NFL Teams Ranked by Quarterback Situations for the 2021-2022 Season

32. Houston Texans - Deshaun Watson?, Tyrod Taylor, Davis Mills, Ryan Finley

You have to feel for Houston fans. It is no secret - the Houston Texans organization is in shambles. Forget the current situation with Deshaun Watson, the team is projected to be in a difficult space with salary cap for the 2022 season, while maintaining the oldest, and one of the least talented rosters in the league. However, the purpose of this article is to rank teams by their quarterback situations for the 2021 season, and that doesn't look to be any better of a scenario for the Texans. According to multiple league sources, it is unlikely that Deshaun Watson plays during the 2021 campaign for obvious reasons, which would force the Texans to downgrade from a young superstar to a bridge player in Tyrod Taylor. Stanford third-round selection Davis Mills is a safety blanket for the team if all else fails, but it is unlikely that he is the immediate successor given that he is wildly inexperienced with only 11 career collegiate starts. Ryan Finley, who was acquired from the Bengals in a trade, is more depth for the team, but a Watson-less quarterback room is unimpressive to say the least. If Deshaun Watson is miraculously able to play, then the team would shoot up this list, but it appears that the Texans will have a long season ahead of them.

Picture Attribution: Jeffrey Beall (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deshaun_Watson.JPG), „Deshaun Watson“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

31. Chicago Bears - Andy Dalton, Justin Fields

It is an exciting time to be a Chicago Bears fan! In the pre-draft process, it looked like the Bears were going to be one of the quarterback-needy teams who would be unable to secure their franchise guy given that they had the 20th pick, but they were ultimately able to move up to the 11 spot to land Justin Fields with his fall. For people who followed my prospect rankings from the previous draft, you know that Justin Fields was my second quarterback in the class, trailing only Trevor Lawrence. Even though the team had to give up two firsts and a couple of late picks to acquire Fields, I would make the trade again in a heart beat. Fields may not be the immediate successor in the post-Trubisky era of the Bears, but I do think he replaces Andy Dalton at some point during the 2021 season, with it likely being sooner rather than later. The only reason that the Bears fall this low in the rankings is that they have made all indications that Andy Dalton will still be the starter come the start of the new season.

30. Philadelphia Eagles - Jalen Hurts, Joe Flacco

Call me a hater, call me a doubter, call me what you wish, but I am not a believer in Jalen Hurts being a franchise quarterback, at least not yet. Fans were quick to jump on the Hurts hype after he led the Eagles to a win over the Saints in his first career start with a monster game on the ground, but he ultimately lost his last three starts of the season. Provided the struggles that Carson Wentz had prior to then, I do understand why fans may be excited, but I have my doubts. I do think there is some potential for Hurts to grow as a player, but I refuse to believe that a player who posted a 41.0 QBR in his only four career starts is going to make a big impact right away, especially when we factor in the accuracy concerns he has had his entire collegiate career. Joe Flacco is an average backup at this point in his career, but nothing more. I expect Jalen Hurts and the Eagles to struggle during the 2021 season.

29. New Orleans Saints - Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Ian Book

The New Orleans Saints did everything they could to give Drew Brees another Super Bowl run before retirement in the past couple of seasons, but it didn't pan out and now they fall somewhere between the lines of being a contender and needing to rebuild at some key positions. In their quarterback room, the Saints have Jameis Winston, who learned under Drew Brees last year, Taysom Hill, who is more of a utility man than a true quarterback, and Ian Book, who they selected in the fourth-round of the recent draft - a big reach in my eyes. Jameis Winston should serve as the starter for the upcoming season, and although he is frequently able to light up the stat sheet, the former first overall pick will need to show that he has impressed drastically on his accuracy and decision making before I give him serious consideration as a quality starter. There is a chance that Jameis Winston develops into that, but it will be difficult for someone to do who was drafted six years ago. Taysom Hill and Ian Book provide depth and versatility at the position, but I wouldn't trust either to be able to win me a game as a permanent starter.

