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.
Just because the season has ended, it doesn’t mean the rankings do too. Fans are always debating player rankings, and when it comes to the NFL, there is no position that is more hotly debated than QB. This is why we continue to maintain our annual quarterback rankings all year round.
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are widely viewed as two of the best players in football. While they set an elite standard for quarterback play, our 2023 NFL QB rankings capture how all 32 starting quarterbacks perform every week. Updated weekly throughout the season while receiving frequent offseason tweaks, here are our top-32 NFL QB rankings.
Related: NFL mock draft 2024: Projecting landing spots for top 2024 NFL Draft prospects
NFL QB Rankings countdown from 32-1
32. Sam Howell, Washington Commanders
In our view, Sam Howell is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. While there was a time when Howell was viewed as a potential first-round pick, there’s a reason 143 players were selected ahead of him in 2022. Howell has some dual-threat capability and Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are a much better 1-2 punch than most teams have, but we have fairly low expectations for a quarterback who’s likely to be replaced in 2024.
Related: Washington Commanders committed to starting QB Sam Howell in 2023, supported by Eric Bieniemy
31. Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Desmond Ridder stats | 2/0 | 708 (6.2 YPA) | 63.5% | 55.9 |
It’s understandable that the Atlanta Falcons weren’t serious about trying to bring in a different QB to overtake their third-round pick from 2022. Desmond Ridder has seen action in just four NFL games, but his supporting cast is impressive at the top. It’s just not a very deep cast of talent. Maybe Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson can help Ridder have a smooth second season, but he’ll have to make his fair share of impressive throws too.
Related: Atlanta Falcons moving forward with Desmond Ridder as QB1 in 2023
30. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
If he can reach or even come close to his ceiling, Anthony Richardson can improve his NFL QB ranking more than any other player on this list in 2023. But he’s also a bit raw in that he needs to correct some of the flaws he ran into at Florida. Good QBs benefit from a strong group of talent around them. We’re not sure the Colts are providing that for their rookie.
Related: Why Anthony Richardson might be a turning point for the Indianapolis Colts
29. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Baker Mayfield stats | 10/8 | 2,163 (6.5 YPA) | 60% | 50.6 |
The No. 1 pick out of Oklahoma just one year before Murray was selected in Arizona, Baker Mayfield has had an unusual NFL career. He was good as a rookie in Cleveland and great in his third season with the Browns but has yet to replicate his success since. Now on a depleted Buccaneers team, Mayfield has another chance, and it comes with some of the best receivers he’s ever played with, but if Tom Brady couldn’t excel last season, we don’t expect Mayfield to be better than the GOAT.
Related: Bruce Arians says Baker Mayfield was a better prospect than Bryce Young, 2023 QB class
28. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Alright, so the Houston Texans finally have another potential franchise QB. That’s awesome. But who is C.J. Stroud going to throw to? Dalton Schultz is a reliable tight end, and John Metchie has big-play potential, but Robert Woods isn’t scaring anyone anymore. If Tank Dell can make a quick impact, maybe Stroud won’t have as bumpy of a road as we’re anticipating to begin with.
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27. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Even though he’s been learning behind one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks since 2020, we can’t expect Jordan Love to immediately look like a top-ranked QB. Reps count too, and Love hasn’t had nearly enough live action to evaluate yet. With just 83 career attempts, Love will double that amount by Week 4. He’s made strides, but will his rank go up or down once the season gets underway? That’s what we can’t wait to find out.
26. Mac Jones, New England Patriots
The Patriots are betting that the Mac Jones we witnessed in 2022 was an imposter. The idea is that with the experienced Bill O’Brien coming on board, the third-year QB will settle back into his rookie form, which was good enough to reach the postseason. His cast of receivers is improved, with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki added over the offseason, so if Mac is the real deal, we should see it in 2023.
Related: Is Mac Jones praise of Bill O’Brien a veiled shot at former Patriots coaches?
25. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
How do we rank and evaluate a rookie who’s never even taken an NFL snap among his new peers? There’s a lot of projection involved. But Bryce Young is at least in a soft landing spot, with former NFL QB Frank Reich helping him each step of the way. The Panthers are in a weak division, and Young will have two former Pro Bowl receivers by his side with Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark. Maybe Young, who’s extremely bright, will have a shorter learning curve than his fellow first-year pros.
