Captains of the Ship
By Peyton Schultze
Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Matthew Stafford guided their teams to major heights in a loaded 2022 playoff race (via Sporting News).
On Monday, ESPN released its look at the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL entering the new year, based on data and surveys from executives, coaches and players throughout the league. And of course, the list with met with major pushback from nearly every fanbase in the sport, from the quiet towns of neighboring Green Bay to the loud sports bars of Boston, Massachusetts.
Excellent quarterback play was all around the league throughout the 2021 season, making a ranking like this even tougher. From young and upcoming gunslingers to aging veterans still dominating at the top of their game, there is plenty of greatness across the board at the quarterback position in the NFL, especially with the game’s overall evolution into an offensive backyard for passers.
With that said, we decided to take matters into our own hands and draw up our own rankings entering the new year. Based on statistical analysis, head-to-head matchups, recent production and future projections, we provide a look at our own top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL entering the 2022 regular season:
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is truly a game-changing player for the Bills, showing off his skills through the air and on the ground (via Sporting News).
No quarterback in the league is asked to be the heart and soul of their offense quite like Josh Allen.
He’s their best passer (4,407 passing yards and 36 touchdowns) and he’s their best runner (763 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns). He’s their best leader and he’s their best weapon in all phases of offensive football, which takes him to the very top of our quarterback list.
Once regarded by this page as a potential bust coming out of college, Allen has evolved into one of the game’s truly game-breaking talents. A quarterback with immense arm strength that can make every throw on the field, Allen has turned himself into a budding superstar and the face of the Buffalo Bills in just a four-year window. In addition, Allen’s playoff excellence in 2022 (9 touchdowns and zero interceptions in two masterclass performances) helped elevate his status to the top, and he looks like he’ll take the Bills to the top of the AFC East for the next decade. With studs around him such as Stefon Diggs, Dawson Knox, Gabriel Davis and Jamison Crowder suiting up for the Buffalo offense heading into the 2022 regular season, great things may once again be on the way for the Bills’ offense.
If there is once concern about Allen, it has to be his long-term health. Allen takes a beating with how often he is called upon to deliver game-changing moments for the Bills, and while he often is smart with his decision-making, you have to wonder if it is just a matter of time. A crushing blow of that magnitude that would truly dent the Bills’ playoff hopes, showing once again why Allen may be one of the most valuable players on either side of the ball in the league.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Gifted, poised and clutch, Patrick Mahomes is unlike any other player in the sport (via Cincy Jungle).
It seems like Patrick Mahomes has been listed as a top-five quarterback ever since the first moment he touched a football for the Kansas City Chiefs.
If a “down” year is 37 touchdowns and 4,839 passing yards for the Chiefs’ signal caller, things are truly going to be great for Chiefs’ fans in the next ten years. Mahomes is one of the most special talents that the game has ever seen, combining his trademarked off-balance throws with rare escapability, high velocity on balls in the middle of the field and confidence to make throws late in games from his powerful right arm.
There is truly almost no difference between Allen and Mahomes on this list, especially since their upcoming rivalry appears like it could take the AFC by storm for the next decade in the former ways of Brady and Manning. Yet the difference in this list came down to Kansas City’s loss of superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Mahomes’ struggles throughout the 2021 season. Although he eventually settled down and was able to overcome the soft zone coverages that teams decided to throw at Kansas City’s dynamic offense in 2021, concern remains if Mahomes can replicate his same numbers without the freebee touchdowns from Hill and with more teams understanding some of the former MVP’s flaws in terms of patience and decision-making.
One thing that cannot be denied when it comes to Mahomes is his jaw-dropping knack to score quickly and get the Chiefs’ in prime scoring position in a matter of seconds, especially with Travis Kelce and Juju Smith-Schuster at his disposal. A trait that has not been seen to these extremes by any other player in the history of the sport, Mahomes is a rare breed and surely on his way to Canton one day after his scorching hot start to his still-young career.
3. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brady’s age doesn’t matter; he is still one of the game’s top end quarterbacks (via KTLA).
He’s still the GOAT.
The greatest quarterback in the history of the sport hit unexpected new highs in 2022, despite dealing with an injured group of wide receivers throughout the year and plenty of controversy within the Tampa Bay organization. But that’s what Brady does: settle the noise and win games. Throwing for a league-leading 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdowns should have locked up the MVP trophy for Brady in 2022, and while the Bucs ultimately fell to the Rams in the playoffs, Tampa Bay nearly pulled off one of the great comebacks in playoff history behind even more magic from Brady.
