The NFL quarterback hierarchy is beginning to really shape up. Let's power rank the starters after a wild week of action. There really has been a ton of high-end quarterbacking this year if you ask me, but there has also been a ton of low-end QB play as well.
The teams that are suffering at this position usually take a massive swing in the NFL Draft at some point, but we have seen some free agency quarterbacks work out quite well in recent years as well. Without high-end QB play, no team is going to go very far.
Let's get into our updated QB power rankings. We used Week 6 as the primary basis for our rankings but also took into consideration the total body of work as well, as that simply has to be counted in here on top of the recent performances.
QB Power Rankings: Drake Maye ascends, Justin Fields hits rock-bottom
32. Cooper Rush, Baltimore Ravens
Cooper Rush is the Baltimore Ravens backup QB but got benched in their Week 6 loss. The limited on-field play we have from Rush just isn’t pretty, so he settles in as the last-ranked QB in our updated rankings.
31. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Justin Fields finished with -10 passing yards in Week 6. Yes, -10.
Fields is simply not an NFL-caliber quarterback, and it’s not close, either. He’s a mid-tier backup at best and has all the typical problems that we see in today’s NFL with bad quarterbacks; Fields holds onto the ball for way too long, is a slow processor, and just cannot push the football downfield.
The Jets actually had a chance to win this game thanks to a series of massive, head-stratching errors by the Denver Broncos, but nine sacks on Fields were too much to overcome, as the Jets move to 0-6 on the season.
At some point, the Jets have to bench Justin Fields, as he is simply unplayable, no matter what his passer rating might indicate. Fields is among the worst starting QBs in the NFL, and honestly, might be one of the worst players as well.
30. Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns
Dillon Gabriel has been given an impossible task, and you really can’t blame him for the Cleveland Browns’ woes. Gabriel had to go into Acrisure Stadium to try and knock-off the Pittsburgh Steelers, and that simply was not going to happen. I believe we end up seeing Shedeur Sanders at some point, but that’s not because Gabriel has played poorly.
However, it’s not like he’s played all that well, either. The Browns do have two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so this team might end up taking a massive swing on a QB in next April’s draft. Dillon Gabriel has a ton of limitations as a potential franchise QB in the NFL, but he could settle in with the Browns or another team as a backup option.
Gabriel is 30th in our power rankings as Week 6 of the 2025 NFL Season closes out. Gabriel has not thrown an interception up to this point, so he’s largely keeping the ball out of harm’s way, and that absolutely is something that will keep a QB in the league for years.
29. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Flacco played about as good as the Cincinnati Bengals could have asked him to play after shockingly being traded from the Cleveland Browns earlier this week. Flacco finished the game with a respectable 90.9 passer rating and was able to throw two touchdown passes against zero interceptions, so that’s a good start.
There is reason to believe that Flacco and the Bengals could begin to scrape together a few wins, as he’s surely a better option at QB over Jake Browning, and he’ll also be able to get the ball to his best pass-catchers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Still, though, the veteran Flacco, who has now played for three of four AFC North teams, has largely played badly this year and doesn’t make up much ground in our updated QB power rankings.
28. Geno Smith Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders won a game they should have won, but Geno Smith threw another interception and now has 10 on the year, which is inexcusable. Smith has been pretty awful this year and is just constantly putting the ball in harm’s way.
The Raiders had a get-right game against the Tennessee Titans and were able to take care of business there, but that does not say much. The Titans may as well be an 0-6 team and only got their first win due to some insane dysfunction from the Arizona Cardinals.
The Raiders winning a pretty ‘whatever’ game against the Tennessee Titans does not change the fact that this franchise made a slew of horrible moves this offseason, and the primary horrible move was bringing Smith over in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
Geno Smith is 28th in our updated QB rankings, as his performance in Week 6 was still not anything special.
27. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
There really isn’t a ton to say about Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans. Ward has done what he can with the situation around him, and I get the feeling that a lot of the coaches and players on this team right now are not going to be in the mix in the 2026 NFL Season.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan feels like someone who could be shown the door soon, and Cam Ward simply does not have very good pass-catchers as well. I do think it’s wise to give him the benefit of the doubt simply because he’s in a brutally tough situation.
There might be three quarterbacks on the planet right now who could succeed in the situation that Cam Ward is currently in. He was a first overall pick for a reason and is clearly a player who has the makeup and potential to be a franchise QB.
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi probably has more work on his plate than he originally thought when he took this job, as he’s likely set to undergo a head coaching search and is going to have to totally remake the offensive side of the ball as well.
26. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett operated the Arizona Cardinals offense pretty well in Week 6, but the Indianapolis Colts appear to be a juggernaut and have not lost a game at home this season, so Brissett and the Cardinals did respond quite well after their massive letdown in Week 5.
Kyler Murray was hurt in this game and did not play, but some are wondering if Murray is even the correct fit for this offense, seeing as how Brissett was able to open things up a bit more. I get the sense that Brissett could remain the starter here over the next few weeks, as the Cardinals could potentially slow-play Murray’s return to the lineup.
If nothing else, Jacoby Brissett is a battle-tested veteran QB who is about as good of a backup passer as a team can get, so if he’s called to start a game, that team still does stand a chance. Brissett comes in at no. 26 in our QB rankings, as we obviously can’t rank him much higher.
25. Michael Penix Jr, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr hasn’t been very good for the Atlanta Falcons this year, but he’s still early on in his career and is still a de-facto rookie. He got a handful of starts near the end of the 2024 NFL Season after Kirk Cousins declined in real-time.
The Falcons did improve their defense this offseason which has certainly been a bit of a story, but you’d ideally love to see more from Penix as the year goes on. There are a ton of examples of young quarterbacks beginning to put things together as they get further into their early NFL careers.
Penix was one of six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and four of these QBs already look like franchise cornerstones. Michael Penix Jr and the Falcons could really get the franchise a massive win for this new era in beating the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.
24. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Already with seven interceptions on the season, Tua Tagovailoa is not playing good football this year. The Miami Dolphins had their chances against the LA Chargers, but they predictably could not get anything done.
The Dolphins have to hit the reset button in a major way and perhaps even move on from their veteran QB. Tagovailoa has put the ball in harm’s way at a higher rate than he has at any point in his NFL career, and internally, it does not seem like the Dolphins have much of anything positive going on, unfortunately.
Just a couple of years ago, this team was among the best in the AFC, and it finally felt like they were able to get something going, but it’s crazy how quickly things have changed.
Tagovailoa is no. 24 in our QB power rankings as Week 6 closes out, as it seems like the one thing he was good at - not committing a ton of turnovers, but things change quickly in the NFL.
23. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants have been fun so far. This team is now 2-1 in Dart’s three starts, and he has largely looked OK. What we’d love to see from the rookie QB is simply him being able to settle into the offense a bit more as the season goes on.
A lot of what has happened with Dart and the Giants’ offense has been things out of structure, and that can’t always work, but something has to be said about his ability to create those plays out of structure, and that’s always a good quality for any NFL quarterback.
Jaxson Dart may have been the franchise QB that the New York Giants have been searching for, and you get the sense that this current Giants’ regime might get the 2026 NFL Season to see if they can unlock this era a bit more.
22. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
All of a sudden, the Carolina Panthers are 3-3 and feel like things might be starting to click. It was a huge win over the Dallas Cowboys and their second win in a row. This franchise might honestly be onto something, but they also might not be.
Bryce Young had himself a solid day and has now thrown 10 touchdowns against five interceptions, and his passer rating on the season is now a respectable 84. Slowly but surely, are the Carolina Panthers figuring this thing out?
I do think it is wise to have a bit of caution, though, as the Dallas Cowboys defense might just be the worst in the NFL, and they typically make every single QB look good, but Bryce Young was a first overall pick for a reason.
If I were a Panthers fan, I would have to at least be slightly encouraged by what I have seen over the past two weeks. Sure, their two-straight wins over the Dolphins and Cowboys might not be all that impressive, but there are a ton of teams who have fewer than three wins, and the Panthers, through six games, are right in the mix in the NFC.
21. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts has been bad the past two weeks for the Philadelphia Eagles, and he is absolutely one of the main issues with this football team right now. Sure, offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo is not helping anything, and the offensive line has been a bit banged up as well.
However, when the circumstances aren’t perfect, you can see why Jalen Hurts isn’t anything special. This is not a top-tier QB, and it’s not even close. He can’t throw the ball at a high level and often holds onto the ball for too long despite having elite weapons around him.
Hurts and the Eagles have now lost two games in a row and look lost on the offensive side of the ball. Jalen Hurts doesn’t help things. He’s a limited quarterback, and it’s been that way his entire career.
20. Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
It was a game to forget for Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers, but despite the loss, the 49ers are still 4-2 on the season, and the sky is not falling. Fred Warner is out for the year due to a pretty nasty dislocated ankle he suffered in this game, and to perhaps spill on even more injury, Mac Jones didn’t play well.
