NFL QB Rankings: Jared Goff lands in top 10, and Geno Smith ranks above Russell Wilson

The 2022 NFL season is finally here. Despite the regular season only now beginning, the debates never end. Who’s the best quarterback in the NFL? Who’s the worst? We can’t answer that second one, but we have prepared a fresh batch of NFL QB rankings where we rank the top-20 quarterbacks in the league today.

Deshaun Watson‘s 11-game suspension prompted us to remove him from this list, where he had been ranked ninth. The same goes for Dak Prescott‘s injury. Let’s give a couple other QBs a chance for a few weeks until they can take the field again.

Updated weekly throughout the season, here are our top-20 NFL QB rankings.

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NFL QB Rankings countdown from 20-1

20. Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders (Last week: 20)

Now on his third team in as many seasons, Carson Wentz finds himself with a stronger cast of pass-catchers than he had in his lone season with the Colts. Yet, it might also be his last chance to prove he can be an above-average starter. It hasn’t gone well through four games. Like usual, Wentz has shown he can be a playmaker, but he’s also displayed why he’s been shown the door twice since becoming the No. 2 overall pick in 2016. Wentz couldn’t outduel Cooper Rush or Jared Goff, now he’ll try to outscore Ryan Tannehill.

19. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers (LW: 18)

A Trey Lance injury isn’t the way anyone wanted to see Jimmy G re-enter the starting lineup, but football is truly unpredictable. Despite having just one start this season, Garoppolo is certainly among the top half of current NFL quarterbacks. He’s proven to be a smooth operator who has a knack for leading his teams to victory. Now he gets to pick up right where he left off, with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel making Garoppolo look like a wizard in the Bay Area. Garoppolo has the Rams up next, who he’s beaten in five of their past six matchups, with a three-point NFC Championship loss being the most recent.

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18. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (LW: 17)

In a perfect world, the Tennessee Titans would have tried to move on from Ryan Tannehill in search of an upgrade this offseason. Hefty salary cap penalties prevented such a move, but he’s not in the top half of NFL starting quarterbacks, which means the 34-year-old QB may not have enough to carry the King Henry-led squad to the promised land. We’ve seen plenty signs of those struggles through four weeks. Maybe the three-INT playoff game got him rattled, but Tannehill hasn’t been able to recover since. He’s officially on the hot seat, and at 2-2, if the Titans continue somehow struggle against Washington, it may not be long until Malik Willis gets a chance.

Related: If you’re a fan of the Titans, check out #Titans rumors, rankings, and news here.

17. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (LW: 16)

We didn’t get to see Russell Wilson cook a year ago, but the nine-time Pro Bowl QB didn’t suddenly drop off after years of playing smart football. The Broncos are banking on that with their blockbuster trade for the SB XLVIII winner. Yet, Denver’s offense has struggled under Nathaniel Hackett, and there’s reason to be concerned long-term. Through four games, Wilson hasn’t looked the part or come close to living up to outside expectations, and now he takes on a strong Colts pass defense looking for their second win of the season. If Wilson’s planning to have a massive day on the gridiron any time soon, don’t expect it against Indianapolis.

16. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (LW: 14)

We’re eager to see how Derek Carr adapts to the Josh McDaniels system over time. Now that Davante Adams has landed in Vegas, Carr could have his best season yet, which is no small feat, but he’ll have to overcome a 1-3 start. After finally getting their first win out of the way, Carr’s next battle comes on Monday night, trying to outduel Patrick Mahomes. Carr has lost seven out of his past eight contests against the Chiefs, dating back to Mahomes’ first season in 2018. He had just one 300-yard game in that span. Don’t expect a different outcome in Week 5.

Related: If you’re a fan of the Raiders, check out #RaiderNation rumors, rankings, and news here.

15. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (LW: 12)

In Week 1, without DeAndre Hopkins due to suspension, Murray looked like he was nowhere close to being able to go round-for-round with Patrick Mahomes. Few can, but now in his fourth season, it shouldn’t matter so much who his receivers are. He’s supposed to elevate the entire team. Well, that’s exactly what happened in Week 2. Murray put his team on his back, carrying them to overtime. He’s a dynamic player, but his consistency is still a concern, which was on full display against the Rams, where he failed to find the end zone. While he’s doing just enough to compete, a former No. 1 overall pick should be performing much better after being in the same system for four years in a row. Always hit or miss, expect a turnover-filled performance against the Eagles in Week 5.

14. Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (LW: Unranked)

While he does have a strong group of pass-catchers no one would have anticipated Geno Smith to be a top-20 QB at any point in the 2022 season. Here we are through four weeks and he leads the NFL in completion percentage. Smith of course looks good throwing to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett but he’s also done a fine job of limiting mistakes, allowing his team to hang around in winnable games. We expect Smith to regress back to his career mean next week taking on a Saints defense looking to bounce back after a London visit.

13. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 8)

Two years after the Jaguars selected Lawrence No. 1 overall, a prospect who was hyped to be a generational QB held in the same regard as Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning, no one would have guessed it would take so long to start showing his potential. But here we are, and the Tank for Trevor process is finally bearing fruit. Placed in an offense that actually has some playmakers, along with a coach who knows what he’s doing, and boom, Lawrence looks like an NFL QB who has the chance to become special. While Lawrence may have reverted to looking more like a rookie against Philly, that’s just what this Jonathan Gannon-led defense has done to opponents. After fumbling four times in the rain, Lawrence won’t have as tough of a battle against Houston in Week 5.

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12. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (LW: 11)

After 12 seasons toiling in Detroit in which they never won a playoff game, Matthew Stafford teamed up with Sean McVay in L.A. and immediately won a Super Bowl. The presence of Cooper Kupp gives Stafford one elite option, but the absence of Odell Beckham Jr. might be more impactful than we thought. For now, Stafford has held on through a few rough performances leading the NFL in interceptions, but he’s never been picturesque. The Rams are 2-1, and his elbow still appears fine. All is well in L.A.

11. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (LW: 13)

Opinions on Kirk Cousins are all over the place. While he’s on pace for 17 interceptions, he’s never had a season where he’s thrown more than 13. He’s not armed with a cannon like Mahomes or Allen, but he also doesn’t typically hurt you on gameday. When given a strong supporting cast, Cousins can thrive. We’ve seen the same version of Cousins in 2022, one good game followed by a dumpster dive, with another good one sandwiched after. While Cousins faced a lot of pressure in London, he connected with Justin Jefferson just enough to get the W. Next up is a home matchup with the toothless Bears, which should go smoothly for the Illinois native.

Related: Overpaid or underrated: 2022 outlook for Vikings QB Kirk Cousins

NFL QB Rankings Top 10

10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (LW: 15)

We’re expecting a bounceback year from Jared Goff in 2022. Not like ‘elite’ Goff, like we saw glimpses of with the Rams, but the former No. 1 overall pick should improve now that he’s equipped with a respectable group of receivers. Unfortunately, Jameson Williams is still sidelined. And Goff still makes stupid mistakes, unlike Tom Brady, this QB is human. Even a top receiver won’t help Goff continues to consistently have mental lapses. Yet, a strong running game combined with an explosive offense has the Lions scoring more points than any other team in football. We’ll see what Bill Belichick has up the sleeves of his hoodie in Week 5.

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9. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 10)

After a surprising Super Bowl appearance, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had a rough start to their season, only to bounce back with back-to-back wins. Not coincidentally, those wins have come by way of the offensive line providing better protection for Burrow. He’s been sacked just three times after hitting the turf 13 times in the first two weeks. His Week 5 opponent happens to be the Baltimore Ravens, who the Bengals hung 41 points on in both games a season ago, one of which featured a 525-yard effort from Burrow.

8. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 9)

We can all thank the football gods for Tom Brady realizing he’s not quite ready to retire. There’s no reason for him to place his jersey in the rafters just yet. Brady’s coming off a season in which he led the NFL in attempts, completions, yards, and touchdown throws. The seven-time Super Bowl champ is off to a rough start, but there’s no doubt he’ll remain one of the very best in his age-45 year. Questions about his offensive line will linger all season long. For now, Brady has navigated the murky waters just fine. He gets an easy matchup with the Falcons, who have allowed the seventh-most passing yards in football leading into Week 5.

7. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (LW: 6)

Looking to win back-to-back-to-back MVPs, Aaron Rodgers will return to top form in 2022. Yet, like last season, it will have to come after a slow start. Rodgers may need time to get on the same page as his new-look receiver room, but we fully expect him to be in the MVP conversation by season’s end. Playing an early game in London on Sunday, expect Rodgers to shred a New York Giants defense that’s overperforming through four weeks.

6. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (LW: 5)

Playing in a high-powered offense that features two 1,000-yard receivers and another in Mike Gesicki, who’s not far behind, Tua Tagovailoa should have no trouble staying a top-ranked NFL QB this season. Obviously, that’s up to Tagovailoa, but three very impressive games thus far have people discussing him as an MVP candidate. Tagovailoa had been playing the best ball of his career before taking another hit to his head in Week 4’s loss. All we can do now is hope for a safe recovery.

WATCH: Tua Tagovailoa leads one of the best comebacks in NFL history, throws six touchdowns

5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (LW: 7)

Few quarterbacks have raised their stock as much as Justin Herbert has ever since he entered the NFL as the sixth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Now Herbert is widely regarded as one of the few young marquee names that many would select if they were starting an NFL franchise from scratch. 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. Still playing through fractured rib cartilage, you wouldn’t know it from Herbert posting 340 yards on the Texans while rolling up 34 points in Week 4. If Myles Garrett suits up in Week 5, it could be a different story, either way, Cleveland’s pass defense is much better than Houston’s.

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4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 4)

Everyone was watching Jalen Hurts to see if he could help the Eagles’ offense fly in 2022. One of the best dual-threat QBs in the league, Hurts offers a high floor and an even higher ceiling as he continues to develop and build chemistry with his now deeply talented receiver corps. The biggest question had been his arm but Hurts clearly heard these knocks, drastically improving over the offseason. He’s the only player to have ever recorded 900+ passing yards and 150+ rushing yards in the first three games of a season and also led the NFL in yards per attempt, showing why defenses need to respect his passing ability too. While a rain-soaked game in Philly may have put a damper on his stats in Week 4, Hurts is leading the only remaining undefeated team and they’ve scored the fourth-most points.

3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (LW: 2)

While Lamar Jackson largely had a down season impacted by injuries a year ago, there’s no one worried about his future success. Equally as much of a fantasy star as he is a dangerous game-breaker, expect Jackson to return to his 2019 MVP form. He’s been impressive, both while throwing and, of course, while running. Jackson’s 12 100+ yard rushing games are a new NFL record for quarterbacks, and he’s only going to keep putting that record further out of reach for the next ten years. We had the typical incredible moments from the All-Pro QB against a tough, yet injury-riddled Buffalo defense, but two unfortunate interceptions likely prevented a few points, which could have been the difference. Expect another game bordering on 250 passing yards plus 100 more on the ground against the Bengals.

2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 3)

Anyone who’s ever witnessed Patrick Mahomes understands why he’s a perennial MVP candidate. He’s fun to watch because he plays backyard football, yet his cannon arm leads to Madden-like video game performances. Few players can release the ball accurately from a variety of arm angles on the run, whether he’s looking at his receiver or not. He’s not missing Tyreek Hill, and teams have tried to pressure the 4x Pro Bowl QB, but it hasn’t worked.

Mahomes faced a career-high blitz rate in Week 1 (54%) but still threw four touchdowns when blitzed. He’s also been great outside the pocket. Defensive coordinators don’t know how to limit the 26-year-old gunslinger. A Monday night showdown against a poor Las Vegas passing defense should lead to plenty of fireworks.

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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (LW: 1)

The Bills are a great team, but Josh Allen is the reason why they’re such a popular Super Bowl pick. Most QBs either have arm strength, accuracy, or mobility. Allen has all three. He wasn’t always this good, but adding Stefon Diggs has seemingly helped Allen go from an inaccurate cannon to being able to sink your battleship with a single strike. He ranks 11th in the NFL in average time to throw (2.7 seconds), and getting the ball out quicker than he has in the past (eighth-slowest in 2021) makes Allen even more lethal both in short-areas and deep downfield.

Next, Allen faces a Steelers defense missing their top pass rusher, giving Allen more time to find open targets downfield, meaning it will be tough to dethrone his No. 1 spot in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings.

This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.