Ranking Every Starting 2023 NFL QB From Worst To Best

The NFL season is back. From Aaron Rodgers in the Big Apple to the multitude of new gunslingers running the show for their respective franchises, there are plenty of storylines to choose from for the 2023 NFL season. Most of the NFL's most exciting storylines are centered around the quarterback position. Will Josh Allen or Joe Burrow be able to slow down Patrick Mahomes' pending dynasty? Will Jalen Hurts avenge his Super Bowl loss from last season? Will the new kids on the block in CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson thrive after all being selected in the top four picks of the draft?

Then you have the tale of the two franchises in New York (or New Jersey). Can Daniel Jones live up to his $40 million deal and will Aaron Rodgers finally put the Jets over the top? Buckle up, we're in a for a fun ride this year. 

With all that being said, we put together a ranking of every single starting quarterback in the NFL. From the best starter to the worst starter, we used the projected QB1 of every franchise and explained where the stand among the best quarterbacks in the league. For the first time, our list will be without the greatest of all time in Tom Brady. 

There are so many unknowns going into this season so the last spot really could’ve went to a few players. I think Jordan Love being an unknown going into his fourth season sets him apart from the others. Only having one start since being drafted in 2020, we aren’t really sure what he does well. Stringing a few passes together against the Eagles while filling in for an injured Aaron Rodgers is really the only hope Packers fans are looking at to believe he is their guy. - Paul Noel 

What happened? Baker Mayfield was one of the most talked about NFL players just a couple years ago when seeing early success in Cleveland. That success was short-changed as he’s been bouncing around the league since. He was able to win a game with the Rams last season against the Raiders after being signed just two days before the game. Now, in a QB battle in Tampa Bay, will Baker be able to prove that he’s a starter in this league, or just an average backup with a huge personality and ego? - Adam Khatib 

The young and athletic Desmond Ridder was thrown into the fire late last season and didn’t show much except that he can be about as good as a “past his prime” Marcus Mariota. Of course, he had an excuse to struggle in his rookie season while Mariota was in his eighth year. Entering his first season as a starter, I don’t believe Ridder will be treated with much patience, as most third round picks aren’t. His skillset offers a solid floor but ultimately a low ceiling. They will ask him to hand the ball off, use his athleticism to add to the run game, and protect the ball. There’s a place for QBs like him in the league but I don’t expect him to ever wow you. - Paul Noel 

Anthony Richardson is indisputably the greatest athlete to play the quarterback position. At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Anthony Richardson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Many people questioned where he would be drafted because he did not have the best college tape, but he impressed so many people at the combine with his freakish measurable and incredible arm strength. We know he can succeed in the ground game, but will he be able to make the throws in the NFL - Adam Khatib 

Sam Howell is one of the many players on this list with little to no NFL experience to go off of. His lone start wasn’t statistically exceptional but in week 18, he beat a great Dallas team that was trying to win. That was impressive enough to put him ahead of a few other QBs. He's undersized but he makes up for it with sneaky athleticism and confidence. Washington is just excited to have a young player with upside under center, rather than an older bridge that’ll ultimately do nothing but keep them picking in the mid-teens every draft. Howell will be inheriting what I believe to be one of the most underrated WR corps in the league. A true WR1 in Scary Terry, young promising WR2 in Dotson, and a reliable Slot WR in Samuel. Along with Andy Reid’s right hand man Eric Bieniemy calling the plays. Howell won’t have many excuses. - Paul Noel

CJ Stroud was my second highest-rated quarterback in the 2023 Draft and he ended up as the second QB taken off the board. I believe the Houston Texans have found their franchise QB in Stroud. He had an impressive career at Ohio State which is leading to high expectations for the rookie. The Texans were able to draft a sleeper receiver in Nathaniel “Tank” Dell due to the help from CJ Stroud. They will also be getting John Metchie back this year after being out his entire rookie season. The Texans are hoping this is enough to see what Stroud is capable of in the NFL. - Adam Khatib 

He’s perfect but… he’s 5-foot-10. I didn’t want to rank rookies too high without playing a game first so this was the highest I could justify for now. We saw Young post jaw-dropping numbers with weapons like Jameson Williams and John Metchie in college, but I was more impressed with how he navigated last season with one of the least impressive pass catchers in recent Alabama memory. He did this with his intelligence, elite accuracy, and an overall great feel for the QB position unlike anyone else in the class. His arm strength will be the counter to my claims to perfection but I’d call it more than good enough for the NFL. In year one, he’ll have to overcome what many believe to be the worst group of pass catchers in the entire league, but hopefully his last year at Bama has made him ready for the task. - Paul Noel   