28. Washington Football Team - Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke

What a year 2020 was for Washington. They were made a meme for their owner, they were made a meme for their name change selection, but perhaps most surprising of them all, they weren't made a meme for their play. Most people had very low expectations for the Football Team entering last season due to the lack of offense they possessed, which was headlined by the abysmal play of Dwayne Haskins. Ultimately, Alex Smith was the quarterback who drove the team to the playoffs, but the defense, Terry McLaurin, and Antonio Gibson, deserve most of the credit for their unpredicted success. Like the Bears, the Football Team were one of the quarterback-needy teams who were unlikely to land a top quarterback in the draft, and they were unable to do so. However, they were able to land Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been known to be one of the best bad quarterbacks that you can get. Fitzmagic is always able to bring some sort of energy to whatever team he lands on, but he is an average quarterback at best. He is an upgrade over post-injury Alex Smith and Dwayne Haskins, and should service well with the great talent around him on the team, but this list is solely focused on the quarterback play, which is why the Football Team falls near the bottom. Taylor Heinicke has shown some flash, which makes him a solid backup.

27. Denver Broncos - Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock

The Broncos, although not quite as good, fall into a similar category as the Saints - they have tons of talent on both sides of the ball, but are still some key pieces away from being true contenders, with the main concern being at the most important position in all of sports - the quarterback. Drew Lock showed some promise in his rookie campaign with starts coming in the latter half of the season, but he struggled mightily during his sophomore action. His 48.8 QBR ranked him near the bottom of the league, and he was only able to throw 16 touchdowns to his 15 interceptions. Lock does have the natural arm talent to excel in the league, but his flaws have been exposed, which will make it difficult, but possible, to progress. We saw a miraculous development of Josh Allen last season, so it is within the realm of possibility for a similar type of player in Drew Lock to make similar strides, but I would rather be optimistic than expecting in that regard. Also, the Broncos acquired quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in a trade with the Panthers this off-season, who I would put my money on to be the starter. Bridgewater is a solid player who has shown the ability to get wins in the previous two seasons with the Panthers and Saints, but he is more of a bridge player than the true franchise answer. There have been rumors of the Broncos wanting in on the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, which would instantly make them a contender if done, but once again, I would be more optimistic than expecting. Having two decent quarterbacks is never a bad thing, but neither one is good enough to elevate their ranking any higher in my opinion.

26. New England Patriots - Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Jarrett Stidham

Was anything other than Mac Jones to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots a possibility? The comparisons between Mac Jones and Tom Brady are comical and to be expected, but that comparison is ridiculously unfair to both players. Regardless, I don't think anyone would be too surprised if Mac Jones is able to use his accuracy and processing ability in the Belichick scheme to make the Patriots a playoff threat once again, but it is more likely that Cam Newton retains the starting position, at least for the start of the season. Some people still hold on to the success that Cam Newton had during his glory days, but I have gotten over that and come to the realization that he simply isn't a good quarterback anymore. Sure, he is always a threat with the ball in his hands, but from a passing standpoint, he has had an atrocious couple of last seasons. During his 2020 play, Cam Newton posted a 47.0 QBR, which was 30th in the league, and threw just 8 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions in 15 starts. To his credit, Cam Newton was able to rush for 12 touchdowns, but that isn't an overly important metric for measuring quarterback success to me. Great depth and a possible Cam Newton resurgence keep the Patriots out of the bottom five, but I wouldn't be too excited about their quarterback play in the upcoming season.

25. Carolina Panthers - Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker

The Carolina Panthers acquired Sam Darnold from the Jets in a trade this offseason, and it is apparent that they value him highly given the second and fourth-round picks in 2022 that they gave up for him. The former third overall pick has struggled significantly thus far in his career, but the Jets did nothing to give him any chance to succeed with the line and weapons they provided. Even though he has played three entire seasons, Darnold is still only 23 years old, and his talent is still much of a mystery. I would not be surprised if he continued to play poorly with his new team, and I also wouldn't be surprised if he develops into the player everyone thought he was coming out of college. P.J. Walker and Will Grier are viable backup options with different skill sets, but are not strong enough replacements to warrant a higher placement. With all the unknown in Darnold, I feel like this is the appropriate spot to rank their quarterback room, but this season will be all-telling.

