There is one position that impacts NFL betting more than any other, and that is the quarterback position. Quarterbacks move lines, while most positions are not capable of doing the same, which makes ranking the quarterback position in the NFL more important than doing so at any other position. Here, we rank each team’s quarterback situation from worst to first, to help you do your NFL handicapping throughout the 2024 season.
32. Denver Broncos
Key Players at this Position: Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson
Bo Nix has looked good during the preseason for the Denver Broncos, which is an encouraging sign for that franchise. But they lack a reliable veteran quarterback for him to learn under during his rookie campaign, a rookie campaign where Nix could start right away. While Nix could move this team up these rankings in the future, the Broncos are at the bottom of our NFL quarterback rankings going into the 2024 campaign.
31. New England Patriots
Key Players at this Position: Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Bailey Zappe
The goal for the Patriots is going to be to turn the keys over to Drake Maye at some point. The question will be whether Maye is good enough to be the future of the franchise in New England. We saw Mitchell Trubisky get drafted near the top of his class out of North Carolina before having an underwhelming pro career. Maye will have to avoid a similar fate, but for now the Patriots have to prove themselves before moving up this list.
30. Carolina Panthers
Key Players at this Position: Bryce Young, Andy Dalton
Bryce Young was horrible in his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers. Some of that had to do with the bad team around him. But Young completed under 60% of his passes for the year, had just 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and struggled to make plays on passing downs. He simply has to be better in 2024 if the Panthers are going to resemble a competitive football team.
29. Minnesota Vikings
Key Players at this Position: Sam Darnold, JJ McCarthy, Nick Mullens
Minnesota drafted JJ McCarthy earlier than I would have drafted JJ McCarthy, with the hope of him becoming their franchise quarterback sooner rather than later. But McCarthy has suffered an injury and will miss the 2024 season. As a result, Sam Darnold is likely to start the year under center for Minnesota, which should not inspire confidence given how Darnold has performed during his time as a pro.
28. Washington Commanders
Key Players at this Position: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota
Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last season as a member of the LSU Tigers. But his team lost a decent amount of football games despite the numbers he was racking up, prompting concerns that most of those college numbers were just empty calories. He will be thrown into the fire right away in Washington, something that has not worked out for a long list of quarterbacks that have been under center for this franchise before him.
27. Las Vegas Raiders
Key Players at this Position: Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell
Last year, Jimmy Garoppolo was supposed to be the new franchise quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, but injuries and poor play derailed those plans. Now it is Gardner Minshew’s turn to try and fill the void left by Derek Carr in the desert. Minshew finished 17th in passing yards last season as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, but he isn’t a guy who seems capable of elevating a franchise above the point of mediocrity, even if his facial hair is amusing to the most annoying football fans you know.
26. New York Giants
Key Players at this Position: Daniel Jones
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a New York Giants fan. But I am not delusional enough to believe that Daniel Jones is a good NFL quarterback. The Giants paid Jones a ton of money to be their starter and Jones has shown no evidence that he is deserving of the price he is being paid. Drafting Malik Nabers is not going to magically make Jones a better player, especially with Saquon Barkley no longer there to bail Jones out.
25. Tennessee Titans
Key Players at this Position: Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis
Will Levis played nine games last season for the Tennessee Titans, the same number Jake Browning played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Browning had a much better completion percentage, had more yards per pass attempt, and more passing touchdowns than Levis did. Levis has to be better in his second year as a pro, though that could be hard to accomplish on a roster that just got rid of Derrick Henry and replaced him with Tony Pollard at running back.
24. Chicago Bears
Key Players at this Position: Caleb Williams
The Chicago Bears drafted first overall in the most recent NFL Draft. They opted to bring in Caleb Williams to be their next franchise quarterback with that pick. Williams is so good at making plays when things break down, buying time with his legs and delivering the ball down field. But will that work in the NFL against the best defenses in the sport? That remains to be seen.
23. Indianapolis Colts
Key Players at this Position: Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco
Indianapolis drafted Anthony Richardson before the 2023 NFL season and he got off to a decent enough start for the Colts. But they had to shut him down early in the year due to a shoulder injury and still nearly made the playoffs despite his absence. This year, Richardson is back and will look to pick up where he left off early in the 2023 season to help the Colts get back into the postseason.
