Ranking the NFL Quarterbacks 1-32: It's an Old Man's League

There are many quarterback rankings out there and they are all the product of inexact science. Everyone has their own biases and perspective. The goal, as always, is to get through them without succumbing to a fit of rage.

Good luck with that.

#32 Josh Rosen, Cardinals: So the good news for Rosen is that part of the reason his rookie campaign was so lackluster was the weakness of the team around him. The bad news is that he’s likely to lose his job with Kyler Murray sitting right there in the No. 1 spot for Kliff Kingsbury. And really, who could blame the Cards for opting for potential over a small, but lackluster sample size of reality?

#31 Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins: This guy spent a ton of time on the ground (11.3 percent sack rate). When he was upright, he wasn’t half-bad. Maybe it’s unfair, but he’s so low on this list because he’s past his prime and that prime was so darn depressing. If there are actual Tannehill stans out there, I cannot wait to hear from you. Proof of life is so important.

#30 Alex Smith, Redskins: Smith went from a Pro Bowl quarterback to a lost cause to the sufferer of a devastating injury. How he responds is anyone’s guess. He may not even get the chance.

#29 Josh Allen, Bills: Allen was a polarizing pick coming out of college and remains a polarizing figure. As a runner, he was electric. As a thrower, he was arguably a disaster with a propensity to find the other team. Passing is pretty important in today’s NFL so there’s real cause for concern. One safe bet: he’ll remain fun to watch in a completely unpredictable way.

#28 Eli Manning, Giants: No mobility, no arm strength, no discernible plan. What’s not to like? The best thing he can do at this point is hand the ball to Saquon Barkley 28 times a game.

#27 Case Keenum, Broncos: Remember when Keenum played at an MVP-level for the Minnesota Vikings? That wasn’t long ago yet feels like centuries. Keenum threw 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions for an offense that was painful to watch last year. He did manage to piece together four game-winning drives, so not the worst guy to have when it matters.

#26 Derek Carr, Raiders: What happened here? Carr used to be knocking on the top-10, then it went away Monstar-style. He was a shell of himself last year and has the unfortunate dilemma of co-existing with Jon Gruden. Oh yeah, and Antonio Brown is coming to town. Say a prayer for our man.

#25 Lamar Jackson, Ravens: The playoff game against Los Angeles was awful before Jackson woke up and showed what he’s capable of doing. He’s still young and prone to these Jekyll-Hyde swings. Putting up 695 rushing yard was impressive, but also means he’s an injury risk. It’d be fun to see him take a huge leap to fill the void left by Joe Flacco in the is this Raven elite market.

#24 Sam Darnold, Jets: The rookie has a big arm, but completed just 57 percent of his passes and made a plethora of head-scratching decisions. We knew there’d be growing pains and he has a high ceiling. He’ll need to find more consistency in his sophomore campaign.

#23 Jameis Winston, Buccaneers: Winston has so many things you want to see in a quarterback and his deep ball is thrown without fear. He is a risk-taker and sometimes that backfires. He’s quietly finished in the top 10 in yards/attempt regularly. We’re still waiting on the winning.

#22 Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers: Very mortal in three starts before being sidelined. He seems capable of big things, though it’s tough to put too much stock in 361 career pass attempts. He needs to justify that big contract and will turn 28 during this season. Could get dicey if he’s not delivering.

#21 Marcus Mariota, Titans: Numbers don’t tell the whole story with Mariota, who is a legitimate dual-threat. As with many guys listed above, it’s been a bit concerning to see his potential gradually diminish. That said, he’s still a viable option capable of playing like a top-tier quarterback in small doses.

#20 Mitchell Trubisky, Bears: Trubisky was basically everything the Bears needed him to be. His scrambling ability added an important dimension and is of great value late in the season when conditions are subpar. His accuracy, however, is a problem. At this point in his young career, he’s more of a game manager than a game-breaker. With some seasoning, he could be a top-third quarterback and perennial winner in the NFC North.

#19 Andy Dalton, Bengals: Dalton put up his second-best QBR in 11 games before losing the rest to injury. What is there, really, to say about him? Not much. Except it may be fair to consider him the line of demarcation. Teams should want a signal caller at Dalton’s level or above. Below him means losing. He is sort of the bare minimum, but hey, at least it’s something.

#18 Nick Foles, Jaguars: Crashed down to earth a bit by throwing four playoff interceptions and falling short on a second miraculous relief appearance. He knows he has the job from Day One now, but that’s not always been a good thing. You can’t put a price on big-game experience and Foles has it in droves.

#17 Kirk Cousins, Vikings: Vikes fans didn’t particularly like the way he wilted down the stretch. On balance though, he was pretty solid, with a 3-1 touchdown-interception ratio. He has the mettle to lead a team, he just needs to get over the stumbles in the big moments. Easier said than done.

