By Marvin Moore – August 4, 2023
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is arguably the best quarterback heading into the 2023 season. The 27-year-old has won two Super Bowl titles over the last four years and guided the Chiefs to five consecutive AFC Championship games.
Nipping on Mahomes’ heels is Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow. The former Heisman Trophy winner has won three of four head-to-head matchups against Mahomes, including a 27-24 victory in the 2021 AFC title contest.
Here is our list of all 32 projected quarterbacks, from the best to the worst.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
No surprise here. The former Texas Tech gunslinger is on a career path to becoming one of the all-time great quarterbacks in NFL history.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The modern-day “Golden Boy” has steered the Bengals to the AFC Championship game the past two seasons and is poised for another Super Bowl run.
3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player finally has a pass-happy offense and a talented group of pass catchers. Lamar returns to the M-V-P conversation with a bang!
4. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen has posted a mediocre 4-4 record in the postseason but remains one of the league’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. Will 2023 be the year that Allen propels the Bills to the Super Bowl?
5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
2022 was no fluke, and Hurts has evolved into one of the NFL’s most explosive playmakers. The former second-rounder won 14 of 15 starts last year and is the biggest reason the Eagles are favored to be the top dawg in the NFC this upcoming season.
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
The 2020 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is on the fast track to becoming a top 5 quarterback. Herbert
has one of the top receiving groups in the NFL and one of the league’s top offensive coordinators in Kellen Moore.
7. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
The biggest question with Rodgers is if he can remain healthy. The Jets have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, so if the future Hall of Famer can stay off the injured list, New York is a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
8. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Watson shook off the rust last season after an extended absence away from the game but should return to form this season. The Browns have all the tools to make some noise in the AFC if Watson can regain the magic that made him one of the league’s top young quarterbacks a few years ago.
9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys believe this is their year to win the Super Bowl and the hopes of the franchise and its fan rest on Prescott’s shoulders. Dak has guaranteed fewer interceptions this season, which will go a long way in determining how successful Dallas is in 2023.
10. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence and head coach Doug Pederson have the Jaguars headed in the right direction. Jacksonville is already a dangerous team and will only improve as Lawrence becomes one of the NFL’s top signal-callers.
11. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
Forget the naysayers. Wilson has a lot of gas left in the tank and will thrive in new head coach Sean Payton’s offense. Can you say Comeback Player of the Year?
12. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa endured a rough 2022 campaign and briefly considered retiring during the offseason. The Dolphins have two of the league’s most explosive pass catchers and a talented quarterback that can get them the pigskin.
13. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Murray will start the season on the injured list, which is good since the Cardinals are in the midst of a rebuild. The former Oklahoma product remains one of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers.
14. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
The reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year parlayed a magical 2022 season into a big payday. Now it’s time for the former journeyman quarterback to prove that last year was not an aberration.
15. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Cousins is an average quarterback who has earned top-tier money for as long as I can remember. The Vikings should once again compete for the NFC crown, but it won’t be because of the man under center.
16. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff remains an above-average passer at Ford Field but an inconsistent performer on the road. I don’t dislike Goff; I just don’t think he is a franchise-caliber quarterback.
17. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
There is a reason the Rams tried to unload Stafford and his massive contract during the offseason. The odds of the often-injured quarterback playing 17 games this season are slim and none.
18. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
My gut feeling tells me that Fields is close to a breakout season. Could this be the year that the Bears become division contenders again?
19. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Like Cousins, Carr is an average quarterback that earns big-time bucks. The Saints will be better this season, but Carr is not the one to lead New Orleans back to the playoffs.
20. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
$40 million a year? Jones and his agent pulled off the biggest heist of the winter, and the Giants will regret overpaying for a mediocre quarterback who runs better than he passes.
21. Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
A game manager who is even worse than Derek Carr, Garoppolo might even cost head coach Josh McDaniels his job this season.
22. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Mr. Irrelevant replaced Mac Jones as the darling of a biased sports media last year. Purdy is not a franchise quarterback, and 2023 will prove this.
23. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Love should be much higher on this list. The former first-rounder has a strong arm and will finally get his opportunity to lead the Packers’ offense this season.
24. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mayfield remains an inconsistent passer who runs hot and cold like a water dispenser. He will have his moments, but I expect Kyle Trask to finish the season as the Bucs starting quarterback.
25. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Tannehill will lead the Titans until rookie Will Levis is ready to take the helm. The only question is if Tennessee can afford such a high-priced backup quarterback.
26. Mac Jones, New England Patriots
The hype is gone, and Jones has drifted into his rightful spot as a subpar quarterback. The dynasty is over, and the Patriots will not compete for a playoff spot until a franchise signal-caller arrives in New England.
27. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
I like Pickett, and 2023 will prove whether the second-year quarterback has what it takes to be a star in the NFL. I think he does.
28. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Young has the talent and all the intangibles to become a stud for the Panthers. Now, he just needs some on-the-job training.
29. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud has a championship pedigree, and like Young, all he needs is game experience to develop into a franchise quarterback.
30. Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
The jury is still out on Ridder, who will lean on rookie running back Bijan Robinson this season.
31. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
An intriguing prospect with a cannon arm, Richardson’s chances of becoming a solid NFL starting quarterback in 2024 or 2025 hinges on whether he can stay healthy this season.
32. Sam Howell, Washington Commanders
There is a reason Howell is at the bottom of this list. He will get the first shot to start this season but expect journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett to finish the season under center for the Commanders
