Yes, yet another QB rankings list. But of course, like every other list that is created, mine is absolutely correct and everyone else's must be ignored! LOL. I don't actually feel that way but I love football and creating rankings is just fun. Many lists out there are pretty similar overall but every list surely has there differences even if they are slight.
I do believe my list is pretty solid. There will likely be some surprises and people will not all agree and that's ok. Everyone sees the league and the sport differently.
It appears that only three teams will be sending out rookies to start the 2024 and I am not including them. Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, and Caleb Williams are all set to start in their rookie years and all three have different levels of hype around them. No matter the hype, predicting how well a rookie is going to perform is really difficult so I am just choosing to not include them in these rankings.
The aspects I considered in ranking these QBs included accuracy, arm strength, speed, athleticism, toughness, IQ, gut feeling and just simply who I would trust to start on my team. With these factors in mind, I created a HAM Rating. HAM really means nothing, I just chose HAM due to my username. I figure adding a number to my rankings will sorta kinda make the list more interesting. Why not? Highest possible rating would be a 10.
A lot of factors I guess but the quarterback position is important!
Here we go.
#29 Sam Darnold, Vikings QB - 6.1 HAM Rating
I feel as though Sam Darnold has underachieved throughout his career. He looks like he could be a solid QB. He started his career as a young man at 21 years old so lucky for him he is still only twenty-seven years old, which is not too old especially for a QB. Pretty much every circumstance of his career has been unfavorable. The Jets are as dysfunctional as it gets. Pretty much same goes for the Panthers. On the Niners, they had Purdy who played well and stayed healthy.
That being said, to be a starter in this league you need to stand out and perform despite the circumstances. Darnold has the arm and size and all of that, things just haven't clicked for him. This is his last chance to be a starter in this league and he finally has a decent team around him. The best situation he's been in at least. If he can't look good with Justin Jefferson, Darnold will be a journeyman backup it seems.
#28 Daniel Jones, Giants QB - 6.157 HAM Rating
Daniel Jones is as strange as it gets when it comes to how good or bad he is. I lean towards bad, but he's shown some flashes. I like his surprising mobility and speed. If he didn't have those skills, he would be terrible. He's had a poor losing record every single season but one in five seasons as a starter.
Jones is just average or below average at everything. Very vanilla. Daniel needs a ton of help for him to lead a team anywhere significant. Giants must pull the plug if he can't show more this season.
#27 Jacoby Brissett, Patriots QB - 6.314 HAM Rating
I have a ton of respect for Brissett, but simply respect won't place you high on this list. Brissett is the definition of a SUPER high caliber backup, but very poor starter. His career stats through eight seasons are pretty fascinating. In eight seasons, he seems to kind of alternate being a backup and a starter. Jacoby does a lot of things right, but he just seems to lack any type of clutchness or extra juice to really be a reliable long term starter.
#26 Bryce Young, Panthers QB - 6.457 HAM Rating
Bryce Young is an interesting QB. His rookie year was pretty rough, but I like his competitiveness and he seems fairly intelligent as a passer. I believe ultimately Bryce's downfall comes down to the fact that he is small. I am talking really small. 5'10" 204 pounds is really just not a good thing. His height could maybe be overcome, but he doesn't even seem to carry all that much muscle or speed for that matter. He's got a flag football build.
Like I said Bryce seems to have a nice arm, and decent will to win. If the Panthers can build around him, maybe Bryce will prove me wrong.
#25 Russell Wilson, Steelers QB - 6.5 HAM Rating
The downfall of Russell Wilson needs to be studied. He was once a very good QB but in the past three seasons he has fallen off a lot. I would not quite say he has fallen off a cliff, but maybe a very steep hill.
Russ has gotten so bad that I am beginning to question most of his career. He is not a scrub by any means but, how talented was he truly?
Russ has had great defenses, and great coaching throughout his career. Geno Smith's random late success confirms this as far as coaching goes. Russ is also getting older now, and his mobility is declining, as his mobility has declined, so has his overall performance.
I definitely can't say Russ was a bad player, but I do wonder now how good of a pure QB he was. In 2024, my expectations are low. But Pittsburgh does have good coaching and defense once again, perhaps Russ may be decent. Who knows, this guy is a bit confusing.
#24 Anthony Richardson, Colts QB - 6.528 HAM Rating
Many people believe Anthony Richardson could be the next Cam Newton, and maybe they're right. But I fear he could also be the next JaMarcus Russell. Low floor, high ceiling. I don't think he looked particularly great in his short rookie season.
#23 Will Levis, Titans QB - 6.571 HAM Rating
As a Titans fan, I am very much optimistic that Levis could climb the rankings on this list. Sure I am biased, but I have also watched Levis a lot more closely than the average NFL fan. Levis has the size and arm to really do well in the league. He has a lot of confidence and determination as well. He had a mixed rookie season and can be reckless but I do like what I see. He looked great in preseason as well. I think Levis is going to surprise some people. Levis does need to work on the short passing game a bit.