Then something strange happened: he retired. But in an on-brand comeback to the game, TB12 returns as the Buccaneers’ starting quarterback for what could be the last dance of his cherished career. His skills have somehow not diminished, his brain remains at the top of its game and his deep ball looks as good as ever, consistently hitting Mike Evans and Chris Godwin under one of the league’s best passing attacks. Yet the key for Brady will once again be health in 2022, especially with Tampa Bay dealing with some losses up front on the offensive line. He may be 45 once the season starts, but he’s still as good as ever as the leader of the Bucs.
4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has been an offensive superstar since he took his first snap for the Chargers (via CBS Sports).
The 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year somehow found a way to get even better in 2021.
With 5,014 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns, Herbert was selected to the first Pro Bowl appearance of his career and started to gain acclaim as one of the game’s top signal callers. The strong-armed gunslinger has all of the tools needed to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL: extreme maturity, added on top of his steady confidence in his abilities and a certain coolness under pressure.
Yet Herbert can simply make throws that nobody else in all of football can, especially with his rare blend of massive size and impressive athleticism that helps him drive the ball down the field with pure ease. His Week 18 performance against the Raiders was truly a stunning display despite Los Angeles’ eventual loss, showing true toughness inside and outside of the pocket in addition to a powerful drive into his throws that makes it nearly impossible for defenders to pick off. Herbert also has plenty of help on offense. Behind a nice offensive line, weapons like Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler help to make life easier for the former Oregon standout, especially with his quick release and timely decision-making.
The only thing holding back Herbert from being even higher on the list is his own team. Although it is a very small sample size, Herbert’s 15-17 career record leaves plenty of room for improvement, especially in a loaded AFC West that looks like it will be as good as ever. But for as long as the Chargers have Herbert under center, they have a chance to compete for a playoff spot. And for as long as Herbert continues to put up his ridiculous statlines that have followed him in the first two years of his NFL career, he’ll be regarded as one of the game’s truly elite quarterbacks.
5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Long disregarded in Detroit, Matthew Stafford helped rewrite his legacy with a Super Bowl title in just his first season with the Los Angeles Rams (via SI).
Stafford finally captured his moment of glory in 2022, powering the Rams to a Super Bowl championship in his first year in Los Angeles under head coach Sean McVay.
After being worn down time and time again by the ridiculousness of the Detroit Lions in the harsh conditions of the NFC, Stafford’s move to the West Coast came with plenty of uncertainly. Yet the gunslinging quarterback silenced the doubters with 41 touchdowns and 4,886 passing yards in 17 starts last season, lighting up the scoreboard week in and week out for one of the league’s best offenses. His ultimate connection with top-end wide receiver Cooper Kupp may be one of the biggest advantages that Stafford has over his peers as well, especially considering that combination’s prolific play late in Super Bowl LVI helped get the Rams over the top once and for all.
Stafford’s main concern is his tendency for turnovers, as he led the league with 17 interceptions a year ago. But the Rams can handle Stafford’s high turnover marks if they continue to generate the type of chunk plays that the former Georgia quarterback has always been known for, especially late in ballgames. In fact, Stafford might be the best 4th quarter quarterback in the entire league, with seven game-winning drives over the course of the season, including three in the playoffs. That type of remarkable late-game play gives Stafford and the Rams a type of untouchable swagger that teams crave, especially as the Rams look to capture back-to-back titles in the 2022 season.
6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow’s meteoric rise to superstardom has been a treat for fans of the sport (via Sporting News).
How can you not list him this high after one of the most unexpected seasons by a team in recent memory?
The Bengals’ franchise superstar deserves to be this high on the list after a year to remember, especially after throwing for 34 touchdowns and leading the entire league in completion percentage behind one of the worst offensive lines in football last season. A quarterback with Romo-like escapability that is matched by a Favre-like toughness in the pocket makes Burrow one of the most fun players to watch in all of football, as seen throughout the playoffs when he took down the Raiders, Titans and Chiefs in impressive fashion. Burrow may not have been at his best throughout the Super Bowl, but his willingness to stand in the pocket and make throws despite incoming pressure makes him the rare type of player that is built for the moment.
