Ranking Top 32 Quarterbacks In The NFL

It’s convenient to think your team has one of the best QBs in the league. The reality is we are in a golden era of QB play that we haven’t seen since the early 2010s. Athleticism has taken on a bigger role than ever at the position. Let’s rank the NFL’s quarterbacks for 2020:

1.) Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs

We have never seen a young QB make an impact as quickly as Mahomes has reshaped the league. Channeling Bret Favre’s arm strength and Tom Brady’s accuracy, Mahomes is averaging 304 passing yards a game and is winning 77% of his games including a Super Bowl at 24 years old. We are living through the early days of the next GOAT QB.

2.) Russell Wilson - Seattle Seahawks

If it’s possible for a superstar to be criminally underrated, Wilson is it. Married to Ciara and a Super Bowl Champion, Wilson has never missed a game in 8 seasons despite never having a capable offensive line to protect him. Wilson is known for creating his own plays which elevates him higher than every QB except Mahomes.

3.) Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints

For Brees, we must examine the whole package. The way his offense works on the turf of the Superdome with Sean Payton drawing up creative plays is magical And at 41-years old and a contract with NBC Sports awaiting his retirement, 2020 is a golden chance for Brees to go out on top.

4.) Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens

It’s a small sample size but Lamar Jackson is doing what Colin Kaepernick could not - redefine the QB position. The Ravens prefer to run the ball and control the clock and Jackson is perfect for it. His 19-3 career record would like a word if you try to say your QB is better than him.

5.) DeShaun Watson - Houston Texans

Watson is a winner weighed down by Bill O’Brien and an underachieving franchise in Houston. Watson is 24-13 in the NFL after going 33-4 in college at Clemson. Watson will be tested more than ever before in 2020 without stud WR DeAndre Hopkins. We still think he will make plays every week.

6.) Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys

Dak is criminally underrated and certainly deserves top money from Jerry Jones. 30 passing touchdowns in 2019 was considered a disappointment for the Cowboys? In what world? He’s one of just 5 QBs to post a passer rating higher than 95.0 in 3 of his 4 seasons. Pay the man!

7.) Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers

Rodgers is not what he once was and the Packers seem to know that by transitioning to Jordan Love in the near future. But his 26 TD/4 INT ratio in 2019 in his escape from Mike McCarthy’s shackles was a glimpse into how good the 36-year-old can still be.

8.) Carson Wentz - Philadelphia Eagles

The biggest knock on Wentz is his ability to stay healthy. Which means if he could simply stay on the field, he would be even higher on this list. 97 touchdown passes in his first 56 NFL games is damn impressive.

9.) Tom Brady - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Old Man appears reinvigorated after heading to Florida like all northeasterners eventually do. With tons of weapons in the Bucs offense, Brady could have his best statistical season since the Randy Moss and Wes Welker days in New England.

10.) Kyler Murray - Arizona Cardinals

Murray got better every week in Kliff Kingsbury’s air rad offense. His 30+ rushing yards per game are enough to keep the defense honest. Arizona should have one of the league’s most exciting offenses in 2020 with DeAndre Hopkins taking a co-star role with Kyler.

11.) Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings

Captain Kirk has run hot and cold throughout his career. Just when you think he’s the guy, he’s not. But his 2019 season in Minnesota was hot with 26 TD passes and 240 passing yards per game. A good running game will always keep Cousins relevant.

12.) Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons

Ryan will never live down his 28-3 blown lead in Super Bowl 51. He’s only 35 years old but he moves much worse than the 40+ year-olds ranked ahead of him. He’s still capable of big plays but his best days are clearly behind him.

13.) Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions

Stafford has been an enigma throughout his career. In fantasy football, he’s been a stud with huge statistical seasons. But in reality, he has a losing career record in the NFL. And he’s beaten very few teams with winning records in his career and has never sniffed the playoffs. He could be the victim of situation in Detroit but we’ll never truly know.

14.) Jimmy Garroppolo - San Francisco 49ers

Many will think Jimmy G should be higher on this list but the 49ers did not make the Super Bowl last year because of their QB. It was their defense and running game. And his 13 interceptions were too high. There’s no doubt Bill Belichick wishes he had Jimmy G in New England in 2020. But there’s also little doubt the 49ers could look to move on from Jimmy G if the right situation arose.

15.) Phillip Rivers - Indianapolis Colts

Rivers is looking for a resurgence with his change of scenery to the Colts. His career is winding down but the Colts roster is built to win now and Rivers has a solid chance for playoff magic in 2020.

16.) Ben Roethlisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers

Big Ben’s offseason program appears to contain lots of golf and beer. Coming off right elbow surgery, many questions surround the aging, out of shape QB. But he was impressive in his last real action in 2018 and deserves one more shot before we right him off.

