There’s Patrick Mahomes, and then there’s the rest of the NFL at quarterback. Mahomes led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl repeat with his third ring in four tries last year and fully established himself as the new Tom Brady.
Everyone’s chasing the status of the two-time MVP, and there’s a considerable gap behind him, too.
Based some on the recent past but looking more toward the upside for the near future, here’s how the other 31 starting QBs stack up against Mahomes and each other heading into the 2024 NFL regular season.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Mahomes knows he always has the best hand (see also head, arm, etc) in the league, and now he’s fully into Brady-like slow-play mode. He’s saving his top cards to play last, as the current king of QBs is also his own ace in the hole.
2. Joe Burrow, Bengals
Burrow is the one guy who can match Mahomes’ moxie in big games. He just needs to be more consistent and healthy to challenge for more AFC championships. Burrow can bounce back in a big way even with remixed weapons and a change at offensive coordinator.
3. Josh Allen, Bills
Allen is doing everything physically with his arm and legs to deliver MVP-caliber play, and he becomes more important with big changes in his receiving corps. He will get even more individual and team-leading respect whenever he can get over the playoff hump vs. Mahomes.
4. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Jackson is the only other active two-time MVP, and the only thing missing on his resume is getting his team to the Super Bowl over Mahomes. Huge credit to him for re-raising his game in a fresh, run-heavy, deep-passing offense under Todd Monken last year.
5. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Rayne Dakota might be putting the Cowboys offense on his back again while vying for the richest QB contract in the league in 2025. For his volume with a shaky running game and limited receiving pop beyond CeeDee Lamb, he was exceptional through the air season. The Cowboys are well aware there’s too much on him in big games and need to help him more for improved playoff success.
6. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Hurts and the Eagles’ offense had a down season after losing offensive coordinator Shane Steichen post-Super Bowl. They didn’t have a clear identity with running or passing, other than Hurts chucking downfield and being pushed into the red zone. He should respond with smoother, versatile passing under Kellen Moore and rely less on taking that pounding inside minus Jason Kelce.
7. Brock Purdy, 49ers
Purdy was the league’s best deep-throwing and big-play passer last season by every metric. He has elite protection and endless weapons, but he deserves a lot more love for maximizing the explosiveness, playing well off Christian McCaffrey and a top rushing attack. He’ll cash in with a monster contract in 2025.
8. Jordan Love, Packers
Love is giving the Packers plenty of hope that they’re doing it again with him replacing Aaron Rodgers the way that Rodgers replaced Favre. Love is thriving in an elite Matt LaFleur system and figures to get better with his young receivers coming together well.
9. Aaron Rodgers, Jets
The 40-year-old, four-time MVP retains top-10 status for emeritus reasons after he lost his first New York season to a torn Achilles. This is a reset for the Jets, and just tapping into his above-average self will make them AFC contenders. The key on his new team, besides health, is getting his winning intangibles back on track.
10. Kirk Cousins, Falcons
Cousins had a great run with the Vikings, going from solid Commanders starter to underappreciated, efficient deep passer. He found his veteran groove in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, so it was a downer he ended the run with his torn Achilles. He can pick up where he left off in a similar Rams-like system with great offensive support.
11. C.J. Stroud, Texans
Stroud showed that much of the pre-draft concerns about him handling a diverse NFL passing offense were unwarranted. He stepped into passing from the pocket and leading like a veteran right away, benefiting from good weapons in a balance-friendly Bobby Slowik offense. He should build on that and avoid any sophomore slump with Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon adding to the mix.
12. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Tagovailoa was durable for Mike McDaniel last season, and he made the most out of having Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as his primary quick and speedy playmakers. Tagovailoa executes the scheme well, much like Purdy and Stroud. He needs to keep staying healthy and respond better when the defensive degree of difficulty is raised when under pressure.
13. Matthew Stafford, Rams
Stafford can still bring it with his cannon arm at 36 and got rejuvenated last season for Sean McVay, as Puka Nacua gave him another dominant target to go along with Cooper Kupp. Stafford has helped to stabilize the offense and give it more upside.
14. Jared Goff, Lions
The Stafford-Goff trade is a win-win in terms of changing the fortunes of the Rams and Lions. Stafford was right for the Rams to get over the Super Bowl hump, while Goff is the veteran tie who binds a young team. With their offensive line, running game, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and an ascending young defense, Goff keeps things steady even when he’s often short of spectacular.
