Who is the best quarterback in the NFL? 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 the top 20 quarterbacks perform every week. Updated weekly throughout the season while receiving frequent offseason tweaks, here are our top-20 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.
Related: 2023 NFL mock draft: Round 1 outlook after Bears, Panthers trade
NFL QB Rankings countdown from 20-1
20. 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 Tennessee Titans would likely benefit from keeping their options open when it comes to finding an improvement at the starting quarterback position, Ryan Tannehill is a capable starter. The issue is he won’t be able to elevate a team as a franchise solution can. Yet if the Titans can’t bring better receivers to town, it won’t matter who’s under center in 2023.
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 gets to enjoy a Pro Bowl receiving corps in Vegas.
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 that has the potential to have a breakout season leading to a playoff run.
Related: Bold predictions for 2023 NFL free agency: Destinations for more than 50 top players
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: NFL insider believes Chicago Bears could net six draft picks in trade down
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 the offseason after hiring Sean Payton, who will hopefully be better equipped to get the most out of the nine-time Pro Bowl QB who’s 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.
Related: Detroit Lions mock draft 2023: Dan Campbell’s squad gets a defense
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 |
We’d love to see Jones with a viable No. 1 receiver, but despite the obstacles in his way, he managed to post the highest passer rating of any other NFL QB this season (153.3) in the win over Houston. Jones had the fewest turnovers among starting quarterbacks in 2022, and it resulted 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 free agents the New York Giants should avoid signing
12. 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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11. 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’s not 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 this 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 once again next season, thanks in large part to Jefferson’s excellence.
Related: Minnesota Vikings mock draft 2023: Rebuilding the Brian Flores-led defense
Top 10 NFL QB Rankings
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, sure, Smith is a former second-round pick, but he’s never played like one. Until now. Smith’s leading 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.
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 the year strong, appearing to make major strides in his second NFL season. Lawrence came back down to earth in the weeks that followed, 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.
8. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
| 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. The Green Bay quarterback could never get on the same page with his receivers and finished with new career lows in passing yardage. While his reduced numbers could be a product of the team’s preference to establish the run, it’s possible we’ve seen the last of Rodgers in a Packers uniform. But we still believe he can get back to his All-Pro form if given a respectable cast of receivers.
7. 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: Tua Tagovailoa’s parents address Miami Dolphins QB’s future after head injuries
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 is .500 or better this season. Yet, there’s also reason to celebrate as Herbert finally clinched a playoff spot. The future is bright in L.A.
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 has took a slight hit. But he’s also pretty much all the Ravens have on offense, aside from Mark Andrews, who was a bit banged up as well. Jackson was good but not quite MVP-level great in 2022, but he’ll be ready to go next season.
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. At his best, there may not be a better-combined runner/passer in football. While his decision-making at times could improve, the Buffalo QB still has an elite skill set.
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 a Pro Bowl talent 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.
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 this season, but he’s the biggest threat to Drew Brees’ mark. Mahomes has done enough to win his second career MVP award and has now added another Super Bowl victory to his trophy case as well.
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This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