24. Detroit Lions - Jared Goff, Tim Boyle

I will be the one to say it - I still think Jared Goff is a decent quarterback. Yes, he is undeserving of the four-year, $134 million extension he signed in 2019. Yes, he was never the main reason for the Rams' success during his time there, but he was able to efficiently follow the team's game plan and utilize the vast weapons placed around him. Unfortunately for him, the Lions have arguably the least talented skill group of any NFL offense, which will make it difficult for him to find success for his time there as a starter. I am not committed on Jared Goff being the franchise answer for the Lions at quarterback, especially given his contract situation, but I truly think he is getting too much hate for a player who has been to the Super Bowl, and has career stats of 107 touchdowns to 55 interceptions, and a 91.5 passer rating. This season will be a true testament to his capabilities, and if he manages to land the Lions anywhere above the bottom few teams in the league, he should be taken seriously again. Also, Tim Boyle is listed as the current backup, who is not someone I would trust to be able to manage the game around in case of injury.

23. New York Jets - Zach Wilson, James Morgan

With the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected BYU standout Zach Wilson. Zach Wilson possesses arm talent that is rivaled by very few, but there is a small concern with the fact that he did not look nearly as good in previous seasons. Nonetheless, he has the upside to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but I wouldn't expect that level of play right away. With only one year of solid play, and with the easier opponents that BYU played, I expect Zach Wilson to need some development, although he will be thrown into the starting role right away. The Jets have already done more to provide Wilson with a foundation for success than they did with Sam Darnold during his three-year tenure, which is a positive note for fans. 2020 fourth-round selection James Morgan is listed as the backup, and with little play to base him off, it is difficult to grade the team's depth. Expect the Jets to move up this list in future years, but this is where they stand as of now with a rookie quarterback.

22. New York Giants - Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon

The New York Giants invested a ton of capital to provide Daniel Jones with weapons this offseason, which includes the signings of Kenny Golladay and Kyle Rudolph, and the first-round pick of Kadarius Toney. The team's offensive line remains a question mark, but this season should act as a make-or-break year for Daniel Jones. In his first two seasons, he has shown flashes of greatness with his accuracy and mobility, but that has been overshadowed by his turnover problems, particularly with fumbles. In those two seasons, he has totaled 35 passing touchdowns to 22 interceptions, but has lost an alarming 17 fumbles, although 11 of them came in his rookie season. In that time, he has a respectable 84.4 passer rating. Mike Glennon is a reasonable backup, but is certainly nothing to hit home about. If Daniel Jones' turnover problems persist this season, it might be time for the team to start exploring new options provided the talent on both sides of the ball. If he fixes those problems, he has all the talent around him to succeed and elevate this ranking.

21 Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa, Jacoby Brissett

I received a ton of slack when I ranked Justin Herbert significantly higher than Tua Tagovailoa during the 2020 pre-draft process, but it looks like I may have been right about one thing. That isn't to say that Tua Tagovailoa is a bad player, but I brought up many of the concerns in his game that others swept under the rug, and many of those same concerns became apparent in his play during his rookie season. However, I still believe that he possesses the ability to develop into a quality quarterback, I just wasn't inclined to think he was a "generational" talent like many claimed him to be. In his rookie campaign, Tua Tagovailoa posted 11 passing touchdowns and 5 interceptions, but he only averaged just over 200 yards passing per game. His passer rating of 87.1 is good, but his 52.5 QBR ranked 26th in the league. Tua Tagovailoa has a skillset that should keep him as a starter for a long time, but whether he is able to take the next step is an important question to pose. Jacoby Brissett is a strong backup to have, which is the reason why the Dolphins rank just above the last couple of units.

20. Indianapolis Colts - Carson Wentz, Jacob Eason, Sam Ehlinger

I have said this from the start and I will continue to stand by it - I believe that Carson Wentz is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, and I truly believe that he is going to have a massive bounce backs season in 2021. As a Giants fan, it is much easier for me to root for his success now that he is out of the NFC East. There is no doubt that he had one of the worst seasons of all players in the league last year, which I am unable to explain, but he is too good to not learn on his mistakes. I was tempted to place the Colts even higher on my rankings, but I felt like this position was justified given just how poor his play was a year ago. Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger are young players who have cannons for arms, which provides the team with some solid depth. I may have my standards set too high for Wentz, but I am almost expecting him to be a top-ten quarterback next season. Colts fans pray that I am right.