Jones threw for 347 yards but did have two interceptions, so he takes a hit in our latest QB power rankings. I would expect that if Brock Purdy is healthy, the 49ers have the obvious decision to go back to him. Mac Jones was playing some excellent football for the 49ers, but this game here in Week 6 might end things.
On paper, the 49ers still have a pretty easy schedule ahead of them and did just play one of their toughest opponents.
There are a ton of teams in a much worse position, and if Mac Jones needed to start again, there’s reason to believe he’d be able to figure it out. Jones falls to no. 20 in our QB power rankings as Week 6 closes out.
19. Carson Wentz, Minnesota Vikings
Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings are in a decent spot right now, and Wentz has held his own. It’s honestly quite impressive that Wentz was able to come into the mix and immediately perform at a decent level after being thrust into the starting lineup, but it seems like the Minnesota Vikings are poised to go back to JJ McCarthy when he is healthy and ready to return.
The Vikings have had such an odd QB situation over the past couple of seasons, and you just wonder if this team regrets letting Sam Darnold leave just a little bit, as he and the Seattle Seahawks have played quite well this year and are 4-2 through their first six games.
Wentz has definitely done what is asked of him, and he gets a bit of respect for it with being ranked 19th in our updated QB power rankings for Week 6.
18. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
Spencer Rattler has been solid and efficient this year for the New Orleans Saints, and I really do think the Saints would be wise to keep Rattler around in 2026 and to try and build around him more. He’s been good this year, dare I say, and with how bad the Saints are on paper, Rattler might be able to unlock another level with more talent around him.
The Saints lost in Week 6 to a great team in the New England Patriots, but they’ve played many of their opponents close, and Rattler has done what’s been asked of him. Honestly, the Saints using a second-round pick on Tyler Shough in the 2025 NFL Draft is looking worse and worse each day.
I would expect New Orleans to be sellers at the deadline despite their QB playing well, though.
17. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars definitely have some good wins on their record thus far, but this was a team they simply could not match up with. This is the main concern I have with the Jaguars, in my opinion.
The upstart Jags got out to a 4-1 start with some top-notch wins, but we just do not know just how good this team is, and QB Trevor Lawrence has never really been consistently looked at as a franchise QB.
Things seem to be turning around for the better this year, but the Jags are going to have to beat a few good teams down the stretch if they hope to capture the AFC South crown, and I am just not sure if Trevor Lawrence is that guy for the job. Liam Coen has done a great job in his first year as their head coach, but unlocking the QB should be the goal with the remainder of the 2025 NFL Season.
16. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans were able to win their second game in a row against the Baltimore Ravens back in Week 5 and were on their bye in Week 6. Stroud and the Texans have had a lot to sort through on the offensive side of the ball, but perhaps that win over the Ravens could begin to paint a better picture.
The Texans did see the Titans and Jaguars lose in Week 6, but the Colts winning does separate them by another game. The Texans do have what it takes to win the division and have done it the past two seasons, but CJ Stroud is going to have to play like the QB he was during his breakout season back in 2023.
For now, though, he’ll be ranked right in the middle of our updated QB rankings, but has the potential to rise big-time.
The offensive line has been a sore spot for this franchise for multiple seasons, so I do wonder if GM Nick Caserio is working the phones to try and get that unit a bit better before November 4th.
15. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix has not lit up the stat sheet over the past month, but he’s now thrown five touchdowns against just one interception during the Broncos’ past four games. Denver is now 3-1 over their last four and have won three games in a row.
In the second half of their win in Week 6, Sean Payton’s play-calling seriously went off the rails, so the total nonexistence of the passing game wasn’t Nix’s fault, at all. However, the second-year QB has been efficient in keeping the ball out of harm’s way and simply never takes many sacks, so the Denver Broncos generally don’t give it away on offense much at all.
Nix and the Broncos now move to 4-2 on the season and are one game ahead of where they were at this point in the 2024 campaign. The Broncos return home for a two-game homestand after a brutal schedule over the past three weeks.
14. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes played on Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have been a bit of a mixed bag this year. The Chiefs are currently driving on Sunday Night Football as I type these words, but I just do not see a path for this team to beat the Detroit Lions.
The Lions simply have too much roster talent for the Chiefs to match up with. Patrick Mahomes has been fine this year, but the Chiefs just can’t really do a whole lot on offense, and the defense is nothing special.
