Who is the best quarterback in the NFL? Who is the worst quarterback in the NFL? You’ll soon find the answers to both of these questions in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings.
Fans are always debating player rankings, and when it comes to the NFL, no position is more hotly debated than quarterback. This is why we continue to maintain our annual quarterback rankings all year round.
Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow are widely viewed as some of the best players in football. While they set an elite standard for quarterback play, our 2025 NFL QB rankings capture how all 32 starting quarterbacks perform every week. Updated weekly throughout the season, who are the best NFL quarterbacks right now?
Here are our top 32 NFL QB rankings. Come back and see how they change after each game throughout the season.
Check out our latest NFL defense rankings and how they impact fantasy QBs
NFL QB Rankings countdown from 32-1
32. Kenny Pickett, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns must have another plan than Kenny Pickett, right? The former first-round pick has been able to avoid turnovers in brief stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, but he doesn’t show much potential to lead a high-powered passing attack. If the Browns want a player who can average less than a touchdown per game, Pickett is their man, but that’s a recipe for disaster.
Related: Highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL: Salaries, cap hits for highest paid NFL quarterbacks 2025
31. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones will likely put up a strong fight for the starting job, but it would take a disaster for former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson not to win the Indianapolis Colts‘ QB1 duties. Yet, Richardson still has to prove he’s a capable NFL QB who can consistently hit his targets. From a rushing standpoint, he’s an absolute superstar, but even that comes with injury risks. Based on potential, Richardson can be a top-five QB, but he’s not there yet.
Related: NFL coach raves about Daniel Jones’ fit with Indianapolis Colts, potential upside
30. Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
It looks like Cam Ward will replace Will Levis, but until that happens, the mayo man is the Tennessee Titans‘ projected starter. Despite his early turnover woes, the Titans could do a lot worse when it comes to having a developmental project who could still develop into a very productive passer.
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft: Latest Round 1 projections after first wave of free agency
Related: 2025 NFL Draft order: Picks by team, 2025 NFL Draft order
29. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
After winning a College Football National Championship, is J.J. McCarthy the real deal? Quarterback guru Kevin O’Connell is a big believer in the former Michigan superstar, which means we should be too. Not to mention, the 22-year-old will be stepping into arguably the most QB-friendly atmosphere in the league, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, a consistent 1-2 rushing attack, and a stout offensive line. McCarthy has star potential, but until he proves it, he’s stuck in the bottom tier of our NFL QB rankings.
Related: Minnesota Vikings’ free agency signing deemed a ‘perfect’ fit by NFL analyst
28. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
For now, Kirk Cousins is still breathing down Michael Penix‘s neck, but there’s no questioning who the team’s franchise QB is. Penix has the ability to lead one of the NFL’s highest-powered scoring attacks, now we just need to see it come to life. Getting a full offseason and training camp’s worth of reps should help him grow into the new team leader, effectively making him more comfortable in the huddle and on the field.
Related: NFL analyst details potential Atlanta Falcons trade asking price for recent first-round pick
27. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young saved one of his best games for last, leading the Carolina Panthers to 44 points, which included completing 25-of-34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He took several steps forward in his second year, finishing with a respectable 15:9 TD: INT ratio and cutting his sacks in half from 62 to 29. Now everyone is excited to see what his future holds again.
Related: Carolina Panthers NFL Draft projection delivers ‘dream fit’
26. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Justin Fields is still unproven as a passer, but he’s one of the best running quarterbacks in the NFL. Still, the New York Jets are banking on the 26-year-old former first-round pick to continue to improve. Yet, he did perform well with Pittsburgh last season, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record while having 10 touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) and just one interception.
Related: New York Jets mock draft 2025: Projecting every pick in Jets 7 round mock draft
25. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
He’s still learning how to be more consistent, but Drake Maye continued to show more signs of becoming a future superstar for the Patriots throughout the season. Landing the fourth pick gives the Patriots a chance to replenish their talent, which will give Maye a better chance to flourish. They absolutely need to invest in the offensive line and try finding a new No. 1 receiver for him to earn his next Pro Bowl nod.
Related: New England Patriots mock draft 2025: Analysis for Patriots 7 round mock draft
24. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams showed some major flashes of becoming a superstar. Yet, there were still far too many inconsistent moments that caused some concern. However, after rebuilding the Bears’ offensive line, Chicago’s offense has a strong chance of taking a Bear-sized leap forward in 2025.
Related: Chicago Bears mock draft 2025: Analysis for Bears 7 round mock draft in 2025 NFL Draft
23. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
The No. 1 overall pick in 2021, Trevor Lawrence, hasn’t lived up to his potential. Yet, he’s shown flashes of brilliance. Plus, Lawrence is still just 25 years old which means he’s likely to continue improving, especially if the Jaguars can build a respectable offensive line and supply him with more weapons.