19. Las Vegas Raiders - Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota

Coming in the next stretch of three teams are the quarterbacks who I think of when I hear the term "average." I wouldn't question you in the slightest if you swapped the order of these three teams, but this is what I feel is the best placement based on recent success and the quality of the backup. At this spot, I have Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders. If you were to remove the team's record and play, and just looked at Derek Carr's stats, then you would probably rank him within the top ten quarterbacks in the NFL. However, stats don't always tell all, and Derek Carr has continued to look average while not being able to lift the Raiders into the playoffs in recent seasons. His 27 touchdowns to 9 interceptions, 101.4 passer rating, and 71.0 QBR all look great, but a leap in his play just hasn't happened yet. There is nothing wrong with Derek Carr, he just isn't great, especially when you factor in how much he is getting paid. Marcus Mariota is one of the best backup quarterbacks in the NFL, which has some impact on the Raiders falling just inside of the top twenty.

18. Minnesota Vikings - Kirk Cousins, Kellen Mond

As aforementioned, Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings fall into a near-identical situation to that of Derek Carr and the Raiders. Kirk Cousins has looked like a great quarterback at times, but he seems to provide us with many moments each season that let us hang onto our doubts about him, with many of those moments coming in big games. Regardless, Kirk Cousins posted impressive stats of 35 touchdowns to 13 interceptions last season, with those numbers being good enough for a 105 passer rating and 63.2 QBR, but the team was unable to reach the playoffs. Kirk Cousins is a fine player, I am just not confident that he will be able to escape the limbo of average. Kellen Mond, an early third-round selection in the most recent draft, should be a quality backup option, even as a rookie

17. San Francisco 49ers - Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance

The San Francisco 49ers made it clear that they don't believe that Jimmy Garoppolo is the long-term answer for them at quarterback by trading up for and selecting Trey Lance with the third overall pick, but this article solely focuses on the 2021 season outlook. The team has insisted that Jimmy Garoppolo will be the day one starter this season, which is reasonable when you take into account just how little Trey Lance played in college, especially since he played in college football's second level of competition. The indubitable Garoppolo injury may force the 49ers hand into starting Trey Lance earlier than expected, but I would look to develop him this year if possible, which I think they will do. Even if he doesn't play at all this season, there is no doubt that Trey Lance is a phenomenal insurance policy. Jimmy Garoppolo may not be the most impressive or the most reliable quarterback, but don't be too quick to forget that he was minutes away from winning a Super Bowl just two seasons ago.

16. Green Bay Packers - Aaron Rodgers?, Jordan Love, Blake Bortles

Now comes the hardest team to rank on the entire list. It would be a bit of an understatement to say that there are currently complications in the relationship between Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers organization. Mandatory team minicamps are starting within the next few days, and no one really knows the entirety of the situation involving whether Aaron Rodgers will ever play in a Packers uniform again. Things are not looking great right now for the team, but there is one thing for certain - if Aaron Rodger plays, the Packers will be a contender. Luckily for the Packers, they drafted Jordan Love in the first-round just a year ago, and they recently signed Blake Bortles creating for one of the best backup quarterback rooms in the league. Regardless, almost the entirety of this ranking revolves around last season's MVP, and with the uncertainty of his future, I decided to place the Packers quarterback situation directly in the middle of the league. If he plays, move the team to the number two spot, and if he doesn't, drop them near the bottom.

Picture Attribution: Keith Allison (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aaron_Rodgers_2015-2016_playoffs.jpg), „Aaron Rodgers 2015-2016 playoffs“, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins

It is no secret that the play of Ben Roethlisberger has regressed within the last couple of seasons, which is to be expected with an older player (39) not named Tom Brady. Even with his regression, Big Ben has still managed to remain a quality starting quarterback. There are some throws that he simply isn't able to make anymore, but the Steelers continue to be one of the better teams in the league, and some of that credit deserves to go the guy leading their offense. Last year, Roethlisberger threw for 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, with a slightly disappointing 60.1 QBR, which ranked 22nd in the league. Most of his glory day are probably behind him, and it is unlikely that he gets much better, but Ben Roethlisberger is still capable of leading a team, especially one as strong as the Steelers. Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins have looked abysmal in the majority of their time on the field, but they are young and already experienced, which is never a bad thing to have as your depth.

