Esports has offered many new fresh sets of eyes in the sports world. My favorite of these, however, is how professional gamers rank playable characters in the game. As opposed to numbered lists, video games such as Super Smash Bros, Overwatch, and League of Legends offer tier lists as an alternative ranking option that allows the ranker to sort their preference on many attributes that impact the game. This has given me the idea to use a tier list to sort NFL quarterbacks.
The big difference between tier lists and numbered charts is that it separates the quarterbacks into grades or tiers. Playable characters that were performing similarly to one another were ranked in the same tiers in order to add more diversity between certain levels of play. Quarterbacks with similar skill sets will not be ranked similarly, instead, I will be measuring the effectiveness of each Quarterback to their team’s success. Individual talent, impact on the team, and scheme versatility will all apply to how each quarterback is ranked.
Before we begin, I will provide a quick description of what each tier indicates…
SS – Game-breaking ability, can single-handedly carry lackluster teammates to great success. (Example: LeBron James in the 2018 NBA playoffs)
S+ – Game-changing ability. Every time they are on the field there is a danger to score regardless of the talent around them.
S – Great at their job. Their individual performance lifts their team’s play. The player is able to keep their team in contention against difficult competition.
S- – Might need some surrounding help to be game-changers, but the player is more than proficient at commanding the offense and leading the team in a majority of scenarios.
A+ – Better than average starters that make plus plays for their offense. While a solid supporting cast is required for legitimate contention, the player is capable of keeping the team competitive.
A – Average starters that are sure not to be game-changers, but still can limit their mistakes and make enough plus plays to win games.
A- – Game manager types that may not do too much to lose their matches, but don’t do enough to win either. A talented and cohesive team is needed around them in order to succeed.
B – Backup-quality players. Players that might win you a game or two if the starter misses some time. No team that starts one of these is fielding them for current results. A lot of developing young players also fall into the category for flawed-passers. Teams will occasionally need to overcome poor QB play in order to win.
C – Decrepit players that need to develop their skills significantly or may have troubles being in the league within a short time.
Players in each tier are ranked further based on my preference. A player that is towards the top of their tier is close to breaking into a higher tier, while a player that is towards the bottom is more likely garnering consideration to drop a tier. Now that we have all of that settled: let’s get into the list.
SS
There are currently no quarterbacks in the NFL that single-handedly can win any game they play regardless of their team’s capabilities. The most recent example of this kind of player in the NFL was Aaron Rodgers during his athletic prime (2010-2016). Before the injuries he has endured over recent seasons added some wear and tear to his body, Rodgers was able to carry a constantly underwhelming Packers roster to perennial success. Despite many promising players not reaching expectations, Rodgers picked up the slack, as he became this generation’s comeback king.
Now, however, Aaron Rodgers is a couple years older and can no longer pick up the slack of every weakness the roster has, thus removing him from the tier reserved for franchise-shifting talents.
S+
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes remains in a tier above everyone else in the NFL in terms of importance to their team. Tom Brady’s accolades and longevity has distracted from the fact that Bill Belichick is able to get the most of his backup quarterbacks as well, at least in the regular season. The Chiefs would be absolutely floored if they lost Mahomes, even with a talented supporting cast that’s installed around him. The Texas Tech product has a combination of arm talent, athleticism, improvisational skills, and leadership ability that will reap Super Bowls for the Chiefs sooner rather than later.
S
Tom Brady
Aaron Rodgers
Drew Brees
Russell Wilson
It feels weird to have Tom Brady ranked behind someone, especially after beating Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game. That being said, Brady is still entirely crucial to this Patriots team competing in January. This team could function better than Kansas City without their franchise quarterback, but that does not mean that Jared Stidham is going to step in and lead this team to any important playing time come January. Brady is an extension of Belichick on the field, as the two see and interpret the field very similarly. His knowledge, leadership, and consistency with his arm even into his 40’s has improved his legacy as GOAT.
The other three quarterbacks keep even the best defensive coordinators up at night. Rodgers has a propensity to make crazy throws and has shown the highest ceiling of individual play of any active quarterback in the league. Despite the Packers’ surrounding roster needing a few more pieces, it’s asinine to think of another year of playoffs without Green Bay if Rodgers stays healthy. Drew Bress has a much better surrounding unit than Rodgers and looks to capitalize on the time he has left in his prime. Heading into his 40’s, Brees will look to find whatever diet Tom Brady uses to prolong his play, as Brees relies on having a big arm more-so than Brady.
Russell Wilson is in a relatively precarious spot without Doug Baldwin, but the offensive line looks improved after exceeding expectations in 2018. Wilson won’t just have to run away from defenders anymore and can finally look to use his arm down the field to Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf (when he’s healthy). The Seahawks will feel like a contender in at least their own division as long as Wilson is under center for Seattle.
S-
Ben Roethlisberger
Matt Ryan
Cam Newton
Philip Rivers
Deshaun Watson
Despite losing an All-Pro receiver in Antonio Brown, Roethlisberger is expected to be fine. Juju and James Conner are nice surrounding pieces, but this offense will go through the two-time Super Bowl champion as the Pittsburgh Steelers look to return to the playoffs. Philip Rivers will also face a similar task to what Big Ben faced in 2018, potentially facing the season without star running back Melvin Gordon. Rivers has the necessary weapons around him to bring the Chargers back to the playoffs, even if the injury bug plagues the team again this season.
