As goes the quarterback, so goes the team. It's not always true in the NFL, but it usually is. And it makes sense: In a passing league, the passers are like royalty -- the biggest influences on whether a team is destined more for a Super Bowl title or a No. 1 draft pick.
It's with that in mind that we come to you with the most important pecking order outside of traditional team power rankings: QB Power Rankings. Consider this your cut-and-dry guide to the best and worst of the NFL's signal-callers -- a weekly 1-to-32 rundown of every starter under center.
How are the QBs ranked? We try to factor in both current standing and future upside. So a long resume doesn't always guarantee an edge over untapped potential, just as a cold streak doesn't always erase a history of success. At the end of the day, we're simply trying to sort the QBs based on 2021 value, both now and in the near future.
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Now, without further ado, let's get to first edition of the season, our Week 1 rankings:
1 |
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs QB
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Oh so smooth. Anyone and everyone would pay money to watch Mahomes play, because he's still the standard-bearer when it comes to modern-day backyard-style quarterbacking. | |
2 |
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay Packers QB
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At 37, has Rodgers ever been more confident in himself? What he lacks in youth, he more than makes up for in clutch ability and elite accuracy. Another title run is very much a possibility. | |
3 |
Russell Wilson
Seattle Seahawks QB
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The occasional forced throw aside, Russ remains the NFL's most reliable dual-threat quarterbacks. Let him lean on the run or let him air it out, but either way, he's a lock to keep you alive on any given play or week. | |
4 |
Josh Allen
Buffalo Bills QB
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The total package, physically. Can he actually improve upon 2020? If so, he's probably an MVP front-runner. Keeping himself out of harm's way could still be a challenge considering his knack for extending plays. | |
5 |
Tom Brady
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB
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Father Time has no power as long as Brady is still playing. Newly 44, his arm looked as strong as it has in years down the stretch of the 2020 season. His dedication and touch remain elite. Do not bet against him. | |
6 |
Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Chargers QB
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He's still got things to prove, like operating consistently from a clean pocket. But everything points to a continued ascension for one of the game's most explosive young arms. L.A. can ride his talent to playoff contention. | |
7 |
Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys QB
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Health is a big X-factor here, as he's not only coming off two injuries but working behind some oft-injured blockers. When upright, however, he's good in almost every area: footwork, pocket presence, heavy passing workloads. | |
8 |
Lamar Jackson
Baltimore Ravens QB
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There are some strong opinions out there regarding his unproven big-game passing. And, yes, he's a better weapon than QB most of the time. But come on. His athleticism is unparalleled at the position, and it routinely changes games. | |
9 |
Ryan Tannehill
Tennessee Titans QB
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Tannehill in 26 starts for the Titans: 55 TDs, 13 INTs and an 18-8 record. It's possible he's still entering his prime at 33, and Julio Jones' addition could confirm it. A jump toward the top five isn't out of the question. | |
10 |
Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams QB
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Moving to shiny L.A. doesn't erase the fact Stafford has long been more good than great. But his toughness and arm strength have never been questioned, and now he's got a much better supporting cast/staff. | |
11 |
Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals QB
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Such a tough one to slot, because in terms of upside, few offer the gifts he does. We're talking Lamar Jackson-level impact on the ground. And he's got a rocket for an arm. The question is, can he win more with smarter decisions? | |
12 |
Baker Mayfield
Cleveland Browns QB
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If the latter half of 2020 was any indication, he's well on his way to a top-10 ranking. The arm and gusto are playoff-caliber. We already know he can manage a run-heavy attack. Can he deliver more big throws in big games, too? | |
13 |
Kirk Cousins
Minnesota Vikings QB
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Captain Kirk probably gets criticized a bit too much, even though he's anchored in the tier below championship-caliber talents. His crunch-time resume leaves a lot to be desired, but he's accurate, efficient and capable of big plays; solid, if unspectacular. | |
14 |
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers QB
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This doesn't feel quite right for Big Ben, but who knows what he has left? Apparently in better mental and physical shape, he's smart and savvy enough to win when it matters. But the days of playing Superman are probably over. | |
15 |
Derek Carr
Las Vegas Raiders QB
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Kind of representative of the Raiders under Jon Gruden: Offensively efficient for the most part, but still stuck in the mud as a whole. Carr is better than he gets credit for, but like Kirk Cousins, we've yet to see him carry his team over the hump. | |