I really like Levis but of course I do LOL. There's really nothing that Levis can't do on the field, no MAJOR weaknesses, he just has to like stay healthy and DO THE THING.
#22 Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins QB - 6.6 HAM Rating
Tua has improved which has surprised me. BUT he's still far and away the most overrated QB in the league. Below average arm strength, surprisingly poor mobility. He is a decent game manager which, is not a bad thing. The Dolphins are loaded offensively, decent defensively and he has good coaching. Overall, Tua is serviceable, but he himself scares nobody.
#21 Gardner Minshew, Raiders QB - 6.657 HAM Rating
Tua is the most overrated QB, but Gardner may be the most underrated. The guy can do everything Tua does with a stronger arm and slightly better mobility. Gardner is a gamer and will dice up a defense more often than people think. He will do a lot better than people think in Vegas. Might just be a thorn in the side of the Chiefs.
#20 Kyler Murray, Cardinals QB - 6.714 HAM Rating
Slowly, but surely, Kyler is becoming one of my least favorite players. The arrogance of this man just never ends. The other day he listed his accolades to the press and it's like sure man, you're a talented athlete. You're in a league full of talented athletes though, you know? Not to mention the year he said he doesn't need to study tape because he's just that good... I guess Tom Brady studied tape because he sucked? LOL.
Well buddy, other than a single season three years ago, you've produced squat.
I do have a mostly negative opinion of Kyler. While my opinion should not dictate how I see him as a player, I do feel like his weird/bad attitude and mindset impacts his performance. Sounds to me like Kyler thinks he's already the GOAT. How can one so good possibly improve, why should he bother? Just a strange cat, Kyler is. Cardinals are likely regretting paying him.
That being said he is decent when actually healthy. He has very nice arm talent and despite his very small size, his sheer athletic ability does help him find open guys.
I do wonder how long he can keep up this style of play though. He's fast but the whole league is fast. I can't imagine Kyler doing this past the age of 33. He is this low because I find him slightly overrated and he has not played a full season since 2020. With Marvin Harrison Jr. around I suppose Kyler could put together a decent 2024.
#19 Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars QB - 6.742 HAM Rating
Another very overrated QB. Trevor is basically a giant game manager. Someone so big, you'd expect to have like a Joe Flacco type of arm, but Trevor's arm strength is just fine. I just think Trevor is like a Tony Romo type which actually is not that bad. Trevor is good on paper but just seems aloof at times.
#18 Geno Smith, Seahawks QB - 6.771 HAM Rating
I think Geno's game is super solid. Physically he has all of the tools and as old as he is I think he has an amazing trait, and that is simply the ability to improve. He is decisive with the ball and is just a gamer.
#17 Brock Purdy, 49ers QB - 6.79 HAM Rating
Brock has a nifty, game. Great accuracy and IQ, average arm strength. Solid mobility, strong lower body. Good will to win. No complaints here. People say he's only good due to the players around him, but I just don't feel that way. I could be proved wrong but he passes the eye test for me. At least enough to be ranked seventeenth.
#16 Deshaun Watson, Browns QB - 6.822 HAM Rating
Despite the off the field stuff and his utterly terrible ability to stay healthy, I think Deshaun can still be a very dangerous QB. I'll admit this is a bit high for Deshaun but, I do think him, as a player, is not a QB you want to face. He has serviceable football IQ, great size and strength and has shown he can succeed in the league. Through all of his shenanigans he is still just 29.
#15 Derek Carr, Saints QB - 6.885 HAM Rating
Derek Carr is so average that, I kind of respect it. I feel like average can be a bit of a spectrum and Carr has proven to be a consistently good type of average. Just two seasons ago he was very close to knocking off Joe Burrow in the playoffs. In fact, I feel like the officiating was terrible in that playoff game. Derek enters his second season as a Saint and I believe it may be better. Other than Olave, Derek was not exactly throwing the ball to many, if any studs last season. All in all Derek is pretty good in my opinion. He was on a trajectory to be great once upon a time, but he's still BARELY a top 15 QB. He's also been pretty healthy which I like.
#14 Justin Herbert, Chargers QB - 6.942 HAM Rating
I used to find Herbert overrated but he also happens to be in the same division as the freaking Chiefs. Despite that Herbert has still established himself as a very competent quarterback. He checks all the boxes. He is this low to me because he just has not done anything in the playoffs.