Related: Analyzing Bryce Young’s strengths and flaws
24. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Kenny Pickett stats | 7/9 | 2,404 237 (3 TD rush) | 63% (6.2 YPA) | 75.5 |
The jury is still out on whether Pickett can become Pittsburgh’s next franchise QB, but the soon-to-be 25-year-old has already shown flashes of being a great team leader capable of coming up in the clutch. Heading into his second season as the starter, we envision Pickett taking a leap thanks to an improved receiving corps and hopefully steadier offensive line play.
Related: 5 best moves of NFL free agency: 49ers, Eagles and Steelers find great value
23. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Ryan Tannehill stats | 13/6 | 2,536 (7.8 YPA) | 65.2% | 74.9 |
While the selection of Will Levis indicates the Tennessee Titans are planning for the future, Ryan Tannehill is a capable starter. The issue is he won’t be able to elevate a team anymore at this stage of his career. Yet if the Titans can’t get more out of their receiver room, it won’t matter who’s under center in 2023.
Related: Treylon Burks showing signs of a breakout year in Tennessee Titans OTAs
22. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Deshaun Watson stats | 7/5 | 1,102 175 (1 TD rush) | 58.2% (6.5 YPA) | 55.3 |
From a pure talent standpoint, Deshaun Watson would deserve to be in the top ten of our NFL QB rankings. Yet, nearly two years away from competition left the Browns QB extremely rusty. Maybe it was personal issues, a lack of reps, or just trying to adjust to a new scheme, but it’s hard to imagine Watson being any worse than what we saw in six starts last season. He’s a prime candidate to ascend rapidly in 2023, but Watson has to earn it first.
Related: Cleveland Browns unveil incredibly detailed dog logo, as voted by fanbase
21. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Kyler Murray stats | 14/7 | 2,368 418 (3 TD rush) | 66.4% (6.1 YPA) | 67.1 |
As the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, it shouldn’t take four years to show what Murray is capable of. At his best, Murray is one of the most elusive playmakers in the league, but he’s also been far too inconsistent with his accuracy to establish himself as an elite QB in the pros. Now having to recover from ACL surgery, it may be a while before we see K1 playing competitive ball again.
Related: Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray reportedly making strong impression on new coaching staff
20. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Brock Purdy stats | 13/4 | 1,374 (8.1 YPA) | 67.1% | 76.6 |
Has any player ever improved their stock more than Mr. Irrelevant through the course of their rookie season? What Brock Purdy managed to do with the 49ers, leading seven consecutive victories, including two playoff wins, is incredible. We’d have him much higher had he not had the benefit of working with one of the best skill position groups in football. But that’s where Purdy can prove himself in 2023 and skyrocket up our ranks.
Related: San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance had ‘no trade market’ this offseason
19. Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Jimmy Garoppolo stats | 16/4 | 2,437 (7.9 YPA) | 67.2% | 71.4 |
Garoppolo has won 70% of his starts across his nine-year career. While wins aren’t a fair way to measure a QB’s ability, in Jimmy G’s case, it may mean something, as he’s always been a careful player who avoids turnovers. Having a quarterback who has shown he can take care of the football while leading his team to two NFC Championship games is better than most. Now Garoppolo pairs back up with coach Josh McDaniels, where he’ll enjoy a Pro Bowl receiving corps in Vegas, as long as he can prove he’s healthy again.
18. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Derek Carr stats | 24/14 | 3,522 (7.0 YPA) | 60.8% | 66.6 |
While the Raiders may be done with Carr, the Saints are happy to take a chance on the four-time Pro Bowl QB after seeing nine seasons of above-average play. For a team looking to improve at the QB position but not start over with a rookie, Carr is a fine option with the potential to have a breakout season leading to a playoff run.
Related: Jon Gruden makes NFL return, consulting with New Orleans Saints and Derek Carr
17. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Justin Fields stats | 17/11 | 2,242 1,143 (8 TD rush) | 60.4% (7.1 YPA) | 70.2 |
Once the Chicago Bears started empowering their young second-year QB by allowing him to use his mobility to his advantage, Fields flourished. With the adjustment, Fields quickly broke an NFL record for the most rushing yards by a QB in a single game, and he’s just the third quarterback ever to post a 1,000-yard rushing season.
We were also witnessing him step up as a passer, completing 67.7% of his passes in his last seven starts before posting a dud, completing just 33% against a bottom-rate Lions defense. Fields has quickly emerged as possibly the best running QB in football, and we can’t wait to see what he has in store next year with D.J. Moore and hopefully an improved offensive line.