15. Caleb Williams, Bears
Williams hasn’t played an NFL down that counts, but it’s evident he has a Mahomes-like ceiling with his arm, decision-making, and uncanny playmaking. He has a knack for doing whatever it takes with clutch passing and running and will enjoy the major offensive skill upgrades the Bears made for his arrival.
16. Jayden Daniels, Commanders
Williams and Daniels are both worthy of being projected in the top half of QBs before their rookie seasons. Daniels is right with his ceiling as the No. 2 overall pick, and his dazzle as a dual-threat is accelerated by working under Kliff Kingsbury.
17. Anthony Richardson, Colts
Richardson also can do big things with his arm and legs — and make it look rather easy. After a rough rookie season cut short by a concussion and shoulder injury, the key is staying on the field in producing like he can as a younger version of Hurts for Steichen.
18. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Lawrence went into the 2023 season with a lot of momentum, but he let down just like the entire Jaguars team and struggled down the stretch while playing hurt. He goes into 2024 with a lucrative new contract and a chance to deliver more needed downfield pop with improved field-stretchers.
19. Justin Herbert, Chargers
Herbert has lost his way with durability and other concerns since his immediate breakout rookie season. He’ll be helped by lower passing volume and less team dependency as he works to get back to full strength for Week 1. The tricky foot injury is concerning, but he needs a boost from a run-heavier approach to restore his strong downfield passing.
20. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
Murray flashed some of his old dual-threat self when returning from his knee injury in the middle of last season. He’ll need to do a lot more to push back toward the top 12 with Marvin Harrison Jr. as his go-to guy.
21. Russell Wilson, Steelers
Wilson’s woes with the Broncos were greatly exaggerated, at least the on-field versions of them with Nathaniel Hackett and then Sean Payton. He still has great accomplishments in his Seahawks past outweighing those two seasons, and he has a chance to redefine the end of his career in Pittsburgh.
22. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Mayfield was given a big contract in the offseason, thanks in part to former offensive coordinator Dave Canales, and he made Bucs QB a rather smooth transition from Tom Brady. He also can respond well executing the familiar offense of Liam Coen.
23. Geno Smith, Seahawks
Smith is a couple of years removed from the influence of Canales. His extended bridge work might be ending with the team adopting Ryan Grubb’s college offense from Washington.
24. Deshaun Watson, Browns
Watson is difficult to rank because his availability and reliability have changed much since his heyday with the Texans. He was a questionable choice to replace Mayfield based on his off-field issues, but he’s developing into an expensive disaster out of desperation.
25. Derek Carr, Saints
Carr has taken a lot of dents from Saints fans who long for Drew Brees or are calling for Spencer Rattler. He took a while to get going in the offense last season, and it changes to a Klint Kubiak scheme this season. Carr is solid making all the throws, but he tends to play it safe. That limited aggressiveness makes his downfield impact seem better than it really is.
26. Daniel Jones, Giants
Jones didn’t inspire much in his return from a torn ACL in the preseason, making two bad decisions and worse throws that became interceptions. Like the Seahawks with Smith, the Giants should have regrets after extending him after one above-average season.
27. Will Levis, Titans
Put Levis on the radar for a big breakout in Brian Callahan’s offense as he taps into some of Joe Burrow’s influence. The Titans also revamped their backs and receivers all-around to match their pass-happier mentality. Levis is positioned to operate better with higher downfield volume.
28. Bryce Young, Panthers
Young becomes the third key pupil for Canales after he “whispered” Smith and Mayfield to strong consecutive seasons. The Panthers have worked to improve all personnel aspects of their offense, too, so consider this a redo from the Frank Reich rookie mess.
29. Bo Nix, Broncos
Nix is lighting up the preseason and may continue to bridge the gap between him and Williams/Daniels by showing he has an accurate passing floor despite lacking some of the same superior physical gifts.
30. Sam Darnold, Vikings
Darnold will start by default with no J.J. McCarthy in sight after the latter suffered a season-ending knee injury. Darnold can practice well and look good behind the scenes, but he’s headed for a struggle as a bridge starter again.
31. Gardner Minshew, Raiders
Minshew was a mild surprise in winning the starting job over young Aidan O’Connell. As with his extended Colts starting stint, he is bound to get overexposed quickly once the initial mustachioed fun wears off.
32. Drake Maye, Patriots
Maye wasn’t supposed to start over Jacoby Brissett, but the Patriots might be reconsidering throwing him into the fire for key experience for 2025 when they can improve much of the situation around him or at least have more answers there.
