General manager: Les Snead. See the complete Week 17 pecking order, 1-32, in this edition of the QB Index. 2020 key stats: 2,943 passing yards, 11passing TDs, 10INTs, 80.4passer rating, 61.5QBR, 6.6yards per attempt, 423 rushing yards, rushing TD. Amidst all the hype, the backlash, and the backlash to the backlash, Hill has shown steady progress. Indianapolis As usual, the biggest crowds for the media portion of this week's NFL scouting combine were reserved for the quarterbacks expected to go early in the first round of the draft . They include starting quarterbacks and backups who filled in for QBs dealing with injuries at the end of the year. He improved down the stretch, but most of that improvement came down to one terrific game against the Bucs. There were a lot of surprising starting quarterbacks in crucial prime-time games late in the season, like when Mannion replaced Kirk Cousins on Sunday Night Football in Week 17. I think the following teams absolutely need to make an upgrade in the offseason: Lions (Jared Goff), Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger), Browns (Baker Mayfield), Broncos (Teddy Bridgewater) and Panthers (Sam Darnold/Cam Newton). Which NFL teams are in need of a quarterback? The NFL, in recent years, has gone to a more mobile style of quarterback. Darnold, also 24, was an interesting choice to upgrade over Bridgewater as the Panthers eschewed going for a first-round draft replacement. Let's talk about that end. Stafford, the 2009 No. This is a ranking based on this season alone. The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? Glennon has been a journeyman, playing for the Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, and now the Giants. Bryce Young (Alabama) - Listed at 6-feet, 194 pounds (his size will be a big topic of conversation this week), the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is an excellent quarterback prospect. Here are all of the QBs who are 6-4 or taller: Mike Glennon, New York Giants: 6-7 Jacob Eason, Seattle Seahawks: 6-6 Despite the team in Houston falling apart around him with now limited talent, familiar or otherwise, Watson has done everything he can with his incredible individual play to prop it up offensively. After last season's second-half swoon, Wilson was unspectacularly efficient early this season, missed three starts, suffered through the worst month of his career and then finished strong. Jimmy G's time in San Francisco has had some great moments, including helping to take a high-level all-around offense to the Super Bowl. 2 overall pick status behind Lawrence. I can't help but wonder what the 49ers would have done if he started more games, and I can't wait to see him after another offseason in Kyle Shanahan's system. Between the preseason and 62 regular-season pass attempts, we got a better feel for Love as a pro this year. Bennett was listed at 5-11 and 190 pounds at Georgia. Stafford got a smidge too much credit during a regular season in which his week-to-week consistency didn't match his numbers. He blends a lot of the special attributes fellow young guns Herbert and Burrow possess. Rodgers contributed to his team falling in January this year with a conservative, sometimes confused effort against the 49ers. They also will use zone blocking to give a much-needed jolt to the rushing attack. 5) Los Angeles Rams. After the prolific passing for the rival Buccaneers marred by big interception woes, Winston was smart to be patient and reboot as a backup to work on improving his efficiency to go with big, aggressive arm. Jacksondid break through for his first playoff victory and at only 24, should be expected to rev back up as a passer with a receiving corps overhaul to match the improved traditional rushing attack. His one start was the 16-16 tie against the Lions, a game I watched to the very end on NFL Game Pass on a Wednesday morning in mid-November just so I could confidently tell you months later that Rudolph wasnt very good. Tagovailoa proved he was an NFL starting quarterback in his second season, which is no small feat for a player with physical limitations. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? He didn't get much help from his receivers or offensive line. Mahomes currently holds the highest career passer rating of any quarterback in NFL history, regular season (105.7) and postseason (107.4), along with several NFL and Chiefs' franchise. 2021 stats:4 games | 68.3 pct | 439 pass yds | 7.3 ypa | 4 pass TD | 1 INT | 21 rush yds | 0 rush TD | 1 fumble. Patrick Mahomes spearheaded an unprecedented rise as Kansas City's quarterback. The heaviest NFL quarterbacks are Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton and Baltimore Ravens QB Joe Flacco. It weirdly may have been the high point of the Cowboys' season. 2021 stats:17 games | 65.9 pct | 5,014 pass yds | 7.5 ypa | 38 pass TD | 15 INT | 302 rush yds | 3 rush TD | 1 fumble. 2021 stats:6 games | 53.9 pct | 790 pass yds | 4.7 ypa | 4 pass TD | 10 INT | 33 rush yds | 1 rush TD | 6 fumbles, 2020 final ranking:45 |2019:N/A |2018:N/A |2017:N/A |2016:N/A |2015:N/A |2014:N/A |2013:22. 2021 stats:17 games | 59.6 pct | 3,641 pass yds | 6.0 ypa | 12 pass TD | 17 INT | 334 rush yds | 2 rush TD | 9 fumbles. He's already one of the best backups in football and may develop into a mid-tier starter elsewhere, like Tyrod Taylor once did when he left Baltimore. 