22. Atlanta Falcons
Key Players at this Position: Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr., Taylor Heinicke
The Atlanta Falcons shook things up in a huge way this offseason when they brought in Kirk Cousins to be their new starting quarterback. They also made the shocking decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. near the top of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Cousins has struggled against good teams, but he is good enough to be an upgrade over what the Falcons had a season ago as they look to return to relevance in the NFC South.
21. Cleveland Browns
Key Players at this Position: Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston
In 2023, Deshaun Watson only played in six games for the Cleveland Browns before being lost for the season due to injury. But in the six games he did play, he wasn’t any good, throwing just seven touchdowns to four interceptions. Watson is healthy for the start of this season, but there are legitimate questions as to whether or not that is a good thing for him and his team in another year where expectations are high in The Land.
20. New Orleans Saints
Key Players at this Position: Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler
Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints kick off the top-20 of our NFL quarterback rankings for this season. Carr was in the top-15 in passing yardage a season ago and is certainly a fine choice under center for the Saints. But there is clearly a ceiling with Carr as he has proven for many years both in Las Vegas with the Raiders and now with the Saints. He simply does not deliver in big spots consistently enough to be an upper-echelon quarterback, but Carr is fine for who he is.
19. Seattle Seahawks
Key Players at this Position: Geno Smith, Sam Howell, PJ Walker
In 2022, Geno Smith was one of the best stories in the league as he led the Seattle Seahawks to a much better season than expected. He took a slight step backward in 2023, which was disappointing even if it was not totally surprising. This year will be a big one when it comes to the future of Smith in Seattle, as the team brought in former first-round pick from the Washington Commanders Sam Howell to back him up.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Players at this Position: Baker Mayfield
Baker Mayfield helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get to the NFL playoffs last season, where they beat the Philadelphia Eagles before losing in the Divisional round. Tampa has all of their eggs in the Mayfield basket, as their backups are John Wolford and Kyle Trask. But Mayfield is certainly not the worst quarterback in this division and could in fact be the best quarterback in the NFC South going into the 2024 campaign.
17. New York Jets
Key Players at this Position: Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor
The New York Jets were one of the most-hyped teams in the NFL going into last season. Then Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury on the team’s first offensive possession of the year. Rodgers is back to start the 2024 season, though the Jets do take a hit in our rankings based on the valid questions surrounding his ability to come back from such a significant injury. Just in case, the Jets have Tyrod Taylor as a backup this year, who was admirable in that role with the Giants in 2023.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars
Key Players at this Position: Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones
Cutting back on turnovers will be the key for the Jacksonville Jaguars at the quarterback position in 2024. Trevor Lawrence was tied for the fourth-most interceptions among NFL quarterbacks last season. And while he was tied with very good quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa, Lawrence didn’t make enough big throws to be on the same level as those players. Lawrence has to be more precise if the Jags want to get back to the top of the AFC South.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
Key Players at this Position: Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
A year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers had Kenny Pickett as their starting quarterback. This year, they are positioned with two quarterbacks who could be better than Pickett in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Wilson is not the player he once was with the Seattle Seahawks, but he still represents an upgrade, while Fields has the potential to be one of the most dangerous playmakers in the league if he can get more consistent as a passer.
14. Green Bay Packers
Key Players at this Position: Jordan Love
In his first full season as a starting quarterback, Jordan Love was impressive for the Packers. He led Green Bay to the postseason and to a Wild Card weekend win on the road over the Dallas Cowboys. Now Love faces the tough task of trying to follow up on that productive season with another one. For now, we will put Love and the Packers in the top-half of our NFL quarterback rankings.
13. Arizona Cardinals
Key Players at this Position: Kyler Murray, Desmond Ridder
Kyler Murray missed the first portion of the 2023 season and the Arizona Cardinals offense looked dreadful as a result. But when Murray came back, there was at least a little life in that offense once again. Murray’s health will be a huge factor this season as the Cardinals hope to resemble a professional football team for the entire year. But no matter how many games they win, Murray won’t be the reason for the bulk of their losses.
