Nothing ignites a good NFL discussion quite like quarterbacks. They’re the most important ingredient in a championship recipe, after all. All signal-callers are at least partially a product of their situations, but that also means their current standing can be a good barometer for a team’s Super Bowl hopes.

So which teams are good to go at the position as the 2025 NFL season draws closer? Which ones have the best of the best under center? And which ones are in dire need of help? Meanwhile, which teams might have an equal amount of promise and concern at quarterback?

We decided to take stock of all 32 teams and sort today’s projected starting quarterbacks, accounting for not only their recent results but current status and outlook. These rankings will ultimately change as the actual 2025 season unfolds, as they’re built to tell the story of each quarterback’s respective rise and fall. But this first go-round is our best take on how each and every gunslinger stacks up at this moment.

Without further ado, the first 2025 pecking order, immediately following the draft:

Post-draft NFL QB Power Rankings

1	Jayden DanielsWashington Commanders QB
Recency bias? Sure. But you’d be hard-pressed to find an NFL team that wouldn’t hurry to claim him as its quarterback of the present and future, contenders included. He was simply unflappable for much of his dynamic debut, which ended on the doorstep of the Super Bowl . A second-year dip is possible, but who says Daniels won’t keep climbing with some added veteran help in D.C.?
2	Jalen HurtsPhiladelphia Eagles QB
He was frequently and often unfairly knocked for holding more of a background role during much of the Eagles ‘ Super Bowl run, but what more can you ask of this man when the lights shine brightest? His title campaign may have proved he’s best suited as a selective rather than high-volume passer, but his instincts, toughness, downfield touch and rugged mobility all show up in the clutch.
3	Joe BurrowCincinnati Bengals QB
The Bengals are just 14-13 in his last two seasons of starts, so it’s clear he can’t do it all alone. Yet who else would you rather have for pure pocket passing? His poise and precision are dynamite.
4	Lamar JacksonBaltimore Ravens QB
The playoff hurdles have yet to be fully cleared. That doesn’t change the fact Jackson is a walking fireworks show, forever liable to change a game in a single play with his dual-threat electricity.
5	Josh AllenBuffalo Bills QB
The reigning MVP is coming off his most efficient season while operating with a new-look receiving group. Like Lamar Jackson , another AFC superhero, he’s just yet to escape the Chiefs ‘ shadow.
6	Patrick MahomesKansas City Chiefs QB
Was Mahomes’ ugly Super Bowl showing an anomaly, or clear evidence his increasing dependence on last-minute heroics isn’t as sustainable as it once was for Kansas City? A healthier pass-catching corps should help, but his leaky O-line still has questions. There’s no denying No. 15 is still the most trustworthy signal-caller in the game, but he’s now proven vulnerable twice on the big stage.
7	Matthew StaffordLos Angeles Rams QB
Since his move to Los Angeles in 2021, Stafford’s trajectory has been twofold: He’s either hurt and streaky or upright and super sharp. Now 37, where will he land? Davante Adams ‘ entry should help.
8	Jordan LoveGreen Bay Packers QB
He can’t quite seem to shake his inner Brett Favre, sometimes leaning on his live arm to a fault. Let’s remember he’s only entering Year 3 as a full-timer, though. With a healthier and restocked receiving corps, he’s primed to guide Matt LaFleur’s squad right back to the postseason.
9	Jared GoffDetroit Lions QB
His steady, resilient hand finally proved too shaky in the Lions ‘ stunning early-playoff exit, and now he’s without revered play-caller Ben Johnson . Still, his old-school pocket passing has survived similar changes before. And Detroit still affords him one of the NFL’s best offensive lineups.
10	Brock PurdySan Francisco 49ers QB
Did the injury-propelled woes of San Francisco’s 2024 season end up dragging Purdy into mercurial territory? Yes. But he’s been superb as Kyle Shanahan’s point guard for the majority of his three NFL seasons, and people still don’t give him enough credit for the way he extends plays.
11	Baker MayfieldTampa Bay Buccaneers QB
It wasn’t just the 41 touchdown passes that confirmed him as dangerous in 2024. It was the mettle he brought to a lineup often affected by injuries. His scrappiness is infectious in Tampa.
12	Justin HerbertLos Angeles Chargers QB
Too high? Too low? No spot feels right for a guy who threw just three picks in an old-school Jim Harbaugh attack but went out with another playoff whimper. As always, he’s got all the tools.
13	C.J. StroudHouston Texans QB
Almost all the magic of his 2023 debut faded behind a bad front and banged-up offense in Year 2. He never hangs his head as a leader, though. We’re betting the passing authority will soon return.
14	Dak PrescottDallas Cowboys QB