17.) Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals

From the past in Big Ben to the future in Burrow. His breakthrough season at LSU was legendary and historic. It doesn’t always translate to the next level but we are betting Burrow’s pro career is more reminiscent of his 2019 season than his 2018. Accuracy rules in the NFL and that’s Burrow’s strongest trait.

18.) Baker Mayfield - Cleveland Browns

Baker has not played like a #1 overall pick so far. But new head coach Kevin Stefanski will give Baker his best chance to succeed in the NFL. Look for Baker to find Beckham more often in 2020 and rise up these QB rankings.

19.) Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills

Allen made the playoffs in just his second year in the NFL. But his 193 yards per game in 2019 reminds us more of a game manager than a good starting QB. He has more weapons in 2020 and will be counted on to elevate his play in a wide-open division.

20.) Daniel Jones - New York Giants

Jones showed promise in his 24 TD/12 INT rookie season in New York. His 62% completion percentage was league average in a bad situation. It would be amazing if GM Dave Gettleman is eventually validated for taking Jones #6 overall in 2019.

21.) Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins

Tua’s injury risk is real. But all reports say his rehab has been miraculous so far. If he wasn’t injured, he might have been drafted #1 overall despite Burrow’s epic season. That being said, Tua is the best Dolphins QB since Dan Marino and for that, we give him a solid rating before he ever takes an NFL snap.

22.) Ryan Tannehill - Tennessee Titans

We considered listing RB Derrick Henry here because he is the engine of the Titans offense. Tannehill is a game manager who averaged 123 passing yards in his 3 playoff games last season. He was not deserving of the massive contract the Titans handed him.

23.) Jameis Winston - New Orleans Saints

Another fantasy football star, Jameis is more known for his 88 interceptions in 72 starts than any positives in Tampa Bay. The Bucs finally moved on and Jameis finally got Lasik eye surgery to cut down on his strength of throwing passes to the other team. It would be surprising if Sean Payton hands the keys to the Saints offense over to Jameis in 2021.

24.) Ryan Fitzpatrick - Miami Dolphins

FitzMagic was special for Miami in 2019. His 235 passing yards per game propelled Miami from #TankForTua to a respectable 6-10. The win at New England in Week 17 was incredibly memorable for the Fitzpatrick brand.

25.) Gardner Minshew - Jacksonville Jaguars

Minshew brought more than Jorts to the Jags in 2019. He brought enough for them to trade away Nick Foles. A 6-6 record for a 6th round pick was special. 21 TD passes to 6 interceptions make some wonder if Minshew can stick around for years as a starting QB.

26.) Jared Goff - Los Angeles Rams

Goff and the Rams offense were rolling until Bill Belichick cracked the code in Super Bowl 53. Goff scored 3 points in that game. Then the wheels came off the Rams wagon in 2020. Goff’s QB rating dropped 15 points in 2020 and suddenly there is doubt about his long-term future at the position.

27.) Teddy Bridgewater - Carolina Panthers

Teddy will start for the Panthers in 2020 coming off 5 starts for the Saints in 2019. He won each game but we are giving Sean Payton more credit than Bridgewater. We’re giving him a TBD until he backs it up in Carolina.

28.) Andy Dalton - Dallas Cowboys

Good: Dalton brought the Bengals to the playoffs 8 times. Bad: He lost all 8 of those games. The Cowboys added Dalton for leverage with Dak Prescott but he’s still got game if Dak were to go down in 2020.

29.) Sam Darnold - New York Jets

Jets fans love Darnold but his 28 interceptions in 26 games leaves a lot of room for improvement. Adam Gase was supposed to be a QB whisperer but he’s been Crazy Eyed QB killer in Miami and New York. It will take a lot for Darnold to overcome in 2020.

30.) Derek Carr - Oakland Raiders

It’s interesting to see Jon Gruden stick with Carr as the Raiders move to Las Vegas in 2020. Carr is 17-30 in his last 3 seasons. He doesn’t turn the ball over but he doesn’t make plays either.

31.) Jacoby Brissett - Indianapolis Colts

Brissett is only 12-20 as an NFL starter. But he was thrown into an impossible situation following Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement in 2019. But the Colts didn’t believe him in enough to not give Phillip Rivers $20 million for 2020. Jacoby should get one more shot to start outside of Indy.

32.) Cam Newton - Free Agent

Cam remains unsigned following an injury-plagued end to his Carolina career. He’s 31 and can’t be relied on to run the ball effectively like he used to. But there’s no reason he should be unsigned. Cam deserves a shot to battle for a starting spot in the NFL.

Just missed out: Nick Foles, Dwayne Haskins, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Case Keenum

Jeremy Garrison is the co-host of Popline Media’s flagship show, The Sports Hangover podcast. Download it where you get your podcasts. Follow him on twitter @JeremyGarrison.