There is no doubt that plenty of credit should be given to wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins for Burrow’s quick rise to the top, but the fact that the former Heisman winner put together the type of season he had last year just months after tearing his ACL shows that Burrow is far from reaching his peak as an NFL quarterback. In addition, Burrow enters the 2022 season with more offensive line help via free agency, which should give him more time to throw and take deeper shots down the field for a Cincinnati offense that may be one of the best in football again.
Many people are looking for the ultimate comparison for Joe Brrr, but the one that stands out the most is Joe Montana. Both are confident players that never seemed rattled by the things working against them, and were appreciative of the cast around them. It’s certainly a steep mark to live up to for the Bengals’ star, but look for even more greatness this season from #9.
7. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Rodgers has won back-to-back MVPs, but enters a season of mystery with Davante Adams now in Las Vegas (via Sporting News).
Yes, he enters the year as the reigning back-to-back Most Valuable Player. And yes, Rodgers has put together an awesome two-year stretch of regular season football for the Packers, throwing for 85 touchdowns and only nine interceptions on a phenomenal 69% completion rate.
But those numbers actually help tell the mysterious story of Rodgers entering the year, especially considering Green Bay has failed to make the Super Bowl during that time and was one-and-done a season ago after a crushing home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Now, with former favorite Davante Adams now in Las Vegas, Rodgers turns toward a ragtag group of outcast wide receivers to help carry this offense, which should be interesting to watch early in the year.
Possibly more than any quarterback above him outside of Mahomes, Rodgers can basically make every throw. His mere touch on the ball despite consistently shaky footwork has been a masterclass in one-of-a-kind quarterbacking over the past two decades, and his carefulness with the ball is an art in itself. But one of his great strengths can also be his greatest flaw, often shrinking under pressure late in ballgames or when other teams force the Packers to play a physical brand of football while trailing in games. It is a trait that keeps him this low on the list, and while his statistical mastery has been an impressive feat, he is not one of the top options at the position for a player that you want in the second half of a game while trailing by more than two touchdowns.
The pure incompetence of the NFC North has awarded Rodgers’ Packers five to six divisional wins per year over the past decade, but with Green Bay’s offense figuring to take a step back without any top weapons minus stud running back Aaron Jones, Rodgers’ stats will decline heavily. That should help provide more future clarity to this ranking, especially following a year-long period full of off-the-field drama and delusional contract negotiations that has plagued Green Bay’s front office culture.
8. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
Wilson’s first year in Denver will be one of the NFL’s biggest stories to watch, especially in a very competitive AFC West (via NFL).
Wilson provides a stark comparison to Rodgers, especially as they’re ranked right next to each other in our list.
A locker room leader and the type of player that you want in control of the ball late in a game on a two-minute drive, Wilson enters the 2022 season with plenty of hype around him on his new team. Surrounded by a nice group of wide receivers such as Jerry Jeudy, Tim Patrick and Courtland Sutton will help Wilson adjust quickly to his new Mile High home, and the Broncos will be one of the most interesting teams to watch early in the year considering their status as potential contenders in the AFC West with a loaded roster on both sides of the ball.
Yet 2021 was certainly a down year for the former Seattle Seahawk. Missing time with a hand injury certainly helped take down his stats across the board, but even when he was in the lineup, he was often running for his life behind a dreadful offensive line and missing too many easy throws that he has consistently hit in his career. Yet 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions on an impressive 7.8 yards per attempt would be a career year for many, providing hope that Wilson should easily be able to regain his status as one of the game’s truly elite signal callers in Denver.
9. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Despite a tough year in 2021, Lamar Jackson enters the new season with plenty of hope for a resurgent performance (via Sporting News).
Lamar Jackson certainly did not have the year many of us have become accustomed to with him in 2022, but there is no doubt that a sensational 37-12 career record gets you a spot on a list of the top ten quarterbacks in the sport.
A one-of-a-kind player, Jackson can do it all with his legs and his arm. As the lead catalyst for the Ravens’ offense, Jackson has an entire offense catered around his skills in Baltimore, often applying plenty of pressure on the signal caller to lead the way and stay healthy for the Ravens each and every Sunday. Although he is most known for his ground-breaking speed as a runner, Jackson has continued to take steps forward as a passer in terms of his aggression and poise in the pocket.