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft: Latest projections for all 32 first-round picks
22. Russell Wilson, New York Giants
The New York Giants have a new franchise quarterback, but the 36-year-old Russell Wilson may not stick around for long. Still, he represents a significantly upgraded quarterback room for a team that now has a fighting chance to compete for a playoff spot. Wilson has done well to protect the football, and he can still hit on the occasional deep ball. Malik Nabers is primed for a big year.
Related: Russell Wilson reportedly wanted to sign with this team instead of the New York Giants
21. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
After some early offseason rumors, the New Orleans Saints didn’t really have a way to move on from Derek Carr. Their salary cap situation has crippled the Saints for several seasons, yet they were never going to find a better replacement for the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback anyway. Still, Saints fans should be happy about having an above-average veteran who can lead a high-powered offense next season.
Related: 2025 NFL Power Rankings: Evaluating all 32 teams
20. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders finally have a franchise quarterback again, even if he’s already 34 years old. A two-time Pro Bowler, Geno Smith has shown the ability to play at an elite level and he’ll instantly elevate the Raiders’ offense into a respectable group.
Related: NFL rumors suggest Las Vegas Raiders could still add another All-Pro receiver
19. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
No one expected Bo Nix to be this good this early for the Denver Broncos after many had him projected as a second-round pick. Clearly, Sean Payton saw something special in the former Oregon QB, and he was able to lead the Broncos to the playoffs in his first season. Nix has not only shown an ability to operate a short-area passing attack at a high level, his mobility makes him a tough cover.
Related: Top-selling NFL jerseys 2025: Who has the NFL’s best-selling jersey?
18. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Can Sam Darnold maintain the Pro Bowl level of play he delivered with the Minnesota Vikings? He won’t have Kevin O’Connell dialing up the plays or anyone like Justin Jefferson to target. Seattle’s offensive line needs work too, but Darnold will still have a talented pass-catching corps led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.
Related: 2025 NFL offense rankings
17. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud took a step back in 2024 after breaking out as one of the best rookie quarterbacks in recent memory. However, after Houston overhauled the Texans’ offensive line, there’s hope that Stroud can pick up where he left off in his debut season.
Related: 1 bold prediction for every NFL team this offseason
16. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The four-time NFL MVP is no longer at the top of his game, but Aaron Rodgers proved last season that he can still sling it while avoiding turnovers with the best of them. All eyes are on the 41-year-old now that he appears to be headed to Pittsburgh, where he’s expected to return to the playoffs thanks to Mike Tomlin’s strong leadership. If the Steelers don’t sign Rodgers and end up starting Mason Rudolph, they’d fall to 31st in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings.
Related: Pittsburgh Steelers ‘aggressively’ pursuing this 4x All-Pro star
15. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
After leading the Green Bay Packers to back-to-back playoff appearances, Jordan Love has established himself as the team’s next franchise quarterback. The Packers already knew that last offseason when they made him one of the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, but getting the job done without a defined No. 1 receiver is extremely impressive. His biggest flaw is turning the ball over too often, but he’s young enough to iron out the kinks.
Related: 2025 Super Bowl odds
14. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray still battles inconsistency issues after six seasons. Losing time in 2023 after an ACL injury didn’t help, but the former No. 1 overall pick bounced back last season and nearly led the Arizona Cardinals back to the playoffs while having a 68.8% completion rate. With Marvin Harrison Jr by his side, we’re expecting K1 to take a big leap in 2025.
Related: 2025 NFL Playoff Predictions
13. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
We can no longer debate whether Brock Purdy — Mr. Irrelevant — is a viable starting NFL quarterback. The one-time Pro Bowl QB executes Kyle Shanahan’s offense to perfection. Except last year Purdy’s aDOT (average depth of target) ranked in the top-10 of passers, showing just how much the scoring attack has evolved under his guidance.
12. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
A former fourth-round pick, Dak Prescott was never supposed to be an NFL starting quarterback. Now he’s a three-time Pro Bowler who’s led the NFL’s highest-powered offense. Now he’s coming off a hamstring injury that ended his season, but he should be able to bounce back to his elite form in 2025.
Related: Dallas Cowboys linked to trade for QB with star potential
11. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
The only doubt about Tua Tagovailoa‘s career is whether he can stay healthy. The Miami Dolphins quarterback was limited to just 11 games last season, which has become an all too common theme in South Beach since he arrived as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Tagovailoa has played all 17 games just once in his five-year career. Yet, when he is healthy, he’s one of the most accurate passers in the NFL, finishing with a league-high 72.9% completion rate last season.