Related: 5 winners of 2023 NFL free agency: Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears take big strides
16. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Matthew Stafford stats | 10/8 | 2,087 (6.9 YPA) | 68% | 67 |
Stafford’s 2022 season was set for disaster from the very start after attempting 741 passes during an incredible Super Bowl-winning season. Predictably, the 34-year-old QB only made it through nine starts. But with a healthy Stafford plus Cooper Kupp set to return with a motivated Sean McVay, look for the Rams QB to return to top form in 2023.
15. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Russell Wilson stats | 16/11 | 3,524 (7.2 YPA) | 60.4% | 64.9 |
It all started horribly for Russell Wilson’s first season as a $230 million-dollar man in Denver. Yet, there’s hope for improved play heading into 2023 after hiring Sean Payton, who will hopefully be better equipped to get the most out of the nine-time Pro Bowl QB entering his 12th NFL season.
14. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Jared Goff stats | 29/7 | 4,438 (7.5 YPA) | 65% | 70.6 |
Goff had his usual ups and downs, but he ended up playing his way into becoming the Lions’ franchise QB. The former No. 1 overall pick’s last interception came in Week 9, and he ended the year winning eight of his last ten starts. Goff closed the season on a high note, likely buying himself at least another season as Detroit’s franchise QB. But Hendon Hooker’s arrival could make things interesting.
Related: Detroit Lions getting creative with Jahmyr Gibbs’ usage in practice
13. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Daniel Jones stats | 15/5 | 3,205 708 (7 TD rush) | 67.2% (6.8 YPA) | 76.7 |
Having added Darren Waller, we’ll finally get to see Jones with a viable No. 1 receiver, but despite the obstacles previously in his way, he managed to post the highest passer rating of any other NFL QB last season (153.3) in the win over Houston. Jones had the fewest turnovers among starting quarterbacks in 2022, resulting in the Giants’ first playoff appearance since 2016 and first win since 2011. Hopefully Jones gets more help from his receivers in 2023.
Related: 3 New York Giants’ biggest concerns heading into training camp
12. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Kirk Cousins stats | 29/14 | 4,547 (7.0 YPA) | 65.9% | 76 |
Kevin O’Connell presented a new scheme, but the story stays the same. Kirko Chains — whatever you want to call him, was up and down once again in 2022. When he wasn’t facing constant pressure, Cousins was on point in the North Star state, helping form a dynamite duo with Justin Jefferson, who accounted for 39% of Cousins’ yardage total last season. Despite some magical moments, leading the largest comeback in NFL history, Cousins couldn’t come away with a postseason victory. We like him to repeat a strong effort again next season, thanks to Jefferson’s excellence plus Jordan Addison’s arrival to an already strong skill position group.
Related: NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl
11. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Dak Prescott stats | 23/15 | 2,860 (7.2 YPA) | 66.2% | 75.8 |
Prescott caught fire against Minnesota, finishing with a near career-best 88% completion rate while posting 40 points on the board. Two weeks later, Prescott’s Cowboys put up an NFL-high 52 points against a top-ten Colts passing defense. He led the Cowboys to 24 or more points in nine of his 11 starts. Yet he was far from perfect, tossing 11 interceptions in his past seven appearances to close out the regular season. Now Mike McCarthy will try and help maximize Prescott’s potential as the team’s play-caller, which, yeah, we’ll see.
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10. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Geno Smith stats | 30/11 | 4,282 (7.4 YPA) | 69.7% | 81.5 |
One of the biggest surprises of the 2022 NFL season; despite being a former second-round pick, Smith never played like one, until last year. Smith led the NFL in completion rate, with the Seahawks performing as a top-ten offense.
Smith came back down to earth late, losing five of his last eight starts, but he continued to battle just enough to get the Seahawks into the playoffs. Smith has secured the starting gig for at least another season and now has a deep receiving corps highlighted by D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s upside is exciting too.
9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Trevor Lawrence stats | 25/8 | 4,113 (7.0 YPA) | 66.3% | 77.4 |
Just 23 years old, Lawrence started 2022 strong, appearing to make major strides in his second NFL season. Lawrence came back down to earth in the following weeks, but he then began trending back up, completing 76.8% of his passes from Weeks 9-12.
It’s not hard to see the Jaguars QB learning with each start, and his comeback win against Baltimore just might be his best performance yet as a pro. He’s on the brink of becoming great, and if Lawrence can become more consistent, he might just earn that elite label.