16 |
Matt Ryan
Atlanta Falcons QB
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Ryan remains smart and mechanically sound, but on a semi-rebuilding team, he doesn't necessarily have the arm or mobility to consistently take over games. Maybe Arthur Smith will work wonders and set him up for a late-career resurgence. | |
17 |
Jimmy Garoppolo
San Francisco 49ers QB
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When he's healthy, he's a perfectly smooth figurehead for Kyle Shanahan's run- and play-action-heavy attack. But good health has been hard to come by, and Trey Lance's dual-threat talent is just waiting to be unleashed. | |
18 |
Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals QB
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Some will say this is too high. Some will say it's too low. Burrow still has plenty to prove as he comes off a serious knee injury. But his toughness and feel for the game are still top-notch. Let's hope Cincy gives him the support he needs. | |
19 |
Teddy Bridgewater
Denver Broncos QB
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Better positioned in Denver than he was in Carolina, Teddy is who he is: a steady hand with a limited ceiling. Give him a playoff-caliber roster, and he'll probably get you to the tourney. But don't expect him to deviate much from the script. | |
20 |
Mac Jones
New England Patriots QB
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For all the guff he got as a potential 49ers target at the No. 3 spot in the draft, Jones looks to have the poise and decision-making for an early impact. If his receivers help him out, he should have New England back in the playoff mix. | |
21 |
Zach Wilson
New York Jets QB
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The Jets' O-line spells trouble, but Wilson's arm is for real. He'll almost assuredly throw himself into trouble, but he's got the top-level zip to throw himself out of it, too. Highlight-reel plays should not be lacking as a rookie. | |
22 |
Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars QB
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Tools-wise, Lawrence belongs higher on the list. But situation plays at least a small part here, and he's got hurdles to clear playing for the Jags. In due time, and with proper help, he should climb toward the top 15. | |
23 |
Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles QB
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Almost universally ranked as a bottom-five QB entering 2021, Hurts has way too much going for him to be written off. The intangibles are off the charts, and his legs are a constant threat. Still, can he regularly scare opponents through the air? | |
24 |
Carson Wentz
Indianapolis Colts QB
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The Colts were right to bet on Wentz's reunion with Frank Reich, as his ceiling remains top-12ish. If he can stay on the field, Indy will be good. But isn't that always the concern? Injuries and COVID battles have already plagued him this year. | |
25 |
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Washington Football Team QB
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Look, he's a ton of fun. He's also a clear upgrade over Alex Smith. Washington has the weapons and defense to help him out, but he's still Ryan Fitzpatrick, the journeyman prone to turnover sprees. It doesn't help he's nearing 39 with an injury history. | |
26 |
Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins QB
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The opinions on Tua have probably been too harsh considering the kid is fresh off an efficient, if muted, rookie year. Until we can see what he does with improved weaponry, however, it's hard to bet on him as a play-making game-changer. | |
27 |
Jameis Winston
New Orleans Saints QB
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Bombs away, right? Winston has never failed to flash with his big arm, and he seems genuinely committed to fitting into Sean Payton's offense as a Drew Brees successor. But mental miscues have followed him every step of his NFL career. | |
28 |
Jared Goff
Detroit Lions QB
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Oh, how things change. Goff is not a bottom-tier QB at his best; far from it. But his days as a Rams standout are long gone. As a placeholder for a rebuilding squad, the odds are against him, especially considering his tendency to wilt under pressure. | |
29 |
Sam Darnold
Carolina Panthers QB
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Something tells us he could make a quick dart up the rankings, now that the New York spotlight is in the rear view. For now, Darnold has to prove he can stay healthy and align confidence in his arm with smart decisions. | |
30 |
Andy Dalton
Chicago Bears QB
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All indications are that Dalton is a hard worker and solid teammate, and his Bengals career was more than respectable. But he hasn't been a winning starter for years. His arrival feels like a marginal upgrade on Nick Foles as a bridge to Justin Fields. | |
31 |
Daniel Jones
New York Giants QB
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If only all of Dave Gettleman's offseason gifts -- new toys at the skill positions -- had been healthy enough to develop chemistry with the youngster. Jones has athleticism, but he's yet to prove he can protect the ball long enough to win important games. | |
32 |
Tyrod Taylor
Houston Texans QB
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Good for Taylor, getting another shot at QB1 duties. But he's a backup playing an emergency role. Maybe his legs will allow him to surprise, but he's both conservative and not particularly accurate as a passer, hence the No. 2 reputation. |