12. Los Angeles Rams
Key Players at this Position: Matthew Stafford
Injuries plagued Matthew Stafford and the Rams last season, as Stafford was not at his best physically despite playing 15 games in the regular season. This year, Stafford will hope to stay healthy and that his top target in Cooper Kupp will be healthy as well. If that happens, the Rams could improve on last year’s trip to the playoffs that saw them lose a close game to the Detroit Lions on Wild Card weekend.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Key Players at this Position: Brock Purdy
One of the toughest teams to judge at the quarterback position is the San Francisco 49ers. Brock Purdy has done everything that has been asked of him and more since taking over as its starting quarterback. But it will be hard for him to shake the label of being a game manager when he isn’t asked to make adventurous throws in big spots all that often. Still, as long as the team keeps winning, there shouldn’t be any problems.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
Key Players at this Position: Justin Herbert
Coming in at number 10 in our NFL quarterback rankings will be the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert used to rank much higher in these discussions, but some disappointing years for the Chargers of late have moved him down despite his considerable talent. Herbert is out of excuses now that Jim Harbaugh is around to coach this team moving forward, as we need to see Herbert reclaim his old form to justify his continued place in the top-10.
9. Detroit Lions
Key Players at this Position: Jared Goff
Is Jared Goff ever going to be the most sensational quarterback in the NFL? Absolutely not. But is he going to be dependable for a Lions offense that is one of the most explosive in football? Yes he is. Goff finished second in the NFL in passing yardage last season, even if his air yards are not as high as some of the other elite quarterbacks in the game. We expect another big year from Goff and Detroit, one where they could get to the Super Bowl this time around.
8. Houston Texans
Key Players at this Position: CJ Stroud
There was no better rookie than CJ Stroud last season after he led the Houston Texans to the postseason in his first year as a pro in 2023. Stroud threw for over 4,000 yards and had just five interceptions last season. Expectations will be sky-high for Stroud this year, who is already receiving plenty of love in NFL MVP betting markets despite his lack of experience relative to much of the top contenders for that award.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
Key Players at this Position: Jalen Hurts
On one hand, Jalen Hurts is a great quarterback thanks to his ability to hurt opponents with his arm, legs, and a near-unstoppable quarterback sneak. But Hurts and the Eagles really fizzled out offensively over the final weeks of last season and in the playoffs. Hurts now has a new weapon to rely on in Saquon Barkley, but he will need to prove that the last few weeks of last season were a fluke and that he isn’t in for some major regression in 2024.
6. Miami Dolphins
Key Players at this Position: Tua Tagovailoa
The league leader in passing yards last season was Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. Tagovailoa threw for 4,624 yards in 2023 and had 29 touchdown passes as part of a Dolphins offense that was one of the most explosive in the NFL. The Miami signal caller needs to figure out a way to be more productive in the cold weather games that are inevitable late in the regular season and in the playoffs, but he is still one of the best in the league right now.
5. Dallas Cowboys
Key Players at this Position: Dak Prescott
Landing fifth in our 2024 NFL quarterback rankings is Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. Prescott did a nice job of cutting back on turnovers last season, throwing just nine interceptions and staying away from the league leaders in that department. As long as he can do that again this year, Prescott could be an MVP contender and the Cowboys could inch closer to finally getting their breakthrough in the postseason.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Key Players at this Position: Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson won the second NFL MVP award of his career last year, but fell short in the postseason once again. Jackson’s struggles in postseason games has become a concerning trend that will hold him back from being considered the best in the league at his position. Still, Jackson is almost guaranteed to be great for most of the season, ranking him way ahead of the majority of his peers.
3. Buffalo Bills
Key Players at this Position: Josh Allen
Josh Allen is another quarterback who has had trouble winning big games in the playoffs, but he has put up big numbers in those games while getting let down by his defense for the most part. Allen needs to cut back on his turnovers, but his ability to run and throw and keep up his level of play in cold weather makes him more consistently dangerous than most of the players at his position all season long.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
Key Players at this Position: Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow dealt with injuries that tore his 2023 season apart. He is back for this year, though, with all of his top weapons still on the roster as well. Burrow will have to be even better this year than he has been in the past, with Joe Mixon moving onto Houston. But the Bengals should be in good hands with Burrow back under center, as they could very well contend for a Lombardi Trophy this year.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Key Players at this Position: Patrick Mahomes
The obvious choice for the top spot in our NFL quarterback rankings is Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes has won several Super Bowls with the Chiefs and has made incredible plays in each postseason run to help his team get there. We aren’t expecting any sort of drop-off from Mahomes this year, so he will remain number one in our list of the top QBs in the league.
Other NFL Position Rankings
Before this season begins, be sure to check out our position rankings at the following positions. Links will be available as soon as each position has been posted, so check back during the preseason on a regular basis.
