Determining the strength of field generals around the league.
The talent of the NFL is dispersed across the country, but how do the league’s positions stack up when grouped by division? In this series, we’ll be ranking the team sets by the strength of the competition within their own. Let’s kick things off with none other than the quarterbacks!
1. AFC WEST
Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers
Denver’s Bo Nix is coming off a strong rookie season in which he and Sean Payton brought them back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, when the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. Nix finished top-15 in yards and top-ten in touchdowns last year and should continue to be successful in a strong offense.
Since entering the league in 2017, Patrick Mahomes has undoubtedly been a top-three QB. In seven years as starter for the Chiefs, Mahomes has led them to the playoffs each time, including trips to the Super Bowl five times with three championships.
Geno Smith has bounced around a bit since being drafted in 2013, but he began coming into his own in 2022 with three straight 20+ TD seasons. After serving a five-year stint in Seattle, Smith was traded this offseason to the Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick. He reunites with his former head coach, Pete Carroll, who is also new to Vegas.
Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert was drafted sixth overall in 2020 and has proven to be worth it. Herbert always puts up strong statistical seasons, even securing a 5,000+ yard 2021 campaign. Although he does not have any playoff victories yet, he has brought the Chargers to the postseason twice in his five years.
2. NFC East
Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
Dallas, America’s team, has been fortunate to find consistent QB play since 2016 in Dak Prescott. While it may be enticing to rib on the Cowboys about their lack of recent playoff success, the numbers are hard to ignore. Prescott dealt with some injuries last year, but a healthy 2025 could lead to big things for that offense.
The Giants’ QB room is… interesting to say the least. Russell Wilson signed with New York after the long-time Seahawk spent a few down years with the Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be the starter in a room that also carries Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito, and first-round draft pick Jaxson Dart.
The Eagles are flying high after Jalen Hurts and company won Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Hurts is one of the better dual-threat QBs in the NFL today. At just 26 years old, he will continue to have success in the City of Brotherly Love for some time to come.
The only rookie to have a better year than Nix in 2024? Jayden Daniels. Washington seems to have struck gold with the LSU product whom they selected with the second-overall pick in the 2024 draft. Daniels won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award en route to a Cinderella-type run to the NFC Championship with the Commanders.
3. AFC North
Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Ravens have become the team to beat as of late in this division; Lamar Jackson is a big reason why. Jackson, who was the MVP runner-up in 2024, had an outstanding 41 touchdowns as opposed to just four interceptions. Lamar has been vital in getting the Ravens to the playoffs, but has failed in reaching the big one thus far.
Unlike Jackson, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow has reached the Super Bowl before. In 2022, he and the Bengals fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the final game of the NFL season. The former number one pick led the league in yards and touchdowns last year. He’ll be looking to continue that success.
Cleveland currently has five QBs on their roster. One of the oldest players in the league, Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, and 2025 draft picks, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders make up the room. The Browns certainly have options going into training camp.
You’ll find the oldest active player in the NFL also resides in the AFC North. Newly signed Steeler, Aaron Rodgers, is entering his 21st season, just his third away from the Green Bay Packers, and is 41 years old. Rodgers spent the last two years in New York with the Jets, where he faced major injury and up-and-down production.
4. NFC West
Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Kyler Murray, the number one overall pick in 2019, has been a staple of the Cardinals offense. Murray has been consistent as a passer and rusher when he pulls the football down. He’ll be looking to build with Arizona and improve upon his lone playoff appearance.
Matthew Stafford is coming off a 10-7 season where he and the Rams won their division before falling to the eventual champion Eagles in the playoffs. Los Angeles made a trade for Stafford ahead of the 2021 season, ultimately leading to his first ring. He has been a big part of the offensive turnaround for the Rams.
San Francisco had a down year, thanks in large part to a ton of injuries. One positive that kept them afloat last year was QB Brock Purdy. Purdy, well-renowned for being “Mr. Irrelevant” in his NFL draft, has proved all of his doubters wrong by becoming one of the top field generals in the league and even brought SF to SBLVIII.
Geno Smith was discussed earlier as the new quarterback in Las Vegas, so what lies ahead for Seattle? They signed former Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold to what people have called a “risky” three-year contract this offseason. As an insurance move, Seattle also drafted Alabama QB Jalen Milroe in the third round of this year’s draft.
5. AFC East
Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets
While Lamar Jackson finished in second place, the 2024 MVP award went to the quarterback who knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs. Bills QB Josh Allen led his team into the AFC Championship game before falling heartbreakingly. Honestly? Allen is carrying this division into the fifth spot.