We have seen a dip in production from Mahomes in recent years, and them not being able to consistently throw the ball downfield is a huge reason why that dip in production has occurred. It would not shock me to see the Chiefs losing the AFC West this year.
13. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers get a win and are now 3-1-1 on the season after a tie with the Dallas Cowboys a couple of weeks ago. Jordan Love was fine in this game, but he wasn’t great, and you absolutely would have liked to see a stronger performance at home from a team coming off their bye week.
The Packers are going to go as far as Love takes them. This is a great team on paper, but we’re waiting for the veteran QB to truly hit his stride and not look back. This is just his third year as a starter in the NFL, so perhaps it will come soon, but I was not left with a great taste in my mouth after a pretty iffy win over the Bengals, who traded for their current starting QB earlier this week.
Jordan Love takes a slight hit in our QB rankings and falls to no. 13.
12. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers won a pretty ho-hum game against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 of the 2025 NFL Season and now move to 4-1 on the year. The Browns, Ravens, and Bengals all lost and are now the epitome of dysfunction.
The Steelers simply have to not mess this thing up, and Aaron Rodgers is not a quarterback who has ever thrown a ton of interceptions, so Pittsburgh is probably going to run away with the AFC North title by the time the last month of the season rolls around.
The other starting QBs in the AFC North when Week 6 began were Dillon Gabriel, Joe Flacco, and Cooper Rush. Yeah, that’s how bad it’s gotten. Rodgers has played well this year but hasn’t really been all that special. He’s a modest no. 12 in our QB rankings.
11. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears really begun to find something notable on offense in their two-game win streak. The Bears now take on the Washington Commanders in the second Monday Night Football game, and we all remember what happened the last time these two teams played in the 2024 NFL Season.
Williams has been under a lot of scrutiny this offseason, and it’s mostly due to him playing for the Bears and perhaps not having nearly as good of a rookie season as some thought. But when you look at it, Caleb Williams did do quite a good job given the circumstances, and first-year head coach Ben Johnson has been tasked with getting this offense right.
Williams has five touchdown passes over his last two games and has eight through four games, so he’s on pace for a healthy 34 here in the 2025 NFL Season. I would not be shocked to see Williams and this offense really take off in the coming weeks.
10. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Playing in just three games this year due to an injury already, Jayden Daniels is still probably getting himself acclimated this season. He’s completed less than 60% of his passes and has tossed four touchdowns against zero interceptions, and injuries have been the name of the game for the Commanders this year, but in Daniels’ return in Week 5, they had a fantastic win over the LA Chargers, so that could give them some footing to go on a run here.
Jayden Daniels has proven himself to be a top QB in the NFL, as his rookie season last year was the best we’ve seen by a rookie QB in the history of the NFL. The one thing I have mentioned with the Commanders is the older roster and the lack of high-end roster talent.
I just do not know if they have enough sheer talent to go on a run to the Super Bowl, but if Daniels can make a year two leap, they absolutely could.
9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
It was a pretty solid outing for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers got a bit of a scare from the Miami Dolphins, but they were able to close it out and move to 4-2 on the season, keeping pace with the Denver Broncos, who have all of a sudden won three games in a row.
The Chargers have been dealing with a ton of injuries on offense and are trotting out a pretty limp offensive line. Herbert does deserve a bit of credit for being able to stand tall in the offensive line and still produce at a high level.
I don’t believe he’s truly an elite player at the position and actually think he’s closer to being this generation’s Kirk Cousins, so him being ninth here in our QB rankings feels like his ceiling. Justin Herbert is always going to be an efficient QB, but can he lead a team consistently into the postseason?
8. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks took care of business against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 6 and earned themselves a very solid road win after falling at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.
I was flat-out wrong about the Seahawks, and I’ll admit it right here. I did not think Sam Darnold was going to be nearly as efficient as he’s been, as it seems like he’s not skipped a beat from his breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings.
And it just goes to show you just how much a change in scenery and getting out of the dysfunction can help players reach their full potential. Darnold still has a couple of years before he turns 30 years old, so the prime of his career might truly be just beginning.
He’s largely been good all season and has been one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the NFL.
7. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Completing nearly 72% of his passes, Daniel Jones is still playing well and is also playing himself into some sort of contract extension with the Colts if this keeps up. The Colts are now 5-1 on the season and undefeated at home after their huge win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Jones was cut by the New York Giants during the season back in 2024 and was able to latch on with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings did seem to want him back, but he took a gamble and went to Indy.
