The NFL Hall of Fame Game has already come and gone, which means we're about to start reacting to actual football things happening in just a few short weeks. For now, we all get to continue to enjoy the NFL content mill churning out rankings that are definitely not going to end up on Old Takes Exposed at any point.
Our latest NFL power rankings are going to take a look at every division in the league but with a twist. We're going to rank every team and every division based on their starting quarterback for the 2024 season. Which divisions around the league have the best quarterback play and which ones are lacking? Who has the most potential this year?
NFL Power Rankings: Ranking every team and division by starting QB
8. NFC South team/quarterback rankings
4. Bryce Young, Panthers
I think just about everyone wants to see Bryce Young find a way to turn it around this year with the Panthers.
The former #1 overall pick now has some better weapons around him and a head coach in Dave Canales who has helped revive the NFL careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield over the last couple of seasons. Young is in a much better position right now than he was a year ago but he’s at the bottom of the overall totem pole – the worst QB in the division with the “worst” QBs overall.
3. Derek Carr, Saints
Statistically speaking, there was nothing really about Derek Carr’s first year with the New Orleans Saints that you wouldn’t like. In fact, there wasn’t really anything that you wouldn’t have expected from him, in general. He kind of is what he is at this point.
There are going to be some weeks when the Saints go off for 40-plus points and there are going to be weeks where they struggle to get 10 points on the board. Luckily for them, Carr falls somewhere in between there “most” of the time. It’s going to be intriguing to see how he fares with all of the changes on the offensive line in 2024.
2. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield now has a big new contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after his second “breakout” NFL season.
Hope seemed completely lost for Mayfield at this time a year ago and there were certainly plenty of people who had written him off, despite the fact that the Bucs provided him a great situation to rehab his career on paper. After bouncing back late in 2022 with the Rams, Mayfield earned his job with the Bucs and played really well, even helping the team win a playoff game against the Eagles.
We’ll see if he can keep it up without Dave Canales calling the shots as the Bucs’ OC. He’s been replaced by Liam Coen.
1. Kirk Cousins, Falcons
I still believe that Kirk Cousins is one of the better and more underrated overall quarterbacks in the NFL when he’s fully healthy. The issue is, we’re seeing signs of his body really wearing down over the last couple of years, and the Falcons saw the signs as well.
But they were still willing to pay the $180 million price tag to get him out of Minneapolis.
We saw on the Netflix Quarterback show that Cousins was getting beat up regularly in Minnesota. Then he suffered an Achilles injury last year. How is he going to do in a new city with all new playmakers around him in 2024? Can he fend off Michael Penix Jr.?
7. AFC South team/quarterback rankings
4. Will Levis, Titans
This is a huge year for Will Levis, I don't think there's any question about that.
The Titans have done a good job of putting talent around Levis and there’s a new head coach in the building who is going to do his best to make Levis a franchise QB (Brian Callahan). But the jury is still very much out.
There was talk in the lead-up to the 2023 NFL Draft that Levis could be a top-five pick and he fell to the second round. We saw last year some glimpses of what made him such an enticing prospect overall, but they were just glimpses. There won’t be much doubt by the end of the 2024 season whether or not Levis can cut it as a starter in the NFL after the Titans have given him DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Tony Pollard, and another first-round tackle (JC Latham).
3. Anthony Richardson, Colts
What we saw in the brief time Anthony Richardson was on the field last year for the Colts was tremendous. Physically, he’s got to be the single most impressive quarterback in the NFL. The arm strength, the athleticism, the ability to run, the overall size he has…He’s truly something special.
And while many were scared off by what kind of “project” he could be at the NFL level, Shane Steichen saw his talent and found a way to consistently put him in positions to succeed. We need to see Richardson stay healthy but he could have the Colts’ offense humming in short order.
2. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence has had two pretty rough seasons in his first three years in the NFL, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are manifesting him blossoming into a top-10 quarterback. The ownership gave Lawrence a massive $275 million contract extension this offseason, and at an average of $55 million per year (tied for most in the NFL right now), Lawrence is going to have to do more than 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Last season was substantially worse for him in a number of important ways, but hopefully Lawrence is healthy and back on track after we saw great improvement from him in 2022.
1. CJ Stroud, Texans
CJ Stroud came into the NFL in 2023 and absolutely dominated. After what we saw from him at the end of his time at Ohio State, how could we be that surprised?
Stroud led the NFL in TD-to-INT ratio with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He was outstanding all season for the Texans and there is going to be a lot of pressure on him for the encore performance as a sophomore.
Stroud is still a growing player but the Texans are pretty loaded overall around him and he certainly won’t have to do it by himself, by any means.
6. NFC North team/quarterback rankings
4. Sam Darnold/JJ McCarthy, Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings made the difficult – but probably necessary – decision to move on from veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason. They moved up a little bit in the 2024 NFL Draft to get Michigan’s ultra-charismatic JJ McCarthy, and added him to the quarterback room with Sam Darnold.
Darnold, the former 3rd-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, seems to be in line to start the year but McCarthy has had an encouraging enough camp to make the Vikings at least think about it. We’ll see how the competition winds up, but the Vikings have the least desirable QB situation in the NFC North right now.
3. Caleb Williams, Bears
For the first time in forever, the Chicago Bears seem to have a legit franchise quarterback.
Alright, let’s settle down and see Caleb Williams play first, shall we? In all seriousness, the Bears struck gold just one year after making a pretty massive mistake that not enough people give them credit for. Chicago had a clear shot at CJ Stroud but traded out of the #1 overall pick in 2023.
They got a mulligan in 2024 – somehow – and they managed to land a prospect that some have considered “generational”. Let’s all see what happens.
2. Jared Goff, Lions
I feel bad putting Jared Goff second on this list, but Jordan Love has the higher ceiling.
Goff is in such a great spot right now. He’s got an awesome team around him, the best offensive line in the league, great receivers, great coaching, and a city that has obviously embraced him after a rough exit from Los Angeles.
There’s not much to dislike about Goff, especially when he gets hot. He’s like a very high-end starting pitcher in baseball with a high floor – every time he goes out there, you know you’re getting a quality start.
1. Jordan Love, Packers
Jordan Love took over after the trade sending Aaron Rodgers to the Jets and wound up finishing 2nd in the NFL in passing touchdowns, 7th in passing yards, and 9th in QBR.
With all of the weapons at his disposal, Love showed an exceptional ability to not only run Matt LaFleur’s offense, but spread the ball around the field and make a ton of plays. He is undoubtedly one of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the game and it’s going to be fascinating to watch his development in year two as the starter.
5. NFC East team/quarterback rankings
4. Daniel Jones, Giants
I am concerned about what we’re going to see from Daniel Jones in 2024. Coming off of injury, Jones has received a lot of negative reviews coming out of Giants training camp…except when he throws the ball to Malik Nabers.
Jones isn’t going to be able to throw to Nabers every single play, but featuring Nabers in the offense could be what prevents him from ultimately bottoming out as a starter. I just don’t know what we’re going to get from him all throughout the season on passes not thrown to Nabers.
This could be his last season as the Giants’ starter.
3. Jayden Daniels, Commanders
The Commanders had the 2nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and wound up with one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in this rookie class.
You have to love Daniels’ attitude and mentality which we saw on display on the offseason version of HBO’s Hard Knocks. Brian Daboll, the head coach of the Giants, asked Daniels what he would do with a certain look a defense was giving him and he simply stated, “Throw a touchdown.”
This guy is a playmaker but that playmaking ability can get him into some trouble at times. It won’t always be pretty but the Commanders have a fun one.
2. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Eagles fans aren’t going to like hearing this, but Dak Prescott is simply a better quarterback than Jalen Hurts at this point. As much fun as Eagles fans (and others) make of Prescott for turning the ball over, Jalen Hurts had 15 interceptions and yet another nine fumbles last season.
