Tom Brady, widely considered the all-time greatest quarterback in American Football, retired from the NFL in 2023 after his 7th Super Bowl win. Last season was the first year we did not see him play - though he was still on our screens as a commentator. This off-season, we also saw another legendary quarterback, Derek Carr, announce his retirement after 11 seasons. And as the oldest player in the league, Aaron Rodgers has also claimed to be "pretty sure" the 2025 NFL Season will be his last.
So, with all the longstanding legends retiring from the game, who has the best quarterback ranking in the NFL right now? While the first may be obvious, we've seen enough close-call games and impressive rookie seasons to know that there is some competition.
The future is looking bright. and young!
Patrick Mahomes
As the most decorated NFL quarterback, Patrick Mahomes has to make this list. Since becoming the full-time starter in 2018, Mahomes has rewritten the NFL record books, capturing three Super Bowl championships and multiple MVP awards, including his latest Super Bowl LIX MVP in 2025. His dominance has led to divisive opinions, but whether you love him or love to hate him, the talent is unquestionable.
Mahomes' technical ability makes him one of the best QBs in the NFL. His confidence in his calls and processing means that he has control of the field. His arm talent is one that redefined the NFL quarterback position, able to complete unconventional no-look or off-balance passes which he attributes to his baseball training techniques.
Despite the 2024 season seeing Mahomes throw for under 4,000 yards for the first time in his career, including 11 interceptions, his long list of career and franchise records is expected to only grow.
Josh Allen
After winning the NFL MVP award of 2024, Josh Allen was full of gratitude and yet still acknowledged that a Super Bowl championship is his only goal. Since his drafting by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, the quarterback has led his team to five consecutive AFC East championships. He is undoubtedly one of the best current quarterbacks. Despite this, the Buffalo Bills haven't seen a Super Bowl since their run of four straight appearances ended in 1994, losing each time.
The Bills are getting closer to the next step in their Super Bowl journey with Josh Allen though, only losing the conference championship by 3 points in 2024. And Allen has shown some real skills which ultimately led to him becoming the only Bills quarterback to win MVP, and securing a safe spot among the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
He's a leader with legs, consistently proving himself as a dual-threat quarterback with his running ability. In doing so, he's amassed some impressive stats. In 2024, Allen became the first American Football quarterback to have a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a single game. He also set a new NFL record as he became the first player to have 35 or more passing and rushing touchdowns in five consecutive seasons.
Safe to say the Madden Curse doesn't apply to him.
Lamar Jackson
There is no better time for the Ravens to prove themselves as a top-tier team - their 2025 roster is looking stacked, and they are set to give Patrick Mahomes a tough fight for the AFC title. Lamar Jackson played better in 2024 than in his MVP-winning 2023 season. He set career highs in passing touchdowns and passing yards. He also had the most games with 100 rushing yards by a quarterback in the postseason.
Whilst Jackson has struggled with passing in the pocket when under pressure throughout his career, his quarterback ranking has gone from strength to strength with offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Yes, we still see him scramble but his decision-making against a blitz and general pocket presence led to him having one of the best success rates against the blitz in 2024.
Justin Herbert
The Chargers quarterback heads into his sixth season as one of the best current quarterbacks in the NFL; with a reputation of being strong, accurate, aware, and crucially, without a playoff win.
Since his rookie year in 2020, Herbert has impressed. His team, the LA Chargers, shared the Hard Knocks spotlight with fellow LA team the Rams in his first year, with one of the highlights of the documentary being the new draft pick showing off his intense accuracy. In that same year, he set rookie records for passing yards (4,336), touchdowns (31) and completions (396), soaring him up the quarterback rankings. He's also the only QB to throw for 4,000 yards in his first four consecutive years.
The doubt in his ability comes down to his playoff performance, and rightly so. Everything that is a strength in his regular season seems to turn on its head as soon as the post-season pressure is on - 2024's wildcard game against the Texans saw him throw more interceptions than he did the entire regular season. To prove himself as a top quarterback he needs to secure a playoff win.
Jayden Daniels
Coming out of the rookie class of 2024 with an NFC Championship title is one hell of an achievement. The Washington Commanders' 2024 got off to a rocky start with a Week 1 loss, but we got a glimpse of Daniels' talent. We saw his potential as a dual threat from the get-go, with good accuracy in his passing game as well as the quarterback going for some much-needed runs.