It’s paid off thus far, but Jones and the Colts still have to close this thing out and capture the AFC South title. Jones has been efficient and decisive this year and is no. 7 in our QB rankings. I do truly wonder how much higher he can go, though, as he's been a bottom-10 QB for much of his NFL career.
6. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Without Lamar Jackson in the lineup for the Baltimore Ravens, they truly never stood a chance, so all Matthew Stafford and the LA Rams had to do was to simply not mess things up, and they did. Stafford and the Rams are now 4-2 on the season and are in a record tie with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers after Week 6.
The Arizona Cardinals have dropped to 2-4 on the season, and it does not feel like that team is going to be able to rebound given what has gone on. With 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions on the season, Stafford himself has been flat-out great and is on pace for one of the more efficient and clean seasons of his NFL career.
The veteran QB has not thrown an interception since September 21st, and it feels like this LA Rams team here in the 2025 NFL Season could end up being the best in the Matthew Stafford era. He’s a future Hall of Fame QB, and, despite approaching 40 years old, is still aligning the rock at a very high level.
5. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
It was a tale of two halves for Drake Maye, but he finishes Week 6 having thrown three touchdown passes and 261 yards. On the season, the second-year QB has now thrown 10 touchdown passes and is completing over 73% of his passes, so the breakout season is here and it’s something.
The Patriots are now 4-2 on the season and are absolutely a playoff-caliber team. It would be hard for the Pats to not make the playoffs at this point, as their schedule is quite soft the rest of the way, and there are only a handful of quarterbacks playing more efficient football than Drake Maye right now.
I think when doing QB rankings, it’s important to discard the household names and simply look at which passers are currently playing the best, and we are taking the most recent performances as the primary basis here. Drake Maye is no. 4.
4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen has been great thus far for the Buffalo Bills, and the team will take their 4-1 record into Atlanta to face the Falcons on Monday Night Football. The Falcons had a bye in Week 5, so they are coming off a good bit of rest. With this game being at home, I would not be shocked to see the Falcons hang around for a bit.
However, Josh Allen is one of a small handful of quarterbacks who can simply take over a game when needed. He’s the reigning MVP for a reason and should be able to feast against the Falcons. Allen and the Bills actually have some defensive concerns right now, and I would not be shocked to see the front office dipping into the trade market for some help on that side of the ball in the coming weeks.
Josh Allen continues to stand tall in our QB rankings.
3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
With 13 touchdown passes on just three interceptions this year, Dak Prescott rises to third in our QB power rankings and looks like he’s playing a different game out there. Prescott has thrown 10 touchdown passes on zero interceptions over the past three games, but the Cowboys took a pretty brutal defeat in Week 6 thanks to the Carolina Panthers.
You could list out the 100 issues with the Cowboys, and Prescott’s name would not appear anywhere on that list. He is again playing elite football, and he’s got this weird trend during his career where in the following season after a down year in play or a notable injury, he plays lights-out, and that’s been the case here in the 2025 NFL Season.
There aren’t many quarterbacks playing at the level of Dak Prescott right now, period. He's on an MVP pace right now.
2. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another MVP-caliber performance from Baker Mayfield has him no. 2 in our QB power rankings. Mayfield is simply playing better football than most quarterbacks in the NFL and has now thrown 12 touchdown passes against just one interception this year.
With all the injuries the Buccaneers have been dealing with on the offensive side of the ball, especially at receiver, Mayfield’s production feels truly elite.
No matter what happens the rest of Week 6, Tampa Bay would at least be tied for the best record in the entire NFL after their Week 6 win against the San Francisco 49ers, a team that has been bitten by the injury bug.
It’s time we have some serious conversations about Baker Mayfield, as he’s not only found himself here in Tampa, but there might only be one QB on the planet right now who is playing better than him, and it’s just wild to see how Mayfield has turned his career around.
1. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff played on Sunday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs
Jared Goff has been flat-out spectacular in the 2025 NFL Season and is atop of our QB power rankings. Goff and the Lions head into their Sunday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a strong 3-1 record, and I do believe they end up winning this game, but I could be wrong.
Goff and the Lions really haven’t skipped a beat on offense since losing Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears head coaching job, and it really feels like Goff has remade himself as a QB since being discarded by the Los Angeles Rams a few weeks ago. Even if the Lions were to lose to the Chiefs on SNF, I would still feel comfortable taking them to capture the NFC North title in the 2025 NFL Season, as Goff is the division’s best QB, and they’ve got the best overall roster.
The veteran QB is first in our power rankings, but if he were to have a bit of a dud on SNF, he could be bumped down a few slots.