In the Dolphins week two game last year, QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered the third concussion of his young professional career, forcing him to miss six games. There was even a point in time when doctors were advising him against continuing to play football. When Tua is healthy, he is a good player, but Miami has to be wary of his consistency on time on the field.
The New England Patriots are well past the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era and are now entering a Drake Maye-Mike Vrabel period. Maye showed some flashes of potential in his rookie year with Jerod Mayo at the helm, but New England is hoping that the offensive-minded Vrabel will be able to tap into the young QB’s skill set.
For the Jets, the Rodgers fever dream has come and gone. New York and new head coach Aaron Glenn signed former Chicago Bears and Steelers QB Justin Fields to a two-year deal in March. Fields has yet to throw for 3,000 yards in any season he’s played and is eager for a fresh start in the Big Apple.
6. NFC North
Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Caleb Williams went first overall in the 2024 NFL draft, just ahead of Daniels. Williams threw for 3,500+ yards and just six INTs in his first year. He probably would have thrown for a lot more if he hadn’t gotten sacked 68… 68 times! If the Bears can protect Williams, he’s got a chance to make some noise with the talented receivers on the roster.
Detroit was the other end of the Matt Stafford deal in 2021. In return, they got Jared Goff, who has been a match made in heaven with Dan Campbell. The Lions have made the postseason in back-to-back seasons now, but after a 15-2 record last year, they were upset by the Commanders in the Divisional Round. Goff finished with the second-most passing yards of 2024.
In Green Bay, there is a new sheriff in town. Following in the footsteps of Brett Favre and Rodgers, Jordan Love is now hoping to leave his mark on cheese head football. In Love’s two seasons as full-time starter in Green Bay, he has thrown for nearly 8,000 yards and 57 TDs. The Packers have made the playoffs with Love twice.
Minnesota is rolling into 2025 with J.J. McCarthy at the helm of the Viking ship. McCarthy was the tenth overall pick just a year ago, but he missed the entirety of last season after suffering a torn right meniscus during the preseason. Minnesota feels confident enough in his abilities as their starting QB, but will a lack of experience come back to bite them?
7. NFC South
Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Atlanta Falcons made a shocking decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. after signing Kirk Cousins in last year’s offseason. Following a stretch of poor performances, Cousins would get benched in favor of Penix, who finished out the regular season for Atlanta. Penix threw three TDs and INTs along with 775 yards in five appearances.
Carolina has the 2023 first overall pick at quarterback in Bryce Young. He has shown signs of his college self in the NFL, but Young suffers from the same issue as Caleb Williams in Chicago: a lackluster offensive line. In two seasons, Bryce has been sacked 91 times, leading to poor passer ratings and poor-decision making with the football.
Since the retirement of Drew Brees, the New Orleans Saints have started eight different quarterbacks and could see that number rise in 2025. In April’s draft, they selected Tyler Shough out of Louisville in the second round. He has been in competition with Spencer Rattler for the starting gig in New Orleans. The revolving door keeps on spinning.
Since joining Tampa Bay in 2022, Baker Mayfield has been the only QB in the division to lead his team to double-digit wins in a season. Last year, the Bucs won the division with a 10-7 record. Mayfield has found his footing in Tampa by reaching the postseason back-to-back years, throwing for 4,000+ yards each season, and playing in every regular-season game.
8. AFC South
Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
The Texans had the second pick and selected C.J. Stroud behind Young in 2023. After a stellar rookie season, Stroud took a small step back in his sophomore slump. Even though Houston made the playoffs, their QB had a dip in yards and touchdowns while his interception number more than doubled. How will C.J. respond in his third season?
Anthony Richardson has only played in 15 games since entering the league in 2023. Over that time, he has been less than stellar with less than 2,400 yards and more INTs than TDs. While he is still young, Richardson has already dealt with injuries in the NFL and caught ridicule during last season for his inability to be a leader on or off the field.
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence is facing a sort of “prove it” season in 2025. Even though he only managed to play in ten games last year, the former number one pick has not been the type of difference maker the Jaguars had hoped. Lawrence is a quality player in the NFL, but with a new head coach and the addition of offensive weapons, he is starting to feel the heat.
Tennessee Titans fans have to be elated with their drafting of 2025’s first overall pick, Cam Ward. The former Miami Hurricane was a Heisman Award finalist during his senior year. He was also named the winner of the Davey O’Brien award as the nation’s top QB. He has a bright future, but will he live up to the high expectations in Nashville? Only time will tell.
What do you think about the current state of quarterback play around the league? Would you make any changes to these rankings? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned as we continue our rankings of other positions on the depth chart!