#16 Dak Prescott, Cowboys: Prescott once looked like he’d be a mainstay in the top-10. Now he’s taken a step back. He’s excellent when not asked to do too much and his ability to handle the read-option is fantastic. The return of security blanket Jason Witten will help a lot in terms of comfort.

#15 Baker Mayfield, Browns: Mayfield survived on raw talent during his rookie campaign and showed steady improvement. He racked up 27 touchdowns and will improve on that number with Odell Beckham Jr. coming to town. There’s a chance we’re looking at the next Brett Favre in the making. May be worth taking a flier on him as a longshot MVP candidate. You heard it here first.

#14 Matthew Stafford, Lions: We could be looking at the end of the Stat Paddford era. Jim Bob Cooter has implemented a short passing attack and Stafford has just kind of existed. He completed 66 percent of his throws but was under 6 net yards/attempt. Will he go his entire career without winning a playoff game? Probably.

#13 Cam Newton, Panthers: Posted his highest rating since 2013 and looked like his old self. Still prone to the ill-timed interception. Crazy thought here: maybe a more wide-open, uptempo offense could be a benefit.

#12 Carson Wentz, Eagles: If he stays healthy, there’s so much to like. Completed nearly 70 percent of his throws and finished his year with big fourth-quarter performances on the road. He’s 26 now, and this is the season to fully maximize his talent.

#11 Deshaun Watson, Texans: Showed significant improvement between year one and year two. Occasionally tries to do too much, but always a threat to make a game-changing play. Shows more poise than most young signal callers and is capable of having an MVP year. Back-to-back QBRs over 100 portend a long, productive career.

#10 Matt Ryan, Falcons: Consistently puts up 4,500-plus yard marks. Had a 5-1 touchdown-interception ratio. A cold-blooded killer in sheep’s clothing. Perhaps the most underrated and least discussed superstar in sports. To be fair, nothing he does jumps off the page. But the numbers and steadiness speak for themselves.

#9 Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: There’s just a lot here. Big Ben still runs like a sentient water tower, though his ability to shake off defenders isn’t what it once was. He was the league leader in completions, attempts, yards, and interceptions. He led a potent offense with deep interpersonal rifts. Has his window fully closed?

#8 Jared Goff, Rams: Goff posted a 7.52 net yards/attempt figure, which is gross. He led his team to a Super Bowl appearance. He was poised and professional. And he’s in Sean McVay’s offense. Raise your hand if you don’t think he can continue to be a dominant figure.

#7 Philip Rivers, Chargers: Rivers had his best season since 2010. No one has more fun out there. He’s just a maniac, dropping in dimes and yelling his head off. He seems to have found the same fountain of youth Brees and Brady did and is drinking deeply.

#6 Russell Wilson, Seahawks: Thank god Seattle decided to pay this guy. Wilson threw 200 fewer passes than the league leaders and still posted 35 touchdowns. He is impossible to contain and succeeds despite obvious deficiencies in his supporting cast.

#5 Andrew Luck, Colts: Finally healthy, Luck showed exactly why he’s exemplified the Platonic Ideal of a franchise quarterback. Utilizing a stacked offense around him, the man with the deep voice put up a career-high rating and QBR while piloting the Colts to a road playoff win. Will 2019 be the year he reaches his full potential?

#4 Aaron Rodgers, Packers: Twenty-five touchdowns and two interceptions. There are signs of acrimony and age in Green Bay, but those freaking out should R-E-L-A-X. A newly focused Rodgers with new leadership will be on a mission and it’s scary to think what he could do.

#3 Drew Brees, Saints: All he did at age 39 was lead his team to the NFC Championship Game and throw for 32 touchdowns and five interceptions. Brees completed a ridiculous 74 percent of his passes and was more efficient than he’s ever been. What will he do for an encore?

#2 Tom Brady, Patriots: What’s left to say about the six-time Super Bowl winner? Maybe that he’ll play until he’s 50. There will be legit flying cars and this guy will be out here slowly ambling around and leading last-minute touchdown drives when it matters most. Brady’s best attribute in recent years has been his pacing. He knows when to turn it on and always does. He is a modern marvel and his brain — a supercomputer — more than makes up for any physical deficiency.

#1 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: All he did was step into the NFL and dominate immediately. His unmatched arm strength is most impressive when he’s on the run. He makes throws from unheard of and unimagined angles. His big-game leadership was on display during a furious AFC Championship. If a 50-touchdown season was the appetizer, what type of main courses is he capable of whipping up? It’s not often a surefire Hall of Famer cements his place so quickly. We may as well buckle up and enjoy the ride.