It was a tough year for Hurts after getting his big-money contract, but a “down to earth” year for him was a banner year for many other players at the QB position. He still finished with 38 total touchdowns and is a dynamic threat unlike most others at the position in today’s game.
1. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Dak Prescott is fresh off of leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes. He posted the lowest interception rate of his NFL career at 1.5 percent on a whopping 590 pass attempts. Prescott was dialed in last season and it just unfortunately all unraveled at the worst possible time.
Which has unfortunately become part of his M.O.
Can Prescott lead the Cowboys deeper into the playoffs now with so much transition all over the roster?
4. AFC West team/quarterback rankings
4. Aidan O'Connell/Gardner Minshew, Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders might be in the most unenviable position at quarterback out of any team in the NFL. Is it possible that Aidan O’Connell develops into a viable starter? It’s possible. Is it possible that Gardner Minshew can somewhat raise the floor at the position?
It’s possible.
If I had to guess right now, I would say that the Raiders are the most likely team to be in the quarterback market next offseason.
3. Bo Nix/Jarrett Stidham, Broncos
The Denver Broncos certainly made some bold moves in the 2024 offseason, including the decision to release veteran Russell Wilson while taking on an NFL-record $85 million in dead cap over the next two seasons.
The decision to cut Wilson was not taken lightly by the organization, and Sean Payton responded to that move by going after Bo Nix in the 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Nix is the first first-round pick made by Sean Payton as an NFL head coach. And Payton really likes Nix. Nix is having a strong camp and could end up being the first Denver Broncos franchise quarterback that was actually drafted by the team.
2. Justin Herbert, Chargers
Justin Herbert wasn’t fully healthy last year and missed four games, but the real concern has come into play with recent reports that Herbert is dealing with a foot injury with the timetable of “ready by Week 1”.
We’ll see what happens, but it’s worth monitoring.
Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and has been let down by the supporting cast he has in Los Angeles, whether we’re talking about the roster or the coaching staff. This is a big year for him, however, with Jim Harbaugh now in place as his head coach.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
For the time being, Tom Brady is the GOAT. Patrick Mahomes could challenge that.
What else needs to be said here? Even with a “down” year in 2023, Mahomes was still able to turn it on when it mattered most in the playoffs and especially in the Super Bowl against the 49ers and one of the league’s best overall defenses.
Mahomes now has Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy in his receiver room, and could be the most dangerous we’ve ever seen him in 2024.
3. NFC West team/quarterback rankings
4. Geno Smith, Seahawks
Geno Smith has done an outstanding job of rehabbing his NFL career as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, but you can’t help but wonder when the clock is going to strike midnight here.
The Seahawks seemed to prepare for that this offseason when they made a trade for Commanders 2022 5th-round pick Sam Howell. Getting Howell in the mix didn’t exactly guarantee a QB competition in Seattle this offseason but it was certainly an eyebrow-raising move.
3. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
After coming back from his ACL injury this past season, Kyler Murray is poised to potentially have the best year of his NFL career. I think he’s got a really good offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing, and I also think there are few quarterbacks in the NFL that got as substantial of an upgrade at receiver this offseason as Murray did with the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr.
Murray is so dynamic at the position and should be even more comfortable this year than he was last year on that knee.
2. Matthew Stafford, Rams
Matthew Stafford is simultaneously the reason I believe the Rams are legitimate contenders in the NFC and also the reason why I believe this team could have an early exit from the playoffs – if they make it.
The Rams are a completely different team than the one that won the Super Bowl in the 2021-22 season. With that said, Matthew Stafford is also a few years older at this point and it feels like he’s on the cusp of calling it a career. There are both positive and negative aspects to that. If he can stay healthy, I still believe this Rams team contends in the NFC.