2021 stats:18 games | 67.0 pct | 3,954 pass yds | 7.1 ypa | 22 pass TD | 17 INT | 282 rush yds | 7 rush TD | 10 fumbles, 2020 final ranking:8 |2019:7 |2018:30 |2017:N/A |2016:24 |2015:26 | 2014: 13 | 2013: 14. Jakob Johnson is now in the Las Vegas Raiders and is the latest fullback incorporated into the Raiders' offensive system. He chose a team with a great supporting cast, including the offensive skill players, line, running game and defense. Like Alex Smith, Tua will mostly win at the margins and needs the right coach to maximize his strengths. But this was an uneven Mahomes campaign. Where does 49ers rookie Brock Purdy slot in after beating Tom Brady in his first NFL start? First, Garoppolo has had a lot of issues staying healthy. Just look at those year-end rankings from 2013 to '17; Ben was a consistent top-five quarterback during a loaded era at the position. Jones has flashed, more so as a rookie than as a slumping sophomore. 23. "I went through a period of time during the season where I just didn't play my best ball.". Murray was as good as any quarterback through seven weeks, but his play was sporadic after he missed three games with an ankle injury. 1. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: $40 million 4. The 21-year old did everything he could to shine as a future NFL superstar at Clemson except for winning the Heisman Trophy. Cousins' year-end rankings are consistent. Even if there are limitations, Tannehill made his teammates better this year, especially one of the worst pass-blocking offensive lines in football. The "other" Robert Griffin was an offensive lineman on the same Baylor team as the Heisman-winning quarterback by the same name. Beyond the makeup, Wilson also enters a great system with rising offensive mind Mike LaFleur. It doesn't surprise me Hill averaged 7.3 yards per attempt, and the Saints won four of his five starts because he stresses defense, even as he stresses Saints fans. Looking ahead to next season, many teams will have some decisions to make at QB. Dalton has played roughly 2,000 snaps in the last three years, finishing with a PFF grade between 65 and 70 each season. He plays with youthful joy and confidence that he didn't have with the Dolphins. I don't always agree with PFF, but seeing this grade made me feel less alone in the world. Winston will operate with a good line, a top wide receiver in Michael Thomas, the ultimate dumpoff option in Alvin Kamara and a rising tight end, Adam Trautman. It was less of a roller coaster for the regular season (like Josh Allen's) and more consistently ragged, mostly efficient ball with a few too many turnovers early and too few big plays, until the end. With big contract now in hand at 27, expect him to work hard to earn every bit. 2021 stats:4 games | 66.7 pct | 953 pass yds | 7.2 ypa | 5 pass TD | 8 INT | -1 rush yds | 0 rush TD | 0 fumbles. It often felt as if the Cardinals relied on Murray to create incandescent plays on his own; otherwise, the offense got stuck in quicksand. Here are the PFF QB rankings heading into the 2021 NFL season. The Chiefs had been to three AFC Championship Games, two Super Bowls and had one Lombardi Trophy pre-Mahomes. One performance that did stand out in the most competitive environment possible for Week 18 was that of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He is hoping to be fixed by another Los Angeles import, offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, who was a big help to Herbert last season. The highest-paid players on every NFL team for the 2021 season. Week 17 NFL Stroud stats: 182.0 QB rating, 81-12 TD-INT, 9.8 ypa, 7,775 pass yards, 69.3% completion. It wasn't always like this. Darnold's struggles with pressure and going through reads have only grown worse during his time as a pro. 1 overall pick in 2018,got back on track in Year 3 thanks to some of the same offensive concepts that have helped Tannehill and the QB with whom offensive-minded coach Kevin Stefanski worked before Mayfield, Kirk Cousins. In only four starts, Hurts displayed all of his rare running ability and some good passing upside despite limited weapons and protection. He also manages a run-centered spread passing attack well. If anything, the cautious Patriots staff's willingness to ask a lot was one of the defining traits of Jones' rookie season. 3 overall pick from 2018 must do plenty after not showing much for the Jets, as limited as they were, for the past three seasons. His passing grade on PFF was good for 15th out of 38 qualifiers, just below Patrick Mahomes and two spots ahead of Russell Wilson. With 2022 upon us, it's time to reflect on the year's 10 biggest stories. Wilson has the skill set to be a rookie revelation in Herbert's vein. Only 27, Winston is another wild card worth watching as a high-upside reclamation passer. A lot of wow throws, a lot of misses, a lot of turnover-worthy plays, a lot of confusion and a lot of raw potential. He should be helped by a necessary QB-friendly coordinator change. Rodgers would be crazy to leave Matt LaFleur, because the last two seasons have been among the sharpest of Rodgers' career, improving his efficiency without sacrificing his moments of inspired brilliance. Jalen Hurts is climbing toward the top spot in Marc Sessler's QB1 rankings after leading a comeback victory over the Colts. 