2025 NFL QB Rankings: Tiering All 32 Starters After the 2025 Common Season

[ad_1] Welcome to the ultimate dispatch of the 2025 QB Inventory Market.

Usually, these rankings give attention to what a quarterback has accomplished for his workforce recently. This iteration is extra conventional, in that we take a look at one's total physique of labor for the season, measuring their influence once they have been on the sector (and offsetting that barely with availability). We positioned every membership's main starter into one among six tiers whereas additionally evaluating their remaining rating to the place we ranked them forward of Week 1.

Earlier: Offseason, Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Tier 6: Not Beginning Caliber It was idealistic to suppose the Jets may take a Steelers castoff and make him their long-term starter.

There was maybe no better disappointment within the NFL than McCarthy. Given what coach Kevin O’Connell had accomplished with previous quarterbacks to not point out the presence of Justin Jefferson, McCarthy appeared to have each motive to succeed. It’s now straightforward to think about McCarthy would be the subsequent Anthony Richardson, supplanted by a veteran earlier than Week 1 in 2026.

We speculate on a regular basis about knee accidents and shoulder accidents and hip accidents and the way these points would possibly influence a QB’s long-term prospects. Effectively, for Tua, there are questions in these areas. However there’s additionally the matter of his concussion historical past. His harm historical past is why I’m betting towards him being a full-time starter subsequent yr, wherever he lands.

He’ll have to choose himself up from the underside — and sure elsewhere — but once more.

With the Raiders presumably deciding on a QB with the No. 1 total decide within the 2026 NFL Draft, will Geno Smith be traded this offseason? (Picture by Candice Ward/Getty Photographs)

Tier 5: Flashing Beginning Qualities Penix’s accidents have been so extreme that it’s honest to surprise if he has a future within the NFL. Kirk Cousins doesn’t encourage a lot enthusiasm in aid. And shortly, there can be a wholly new management group in Atlanta. With them, I foresee a brand new QB1.

The Browns and Sanders’ situationship will possible solely get extra dramatic this offseason, even with Kevin Stefanski not the top coach. The excellent news for Sanders is that he would possibly get one other yr because the Browns’ QB due to how cap-strapped the workforce is. The unhealthy information is that, due to their monetary limitations (nonetheless stemming from Deshaun Watson’s contract), Sanders will possible proceed to go with out assist.

*Joe Flacco was ranked No. 31 forward of Week 1 for the Browns.

It was stunning to see the Cardinals abandon Murray, if solely due to his identify and his draft standing and his contract. However while you watch his play intently, you too can see why they made the choice. GM Monti Ossenfort isn’t simply on the lookout for a brand new head coach after firing Jonathan Gannon. The exec may even seek for his subsequent QB.

There’s so much to love about Dart’s rookie season, whether or not it’s his anticipation as a passer, his artful mobility or his ferocious want to win. However the Giants didn’t win an entire lot, whereas Dart's willpower typically proved problematic by way of decision-making, as he suffered a lot of accidents all year long. The Giants’ subsequent coach may make or break Dart’s prospects.

*Russell Wilson was ranked No. 29 forward of Week 1 for the Giants.

Be careful for the New Orleans Saints to construct their workforce within the picture of the Denver Broncos. Whether or not by coincidence or on goal, Shough is starting to remind me of Bo Nix. They’re each good throwers, good runners and on the older aspect for a quarterback on a rookie deal. Shough's progress was evident over the ultimate 4 weeks of the common season. And underneath coach Kellen Moore, this offense can take main strides ahead subsequent yr with Shough as its distributor.

*Spencer Rattler was ranked No. 32 forward of Week 1 for the Saints.

The comparisons between Ward’s rookie season and Drake Maye’s rookie season are proper there on the movie. As we noticed shades of Joe Burrow in Maye, Ward has these good, clarifying moments the place you'll be able to see precisely what type of elite QB he may develop into.

(Whispers) It’s Patrick Mahomes.

Now, I don’t know whether or not Ward can exhibit Mahomes’ greatness. I don’t even know if Ward can exhibit Mahomes’ expertise for an entire sport — not to mention an entire season. However in simply his rookie yr, Ward flashed the power to exhibit Mahomes’ creativity to unlock each snap’s best potential: 1) the arm expertise, 2) the poise in construction, 3) the imaginative and prescient when the play breaks down. These are particular expertise. And so they're ones I genuinely didn’t anticipate to see from Ward.

The Titans need to do every part they will to make Ward’s second season appear like Maye’s second season. Tennessee wants a authentic coach with authentic pedigree. As a result of that’s the place I fear these two QBs’ tales would possibly diverge. Maye is a New England Patriot, a corporation with a robust operational observe report. The Titans … hahahaha. Nope.

