have gained a few more weeks to prove that he can develop their first-round pick into a franchise QB.
26. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
I mean, what are we doing here? Geno Smith now has seven interceptions through the first four weeks of the 2025 NFL Season and is simply not a good quarterback. I truly have no idea why people hold Smith as high as they do, as I have personally seen people call him a top 10-12 quarterback in the NFL, and that is simply far from the truth.
Smith now has more interceptions than touchdowns, and the Raiders have lost three games in a row since their encouraging Week 1 win. This is not a good team or a good QB.
25. Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings
Carson Wentz has been fine through two starts for the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota fell to 2-2 on the season after a tough loss in Dublin against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this is the type of QB that Wentz is - he’ll be able to keep a team in the game for the most part, but the high-leverage situations just aren’t going to be kind to Wentz.
He was once a borderline top-5 starter in the NFL, but his career fall-off has been obvious and odd, frankly. The Vikings might be trending toward placing JJ McCarthy back into the starting lineup when he’s healthy, and I am not sure Vikings’ fans would mind seeing that.
24. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
Games like this are why the Washington Commanders miss Jayden Daniels. Marcus Mariota is a fine backup QB and can absolutely win some games here, and there, but if Daniels was healthy enough to play in this one, the Commanders likely win.
Washington went 12-5 last year and have split their first four games. Roster-wise, this squad is good, but the high-end talent isn’t there, and this group is old as well. I will be interested to see if Daniels comes back and is able to help Washington make up some ground in the NFC East.
The Philadelphia Eagles are 4-0 and already have a two-game lead against Washington.
23. Michael Penix Jr, Atlanta Falcons
What do we make of Michael Penix Jr? This team got blown out by the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, and Penix looked awful. But in Week 4, the Falcons held the fort down at home against the formidable Washington Commanders, and Penix tossed 313 yards and two touchdowns.
This is an interesting development. The Falcons are now 2-2 on the season and are keeping themselves in the mix in the NFC South and the NFC as a whole. Penix does have a great supporting cast around him, so that is going to help in his development.
An accurate left-handed QB, the second-year passer might end up figuring this thing out.
22. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is usually a sharp quarterback, but he’s already thrown four interceptions this season and is trending in the wrong direction. He’s thrown a pick in every single game this year, and the stingy Jets’ secondary might be able to get one on Monday Night Football.
I would not be shocked to see wholesale changes hitting the Dolphins’ franchise this year at some point. You get the sense that if Miami loses to the Jets at home and drop to 0-4, major change could be on the horizon.
If nothing else, Tua Tagovailoa is still an efficient QB when consistently on the field, and he has actually never finished a season with a losing record, so that has to be worth something.
21. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
Is Spencer Rattler a decent quarterback? Yes, the New Orleans Saints are 0-4 on the season, but they hung around with the Buffalo Bills, and Rattler has looked more ‘good’ than ‘bad’ this year for what that is worth.
We’ll see how much better he can be. There isn’t much talent around Rattler, and the Saints are 0-4 for a reason, but they might actually have something here with the second-year QB. Spencer Rattler is not a quarterback to just throw away. He might be something.
20. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy threw two interceptions in the 49ers’ loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and we might have to start having some serious conversations about the Jags. It wasn’t a super sharp start for Purdy in his return to the lineup. The veteran QB is a good-not-great passer and someone who tends to perform based on the situation around him, which is not someone you can win a Super Bowl with in today’s NFL.
19. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is a perfectly average QB if we’re being honest. He’s thrown six touchdowns against three interceptions this year, and after an encouraging 2-0 start, Arizona is now 2-2 on the season. Murray has been their starting QB since the 2019 NFL Season, and you do have to wonder if time is running out for Murray.
Yes, he’s been an efficient QB here and there, but despite his dual-threat ability, he’s never proven to be anything special and really hasn’t been more than average at any point in his NFL career. Kyler Murray is the most ‘quarterback’ quarterback in the NFL, if that even makes sense.
18. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are all of a sudden 3-1 on the season. The defense has been the story of the season thus far, but the offense is doing enough to close out games. For whatever reason, I am getting ‘2022 New York Giants’ vibes from the Jaguars.
Lawrence hasn’t been particularly good, but he’s not been bad, and I just wonder how many games this team can win if their QB can’t take that next step. The Jags hired Liam Coen this offseason to finally unlock the Trevor Lawrence era. If nothing else, the run game has been great.
