QB Power Rankings Week 1 Edition: Reigning MVP Not Top 3? Where do the rookies slot in?

 This is the last article that will be published before an NFL game. After this article, a regular season NFL football game will have been played! We cannot believe it and are beyond excited for the big game tonight. We thought we should do our first QB rankings of the year because when we make our next edition a few weeks into the season, we want to see how big the change is off of our current predictions and how things stand right now before all chaos erupts when the season officially kicks off.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, 25 years old
2020 stats: 4740 yards, 38 TDs, 6 INTs passing | 308 yards, 2 TDs rushing, 2 fumbles

Going into the season Patrick Mahomes is easily the top dog. Arguably the most talented QB of this era, Mahomes has just entered his prime and will somehow likely only be getting better each year from here on out. He is going to be an All-Time great as he enters his fourth season as a starter and looks to lock up his second NFL MVP award.

2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks, 32 years old
2020 stats: 4212 yards, 40 TDs, 13 INTs passing | 513 yards, 2 TDs rushing, 4 fumbles

After Mahomes, there is quite a debate for who should be considered no. 2. Wilson wouldn't be here if it was based solely off of last season in which he did not finish strong but I predict him to be the second best this season based on what we know. He is so hungry going into this season and wants to get the Seahawks to the next level. He is my pre-season MVP pick and I just believe he starts hot and finally keeps it up. In 9 seasons, Wilson has also never had a losing season nor missed a single game. The definition of consistency and the Seahawks' rock. One of the best dual-threat QBs in NFL history, Wilson is set for another amazing season.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, 25 years old
2020 stats: 4544 yards, 37 TDs, 10 INTs passing | 421 yards, 8 TDs rushing, 4 fumbles

Coming in at number 3 is none other than the 2020 breakout player of the year and MVP runner up Josh Allen. He took the Bills to new heights with his wild breakout campaign. He started hot and never looked back. Allen has maybe the strongest arm in the league and uses it to full advantage. Along with that arm comes a set of very capable legs that makes him currently one of the best dual-threat QBs in the game. Allen had his leap last season and now we will see if he can hit a new level in 2021. The Bills hope so in their pursuit of a Lombardi trophy. 

4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, 37 years old
2020 stats: 4299 yards, 48 TDs, 5 INTs passing | 149 yards, 3 TDs rushing, 3 fumbles

The MVP season in which Aaron Rodgers is coming off of is one of the greatest QB single seasons of all time. You don't just throw almost 50 TDs to 5 INTs. It is simply unheard of. That is what Aaron Rodgers does. The unheard of. He is 37 but with that last season proved he has so much more left in the tank. While tensions are high in Green Bay right now in what could be his last season with the franchise, I think we could see a little regression, but he is still an easy top 4 QB in the league and I wouldn't really even have an issue with him as high as no. 2 on this list.

5. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 44 years old
2020 stats: 4633 yards, 40 TDs, 12 INTs passing | 6 yards, 4 TDs rushing, 3 fumbles

Can't really even put Brady's success into words anymore. It's that unprecedented and that insane. At age 43, on a new team for the first time in his career, Brady threw for the second most TDs of his entire 21 year career. He just doesn't age. Oh, and the Bucs won the Super Bowl on his back. There is no reason to expect regression from Brady this year as he and the Bucs are poised to make another deep playoff run. Does he somehow win another MVP this season? I don't know what else he can do at this point, nothing is off the table with this guy.

6. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens, 24 years old
2020 stats: 2757 yards, 26 TDs, 9 INTs passing | 1005 yards, 7 TDs rushing, 5 fumbles

The best dual threat QB in the NFL by a wide margin and likely to go down as the greatest dual threat QB ever when it is all said and done in a decade from now. In just 3 short seasons as a starter, Jackson has gone from a sort of underdog to one of the best QB talents we've ever seen. The former Heisman trophy winner has an MVP season under his belt but will look to bounce back from a 'down year' in which he still threw 26 TDs to just 9 picks and ran for 1000 yards. He's the only QB to ever rush for multiple 1000 yard seasons by the way and is almost a lock to do it again this year. There is truly no one like him in the league right now and his unique skillset makes him so tough to plan for and locks him the 6th spot in our ranks.