14. Cleveland Browns - Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum

Browns fans may come at my throat for the placement of their team in my rankings, but I would ask them to name one starting quarterback of the ones listed below that Baker Mayfield has proven to be better than. There might be small arguments for some of the players, but I can confidently say that this is their appropriate ranking, in my opinion. Some of that may sound like slander towards Baker Mayfield, but it truly isn't. The fact of the matter is, the NFL is loaded with more talent than it ever has been, and if you aren't an elite quarterback, you won't rank within the top-ten. I believe that Baker Mayfield is a good quarterback who is capable of making deep playoff runs if the team around him excels. We saw that come into fruition just last season as the Browns were able to advance to the second-round of the playoffs after defeating the Steelers in dominant fashion. Over the course of that entire season, Mayfield threw 26 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions, and had a tenth-best 72.2 QBR. Case Keenum has a ton of experience and has had some success as a quarterback in this league, so he is a relatively dependable backup in case of emergency.

13. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, A.J. McCarron

The Atlanta Falcons have continuously disappointed after their notorious Super Bowl choke against the Patriots in 2017. Throughout that time span, Matt Ryan has taken a step back in the quality of play that we saw from him during his MVP campaign, but I would still trust him more than any of the quarterbacks ranked beneath him to perform and win in an elimination game. That trust hasn't been reciprocated into wins for the Falcons recently, but there are much bigger problems on their roster than the quarterback position. Like most older players, Matt Ryan may not be playing his best football at this point in his career, but he is still good, and the Falcons seem to agree given their non-quarterback selection in the recent draft. As a backup, A.J. McCarron is fine, but I wouldn't want to rely on him, although I wouldn't for the majority of backups.

12. Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow, Brandon Allen

Joe Burrow's season ended abruptly after he suffered a knee injury in his tenth game of his rookie season. During that season, Joe Burrow didn't quite live up to the quality of play you would expect from him following his season that was arguably the best in college football history. He threw 13 touchdowns compared to five interceptions, and maintained a lackluster 56.2 QBR that finished 24th in the league. Although his statistics were nothing too impressive, you have to take them with a grain of salt as he had very little offensive line help, defensive help, and running back Joe Mixon was injured for the majority of the season. This offseason, the Bengals drafted his stud receiver LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase, and had numerous key defensive signings, but they failed to seriously address their offensive line concerns. Not that Joe Burrow's play was bad in his debut season, but I think he sees more progression into the player we all expected this year. The trade of Ryan Finley limited the depth on the Bengals' quarterback chart, so hopefully the team can do better at protecting Burrow.

11. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, Gardner Minshew

The Jacksonville Jaguars? A good quarterback? That is not a phrase that I have completely come to terms with yet, but I will need to soon. We have known this for years now, but Trevor Lawrence is a special player who has the capability to turn a franchise around by himself. I am convinced that he could play one game, retire, and still be the best quarterback that the franchise has ever seen. Even though I have been talking very highly of him, Lawrence is far from a perfect player, and I expect some of his flaws to be taken advantage of this season. He should be an above average starting quarterback the second he steps onto the field for his first start, but it may take some time for him to learn and mitigate his problems before he is a top player in the league like most think he can be. Of course, it wouldn't be surprising if he comes out and dominates right away. To add to that, the Jaguars still have Gardner Minshew, whose non-aggressive but very safe play style is desirable as a backup. If I had to pick any non-rookie backup to lead my team, he would be one of my first choices. Regardless of how Trevor's rookie season goes, the Jaguars have finally landed a franchise quarterback, and their future is looking bright.

