With many QBs moving around, and many QB-needy teams in the NFL, I think it’s an appropriate time to make a QB tier list to see how each team’s QB ranks! This list will include the primary starting QBs from last year and other backups that could compete for a starting job in 2021!
Many QBs like Cam Newton, Daniel Jones, Carson Wentz, and others will be further difficult to rank due to their mishaps occurring from poor o-line play and lack of weapons, but I will be assessing these rankings from pure judgement of QBs skill and capability to win, not just stats.
Without further ado, let’s rank the NFL’s most important postition:
Tier 1 – Elite, Super-Bowl Caliber QBs
QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Josh Allen, Tom Brady
The first two guys on this list, Mahomes and Rogers, are inevitably the top two QBs in the league. With Rodgers winning the 2020 MVP, and Mahomes recently taking the league by storm with MVPs, Super Bowl appearances, and crazy throws, they are elite level guys. Deshaun Watson and Josh Allen are the “new guys” on this list, and have displayed their dominance and ability to win through the air and ground. As many know, Watson’s tenure with Houston is likely over, and his entire career may be as well if he is unable to prove himself innocent from the many allegations. If he is traded, look out for teams like the Panthers, Broncos, Jets, and Bears to make a strong push for the 25 year old stud.
The final two guys, Russell Wilson and Tom Brady are much more on the older side on the league, but have remained consistently elite throughout the years. With Tom Brady winning both the Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP last season, it seemed like a crime to leave the 7 time Super Bowl champ off of an elite tier. As for Russell Wilson, his career isn’t heading in the right direction for a happy ending. With the Seahawks struggling to create offensive line help, Wilson is not happy and could demand a trade in the forthcoming years. Only time can tell, but Seattle has themselves an elite QB for now.
Tier 2 – Top Pro-Bowl Level QBs
QBs: Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Ryan Tannehill, Kyler Murray, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert
This tier of QBs is very diverse in terms of young and old players. We see many of the young prodigies like Lamar, Kyler, Dak, and Herbert, but also a few old-heads like Tannehill, Stafford, and Ryan. For me, Lamar and Prescott are borderline Tier 1/2 players, but Lamar’s incapability to win in the postseason and Dak’s early season injury dropped them to Tier 2. Kyler Murray had the chance to be a Tier 1 QB if he consistently played like he did in the first eight games of 2020, but his slight downfall in the second half of the season brought the Cardinal to this level. Justin Herbert is an elite franchise QB, but it may be a bit too bold to put him in Tier 1 after one rookie season. Herbert will likely eclipse to Tier 1 if he played like he did last year, but starts his career on the second tier.
Franchise type QBs like Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, and Ryan Tannehill also stay in this area. Stafford has the talent to be a tier 1 guy, but his poor situation in Detroit has hindered his ability. With Stafford off to LA, expect him to have one of the best seasons of his career. Matt Ryan has consistently been a top QB in the league, but still remains underrated. Ryan doesn’t have many weaknesses his game at all. He is a Hall of Famer in my opinion, and belongs no lower than Tier 2. Finally, Ryan Tannehill snuck onto this level. I do believe Tannehill is a great QB, but his immaculate weapons and overall team help have been a major factor in his recent success. Still, he is a top 10 QB in the NFL.
Tier 3 – Above Average and Franchise QBs
QBs: Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, Joe Burrow, Carson Wentz, Jared Goff
A common similarity here is that almost all of these QBs are mostly pocket-passers that have been fairly accurate throughout their careers. Baker Mayfield is coming off his best season, which took his team all the way to the AFC Divisional Round. Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr happen to be a very underrated QBs, and are easily franchise QBs for the next 5 years or so, especially if there teams can support them. With Jared Goff now in Detroit, it doesn’t seem like his career can improve from here. Goff’s 2018 season is the main reason he gets a spot on this tier, but his career seems to be headed downhill now that he’s in the miserable Detroit backfield.
Joe Burrow and Carson Wentz both have so much to prove next year but I do believe they deserved Tier 3. Carson Wentz was an elite level QB when his team was able to support him, but a poor situation in Philadelphia led to his downfall. Now that he will be surrounded by offensive line and defensive help, I think he can return to his Top 15 form in Indianapolis. Joe Burrow was having a terrific season before suffering an ACL tear. He is most definitely the Bengals franchise guy, and should have a big upcoming year.
Tier 4 – Capable but Average QBs
QBs: Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, Taysom Hill, Jimmy Garoppolo, Teddy Bridgewater
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67580606/1228831866.jpg.0.jpg "NFL Quarterback Tiers")
Most of the guys up here are in their 30s. Some of them like Cam Newton and Big Ben have passed their prime seasons, but are still in the NFL in hopes of some more success. Cam Newton could move up a tier if he has a great season with all the new toys Bill Belichick bought for him this past off season. With Drew Brees officially retired, Taysom Hill will compete with Winston for his first gig as the Saints week 1 starter. Andy Dalton and Ryan Fitzpatrick have both found new homes, in Chicago and Washington respectively. They will look to transform two QB-needy teams that are very well capable of making the playoffs with their defense.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Teddy Bridgewater are in very awkward situations with their team. The 49ers have recently traded up for the No. 3 overall pick, and look to select a QB, likely Justin Fields there. Or Mac Jones, but that’s another story…… Meanwhile, the Panthers also hold a top 10 pick at No. 8, and are in massive hopes that a guy like Trey Lance or even Fields slips. The Patriots have oddly shown trade interest in Jimmy G, and he could be shipped off there. The 49ers don’t seem like they know what they are doing with Jimmy quite yet. The Panthers are in dire need of a new QB, as Teddy was simply bad last season. It seems that he will be either cut, traded, or the QB2 next season.
Tier 5 – Young QBs, Upcoming ‘Prove-it Seasons’
QBs: Jalen Hurts, Daniel Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, Taylor Heinicke, Drew Lock, Sam Darnold
These young players are not at the bottom because they are the worst, but rather because they are in upcoming prove it seasons where they will need to show out to stay as starters in the NFL. Tua and Jalen Hurts both had fairly short rookie seasons, with both of them only starting a few games due to battling out the starter. With both teams moving on from their old QBs (Carson Wentz and Fitzmagic), Tua and Jalen seemed to be locked in as 2021 starters. If they can have good seasons and display consistency, they will shoot up to franchise level QBs.
Daniel Jones has struggled plenty in his first few seasons after being taken early in the draft. With help all over the field on defense, Saquon returning, and the signing of WR Kenny Golladay, Daniel Jones is on his last straw to be a starting QB in the league. Drew Lock has also been struggling, as shown by the Broncos interest in a few big name FA Quarterbacks. My guess is that Lock gets one more shot, but may even be benched as early as mid-season. Lock doesn’t show much potential, but only time can tell. Sam Darnold may also be traded before the draft, as the Jets are locked in on Zach Wilson. If Darnold lands in a good system like Carolina, he can be a franchise QB if he can be coached on his decision making. And finally, we have Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke got his first start for the WFT last season in the playoffs, and nearly beat the Super Bowl champs in a game with the final score of 31-23. If Heinicke can beat out Fitzpatrick as the starter, he will have to prove himself as a consistent starter in the NFL.