Related: Ranking the top 20 NFL head coaches of all time
Who are the top 10 NFL quarterbacks today?
10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford may be 37, but he’s shown he’s plenty capable of rising to the occasion to help carry his team to the playoffs. He’s done so in three of the past four seasons, but he’s coming off the best interception rate of his 16-year career. Several teams had interest in the former Super Bowl winner this offseason, but the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback returns to power Sean McVay’s brilliant scheme, and he’ll even have a new toy with Davante Adams joining the crew.
Get the latest Los Angeles Rams coverage from LAFB Network
9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh helped Justin Herbert take the next step as a passer, avoiding turnovers at an elite rate. That type of play will help the Los Angeles Chargers become annual playoff threats. Now we just need to see what kind of weapons the Chargers’ front office surrounds their rocket-armed quarterback with for years to come.
Get the latest Los Angeles Chargers coverage from LAFB Network
8. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It took a while, but Baker Mayfield has completely transformed his career narrative after arriving as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Now Mayfield is viewed as an above-average QB who can spark a fire in his entire locker room, leading them to the playoffs in three of his seven seasons as a starter.
Related: Who is the highest-paid NFL coach? (Today and All-Time)
7. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles quarterbacks didn’t have to do much last season with Saquon Barkley in the midst of a 2,000-yard season. However, when it was time to deliver, Jalen Hurts came through with several big-time throws. Now he and his Eagles have a Super Bowl ring to show for it. We’ll be curious to see if the Eagles let their franchise quarterback air it out more often after having the fewest attempts and passing yards of his career, yet it’s hard to argue with the end result.
6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
The former No. 1 overall pick has had a rollercoaster career like no other. Yet, after completing a career-high 72.4% of his passes, Jared Goff is back on top of the mountain thanks to leading the Lions to 15 wins and the top seed in the NFC playoff race. The biggest question is how he’ll maintain this pace after losing the brilliant mind of Ben Johnson.
Related: NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl
Who are the top five quarterbacks in the NFL right now?
5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Are we sure Jayden Daniels was a rookie? Somehow, he led the Commanders on four game-winning drives in his debut season. He now holds the single-season rushing yard record for a rookie QB, surpassing Robert Griffin III’s previous mark. Daniels was excellent all season long, earning him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and now he’s expected to return as one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the NFL.
Related: Washington Commanders mock draft 2025: Projecting Commanders draft picks
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Facing an immense amount of pressure, Patrick Mahomes couldn’t deliver in the Super Bowl. What did happen was Mahomes took a career-high six sacks, leading to an offensive line overhaul. However, we can’t quickly forget everything that Mahomes has accomplished, winning three Super Bowls and two MVP awards in seven seasons as a starter. He just needs a bit more help to get back on top, but he’s already on pace for a Hall of Fame career.
Related: Kansas City Chiefs mock draft 2025: Latest Chiefs 7-round mock draft
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen seemed like the NFL MVP favorite for a large chunk of the season, and voters wisely recognized his strong efforts. Still, no one expected Allen to thrive so much after the Bills suddenly decided to trade Stefon Diggs last offseason. He’s undoubtedly one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, but the other two ahead of him just had better numbers in 2024.
Related: 5 players Buffalo Bills could trade their first-round pick for this offseason
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Leading the NFL in yards and touchdowns, Joe Burrow had an MVP season. Yet, as amazing as Burrow was, it still wasn’t good enough to outshine Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen’s efforts. Still, Burrow was magnificient, doing everything he possibly could to try willing the Bengals to the playoffs.
Related: NFL Rumors: Cincinnati Bengals insider sheds light on odds of Trey Hendrickson trade
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Last year’s NFL MVP race is one of the best in recent memory, but even if we take away his rushing accomplishments, Lamar Jackson did enough to win the award. Yet, he didn’t take home his third MVP award, losing out to Josh Allen instead. Topping 4,000 passing yards for the first time in his NFL career, Jackson also had a new career-high 41 passing touchdowns.
Related: Experts weigh in on how Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley impact NFL RB values
Related: 17 longest field goals in NFL history, including Super Bowls
Who leads the NFL in QB rating?
With a QB rating of 119.6, Lamar Jackson leads the NFL in passer rating during the 2024-25 NFL season.
Related: Top NFL sack leaders 2024
Who led the NFL in QB rating in 2024?
Here were the top five players in passer rating during the 2024-25 season.
- Lamar Jackson: 119.6
- Jared Goff: 111.8
- Joe Burrow: 108.5
- Baker Mayfield: 106.8
- Jalen Hurts: 103.7
The 2023 NFL season’s QB rating leader was Brock Purdy at 113.
Related: NFL stats leaders 2024: Includes NFL passing stats and team stats leaders