T-Law is 18th in our QB power rankings.
17. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans got back on track in Week 4 and won their first game of the season. They shut out the lowly Tennessee Titans in an unsurprising finish. Stroud was excellent in his rookie season, but has not looked good since the start of 2024.
However, the Titans are one of the more ‘get right games’ you’ll see in today’s NFL, so the Texans did take advantage of that. The Texans do figure to hang around in the AFC South mix if their offense can simply begin sustaining something average, at least.
Stroud is capable of great things, but his offensive line also has to do him some favors.
16. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. Nix has already thrown five touchdown passes through three games, but the offense has been inconsistent, and Nix has thrown three interceptions. We have seen this team go head-to-head with the Colts and Chargers in recent weeks, as both teams have needed walk-off field goals to beat the Broncos.
Furthermore, Sean Payton is historically a .500 head coach in September, so Denver winning this game and getting to 2-2 would be par for the course. I would expect Nix to throw for at least three touchdowns in this one, as the Bengals’ defense is bottom-tier, and the Denver defense is going to have a field day against this offensive line and Jake Browning.
15. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts had a clean game for the Philadelphia Eagles, and while this contest was trending toward being a blowout, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fought their way back and made it interesting. Hurts also led the Eagles with 62 yards on the ground as well. This is how Philly wins games - they have the capability to get out to a massive lead at any given time, and they are also good late in the game when it sometimes matters the most.
Hurts isn’t going to do anything special through the air, but this team is buttoned-up and well-coached, and they’re now 4-0 on the season. Jalen Hurts is a winner.
14. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys face Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football, and this game has obviously been made out to be the Micah Parsons revenge/reunion game. Parsons was shipped to Green Bay before the regular season, but the Cowboys have not been that great this year.
Dallas got blown out by the Chicago Bears in Week 3, and Prescott has actually thrown three touchdowns against three interceptions, so he’s got to clean up his own play. Sunday night would be a perfect time for that, as he has been a very efficient QB for the bulk of his NFL career and does tend to play a lot better when coming off a notable injury.
13. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears won in dramatic fashion, clinching the victory with a blocked field goal. Caleb Williams played well in a hostile environment and out-played Geno Smith, which is always a good indicator of which team tends to win the game. Thus far, the Bears have played alright this year - they’re riding a two-game win streak and seem to be putting things together.
A 2-2 start through the first month of the season is a good place to be in, as there are many 1-3 teams and winless teams across the NFL right now. Caleb Williams is trending in the right direction.
12. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
An ugly loss against the LA Rams have us wondering if the old Daniel Jones is going to come out sooner or later. Jones and the Colts lose their first game of the season and lose it against a legitimate team in the LA Rams. Their wins this year have been against teams with a losing record, so it’s important to take note of that. I would not be shocked to see Jones and the Colts undergo a bit of a slump, as their defense actually hasn’t been great this year, and Daniel Jones is still Daniel Jones.
11. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye has thrown six touchdown passes over the past three weeks and has gotten in this column in every game this year. The New England Patriots just took it to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and move to 2-2 on the season with a win. Maye now has seven touchdowns against two interceptions for a stellar 109.4 passer rating.
We are watching the next elite quarterback in the NFL make his year two jump. Remember, Josh McDaniels is back as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator, so that has helped things. I said for months that Maye was prepared to hit his stride, and we’re seeing it happen in real-time. Sure, the Pats might not be a great team this year and still need more talent, but Drake Maye is the real deal, folks.
10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have not been good over the past two weeks. They lost in Week 4 and needed a walk-off field goal to beat the Denver Broncos in Week 3. Over these past two weeks, Justin Herbert has completed less than 60% of his passes for 503 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Sure, the offensive line now might be an even bigger issue with Joe Alt leaving the game in Week 4, but Herbert hasn’t been sharp. Both the Chiefs and the Raiders, the Chargers’ opponents in Weeks 1 or 2, have below-average secondaries, and Herbert was at his best in 2025 against those teams, so it makes you wonder…
9. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers was sharp for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4. Somehow, Pittsburgh is now 3-1 on the season, and Rodgers has thrown eight touchdowns against three interceptions. Across a full 17-game season, he’d be on pace for 34 touchdown passes, as he’s averaging two per game right now.