As the 2024 season continued, he found his feet, powering the Commanders to a 7-2 start and ultimately a 12-5 record. But it isn't just the wins and stats that make Jayden Daniels one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL - he has star power.
The Heisman Trophy winner led five game-winning drives in his first season in the NFL, including the 'miracle' Hail Mary against the Chicago Bears in Week 8. Daniels also led the Commanders to two playoff wins: one with a crucial run that would set up a game-winning field goal just as the clock hit 00:00, and the other a high-scoring showcase against top-seeded Detroit Lions.
Whether Daniels can continue his stellar performance for 2025 remains to be seen.
Bo Nix
Another rookie who finished the 2024 season looking strong was Bo Nix. As the Denver Broncos' first-round pick, and the first Broncos rookie to start since 1983, all eyes were on him as he began his NFL career.
He finished college with a reputation for high completion percentages and excellent decision-making, and now it was time to bring that to the National Football League. And Nix delivered a respectable performance - one that absolutely deserves recognition when discussing the best current NFL quarterbacks. By Week 8, Nix had set a Broncos franchise record for most wins as a rookie, and as the season progressed, he continued to win his fair share of Rookie of the Week and Rookie of the Month awards.
Bo Nix's rookie season with the Broncos was the first time since 2016 that their regular season record had more wins than losses - ending with a 10-7 record and a playoff game against the Bills.
Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He stormed into the league off the back of his Heisman win, leading the Cincinnati Bengals straight to Super Bowl LVI. The 2022 season saw the Bengals improve on their season record, only falling in the post-season to eventual champions Kansas City Chiefs via a controversial defensive foul.
This is where Joe Burrow's stance as a top NFL quarterback becomes a little foggier. A wrist injury cut his 2023 season seven weeks short. In 2024, after learning to play the piano to support wrist strength in the off-season, he returned and remained in full health.
Burrow delivered some impressive stats last year, leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns, and earned himself a high quarterback ranking and the Comeback Player of the Year award. We can get an insider insight into his 2024 season as Joe Burrow features on Netflix's Quarterback Season 2. Yet the Bengals season record remained 9-8, just as it was in 2023.
If Burrow can stay healthy and stay consistent, he deserves a place among the best QBs in the NFL.
Jared Goff
Jared Goff is a veteran quarterback in the middle of a career resurgence kick-started by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. For the last two seasons, Goff's had some impressive performances, earning him some newfound respect at the Detroit Lions, and a reputation for being both tough and accurate.
Aside from his stats last season, finishing second in the league for both passing yards and completion percentage - it was his confidence that had people watching. He shares the NFC North Division with younger quarterbacks, two who are quickly rising in the quarterback rankings: Jordan Love and Caleb Williams. It looks like this new competition is only fuel to Goff's fire.
This being said, the Lions' 2024 season ended abruptly in a less-than-stellar performance in the Divisional Round. And as Johnson joins the Bears as Head Coach this season, whether Goff continues his upward projection and stays as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL remains to be seen.
The New Quarterbacks to Watch
Cam Ward, Drafted to Tennessee Titans
An agile playmaker with a strong arm, Cam Ward walks into the NFL as the top overall pick from the 2025 draft. He's expected to be the starting quarterback for the Titans, so whilst he may have some pressure to deliver, he also has a reputation for dynamic plays, top signal calling and the ability to throw into tight windows.
Quinn Ewers, Drafted to Miami Dolphins
Despite being taken as a less-than-impressive 7th-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Quinn Ewers has a lot of potential with his new team - the Miami Dolphins.
He's a football quarterback with quick game accuracy and ball-handling skills, but whilst these shine in short and medium plays, long passes are more of a struggle. Sound familiar? Quinn Ewer's likeness to veteran NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is likely what led to the Dolphins picking him up. Despite Tagovailoa's injury issues, Ewers has the ideal opportunity to develop his skills without immediate pressure.
We're undeniably in a major transformational period, with many of the best quarterbacks in the NFL being young stars and electrifying rookies. Many of these are expected to become, or are already discussed as, some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
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