1. Brock Purdy, 49ers
It’s time to put some respect on Brock Purdy’s name. It will never not be cool that he was the Mr. Irrelevant pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, but with the way Purdy has played the last couple of seasons, the pressure is going to start to ramp up and he’s going to get judged on the same playing field as the other top-tier QBs in the NFL.
With a touchdown percentage of 7.2 through his first two NFL seasons, Purdy is a bona fide stud in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
2. AFC North team/quarterback rankings
4. Deshaun Watson, Browns
I’m not buying any Deshaun Watson stock this year whatsoever. Madden doesn’t always get its ratings right, but even they have Watson rated as the worst quarterback in the AFC North, tied with Justin Fields at 75 overall.
Watson has appeared in 12 games over the last two years for the Browns since they handed him a fully-guaranteed $230 million contract. And he hasn’t exactly lit it up in those two years. Fortunately for Watson, the team around him is just really good.
This is a pivotal year for him proving that the Browns didn’t make one of the worst trades in NFL history.
3. Russell Wilson/Justin Fields, Steelers
Compared to Kenny Pickett, the arrival of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields is going to feel like the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense hit the lottery.
In the grand scheme of things, we may be facing a situation with very similar frustrations as the season goes along.
Russell Wilson takes too many sacks. Justin Fields turns the ball over too much. The Steelers need to figure out which one of these guys is going to give them the best chance to win over 17 games and right now, the hype is certainly favoring Fields a bit.
With Arthur Smith calling the plays, Fields might be the best fit to run the offense.
2. Joe Burrow, Bengals
Back from injury, Joe Burrow should be expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league once again. Anytime he’s healthy, I expect nothing short of MVP-caliber play from Burrow. That might be a little unfair, but that’s the type of player he is.
Burrow has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his NFL career thus far, but he has ice in his veins when games are on the line and the Bengals have invested heavily around him on the offensive line, especially in 2024 with the additions of Trent Brown and Amarius Mims.
1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Lamar Jackson is the MVP, and Todd Monken seemingly activated something in him as a passer that we haven’t seen since his 2019 MVP season.
Jackson is the elite dual-threat quarterback of the NFL today, and he’s now got Derrick Henry to hand the ball off to. Good luck, defenses.
Jackson has always been smart with the football as a passer and he’s poised to have maybe his best year yet with the continued growth of the weapons around him.
1. AFC East team/quarterback rankings
4. Jacoby Brissett/Drake Maye, Patriots
The Patriots raise the floor of the AFC East quarterback group with the addition of Jacoby Brissett, a reliable veteran who could help this offense take a decent step forward in 2024. The selection of Drake Maye with the 3rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft gives the Patriots upside to climb this list significantly in the coming years.
3. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
There’s obviously going to be some pushback on this because Aaron Rodgers and the Jets are beloved by so many out there. But what version of Aaron Rodgers are we really going to get this coming season? I’m not questioning his legacy in the NFL, I’m questioning what guy is going to show up out there.
We’re talking about a player who is over 40 years old and is coming off of a major Achilles injury. Rodgers also didn’t play great when we last saw him for a full season with the Green Bay Packers in 2022. I still think he’s going to do well if he can stay healthy in 2024, but I have a decent amount of skepticism.
2. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is another divisive player for many when it comes to general NFL fandom but there’s no doubt that he’s been one of the best in the league since Mike McDaniel came to the Dolphins. He just received a massive $212.4 million contract with the Dolphins after seeing his touchdown percentage jump from 3.9 percent in his first two NFL seasons to 5.75 percent over the last two years. He’s taken the leap.
1. Josh Allen, Bills
Now that I’m finishing up this list, let’s just admit that the AFC North – in general – is a divisive division when it comes to the quarterbacks. Josh Allen is not everyone’s favorite flavor but he’s a playmaker, a great leader, and someone who has proven he can go toe to toe with the great Patrick Mahomes. He hasn’t bested him on the big stage yet, but Allen is one of the NFL’s truly elite players and he’s able to overcome some of his bad habits with relative ease, it seems.