Yet again, though, the Steelers feel like a good-not-great team, and that’s truly been their motto for years now. I would not think too much of the 3-1 Steelers, as the roster itself isn’t special, the QB is fine and nothing more, and the defense relies too much on the splash play in my opinion.
8. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold has had a very strong start to the year, and thus far, and it seems like his breakout campaign in 2024 was not a fluke. He’s completed 70% of his passes and has a passer rating of 106.5, and the Seahawks are now 3-1 on the season after a strong win over the Arizona Cardinals. Right now, they are firmly in the mix for the division title, but it is worth wondering how far Darnold can take the Seahawks, as if the Minnesota Vikings really wanted him back as their QB, they surely would have re-signed him, right?
7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams bounce back and earn a hard-fought win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3. The Rams are now 3-1 on the season and join the Seahawks and 49ers as the other 3-1 teams in the NFC West. Truly, this division could come down to the last week of the season, and it’s going to be a treat.
Well, Stafford has been one of the best QBs in the NFL for quite some time, so it might only be a matter of time before he and the Rams separate themselves in the division. His 88-yard bomb to Tutu Atwell was the dagger for the Rams. Stafford is seventh in our QB power rankings.
6. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jasixth in our QB power rankings as Week 4 closes out. The Baltimore Ravens lost a stinker of a game to the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Ravens now drop to 1-3 on the season and have the same record as the Cleveland Browns.
Not only are the injuries mounting, but the team’s defense also hasn’t been good at all. Right now, the Ravens are in a tough spot, and it does not seem like they have an easy way out of things. Lamar Jackson might have to begin carrying the load more himself. Jackson is still, most weeks, the best quarterback in the NFL, but he drops a few in our latest rankings.
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
What we saw in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens was the Patrick Mahomes that we are used to seeing most of the time. Mahomes tossed four touchdown passes against a bad Ravens’ defense and is now 2-2 on the season after a shaky 0-2 start. At the end of the day, it might not be wise to count out Mahomes and the Chiefs - they simply find a way when people begin doubting.
The Chiefs have won the AFC West every single year of the Patrick Mahomes era and have also won the AFC three years in a row. Mahomes rises to fifth in our QB rankings after an unsurprisingly strong performance.
4. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield added another two touchdowns through the air, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not have enough in them to hold the fort down at home. However, they are still in a good spot in the NFC South and are still 3-1 on the season despite the loss. Tampa is well-coached and do have a well-rounded roster.
Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka has been a stud thus far for the Bucs, and Mayfield is going to keep targeting him as he gets more into his career. Mayfield has turned his career around with the Buccaneers and is one of the better quarterbacks in the league right now.
There aren’t many QBs who can do as much damage through the air as Baker Mayfield can since the start of 2023.
3. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers have a huge test in front of them on Sunday Night Football, and after a bad loss to the Cleveland Browns, I do see a path where the Packers bounce back in a huge way and blowout the Cowboys, who have struggled on defense this year.
Love himself is off to the best start of his career, and it’s important to remember that this is only his third year as a starter in the NFL, so the best is yet to come. Many QBs have hit their stride as their careers progress, so this could be what we see from Jordan Love. He’s emerging as one of the best QBs in the NFL.
2. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
With nine touchdowns on just two interceptions through four weeks, Jared Goff is still playing at a very high level. He wasn’t super efficient in Week 4, but the Lions blew out the Cleveland Browns and moved to 3-1 on the season. Goff is the steady QB they have enjoyed a ton of success with, and despite losing both Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson in the offseason, the Lions are still stacking wins and blowing opponents out.
This roster is among the best in the NFL, and all Jared Goff truly has to do in the regular season is not mess it up, but the playoffs are a different story…
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is the reigning MVP and can be the best QB in the NFL on any given week. The Bills’ Week 4 win over the New Orleans Saints was nothing special, but a win is a win. Buffalo is now 4-0 on the season and has bigger fish to fry, obviously.
This team has had its heart broken in the playoffs for years now, and if they could fast-forward to the playoffs, they would. Allen is one of the best dual-threat QBs of all-time and does do a great job at staying out of harm’s way and largely keeping himself healthy.
The Bills might have a future Hall of Fame QB on their hands if he can help lead this team to a Super Bowl.