He can put up numbers with the best of them when healthy, doing all the little things well from the pocket. The problem, besides the absence of a defining late-year surge, is he’s consistently off the field, too; the Cowboys have played 26 games without their franchise quarterback since 2020.
15	Bo NixDenver Broncos QB
Was he shielded from heavy passing workloads early on? Sure. By the end of his rookie year, though, he brought a ton of sizzle as a play-extending captain for Sean Payton’s offense.
16	Caleb WilliamsChicago Bears QB
Perhaps no young gunslinger is better equipped for a seismic leap. Equally frenetic and feisty as a poorly protected rookie, the former No. 1 overall pick now has a fortified front and staff on his side.
17	Geno SmithLas Vegas Raiders QB
Is he an upgrade in Las Vegas? Undoubtedly. At 34, Smith’s still got a zippy arm to stretch the field. Can he also rein himself in to steer Pete Carroll’s sudden win-now setup to the playoffs?
18	Trevor LawrenceJacksonville Jaguars QB
He might offer the position’s biggest disparity between talent and reliable results. The physical package is there. He’s just too often lacked the durability, ball control and/or team support to produce meaningful wins. Travis Hunter joining Brian Thomas Jr . out wide might change that.
19	Drake MayeNew England Patriots QB
The most impressive thing about his rookie season was the way he refused to let New England’s porous O-line ruin his composure. Now the kid’s got a fresh staff and veteran weapons.
20	J.J. McCarthyMinnesota Vikings QB
A 22-year-old first-time starter with zero NFL snaps, coming off multiple knee surgeries? McCarthy’s obviously a major projection. But man is he set up to excel in Minnesota, boasting an upgraded line, elite pass targets and a beloved head coach in Kevin O’Connell. A playoff push might be the expectation.
21	Tua TagovailoaMiami Dolphins QB
He throws a tight, accurate spiral. He’s more than capable of spreading the rock in an all-star lineup. He’s also shown repeatedly his decision-making takes a dip when he’s asked to elevate his squad on the fly. And that’s not even mentioning his concerning medical history.
22	Sam DarnoldSeattle Seahawks QB
Is he the guy whose commanding arm and confidence finally showed up for much of his 2024 Vikings stint? Or the guy whose eyes got jumpy amid the heat of the moment (and extra rushers) to close his Minnesota dalliance? Probably both, which is tantalizing but unpredictable material.
23	Kyler MurrayArizona Cardinals QB
He can scurry around like few others, and he can rifle it deep fairly well. Entering Year 7 as the Cardinals ‘ former No. 1 pick, however, Murray’s yet to prove he can be truly steady through the air.
24	Justin FieldsNew York Jets QB
He registers as a solid low-risk flyer for New York, especially after a positively restrained cameo with the Steelers . The challenge has been translating his dynamic gifts into smart and splashy play.
25	Cam WardTennessee Titans QB
The new face of the Titans franchise, Ward may share a penchant for backyard-style ball with predecessor Will Levis . Yet his loose cannon also aided him in critical spots during his college run.
26	Bryce YoungCarolina Panthers QB
Few quarterbacks enjoyed a more promising finish to 2024. Young clearly plays with a swagger bigger than his frame when he’s feeling it. The question is, what’s his ceiling even as a more confident pro? Did the Panthers really do enough out wide to give him adequate big-play support?
27	Michael Penix Jr.Atlanta Falcons QB
The man responsible for Kirk Cousins ‘ messy and prolonged attachment to the bench, Penix can sling it downfield. He also didn’t necessarily elevate Atlanta in limited action as the No. 1 in 2024.
28	Russell WilsonNew York Giants QB
The favorite to headline the Giants ‘ rebooted quarterback room to start 2025, Wilson flashed his trademark play-action heaves in Pittsburgh before reverting to a more sluggish form befitting his age (36). His presence at least means New York shouldn’t have to rush Jaxson Dart into action.
29	Joe FlaccoCleveland Browns QB
Will it be Flacco leading the way to start the year, or Kenny Pickett ? Or one of their two rookies in Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders ? No matter what, Cleveland isn’t exactly built to make a run.
30	Anthony RichardsonIndianapolis Colts QB
Richardson is supremely gifted with a monster arm and supersized athleticism. He’s just been entirely too erratic to keep under center with conviction. Which is why the Colts paid a not-small amount of money to Daniel Jones , another polarizing former first-rounder, as competition.
31	Mason RudolphPittsburgh Steelers QB
We’ll use this space to ask a simple question: How many times has Art Rooney II personally texted Aaron Rodgers , ever so gently inquiring about the 41-year-old’s plans for the 2025 season?
32	Tyler ShoughNew Orleans Saints QB
Technically the Saints are still Derek Carr’s team. Or are they? Carr’s status is entirely unknown as he works through a shoulder issue, but all signs indicate Shough will get a crack at QB1 duties after New Orleans spent a second-round pick on the 25-year-old Louisville product