Whether or not it’s Brian Flores (with Josh McCown) or Robert Saleh (with a Shanahan whiz child) and even Klint Kubiak, the Titans want a sound plan for Ward.

Younger remains to be streaky, way more than you’d like him to be after three seasons. However he’s had video games the place he seems to be a bit like Brock Purdy in the very best methods. And he’s had video games the place he seems to be like Kyler Murray within the worst potential methods. This yr, the Panthers are taking part in with home cash, however subsequent yr, they anticipate to make a deep playoff run. Younger should be a serious a part of that — or else he’s most likely gone.

It form of feels over for Daniel Jones. He had a pleasant set of video games which have been shortly marred by the ugly performances — which, frankly, are arduous to pretty consider as a result of he was taking part in on a damaged leg. However as a result of he’s a troublesome dude who needed to point out up for his teammates (clearly constructive qualities), he did himself a disservice. That (unhealthy) movie is on the market. Quarterback-needy groups will see that tape (the nice and the unhealthy and the damaged leg) and so they’ll have to contemplate whether or not they wish to see what he can do after rehabbing his torn Achilles.

Daniel Jones is a free agent and recovering from a torn Achilles. Will the Colts prioritize preserving him given his sturdy begin to the 2025 season? (Picture by Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs)

Tier 4: A Clear Starter With A Critical Flaw How did this occur?

Mayfield was among the many elite pocket passers previous to this yr. And now he seems to be like a large number. Above all, the late turnovers killed him. He had 4 fourth-quarter interceptions in December — all within the remaining 9 minutes, and two in plus territory. This after throwing only one fourth-quarter decide over the primary 13 video games. Can Baker pull himself and the Bucs out of this tailspin subsequent season?

RG3 once more? I certain hope not.

Daniels was a superlative expertise in 2024. He may sometime rise into the ranks of the elite — a top-five QB. Within the meantime, the Commanders need to get their man wholesome and again on observe developmentally after a misplaced season.

He certain is aware of win. However that doesn’t imply he’s taking part in quarterback all that effectively. In truth, he’s not managing the sport anymore for Philly. The protection is.

His legs are displaying his age, however his arm and his thoughts are as spectacular as ever. He’s an offensive coordinator and a 42-year-old QB wrapped into one package deal. And he is proven sufficient this season to go away us questioning if it is going to be his final.

On a down-to-down foundation, it’s arduous to know what to anticipate from Stroud. One dropback, he’s a world-beater; the subsequent, he will get crushed down. The hope right here is that he merely wants extra hours, extra snaps, extra video games earlier than he takes the subsequent step.

C.J. Stroud has but to recapture his rookie kind. Can he do it within the playoffs? (Picture by David Buono/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)

Tier 3: An Elite Starter Whose Group Dragged Him Down It’s not a very good signal that Jackson is at odds with the one NFL coach he is performed for after a disappointing 2025 season. He was chronically injured. His offense let him down. And — let’s not completely let him off the hook — he additionally didn’t appear like himself for a very good chunk of the season. He made errors and didn’t exhibit the traditional explosiveness within the dashing or passing sport. However the fourth quarter of the AFC North title sport served as a reminder of who Jackson actually is. And if the Ravens are foolish sufficient to open up commerce talks, then about half the league ought to make a name.

It wasn’t a very good season for the Bengals, like regular. It was additionally one other wasted season, like regular.

I’d like nothing greater than for them to commerce Burrow — and free him from the soccer jail that's Cincinnati. However seeing as that’s not going to occur, it wouldn’t harm to speculate enormously within the offensive line and the protection this offseason.

Did you see what occurred to the offense with out him? (It was unhealthy.) The Chiefs have struggled to resolve their personnel points in supporting Mahomes. However once they lastly do, he’ll remind everybody why he’s one of the best QB within the NFL. It’s simply that, this yr, he merely wasn’t that man.

I wouldn’t be stunned if this season took years off Herbert’s profession. His stats did not seize the immense load he carried for the Chargers' offense. He threw for 3,627 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Given the context, I’d contemplate these numbers outstanding.

Justin Herbert has overcome a flawed roster all season. Now the problem is doing it within the postseason. (Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs)

Tier 2: A Excessive-Finish Starter Whose Group Introduced Out His Finest To Darnold’s credit score, the Vikings weren't the identical workforce with out him this yr. And the Seahawks leveled up after inserting him into the lineup to succeed Geno Smith. Seattle remains to be carrying Darnold — and infrequently circumventing him — within the sport plan. However they don't not belief him. (I believe?)