Despite only starting 12 games in the 2021 season, Jackson actually eclipsed his 2022 passing totals with 2,882 passing yards. Although the touchdowns took a step back (from 26 in ‘20 to 16 in ‘21) and the interceptions ticked up (9 in ‘20 to 13 in ‘21), Jackson’s Ravens were still 7-5 in games he started despite massive injuries on both sides of the ball. The Baltimore quarterback will continue to have his unreal rushing numbers on the ground (767 yards in 2021), but overall development as a passer will serve him well in the future as he looks to secure a long-term deal with the Ravens.
Yet the Ravens’ support on offense around Jackson remains a major concern. Although the Ravens are certainly built through the run game, Baltimore does not deploy any sort of game-changing receiving weapons outside of Mark Andrews and potentially Rashod Bateman, which remains a problem for John Harbaugh and company. Yet Jackson has stepped up in big moments throughout his career, going head-to-head with top talents such as Allen and Mahomes and putting up huge performances in primetime outings versus top teams. That is an impressive trait for the still-young Jackson, who looks to return to his former MVP ways in 2022.
10. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Amid chaos and turmoil, Derek Carr has been the one constant for the Raiders in the past few years (via The Raider Rumble).
It is easy to pick on the Las Vegas Raiders for all of the noise and chaos they have dealt with since moving to the Sin City, but Derek Carr seems to be the least of their worries.
Amid several troubling stories that filled the Las Vegas air throughout the 2021 season, Carr somehow found a way to lead a scrappy Raider team into the playoffs. And before almost taking down the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals in the wild card round, it took just about every ounce of greatness from Carr’s arm and mind to get Las Vegas into the playoffs after one of the more wild seasons for a team in recent NFL history.
Carr’s stats may not jump off the page as much as other top quarterbacks, especially considering how he only threw for 23 touchdowns to go along with 4,804 passing yards last season. But considering how often the Raiders have dealt with coaching changes and personnel chaos since Carr became the Raiders’ starter in 2014, it is truly impressive that he has been able to settle the noise and step up to the plate as the Raiders’ true leader moving forward.
Even better, Carr may not have even hit his peak yet. With top wide receiver Davante Adams joining a loaded offensive crew already featuring Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas may be one of the best offensive units in all of football next season. And if Carr finds a way to get the Raiders back into the postseason for a second straight year and produces some increased statistical production across the board in his first season under Josh McDaniels, there may be very little doubt left about just how meaningful Carr is to the Raiders.
Honorable Mention: 11. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has been inconsistent for Arizona, but has immense upside in a weakened NFC (via Who Dat Dish).
Kyler Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the most dynamic players in the sport, but he still remains a work-in-progress.
Although his dual-threat talents remain nearly unmatched by any other quarterback in the NFL, Murray has dealt with some major pushback in terms of his overall reliability as the leader of a franchise moving forward and Arizona has faded away late in the calendar over the past two years.
That is not to say he has not been awesome at times. With 3,787 passing yards, 423 rushing yards and 29 total touchdowns in just 14 starts, Murray helped lead the Cardinals back to the playoffs before their eventual playoff defeat to the Rams. Maturity, health and willingness to run remain a concern for Murray entering the 2022 regular season, especially with DeAndre Hopkins due to miss time, but there is still room to grow for the speedy signal caller.
Honorable Mention: 12. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott may not have the physical tools of other top quarterbacks, but remains a steady presence under the bright lights of Dallas (via Financial World).
The franchise leader of the Cowboys may face more pressure than any other player at any other position in the NFL, and Dak Prescott has truly handled the noise with flying colors.
Throwing for 4,449 yards to go along with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2021, Prescott helped lead the Cowboys back into the playoffs at the top of the NFC East behind solid play on both sides of the ball. And with a great 53-32 career record since becoming a member of the Cowboys, Prescott has helped establish himself as Dallas’ current and future starter with a nice supporting cast around him on offense, featuring players like Ezekiel Elliott and CeeDee Lamb.
Yet two questions still remain about Prescott: can he find playoff success and can he be the true leader of an offense even when things are working against him? Dak has plenty of intangibles working in his favor to help settle the latter question, but Dallas will need to reach new heights in the postseason behind their loaded roster and return to the NFC mountaintop before he will move any higher up this list.