The NFL Playoffs are heading into the Divisional round this week. It’s all down to eight teams and eight elite quarterbacks. It’s time to evaluate the eight quarterbacks and power rank them based on the 2024 NFL season.
CJ Stroud’s position last on this list is less about lack of talent than circumstance. Although Stroud is a great quarterback, injuries to the Texans’ offense hurt his production in 2024. Stroud’s raw talent could put him much higher on this list, and he likely will at some point.
The issue right now is that he is unproven. After a breakout rookie year, he’s shown more mistakes in year two. 2025 should be nicer to CJ Stroud, but he’s struggled mightily without weapons like Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell.
It should be said that Jalen Hurts is a terrific athlete. The reason he’s so low on this list is based on opportunity. Hurts has not been the focal point of the Eagles’ offense. In 2024, he completed 248 out of 361 passes. To put that in perspective, Saquon Barkley rushed the ball 345 times.
Hurts is a great runner in his own right. He rushed 150 times for 630 yards and 13 touchdowns. Jalen Hurts is a tremendous NFL QB, but the Eagles’ offense goes through Saquon Barkley. Philly’s run game is the primary threat to opposing teams, not Hurts’ passing ability.
Jared Goff is a product of a terrific offense, like Jalen Hurts. He plays his part to perfection, arguably better than Hurts does. Goff posted a 111.8 passer rating in 2024, second only to Lamar Jackson, and he’s thrown 37 touchdown passes. He’s a tremendous QB, but he’s not the reason for Detroit’s success.
The Lions have a two-headed monster at running back, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs. They have arguably the best head coach in the NFL and wide receivers that can burn anyone. Jared Goff is great at what he does, but he’s not better than the five remaining QBs on this list.
Given the sample size we’ve gotten from Daniels, this might be a strange call. Undeniably, the Commanders’ rookie QB is absurdly good at football. He’s set records in the league, he’s the front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Washington is all the better for drafting him.
The most impressive thing about Jayden Daniels is his calmness in clutch situations. He shows no nerves down to the wire, and the Commanders have won their last five games within the final minutes. Is it premature to put Daniels here? Maybe, but he’s been extremely impressive this season.
Matthew Stafford has seen ups and downs throughout his NFL career, but he’s cemented himself as one of the best QBs in the league. Over his 15-year career, Stafford has become a two-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl champion, and one of the most respected players in NFL history.
While Stafford doesn’t have the same athleticism he used to, he’s evolved in every way possible. The most experienced QB on this list has the IQ, the quick decision-making, and the ability to read a defense in a way others don’t. He may have some down weeks, but Matt Stafford still has a ceiling high enough to take on any QB in the NFL.
Patrick Mahomes has had a down year in 2024, and that’s no secret. He threw for 3,928 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The Chiefs are the number one seed in the AFC behind Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
The scary thing to consider is that a down year for Patrick Mahomes is a good year for other QBs. His numbers might not wow fans, but he can outsmart and outclass every opponent he faces. Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion for a reason, and it’s because he has a gift that others do not possess.
Lamar Jackson has been nothing short of incredible in his seven NFL seasons. Lamar Jackson is a generational athlete from the early days of “just a running back” to being a two-time NFL MVP, three-time first-team all-pro, and a four-time Pro Bowler.
2024 has been another banner year for number eight. Jackson has over 4,000 passing yards for the first time in his career, along with 41 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also has over 900 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground to boot. The MVP race is razor-thin, and only one person gives Jackson a run for his money.
Josh Allen was drafted seventh overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2018. He was seen as a project QB, full of potential but green as grass. Fast forward to 2024, and the 28-year-old is seen as one of the best QBs in the NFL.
Going into a season where the Bills should have underperformed, Allen brought them to a 13-4 record. He posted 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions, 531 rushing yards, and 12 touchdowns. Allen is the glue that holds the Bills together, and he’s become a dangerous opponent for every team in the league.
The NFL is chock-full of terrific quarterbacks, but these are indeed the best of the best. This weekend, it’ll be time to separate them even further.
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