It has been outstanding watching Williams enhance from week to week. Every sport, he made an unimaginable throw (or two or six). However slowly and steadily, he and Ben Johnson have weeded out inconsistencies within the younger QB’s sport. This isn’t to say that there aren’t nonetheless points. Simply take a look at the primary half of Williams’ Week 18 efficiency towards the Detroit Lions. He has an unlucky behavior of digging himself into holes. However regardless of how deep they get, he’s usually able to climbing again out. As long as Chicago can enhance on protection, this Bears workforce will quickly enter a Tremendous Bowl window.

He doesn’t get the love or consideration that fellow second-year QBs Williams or Drake Maye are getting. However he was a a lot better QB this season than he was in 2024, and his Broncos sit within the omnipotent No. 1 seed within the AFC. He has proven the power to beat defenses with several types of sport plans (persistence and checkdowns or vertical attacking or intermediate chain-moving). There’s part of me that’s nonetheless skeptical about Nix’s upside. However with Sean Payton operating the present, Nix’s flooring is far greater than I anticipated. And Nix retains elevating it.

The breakthrough season lastly occurred! After years of ready and debating, Lawrence took a groundbreaking step in his sport — working to eradicate the misfires that sunk his workforce (and led to speak radio debates about whether or not he’d ever be elite). Liam Coen’s job can be to assist Lawrence uphold that consistency into 2026.

Goff and the Lions can be high quality. They’ll be harmful once more subsequent yr.

His Week 18 efficiency (flopping in a showdown with the Seahawks for the No. 1 seed) put a damper on the season. However the overarching theme with Purdy was that he lastly balanced how a lot he may carry for the offense. Even with key gamers out and in of the lineup with accidents, Purdy has been constant (albeit in an abbreviated marketing campaign due to his personal harm).

Naturally, with receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, Prescott performed his greatest soccer. The query is whether or not he can maintain that up if Pickens leaves within the offseason. Whereas it makes good sense for the Cowboys to retain Pickens, proprietor Jerry Jones doesn’t all the time make good sense.

Dak Prescott maximized the Cowboys' offense. Alas, their protection did them in. (Picture by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs)

Tier 1: An Elite QB Who Performed Like It I get that the counting stats weren’t elite. However Love is the totally realized type of what Caleb Williams is meant to (sometime) be. Love could make any and each throw. It’s unimaginable how usually he does. His season has someway develop into polarizing, with the typical NFL fan failing to wrap their heads round what has made Love particular this yr. However there’s a small contingent of movie nerds, analytics nerds and Packers followers who all see the identical factor: an indisputably nice QB.

With the worst workforce he’s ever had, Allen performed out of his thoughts — for higher and for worse. However there’s little question in my thoughts that this workforce would’ve received 5 video games — at greatest — with out him.

From a throw-to-throw foundation, he is without doubt one of the most nice QBs to look at within the NFL. He's so sensible, so assured, so easy, so {powerful}. His constructive qualities are all of the extra apparent in an offense with coach Sean McVay calling and designing performs to Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams executing them. It’s simply unfair.

There have been many factors in 2025 after I merely couldn't consider I used to be watching the identical participant that I’d watched in 2024. Maye has improved that a lot. Clearly, the traits have been there final yr. The massive-time throws have been there. You would see Maye had each aspect he wanted. However that’s true of so many QBs after their first yr within the NFL.

In a league that’s always underneath fireplace for organising its QBs to fail, it’s uncommon to see a quarterback’s improvement flip exponential, like Maye’s has. Like Josh Allen’s as soon as did (in 12 months 3). Like Patrick Mahomes' did (in 12 months 2). Like Lamar Jackson's did (in 12 months 2).

Maye was the primary QB to guide the NFL in completion share and yards per try since Joe Burrow in 2021, and solely the fifth ever. Maye additionally leads the NFL in EPA per play and CPOE for QBs with not less than 288 performs.

It’s not simply that Maye did all that. It’s that he did it with a rookie left deal with and left guard. And a WR1 of Stefon Diggs, getting back from an ACL tear at 31 years outdated. And with unheralded receivers like Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins and Efton Chism. And with an offense that ranked twenty ninth in factors per sport (17) in 2024.

Maye and Stafford are neck-and-neck for the MVP, which inevitably has some centered on the adverse — on what Maye’s season was not. However let’s not lose sight of a easy reality: Maye’s common season was extraordinary. And I believe it was one of the best of any QB in 2025.

Earlier than becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years masking the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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