10. Tennessee Titans - Ryan Tannehill, DeShone Kizer

After Ryan Tannehill was dealt from the Miami Dolphins to the Tennessee Titans, I don't think anyone expected him to have the career resurgence that he has had. In his two seasons with the Titans so far, Ryan Tannehill has reached the playoff both times, and has thrown for 55 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions - a very impressive feat. Additionally, Tannehill had the highest passer rating of any player in the league in 2019, and finished fourth in QBR in 2020 with a rating of 78.3. Derrick Henry clogging the box and opening up the play-action deserves some attribution for the success of Tannehill, but there is no argument against the level of play he has maintained. If you are a team that is expecting your quarterback to throw the ball 45 times each game, then Tannehill might not be the best option, but he fits into the Titans scheme and runs the offense perfectly. DeShone Kizer has done little to warrant much hype, but he is a decent backup option. Overall, Titans fans should be ecstatic at how Ryan Tannehill turned his career around.

9. Los Angeles Rams - Matt Stafford, John Wolford

In an offseason of incredibly juicy quarterback news, the Lions shipping away Matt Stafford to the Rams in a blockbuster deal that also sent Jared Goff to the Lions headlined the way. I have been high on Matt Stafford for awhile, and I will continue to think he is one of the most underrated players in the league until he gets his proper recognition. His level of play wasn't always able to equate into a ton of success for the Lions, but let's be real, it's the Lions. Matt Stafford was forced to throw an absurd number of passes and play from behind the majority of his career in Detroit, which is largely due to the organization's inability to put together a decent defense, or to load Stafford with weapons, although he did have some excellent receivers in his time there. For the past couple of seasons, the one thing holding the Rams back from being a championship caliber team was their mediocrity at quarterback, and with the acquisition of Stafford, they should be able to make a leap to the next level. Matt Stafford will revitalize his career even further with the Rams, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if he is able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy before he is done.

8. Dallas Cowboys - Dak Prescott, Garrett Gilbert

As a Giants fan, I was skeptical of Dak Prescott's ability to be anything more than a fringe top-ten game manager type of quarterback, but he proved me wrong last season prior to injury. Even when Ezekiel Elliot was struggling, Dak was able to take over and lead the offense through the air, which I questioned is ability to do. Out of his four complete games in 2020, Dak was able to eclipse 450+ passing yards three times, which is a pretty remarkable feat. I can no longer hang on to my fandom bias - Dak Prescott is the real deal. I have my criticisms of other areas on the Cowboys' roster, but the quarterback position is the least of my worries. There are small concerns with how Dak Prescott will be able to rehab from his horrible injury last season, but all notes seem to suggest that he will be at 100% for opening day. Even though there is no trusted backup on the roster, Dak Prescott is a top-ten quarterback in the league at this point, and top-ten quarterbacks warrant a top-ten quarterback situation placement.

7. Arizona Cardinals - Kyler Murray, Colt McCoy

Kyler Murray hasn't been able to reach the playoffs yet in either of his first two seasons, but the team's record has improved each season, and so has his personal play. Following the trends of improvement within the team and the recent additions of J.J. Watt, A.J. Green, and their strong rookie class, I expect the Cardinals to get in in the upcoming season. Immediately following his entrance into the league, it was apparent that Kyler Murray would be a dual-threat weapon, which fits the mold that the new age of the NFL is trending to. Last season, Kyler Murray accounted for 37 total touchdowns through the ground and air, in comparison to 16 total turnovers. There is some cleaning up that could be done in the turnover category, but there is no doubt that he is already one of the hardest quarterbacks to defend against. Colt McCoy, a career backup, is not an awful emergency plan either.

