SportsGrid's 2023 Preseason NFL Quarterback Rankings 1-10
I am fascinated by quarterbacks. I’m basic. I know. If football players were movies, I’d see Barbie over Oppenheimer. But tell me you’re not? Barbie grossed $162 million to Oppenheimer’s $82.4 in the first week, and Netflix doesn’t have a series on edge rushers (although I’d watch that too).
It’s the most intriguing and complicated position in all of sports. NFL quarterbacks may not play both ways like NBA stars, but their impact is nearly as critical to wins, losses, and championships. More than at any time in the game’s history, the quarterback is the straw that stirs the drink. With that… let’s rank ’em!
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City ChiefsMVP Odds: +600 (1) | Most Passing TDs: +350 (1) | Most Passing Yards: +250 (1)
Remember when the Kansas City offense would take a step back after they traded Tyreek Hill? Even with an injured ankle, Mahomes led the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl title. He means more to his team than any other quarterback who has won multiple Super Bowls. I challenge you to find another. Mahomes is QB1 in the NFL. It’s not debatable. Not just an elite talent, Mahomes brings smarts and toughness to the huddle, an unparalleled level of resourcefulness when things go off schedule, and a prominent clutch gene with the pressure on.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati BengalsMVP Odds: +700 (2-T) | Most Passing TDs: +600 (2-T) | Most Passing Yards: +850 (3)
With the game on the line, Burrow shines. The ultimate intangibles quarterback, Burrow, is calm under pressure, mentally and physically tough, and a top-notch decision-maker. He is a modern-day Joe Montana with his ability to slice up opposing defenses, first with his mind and then with his pin-point accuracy. Yes, Burrow has great receivers, but the Bengals went from the No. 1 pick to the Super Bowl in two seasons because of the former Bayou Bengal.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo BillsMVP Odds: +700 (2-T) | Most Passing TDs: +600 (2-T) | Most Passing Yards: +1200 (4)
At 6’5†and around 240 pounds, Allen is a freaky physical specimen who plays like he could be a Pro Bowl tight end or edge rusher. Athletic, big, and powerful, Allen epitomizes the phrase he can beat you with his arm or his legs. The Wyoming product has come a long way since he entered the league as a raw prospect. Allen is the best passer of the running quarterbacks, but is he as precise as others with his ball placement? Not yet. That’s a slight knock, but checking in at No. 3 is far from a slight.
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4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles ChargersMVP Odds: +900 (4) | Most Passing TDs: +600 (2-T) | Most Passing Yards: +500 (2)
I absolutely LOVE his arm talent. How can you not? It’s an absolute crime that he hasn’t been allowed to let it rip more often. He excels in apparent passing situations and rarely gets to take advantage of early downs when most other passers do much of their damage. It’s time to let Herbert cook. Haters gonna hate, but Herbert isn’t the reason why the Chargers haven’t had postseason success. He’s a legitimate franchise quarterback who can carry his team all the way and could be in the conversation for No. 2 on this list by season’s end.
5. Aaron Rodgers, New York JetsMVP Odds: +1600 (6) | Most Passing TDs: +1400 (6) | Most Passing Yards: +3000 (11-T)
Yes, A-Rod is approaching 40 and coming off a down year, but we’ve seen him bounce back. After posting TD percentages of 4.2 (career low) and 4.6 in 2018 and 2019, Rodgers led the NFL with 9.1% (career high) and 7.0% the following two seasons. Do you know who his offensive coordinator was in those two seasons? Nathaniel Hackett! Put that in your pipe Sean Payton and smoke it. Criticism of his favorite coach and whispers that he’s lost his fastball have motivated Rodgers, who appears to be more dedicated to the Jets and the 2023 campaign than to Green Bay the past couple of seasons.
6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia EaglesMVP Odds: +1200 (5) | Most Passing TDs: +4000 (15-T) | Most Passing Yards: +3500 (15)
Let’s get this out of the way, No. 6 overall is excellent. No quarterback has made more significant strides over the past two seasons than Hurts. He’s improved his completion percentage and YPA while throwing the football more often. He showed up big-time in the postseason with an effort that was good enough to win the Super Bowl. He’s still not quite top-tier elite and benefits from a very QB-friendly situation. Hurts has already proven he’s far more than just a running quarterback, and if his effort in the Super Bowl indicates future success, he’ll continue to rise.
7. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville JaguarsMVP Odds: +1600 (6-T) | Most Passing TDs: +1800 (8) | Most Passing Yards: +1600 (6)
From generation talent to potential bust (yeah, people said it), the Lawrence rollercoaster is ascending again. Did any quarterback improve as much as him during the 2022 season? I don’t think so. The game slowed down the former No. 1 overall pick, who led the downtrodden Jags to the playoffs in Year 2. OK, he didn’t make the Super Bowl, a la Joe Burrow, but he did win a playoff game, and Burrow didn’t have to deal with the debacle of the Urban Meyer era as a rookie. Far from a finished product, Lawrence could be the guy who ultimately displaces Mahomes on this list.
8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore RavensMVP Odds: +1600 (6-T) | Most Passing TDs: +2000 (9-T)| Most Passing Yards: +4000 (16-T)
It feels a little low for a former MVP who is only 26 years old, but availability is a quarterback’s most crucial ability. It’s a pivotal season in Jackson’s career in more ways than one. He’s missed ten games in the past two seasons. Can he stay healthy? Also, with a new OC and offensive scheme, Jackson is expected to have more chances to show what he can do throwing the football. He’s a proven regular-season winner with room to grow as a passer when the game is on the line. Both can be true.
9. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles RamsMVP Odds: +6000 (21-T) | Most Passing TDs: +4000 (15-T)| Most Passing Yards: +2800 (9)
Last year wasn’t great, I’ll give you that, as injuries and poor offensive line play slowed down Stafford. However, the man is just two years removed from a 4,886-yard, 41-TD Super Bowl-winning season. If he’s healthy, the former No. 1 overall pick can still throw it with the best of them. Could he be on the downturn of his career? At 35 years old, coming off an injury, sure. But I’m not ready to write him off. I expect a bounce-back season from Stafford, whose smarts and intangibles have always been underrated.
10. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland BrownsMVP Odds: +2500 (12) | Most Passing TDs: +3000 (13-T)| Most Passing Yards: +3000 (10-T)
Probably the toughest NFL quarterback to rank going into the season. If we based this solely on 2022, I’m not sure Watson cracks the top 20. He’s behind the likes of Daniel Jones and Jimmy Garoppolo. He was that bad. However, his level of play following the 2020 season would put him in the conversation to crack the top five. And he’s 27 years old. One can make the case that Watson doesn’t deserve a pass, but when evaluating his play, missing the entire 2021 season and the first 11 games of last year makes me not want to read too much into a six-game sample. He needs to reestablish himself sooner than later.
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