NFC South rivals Matt Ryan and Cam Newton are both coming off disappointing seasons. With a proper offensive coordinator in place, Matt Ryan should return to near-All Pro-form with Dirk Koetter back as the Falcons offensive coordinator. Cam Newton, on the other hand, will be returning from shoulder surgery and will need to ensure the shoulder holds up for the entire season. The Panthers run their entire offense through Newton’s arm and athleticism and will be relying on their quarterback to win games just as much as the Falcons need Matt Ryan.
Deshaun Watson has been able to deliver plus-play despite an atrocious offensive line. With Laremy Tunsil in tow, Watson will be able to receive some of the necessary protection to prove himself capable of leading the Texans past all of the roster moves and injury woes.
A+
Carson Wentz
Jared Goff
Dak Prescott
Baker Mayfield
Jimmy Garoppolo
Matthew Stafford
Wentz, Goff, and Prescott’s success in their young NFL careers have all come tied to a talented surrounding unit. While only Carson Wentz waits for his postseason debut (only due to injury), each player still needs to show that they can put the team solely on their backs when they need it. Goff had a chance to prove with Todd Gurley out but looked out of sorts when it mattered most versus New England in the Super Bowl. Zeke will be leading this offense again, but look for Dak to take another step with his play if the Cowboys are serious about the Super Bowl this year.
Baker Mayfield showed that he is capable of leading the Browns to greater success, but was maybe over-credited due to the quiet emergence of Nick Chubb as a rookie as well last year. Mayfield has a retooled offense around him to prove that the talk about Cleveland being dark horse Super Bowl contenders this year was not ill-advised.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Matthew Stafford are both presented with the best chances in their respective careers to prove where they’re at as started. Stafford has his best team around him since Megatron retired, but faces an equally tough NFC North division. Stafford will keep this Lions team afloat and possibly more, depending on how capable he is to lead an offense on his own. Jimmy G is finally healthy after an ACL tear and will have a handful of young, exciting weapons to throw to. Along with a capable offensive line to keep him healthy, the 49ers will need Garoppolo to prove that the win streak to start his career wasn’t a fluke.
A
Marcus Mariota
Kirk Cousins
Nick Foles
Derek Carr
Sam Darnold
Marcus Mariota provides the Titans plus play when healthy. unfortunately, Tennessee will now have to take their quarterback’s frailness into their offensive scheming, which limits both the quarterback and the team. If the Oregon product is able to prove capable of leading his team without putting his body on the line, he could see a slide up to A+ soon.
Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles, and Derek Carr are all in a similar boat. All three have proven that they can lead their team and win games, albeit inconsistently. The quarterbacks all have the necessary surrounding pieces and an unquestioned starting role heading into the 2019 NFL season and need to prove that they can return to their peak forms.
Sam Darnold narrowly avoids the A- column due to proving he can lead the Jets to some wins with his arm late in the season. Darnold has some inconsistencies that the rookies below have, but not to the same extent. Eyes are on the sophomore quarterback to take a step forward faster than the signal-callers selected behind him in 2018. While Bell is another player that the offense can rely on, the pressure will still be on Darnold to provide some wins for this team with his own play.
A-
Kyler Murray
Mitchell Trubisky
Andy Dalton
Jacoby Brissett
Jameis Winston
Josh Allen
Lamar Jackson
About a quarter of the quarterbacks in the league are looking to prove themselves as unquestioned starters of their team for years to come. While each quarterback in this tier has a capable throwing arm, questions remain about their ability to lead a team with a consistent arm. Kyler Murray could have started in the tier above but might start his career a little slow after only starting in college for a year. His legs and Kliff Kingsbury’s scheming will keep him on the upswing heading into later installments of QB Tier Lists.
Speaking of quarterbacks that can run, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Mitchell Trubisky are also capable of breaking plays open with their legs. All three young guns need to prove that they can improve their consistency in the passing department in order to develop as individuals and to upgrade their team’s play. Trubisky is the most likely to enter a higher tier early in this season, as he just needs to prove he can make the more difficult throws that Matt Nagy asks for him in his system. While not as much of a runner, Jacoby Brissett has shown a lot more promise with his arm than everyone above besides Allen. Brissett inherits a capable team that will help spectators see where he fares in this league throughout his first year as a starter.
Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston both qualify as capable throwers that get in their own way more than an NFL quarterback should. As both veterans are capable of getting on hot streaks for parts of seasons and putting Pro Bowl-esque numbers on the field, they are also capable of getting on cold streaks that damage their team’s chances to contend late in the season. If both quarterbacks can rein in the turnovers and keep their lows from getting too low, the questions surrounding their starting jobs will stop. If not, these two will be fighting for starting jobs elsewhere soon.
B
Joe Flacco
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Case Keenum
Eli Manning
These names have all shown the ability to lead their teams to big wins, but seems to be on their last legs as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Out of these four quarterbacks, Ryan Fitzpatrick might have the largest remaining arm, despite putting forward the least impressive resume in the win column. Manning and Flacco do not seem to possess the arm talent they used to have earlier in their careers. Keenum is the youngest of the backup-tier quarterbacks starting this upcoming week but has not shown extended success as a starter away from the talented 2017 Vikings team that was a game away from a Super Bowl. Expect all these players to be the unquestioned starters on their respective teams until the season turns unsalvageable and backup young-guns come for their jobs.
C
Going into the season, it would be rough to deem a week-one starter as barely capable of playing in the NFL. Even the names in the lower tiers would be able to secure at least a backup job if they were inexplicably released today. We’ll save the pessimism for the next edition when these quarterbacks have actually put forth any sort of play in the 2019 regular season.
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