#13 Kirk Cousins, Falcons QB - 6.957 HAM Rating
Kirk Cousins might be the most underappreciated quarterback the league has seen in a long time. He is a very good pure pocket passer. Underrated in so many ways including arm strength. This guy can throw some bombs. Year in and year out the guy gives his team a chance to win. Kirk is not going to be the reason a team wins a championship, but he can be very valuable in doing so. He may not elevate a team to greatness, but he can make a sorry team be surprisingly formidable. He is getting older though, which may not be great.
#12 Jalen Hurts, Eagles QB - 6.98 HAM Rating
Jalen Hurts is a better version of Geno Smith in may ways. Jalen has great work ethic and a nice ability to improve. In this day and age everyone wants a finished product, which is rather dumb and unfair in my opinion. Jalen is a great leader, a solid game manager with a ton of mobility. He is not perfect but he has and is growing on me.
#11 Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers QB - 7 HAM Rating
Baker Mayfield's rebirth needs to be studied. He seriously forced me to reconsider how good he is after his play last season, and in hindsight I should not have been that surprised. When Baker is healthy, this man is a problem. I feel like he's a mix of Brock Purdy and Geno Smith, that's just what my gut tells me. Super underrated arm talent. I love the energy and intensity he brings to the field. He has had some good playoff success as well. He smoked the Steelers a few years back and had a decent playoff stretch that season. Just last year him and the Bucs trashed the Eagles and then were seriously close to reaching the NFC Title game after a fun game in the divisional round versus the Lions.
#10 Jordan Love, Packers QB - 7.028 HAM Rating
Jordan may be a smidge high but he had a very good season last year and I feel as though he will only get better so all things considered he lands himself barely in the top ten. He simply has a solid feel for the game and it's obvious he has learned from the best. Brett to Aaron now likely Jordan. I don't think this is a coincidence. I love that the Packers were patient with him and it appears to have payed dividends.
#9 Dak Prescott, Cowboys QB - 7.042 HAM Rating
Dak is mildly underrated in many of the same ways that Kirk Cousins is. In fact, I think Dak is kind of a more athletic version of Kirk. Dak is as game as they come. It's unclear to me if he has a playoff run in him, but hey if Joe Flacco and Nick Foles did it, Dak can. That's not an insult to any player, I am just saying.
#8 Jared Goff, Lions QB - 7.085 HAM Rating
Jared Goff has truly resurrected his career in a way not many thought possible. Although Stafford did win a ring, I do find it fascinating that Jared has helped lead the Lions to heights Stafford never even sniffed. The Lions are here and they are dangerous. Jared is a tremendous pocket passer and comes off as well prepared, slick and savvy as a passer.
#7 Aaron Rodgers, Jets QB - 7.1 HAM Rating
Aaron is here because he is simply an all-time great. Not sure how long I can continue calling him a top ten QB, but his track record is just undeniable in my opinion.
#6 C.J. Stroud, Texans QB - 7.157 HAM Rating
C.J. is perhaps a little high but he really showed a ton of skill last season. He is roughly as athletic as Mahomes. In terms of a passer I feel like he sits dead in the middle of Mahomes and Prescott if that makes sense. While teams will be more aware of his ability in 2024, Stroud will likely improve too. Plus, the Texans as a team overall have a good collection of talent.
#5 Matthew Stafford, Rams QB - 7.528 HAM Rating
Somehow, Stafford is only 36. That's definitely not that young, but it certainly feels like Stafford should be retiring in a year or two. He could surely play like six more seasons if all goes well and he desires to do so. Stafford has fifteen years and a fairly recent Super Bowl ring to justify him cracking my top five. He has pretty insane arm talent and has surprisingly blossomed later in his career as a Ram.
#4 Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB - 7.7 HAM Rating
Lamar displayed the most well-rounded form of himself in 2023, which definitely surprised me. I have had my doubts about Lamar in the past, and still do to an extent but his skill is undeniable. Very likely the best dual threat the league has seen. Just has to stay healthy.
#3 🥉 Joe Burrow, Bengals QB - 7.742 HAM Rating
Joe Burrow is a baaaaaaad man. Deadly accurate from the pocket, deadly poised. Only problem is he's kinda made of glass. Needs to stay on the field. He's one of the few quarterbacks to cause KC problems in the playoffs.
#2 🥈 Josh Allen, Bills QB - 7.785 HAM Rating
Even I questioned putting Josh Allen this high. But the man is good. Seriously good. He is basically if Steve McNair and Ben Roethlisberger had a baby. He just barely edges out Burrow do to being way more mobile and WAYYYYY more healthy.
#1 🥇 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs QB - 8.7 HAM Rating
Anyone who thinks Mahomes is not the best QB in the league is either a contrarian or on drugs. It's not even close to a debate. Dude is so good it's nearly depressing to watch football sometimes. This guy can retire today and he's a Hall of Famer EASILY.
THAT'S A WRAP. Comment below your thoughts on my rankings or share your own rankings. Can't wait for this season to begin already!