6. Los Angeles Chargers - Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel

As I mentioned earlier, I was very high on Justin Herbert coming out of college, so it should be no surprise that I have him placed this highly on the list after having a spectacular rookie season. Despite poor offensive line play, injuries to Austin Ekeler and Hunter Henry, and having no dependable receivers aside from Keenan Allen, Justin Herbert was able to defy expectations and throw for 31 touchdowns, rush for 5, and only threw 10 interceptions. Even though there were few people higher on Justin Herbert than I was, I was still shocked at how fast he was able to have extreme success in the league. I have no concerns that Justin Herbert will fall into a sophomore slump, and I expect him to come out with the same fire as his rookie campaign. Chase Daniel is a reasonable backup option, but he isn't factored much in either direction in this ranking

5. Baltimore Ravens - Lamar Jackson, Trace McSorely

People love to makes jokes and criticize Lamar Jackson as a passer, and sure, I do too on occasions, but it is mind-boggling to me how much slander he endured last season. It is no secret that the biggest threat that Lamar Jackson possesses is his legs, but he is still an above average passer who can easily beat you through the air if you let him. In what some considered a "down season" coming off of an MVP award, Lamar Jackson threw for 26 touchdowns to 9 interceptions in 2020, which was good for a seventh-best 73.7 QBR. Without even factoring in the insane skillset he has when he escapes the pocket, those are still numbers of a strong pocket passer. Defensive coordinators need to come up with a different game plan every time they face the Ravens to have a shot of slowing him down, which is a true testament to his value. He has taken a drop in production during the playoffs, but I wouldn't rely on that trend to continue. Give Lamar Jackson the respect that he deserves.

4. Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky

If you were to tell me that Josh Allen would finish second in the MVP race for the 2020 season a year ago, I probably would have laughed at you. As a matter of fact, I wrote an article where I placed Josh Allen as my 23rd best quarterback entering the 2020 season with the leading line being "Bills fans may grill me for this, but Josh Allen is not a good quarterback, at least not yet." I have always recognized Josh Allen's crazy talented arm and good mobility, but there was no reason to expect such a colossal jump in his play when looking at how he performed in his first two seasons. In 2020, his 81.7 QBR finished third in the entire league, which makes all the sense when you factor in that he accounted for an incredible 45 touchdowns. There is always a chance that players can fall back to Earth after such a meteoric rise, and although I wouldn't feel confident locking Josh Allen as a top-five quarterback just yet, I believe he will continue to succeed. Another factor into the Bills being ranked as the fourth best quarterback situation in the league on my list was the signing of Mitchell Trubisky. Mitchell Trubisky is not a good starting quarterback, but he makes for one of the safest backups in the league.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Kyle Trask

2020 was truly a wild year, but Tom Brady winning his sixth Super Bowl ring at age 43 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is just about as crazy as you can get. If anyone were to see that headline just a few years ago, they would have probably believed that it was in an alternate universe. Even though few had the courage to predict it, I don't think many were shocked when Tom Brady was able to do it again, because well, he is Tom Brady. Just when things appear to finally be on the down fall for him, and people begin to doubt him, he manages to pull out another one. I don't care if Tom Brady is 55 years old, if he is still the staring quarterback of a team, a placement this high is warranted. Blaine Gabbert and Kyle Trask provide respectable, but not great, depth at the position.

2. Seattle Seahawks - Russell Wilson, Geno Smith

Oh, how bad I want Russell Wilson to win an MVP award. Wilson was the leading candidate for that title through the first couple of weeks last season, but a couple of lackluster performances eventually led him away from any possible contention. Regardless, if I am picking one quarterback to trust to win me a game with no knowledge of the situation around him, Russell Wilson would be one of my first three choices next to Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers. Although far from a high total, Russell Wilson threw a career-high 13 interceptions in 2020, but that is minute in comparison to his 42 total touchdowns. Coming into this season, I would rank Russell Wilson as the third best quarterback in the NFL, but the Seahawks find themselves at the second rank with Aaron Rodger's uncertainty.

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne

This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the league, and the best quarterback dictates the best overall quarterback room. I don't think much explanation is needed for this, but in his first three seasons, Mahomes has won an MVP, lost in the AFC Championship, won a Super Bowl, and lost a Super Bowl. Within that time span in the regular season, he has thrown an incredible 114 touchdowns with only 24 interceptions. It is scary to think of all the records that Mahomes should be able to break given a long career and barring something ridiculous, and the Chiefs should be contenders, if not favorites, every year.

Picture Attribution: U.S. Air National Guard Master Sgt. Michael Crane (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Patrick_Mahomes_military_appreciation2018_(cropped).jpg), „Patrick Mahomes military appreciation2018 (cropped)“, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-US