2021 stats:7 games | 65.3 pct | 462 pass yds | 6.4 ypa | 3 pass TD | 1 INT | 22 rush yds | 0 rush TD | 1 fumble, 2020 final ranking:N/A |2019:34 |2018:27 |2017:14 |2016:N/A |2015:N/A |2014:N/A |2013:N/A. Some weight is given to players who start more games, but there's just no question that Darnold's average 2021 start was below the level of backups like Trevor Siemian, Geno Smith and Andy Dalton. A great quarterback can make or break the fortunes of an NFL team. A strong offensive line and aggressive coaching staff give Goff a chance to improve in his second season with the Lions, but he's settling into a career as a starter just below the Dalton Line. All three of Tampa Bay Buccaneers ' quarterbacks stand at least 6-foot-4. Auburn shows two-deep safeties early in the pre-snap phase, but right before the play begins they walk one of . 1-62. 2021 stats:12 games | 64.4 pct | 2,882 pass yds | 7.5 ypa | 16 pass TD | 13 INT | 767 rush yds | 2 rush TD | 6 fumbles, 2020 final ranking:7 |2019:1 |2018:23. Let's break down the biggest losers! 2021 stats:17 games | 67.0 pct | 3,968 pass yds | 7.1 ypa | 20 pass TD | 12 INT | 82 rush yds | 1 rush TD | 11 fumbles, 2020 final ranking:14 |2019:12 |2018:8 |2017:9 |2016:2 |2015:15 | 2014: 9 | 2013: 11. He did not throw with consistent confidence, even though his arm is outrageous, and finishing the season with a 7-for-20 performance against the Bills left a sour aftertaste. They do have a good environment to resurrect his career with fine skill players, from Christian McCaffrey to former Jets teammate Robby Anderson, under bright offensive coordinator The No. It was a lot. Prescott was headed toward a massive first season with Kellen Moore and Mike McCarthy before the heartbreaking ankle injury against the Giants in the fifth game. 2020 key stats: 4,212passing yards, 40passing TDs, 13 INTs, 105.1 passer rating, 73.5 QBR, 7.5 yards per attempt, 513 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs. It's impossible to overstate how poor his protection and coaching have been, and he's shown enough flashes for me to believe he could be an average starter. . Kelce comfortably ranks first at the tight end position, and Hill comes in at fourth among wide receivers. 2021 stats:16 games | 66.3 pct | 4,221 pass yds | 7.5 ypa | 33 pass TD | 7 INT | 115 rush yds | 1 rush TD | 12 fumbles, 2020 final ranking:15 |2019:8 |2018:13 |2017:10 |2016:13 |2015:11 |2014:N/A |2013:N/A. Weighing past recent peformances but tilting a lotmore toward upside for the upcoming season, here's Sporting News' latest annual offseason ranking of NFL quarterbacks, 1-32: MORE NFL RANKINGS: RBs |WRs| GMs| Head coaches. 2021 stats:17 games | 64.6 pct | 3,955 pass yds | 6.1 ypa | 24 pass TD | 10 INT | 4 rush yds | 1 rush TD | 12 fumbles, 2020 final ranking:20 |2019:37 |2018:9 |2017:2 |2016:10 |2015:5 | 2014: 3 | 2013: 5. See the full pecking order, 1-32, heading into Week 18. Mayfield was the No. He ran more than expected, and his deep accuracy came as advertised. 2020 key stats (with Panthers): 3,733 passing yards, 15passing TDs, 11INTs, 92.1passer rating, 64.2QBR, 7.6yards per attempt, 279rushing yards, 5rushing TDs. His ceiling looks higher than most analysts expected, Kyle Shanahan excluded. His teams have won only once in his last 13 starts, dating back to 2017. Carr is a difficult QB to evaluate. Allen left little doubt with his remarkable age-25 third season. This is a. The challenge will be adjusting to a brand-new offense and remaining limited with his weapons as defenses adjust better to him. 1. The tiniest hill I'm ready to die on is that Brissett's 2021 was much better than the numbers showed. He's an NFL quarterback now, which is no small feat. Whether he can be better than that is the question the Giants need to answer. At 37, his wisdom and intelligence remain major assets, rebooted by a QB-friendly offense operated by Matt LaFleur. He's made a living as the ultimate bridge quarterback because of his consistent veteran leadership even with unfamiliar teammates and ability to excute in a variety of schemes. Bridgewater was the best choice for Denver over Drew Lock because it needs more conservative play and fewer mistakes to win games vs. forcing bigger pass plays. He is ahigh-reward passer with low risk in pushing for big plays downfield while remaining efficient. Marc Sessler evaluated every quarterback who started a game (including the playoffs) during the 2022 NFL season to create a complete ranking from 1 to 68. Hurts with the related Colts twist will be a storyline in Philadelphia. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! But at only 28, there's plenty of time to get right again and the Colts' run-heavy offense behind a sturdy line will boost him. . Hard to do much better as a backup than going 1-for-1 in quality starts. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. They boosted the receiving corps with Kenny Golladay, rookie first-rounder Kadarius Toney and savvy second tight end Kyle Rudolph. This situation has the feel of Goff taking more lumps and makingroom for a rookie replacement in 2022. That's two straight up-and-down seasons for a player who had previously been a model of consistency. By James. 2021 stats:5 games | 64.9 pct | 526 pass yds | 5.6 ypa | 3 pass TD | 6 INT | 13 rush yds | 0 rush TD | 1 fumble, 2020 final ranking:N/A |2019:N/A |2018:N/A.