7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers, 23 years old
2020 stats: 4336 yards, 31 TDs, 10 INTs passing | 234 yards, 5 TDs rushing, 4 fumbles

The young QB talent in our NFL right now is just insane. Out of this top 7 so far, the majority is under 30. Justin Herbert is coming off the statistical best rookie QB season ever. His 31 TDs to just 10 picks are also unprecedented for a rookie. The success he had right out of the gate was just wondrous to see and keep in mind this was all done with the atrocious O-line the team had and the garbage play-calling of former HC Anthony Lynn. With a full off-season, a much improved coaching staff and O-line, Justin Herbert is gearing up to have an MVP caliber second season. The sky is literally the limit for this kid and opposing teams should be worried about what he might do if THAT was just his rookie season. Crazy to think a 23 year old is already in the top 7 for NFL QBs.

8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys, 28 years old
2020 stats (limited to 5 games): 1856 yards, 9 TDs, 4 INTs passing | 93 yards, 3 TDs rushing, 0 fumbles

Due to a gruesome injury, Prescott was sadly only able to play just 5 games last season. He was absolutely lighting the league up in those five contests. The stats he was on pace for were out of this world and he was squarely in the middle of the MVP conversation before going down last year. He returns at full health to a loaded Cowboys squad and figures to pickup right where he left off. The mobile QB with a widely accurate arm is one of the most exciting QBs in the game to watch. He wins a lot and is clutch as well. Prescott is gonna make everyone remember why he got his big contract this season.

9. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals, 24 years old
2020 stats: 3971 yards, 26 TDs, 12 INTs passing | 819 yards, 11 TDs rushing, 5 fumbles

Aside from Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes, the most talented QB in the game might be Kyler Murray of the Cardinals. He has the fastest feet I've ever seen on anyone. More than a Tyreek Hill or even a Barry Sanders or Marshawn Lynch. This guy is just fluttering around. Aside from Jackson, Murray is the next biggest thing in the dual-threat QB department. He came close to 1k rushing yards last season but dropped a whopping 11 TDs on the ground. Unlike Jackson, Murray has the benefit of a cannon of an arm. He has all the potential in the world and is easily a top 10 QB. If the Cards start winning more, it will be hard to keep this young kid out of the top 5 as the season progresses.

10. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans, 33 years old
2020 stats: 3819 yards, 33 TDs, 7 INTs passing | 266 yards, 7 TDs rushing, 1 fumble

What a late bloomer Ryan Tannehill has proven to be. The last QB in our top 10, Tannehill has gone from a bust to an absolute stud in his two seasons with the Titans. He has all the tools one could hope for in a star QB. Cannon arm, great rushing ability, high IQ, accuracy. He put it on full display last year as the Titans won the AFC South behind his incredible efficiency of 33 TDs to just 7 picks. The Titans have their franchise guy locked up for years and with the way he plays, I expect him to be a starter in this league for many more years to come. 

11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, 33 years old
2020 stats: 4084 yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs passing | 112 yards rushing, 0 fumbles

One of the most talented QBs in our league since he was drafted, Matt Stafford has been stuck in the dumps of Detroit for his entire career, putting up monster numbers and showing off to no one. Finally, he gets his chance to win. The Rams traded a lot to get him and he is about to have the best year of his career. On a top tier team with weapons, a good run game, a good o-line, an amazing offensive coach, we will get to see Stafford using his talents in meaningful situations. The man with a rocket arm just barely sits outside the top 10 but will likely move in when the season starts and he is QBing one of the best teams in the entire league. The arm angles this dude can throw with are second to maybe only Mahomes. 

12. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, 36 years old
2020 stats: 4581 yards, 26 TDs, 11 INTs passing | 92 yards, 2 TDs rushing, 2 fumbles

Just like Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan has been consistently one of the best QBs in the league over the last decade without much recognition. Aside from that crazy outlier year in which the upstart Falcons stormed to the Super Bowl behind Ryan's MVP season, he has mostly been overlooked in his career. Yet he always produces. In a lost season for the Falcons last year, you still see Ryan put up really good numbers. Despite the lack of success of his teams, he continues to prove he is one of the better QBs in our game year in and year out. He should see success again this year with Kyle Pitts added along with offensive minded new HC Arthur Smith. 

13. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns, 26 years old
2020 stats: 3563 yards, 26 TDs, 8 INTs passing | 165 yards, 1 TD rushing, 3 fumbles

After a promising rookie season, Mayfield slumped in his second year. Things weren't much better during the first half of the 2020 season before Mayfield flipped the switch and played some damn good football to end off last season. He is back to looking like the confident and cocky gunslinger that the Browns saw when they drafted him no. 1 overall just a few years back. Mayfield throws lasers and is sneaky mobile and good at throwing on the run. 2021 could be Mayfield's breakout year especially as the Browns have high expectations for winning this season. Mayfield's accurate arm could be the driving factor towards them making a deep playoff push. 

14. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders, 30 years old
2020 stats: 4103 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs passing | 140 yards, 3 TDs rushing, 3 fumbles

Basically a younger version of Matt Ryan, Derek Carr is consistently an above average QB who could win lots of games on a better team but is stuck on a mediocre club instead. Carr is an accurate thrower of the football who doesn't have the biggest arm but can certainly go deep when he wants. Like Mayfield, he is sneaky accurate and buys a lot of time with his legs. Carr seems to consistently post 25+ TD seasons in which he throws for less than 10 picks which is impressive. If he was on a good team, he would be very fun to watch. Fun fact: he has more career MVP votes than Russell Wilson.

15. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings, 33 years old
2020 stats: 4265 yards, 35 TDs, 13 INTs passing | 156 yards, 1 TD rushing, 5 fumbles

Kirk Cousins is coming off of a sneaky good season in which he posted super impressive TD numbers (35) to a low amount of INTs with 13. He is a steady force under center for the Vikings who run their offense through Dalvin Cook. Not great in big games, Cousins does his damage at home and during the early window. While he doesn't possess amazing mobility or a cannon of an arm, he surely is accurate from short and intermediate levels. 

16. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team, 38 years old
2020 stats (limited to 9 games): 2091 yards, 13 TDs, 8 INTs passing | 151 yards, 2 TDs rushing, 0 fumbles

Another one of the weirdest late bloomers we've ever seen, the 38 year old Fitzpatrick seems to be getting better in his old age as he wasn't that good of a QB before the age of 33. With his long beard and frail frame, you would think this old guy has a noodle arm and can't move for s$*t, but that is wrong. He is one of the more mobile QBs in the league somehow and actually has a rocket arm. Intermediate accuracy is honestly his biggest flaw. Joining a contending Washington, Fitz is in a great position to succeed and possibly have the best season of his career at age 38. 

17. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, 24 years old
2020 stats (limited to 10 games): 2688 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs passing | 276 yards, 3 TDs rushing, 4 fumbles

After what seemed to be a promising start to the 2020 top pick's career, his rookie season was over in a flash. A torn ACL ended his season after 10 games and left us wanting more. In his 10 games, Burrow showed a lot of flashes of talent. He showed the reasons he was drafted no. 1 to the Bengals who appear to have their franchise QB. Burrow is super accurate, can go deep at will, and is pretty mobile. All traits you want in a young QB with budding superstar potential. If he can stay healthy in 2021, he could be a huge riser in these QB rankings.

18. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles, 23 years old
2020 stats (limited to 5 starts): 1061 yards, 6 TDs, 4 INTs passing | 354 yards, 3 TDs rushing, 2 fumbles

In a small sample size, we got to see Jalen Hurts at the NFL level, and I liked what I saw. While there was obvious room for improvement in the passing game with accuracy mostly, Hurts is going to quickly join Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray in their own class of elite rushing QBs. He ran for almost 400 yards in just 5 starts including a beautiful 100+ yard rushing performance against New Orleans in an upset win. Hurts also looked like a star QB in a shootout loss vs Arizona the next week. While this might seem high, I think Hurts is going to ascend into or very near the top 10 quickly once this season begins. 

19. Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts, 28 years old
2020 stats (limited to 12 games): 2620 yards, 16 TDs, 15 INTs passing | 276 yards, 5 TDs rushing, 3 fumbles

Off of his 2020 stats alone, you can see why the Eagles traded Wentz and opted to give Jalen Hurts a starting chance in 2020. However, what you don't see with these numbers is the potential Wentz has in him. We have seen him succeed so highly in the past including a likely MVP season before tearing his ACL. Wentz reunites with his former QBs coach from that MVP season in Indy (Frank Reich) in hopes of resurrecting his career with him. Wentz has one of the most talented arms in the game and also is an underrated scrambler and improviser. I fully believe he is capable of having an elite season in 2021 and could rise very high on this list in due time. 

20. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints, 27 years old
2020 stats: N/A (BACKUP)

After the gunslinger was dumped by Tampa in 2019, he caught on with the Saints where he spent the year as Drew Brees' understudy and also learned the complex Sean Payton Saints offense. After the retirement of Brees, Winston found himself as the new starting QB in NOLA. We all know he has the talent to throw a ton of TDs and make some incredible deep passes, but we aren't sure where his football IQ stands. When he last started in Tampa Bay, he threw 30 TDs along with 30 INTs in the same season. He figures to be more accurate and efficient under the offensive genius Sean Payton in his first starting season in New Orleans. A dream situation for Winston to get his career back on track. 

21. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars, 21 years old
2020 stats: N/A (ROOKIE)

The most hyped QB prospect of the last decade makes his debut on the NFL QB power rankings at 21. A fair spot for a player who is yet to play an NFL regular season snap. Still, he is one of the most talented rookie QBs we've ever seen. Elite decision making, arm talent, deep ball accuracy, mobility, and size are some of the best things about Trevor Lawrence. The offense in Jacksonville has already been built around him and he is set up to succeed from day 1. No, literally. They play Houston week 1...

22. Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos, 28 years old
2020 stats: 3733 yards, 15 TDs, 11 INTs passing | 279 yards, 5 TDs rushing, 3 fumbles

Despite being 2 years under 30, Bridgewater has become a journeyman QB in the NFL but figures to maybe have found a place he can call home for awhile in Denver. After convincingly winning the QB competition vs Drew Lock this off-season, we know Bridgewater is going to have a long leash. The thing is, he is perfect for this team. Safe with the football, calm under pressure, makes big time plays in big time moments. He also has rushing ability and really good short and medium accuracy. Bridgewater struggles with the deep ball but the Broncos can work around that. He is a very good veteran option for any team that wants to be decent at worst. 

23. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins, 23 years old
2020 stats (limited to 10 games): 1814 yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs passing | 109 yards, 3 TDs rushing, 1 fumble

After starting his rookie season as the backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa played the final 9 or so games for Miami and was a bit of a disappointment. While his stats weren't terrible and his 11:3 TD ratio was actually pretty good, Tua looked like a shell of his former self. Not able to throw it deep and pretty inaccurate from close range as well. After a full off-season of developing and learning and after Miami added some more weapons, we expect a jump from Tua in his second year. The lefty is super light on his feet and can escape trouble easily, if he can add a nice long ball to that then he is going to be set up for success this season. He gets a lot of comparisons to a young Drew Brees, just more mobile. Tua looked good in the pre-season as well, he will likely be higher once the season starts.

24. Zach Wilson, New York Jets, 22 years old
2020 stats: N/A (ROOKIE)

The no. 2 overall pick in this year's draft looked every bit the part during the pre-season. He was lighting it up when he was on the field and even drew some high praise from Aaron Rodgers after the Jets' pre-season contest against Green Bay. Wilson reminds me almost a bit of a young RUSSELL Wilson. He isn't the fastest QB alive but he is super agile and can escape any collapsing pocket. He also has a cannon of an arm and can sling the football right down the field with ease and amazing touch and accuracy on the ball. If Wilson has the success that Russell Wilson as a rookie, he could have some really good things in store. This ranking will almost surely be higher next time we look as he's just a rookie who hasn't played a down yet at this point in time.

25. Mac Jones, New England Patriots, 23 years old
2020 stats: N/A (ROOKIE)

With stellar pre-season play, Mac Jones drove Cam Newton out of New England. The first round pick of the Patriots wasn't supposed to start right away initially, but impressed so much that the team decided they had to start him week 1. A rare pure pocket passing rookie QB in this day and age, Jones is going to fit perfectly into Bill Belichick's system in New England. The widely accurate pocket QB with a big arm is going to look like a young Tom Brady in this offense once again. Jones might have been the most impressive of all the rookie QBs in this pre-season and that poise might carry him a long way at the next level. 

26. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers, 24 years old
2020 stats: 2208 yards, 9 TDs, 11 INTs passing (in 12 games) | 217 yards, 2 TDs rushing, 2 fumbles

The fall from grace has been crazy for Darnold. Once considered the best QB from the draft class that featured the likes of Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson, Darnold was now flipped to the Panthers for next to nothing. This is it for his career. A make or break season. He is just 24 years old and already is going into a year that will shape his career. Will he breakout big time finally in a good situation in Carolina or was he always just bad and the Jets were hiding it.

27. Jimmy Garopollo, San Fransisco 49ers, 29 years odl
2020 stats (limited to 6 games): 1096 yards, 7 TDs, 5 INTs passing | 25 yards rushing, 0 fumbles

Jimmy G doing the bare minimum in an amazing offensive scheme reached it's breaking point this off-season when the Niners traded a king's ransom to move up to no. 2 overall in the draft and take Trey Lance to be the team's QB of the future. Garopollo was named the week 1 starter and should play a decent amount into the season, but it's really a mixed bag with him. He doesn't have a super strong arm so he isn't able to go deep as well as one would like in their QB. He also has no mobility and struggles with accuracy at all levels of the field. Even his decision making is sub par at best. Despite all of this mediocrity together, Garopollo never seems to be THAT bad. He is always right around average and is on too good of a team for his mistakes to count as much as they should. 

28. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, 26 years old
2020 stats: 4281 yards, 22 TDs, 13 INTs passing | 109 yards, 4 TDs rushing, 4 fumbles

The Jared Goff era in LA officially fizzled out this off-season as he was traded to Detroit where careers go to die. In a new system, Goff will look to somehow revitalize his career before the career backup label hits him. The former no. 1 overall pick is average at best. He is accurate short and intermediate but struggles going deep and throwing on the run. His main weakness is his decision making which is so poor and results in so many turnovers. Goff is actually surprisingly mobile though and can evade sacks well. I don't expect much from him this year in Detroit except maybe some meaningless yardage and TD totals and probably a lot of INTs and frustration.

29. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 39 years old
2020 stats: 4304 yards, 37 TDs, 14 INTs passing | 11 yards rushing, 0 fumbles

This might seem crazy low for the future hall of fame QB who is coming off of a decent season, but near the end of the season, it was clear that Big Ben has overstayed his welcome in the Steel City. He has been the team's franchise QB since 04', I know that, but if the Steelers want to win now, it's time to move on. His mobility was always bad and it's downright atrocious now. He has a noodle arm and throws almost exclusively checkdowns. He just isn't right for the current era of the NFL and I think it will be evident when he is the main reason the Steelers have their worst season in years.

30. Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears, 33 years old
2020 stats (limited to 11 games): 2170 yards, 14 TDs, 8 INTs passing | 114 yards rushing, 1 fumble

After finally moving on from Cinncy, Dalton signed on with Dallas last year to be Dak's backup. When Dak went down, there were many who thought the Cowboys would still win with Dalton at the helm. That was not the case. There was clear regression from the man formerly known as the Red Rifle and he was not brought back after the season. Now the day 1 starter in Chicago, he will not last long. Fans are clamoring for high potential rookie Justin Fields and those calls will only intensify after Dalton and the Bears take on the Rams menacing defense on Sunday Night football this week. 

31. Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans, 32 years old
2020 stats: N/A (only 1 game and change played)

The journeyman that is Tyrod Taylor has somehow found another starting gig in the NFL, and in the strangest way. Taylor once was a borderline top 10 QB with his accurate deep ball and his top tier speed. Both of those traits have seen some regression in his aging since he left Buffalo but nonetheless he isn't a bad fill in option at all. It will be interesting to see how he can do with the absolutely awful roster around him on the Texans. I like Taylor a lot actually but he had to be this low just due to how bad the team he is playing on is and how he will have no help. 

32. Daniel Jones, New York Giants, 24 years old
2020 stats: 2943 yards, 11 TDs, 10 INTs passing | 423 yards, 1 TD rushing, 6 fumbles

Finally, the title that no QB wants goes to Daniel Jones. The worst starting QB in the league. This is a make or break season for the former top 10 pick in the draft. The Giants have done a good job surrounding him with offensive talent around him. Last season, his help wasn't amazing but it also wasn't terrible. He was still awful. He was a turnover machine and proved he cannot make the obvious reads when they are right in front of his face. He could breakout this year and prove this initial ranking very wrong, but for now he is dead last.