Related: NFL MVP odds 2023-24: Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow lead the pack
8. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Tua Tagovailoa stats | 25/8 | 3,548 (8.9 YPA) | 64.8% | 81.9 |
Playing in a high-powered offense that features two 1,000-yard receivers, Tagovailoa will have no trouble staying a top-ranked NFL QB. as long as he can stay healthy. When he was himself, Tagovailoa led one of the most exciting scoring attacks in football. We enjoyed the display too much not to believe it won’t be returning in 2023.
Related: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill makes huge donations to the family of ‘TuAnon’ founder
7. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
| TD:INT | Passing yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Aaron Rodgers stats | 26/12 | 3,695 (6.8 YPA) | 64.5% | 78.7 |
Defending his MVP award did not go well for Rodgers. He could never get on the same page with his receivers and finished with new career lows in passing yardage. We still believe he can get back to his All-Pro form with a respectable group of receivers in New York. Rodgers rejoins his former coach Nathaniel Hackett and is boosted by a strong supporting cast. We like Rodgers to regain his MVP form in the Big Apple, but first, he has to prove it.
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Justin Herbert stats | 25/10 | 4,739 (6.7 YPA) | 68.2% | 77.4 |
Wrapping up his third season, Herbert leads the NFL in 50+ yard air distance completions since 2020, meaning even if you have the Chargers backed up, defenders can never relax because the next one might sail over your head. The Chargers beat just one team that was .500 or better last season. Yet, there’s also reason to celebrate as Herbert finally clinched a playoff spot. The future is bright in L.A with Quentin Johnston joining Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Check out our latest fantasy football rankings
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Lamar Jackson stats | 17/7 | 2,242 764 (3 TD rush) | 62.3% (6.9 YPA) | 85.2 |
One of the most dangerous running QB threats in football, Jackson was on track for another fantastic season on the ground prior to his Week 13 injury. He wasn’t quite as explosive as a passer, where his completion percentage took a slight hit. But he was also pretty much all the Ravens had on offense, aside from Mark Andrews, who was a bit banged up too. Jackson was good but not quite MVP-level great in 2022, but he’ll be ready to go next season with Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers joining the flock.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Joe Burrow stats | 35/12 | 4,475 (7.3 YPA) | 68.3% | 90.5 |
Not only has Burrow’s offensive line been inconsistent, he had to manage without his top receiver for four weeks with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined. But Joe Cool responded well, putting 35 or more points on the board in two of the three wins. When the Bengals are clicking, there are few quarterbacks better than the former LSU superstar, and it’s led to two consecutive AFC Championship appearances.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Josh Allen stats | 35/14 | 4,283 762 (7 TD rush) | 63.3% (7.5 YPA) | 90.4 |
Leading the way for several weeks, Allen slipped in our NFL QB rankings thanks to a string of red zone interceptions last season. At his best, there may not be a better-combined runner/passer in football. While his decision-making could improve, the Buffalo QB still has an elite skill set. We should see Allen cook again this season, getting more weapons with Dalton Kincaid added to the mix.
See where Josh Allen ranks in our NFL top 100 player rankings
2. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Jalen Hurts stats | 22/6 | 3,701 760 (13 TD rush) | 66.5% (8.0 YPA) | 88.6 |
Hurts went from a quarterback who needed to prove he was capable of holding down the gig to establishing himself as an MVP candidate in his second full season as a starter. A second-round pick in 2020, the Eagles struck gold with the Alabama quarterback, but no one ever expected Hurts to be a top-ranked QB in the NFL.
Before getting injured, Hurts’ season in 2022 was reminiscent of Jackson’s MVP year in 2019. Hurts saw his MVP chances disappear, but taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl is more than anyone expected from the third-year pro.
Related: Former Philadelphia Eagles star blasts coaching staff for usage in Super Bowl
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
| TD:INT | Pass yards | Comp rate | PFF grade | |
| Patrick Mahomes stats | 41/12 | 5,250 (8.1 YPA) | 67.1% | 91.3 |
Even when he’s not doing his best Air Jordan impression, Mahomes is simply magical. The former MVP has the ability to put up 400-yard performances on a weekly basis. He may not have broken the NFL’s single-season passing yardage record last season, but he’s the biggest threat to Drew Brees’ mark. Mahomes won his second career MVP award and has now added another Super Bowl victory to his trophy case as well. There’s no question Patrick Mahomes belongs on top of all NFL QB rankings heading into 2023, even if one former QB doesn’t see it that way.
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