Who is the Best Quarterback in the NFL 2024?

A talking point for football fans in the aftermath of each Superbowl is “Who is the best quarterback in the NFL?”. Most might think it’s Patrick Mahomes, and there’s a good case to make, but did you know that statistically, he isn’t? Based on 2023’s stats, Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers takes the top spot. But sports is more than just stats, and you can find expert answers to the key question below.

2024 NFL QB Rankings

Statistics are one thing, but various other things need to be considered when ranking the best QB in the NFL. The very best quarterbacks are those who excel in multiple areas. They need to read the field, spot defense weaknesses, make precision passes, and drive their team downfield, all while being pressured.

To determine the best NFL quarterbacks, our experts have focused on these key areas and more. Below is our take on the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL right now.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

There are few, if any, quarterbacks who can adjust to changes in the game better than Mahomes. In the 2022 season, he managed to step into the shoes of Tyreek Hill, overtaking his former teammate with 31 touchdown passes. Last year, he also managed to improve his regular season QBR of 63.1 to a heightened 86.6 through four playoff games.

Even though he had a career-worst 14 interceptions in 2023, it had little impact in the postseason. Why? Because Mahomes threw one interception to six touchdown passes.

2. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Not only that, but he has four playoff wins as well. Without Purdy, would the 49ers have reached the Super Bowl in 2024? Probably not. Evaluators have labeled him as good at navigating the pocket and buying time.

Some have said that he has a larger set of limitations than other current NFL quarterbacks. When you get down to it though, the stats prove otherwise for the 24-year-old.

3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow remains a big name among NFL starting Quarterbacks, although he has experienced a growing list of plaguing injuries. That hasn’t stopped many NFL fans from betting on him as a superpower for the Bengals, of course. Early in the 2023 season, he had a much more conservative role than usual due to a calf strain. Then, he tore a right wrist ligament in November, putting him on the shelf for the remainder of 2023.

Burrow went through surgery to repair the ligament and has been participating in offseason workouts. When he’s healthy, there is little that can stop him on the field. He has a career completion percentage of 68%, which is the highest in NFL history within a player’s first four seasons. Can he maintain that is the question?

4. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Consistency is the key when it comes to Dak Prescott. He became the first Cowboys QB since Roger Staubach in 1973 to lead the NFL in touchdown passes, but after throwing 15 interceptions in the 2022 season Prescott promised to limit them last year.

He kept his word with just a 1.5% interception rate, the fourth lowest in the NFL. He also led the league on his QBRs outside the pocket, on third down, and when pressured.

So, why isn’t he at the top? Some experts say that Prescott is missing something. The Cowboys haven’t won for quite some time, and while some quarterbacks elevate their team late on, Prescott doesn’t seem to do it. He may not be an elite passer like Mahomes, but his stats make him one to keep an eye on.

5. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen is frequently highlighted as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL due to his impressive arm strength. The passing velocity he possesses is stunning, and he pairs that with acute accuracy down the field. His powerful right arm often leaves his opponents’ defense in a vulnerable state.

Yet while Allen can be brilliant, he can also be highly inconsistent. He is on par with Mahomes for his style of play. It’s just that he is far and wide when it comes to accomplishment. The consensus is that he should have experienced more success in the playoffs by this point in his career.

Even so, most believe it’s not due to him that the Bills haven’t been able to finish. Since 2020, he has recorded 173 total touchdowns. He’s also the only QB in the history of the NFL with five seasons of at least 20 passing touchdowns.

6. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

Most people might look at Aaron Rodgers and his stats for 2023 and wonder what he’s doing in the list of the top quarterbacks. He’s also 40 years old (the oldest active QB in the NFL) and was injured in his first game of the 2023 season. That’s not quite what you expect to hear of the top quarterbacks.

He only managed to play part of a single game in 2023 due to the Achilles tear he suffered. However, Rodgers is still an elite player, having that rare ability to launch the ball with some power. He’s also one of the top players for accuracy, whilst proving he’s got the appropriate trajectory skills.

Fortunately, Rodgers has the lowest interception rate of 1.4% in NFL history, despite his historic 2-year MVP run coming to an end in 2022.

7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

In 2023, Lamar Jackson was selected to play in his third Pro Bowl, and he won his second MVP award. His capabilities on the field are undeniable and in 2023, he posted career highs in the following areas:

• Attempts: 457
• Completion Percentage: 67.2%
• Yards Per Attempt: 8.0

Todd Monken has implemented a top-tier system into the Ravens’ method of play. With a lot of turnover in the offense there are a lot of unknowns, but as the team becomes more familiar with the playbook, builds a refreshed offensive line, and with Derrick Henry joining as Running back, there’s a lot for Jackson to work with.

Jackson’s career regular season winning percentage of .753 (58-19) almost matches Tom Brady’s of .754. He remains a dual threat in the league, possessing exceptional arm strength combined with excellent resilience and pocket presence.

8. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

As far as stats on starting NFL QBs are concerned, some people are quick to point out Justin Herbert’s 30-32 career record. Yet the general thought is that the struggles faced by the Chargers are not solely an issue with Herbert. Most believe the quarterback has helped the team’s record rather than caused problems with it.

Herbert has a fantastic throwing motion, proving he is technically sound as a signal-caller on the field, too. He has also displayed prowess in reading the field and made strong decisions on passes, avoiding turnovers and protecting the ball.

His rushing ability may not be as impressive as some in this list. However, since he was drafted in 2020, he has more passing yards (17,223) and completions (1,613) within four seasons than any four-year opening stretch in NFL history.

9. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Resilience and accuracy are two areas where Matthew Stafford excels, while also possessing good arm strength. When he is on the field, he can elevate the play of others. In short, he can push others to become stars while maintaining a high level of quarterback play himself.

An elite athlete himself, Stafford missed just two games in the 2023 season, but the Rams returned to the playoffs. The previous season, he missed nine games due to injury and the Rams missed the playoffs. In 2021, the team won the Super Bowl – the year that Stafford came to LA.

His arm strength remains a key factor in his field abilities. It’s his durability that has been an issue. When he’s in good shape, he plays amongst the best. He is now the second-oldest starting quarterback in the NFL behind Rodgers but is hoping for a reworked contract with the Rams.

10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

With Jared Goff, it’s clear that he has been a success story for the Lions. After being discarded by the Rams in 2021, he suffered career lows in passing for the Lions. At that point, he was out of the picture as a top-10 quarterback.

That all changed in 2022. Since then, he has ranked second in passing yards (9,013) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3:1).

Decision-making is where Goff excels, being one of the best in the league for throwing into zone coverage windows. Since joining the Lions, he has improved his toughness within the pocket, and he has been able to put his skilled footwork to good use, too.

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