Kenny Pickett is a huge question mark. I believe he can make himself the Steelers franchise QB and I believe the fanbase has those expectations as well. The only QB drafted in the first round in 2022, he saw himself starting 12 games throwing for 2,400 yards, 7 TD’s and 9 Interceptions. Not the greatest numbers, but if you watched the film, Kenny made some very impressive throws and improved week by week. Rumor has it that he has impressed all offseason in camp and has shown great leadership by forming relationships with the WR room. There’s not much to say except that we have to watch closely as Kenny enters year 2 with the Steelers getting back healthy. - Adam Khatib

I don’t know what to make of Jimmy G’s career to this point. He is viewed as a disappointment to most Niners fans, but you have to admit when he played football he won games. He tallied a 32-15 record as a starter under Shanahan, a near 2:1 TD INT ratio, and a Super Bowl appearance. That isn’t a complete disaster. In the end, Jimmy G had a ceiling that couldn’t be overcome. He is a limited QB that has now moved on to the famous role in the NFL we call "The Bridge QB." The Ryan Fitzpatrick Arc, if you will. Las Vegas will be looking to Jimmy to be a professional in the building, there to target DaVante Adams and keep him happy enough not to flirt with Aaron Rodgers and the Jets during the season. He is also elite at handing the ball off to running backs and letting them do the work, so Josh Jacobs will have plenty more chances to earn a contract closer to the one he desires. - Paul Noel

What an incredible rookie season for Mr. Irrelevant! The last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft saw his way to starting five games for the 49ers and leading them into the playoffs. He went 5-0 in the regular season and won 2 playoff games on a stacked 49ers team. He put up 1,300 yards, 13 TD’s thrown with only 4 interceptions in the regular season. With a heated QB battle in San Francisco this offseason between Purdy, No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance, and newly-acquired QB Sam Darnold, many question if Purdy is legit or not. Did he look good because of the offensive weapons and elite defense the Niners have? - Adam Khatib 

Mac Jones’ year one and year two couldn’t be any more different from each other. Without Ja’Marr Chase having one of the greatest rookie seasons we have seen, Mac would’ve been Offensive Rookie of the Year. It was not an amazing season but good enough where Patriots fans felt like they had their guy. Things were going well… then offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels signed with the Raiders. No big deal, this happens all the time, but New England decides to hire Matt Patricia to be the new offensive coordinator, though they would never officially give him that title. Hiring Patricia who has only coached on the defensive side of the ball for the last 17 years is a big deal. I’ve never seen this happen. Mac is limited on his own as well. His limited arm strength, and comparable mobility to his New England predecessor Tom Brady will keep him from ever reaching the upper echelon of QBs no matter how much better coaching he will receive going forward. I expect Mac to bounce back and prove he belongs in this league but that’s about it. - Paul Noel 

Where do we start with Derek Carr? If you’re a Raiders fan, you either loved Carr or were extremely disappointed in his play over the last few years. Carr had debatably the best receiver and running back in the league last year and under performed. Almost a 10-year vet, we should not expect Carr to take any leaps and assume we’ve seen exactly who he is. As a Saints fan, you can expect 4,000 yards being thrown, 20+ TD’s and 10+ interceptions on the season. I believe Carr has never played with a defense as talented as this Saints defense which could help his performance significantly, but what more does Carr need offensively to succeed? - Adam Khatib

It pains me to rank Russ. As someone that had him up there with Mahomes not too long ago, I tried my hardest to justify not dropping him this far after just one bad season. IT WAS THAT BAD. He was arguably the worst QB in the league of those that played enough games to qualify. Russ simply did not look like himself. Sadly, at 34 and no injuries to blame his poor play on, I can’t assume the grass to be much greener next season. 

I will admit it wasn’t all self-inflicted. Denver hiring Nathaniel Hackett as head coach for the sole purpose of enticing Aaron Rodgers was a horrible strategy. Hackett had no business running a team. Sean Payton will get more out of him but the bar is low. He will need to learn how to become a better player from the pocket as he ages and no longer can just take off and run. - Paul Noel 

Justin Fields is arguably the most exciting player in the league based off what he can do with his feet. He’s a streaky passer, but the Chicago Bears were the worse football team in the league last year. In 15 games Fields threw for 2200 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He ran for over 1100 yards with 8 rushing touchdowns as well. Not the best numbers, but the rushing highlights were very exciting. Many fans are expecting a big leap with an improved offensive line and the addition of young stud receiver, DJ Moore. I believe Fields can break the OSU QB stigma, but he has a lot to improve on for people to believe. - Adam Khatib

The league has given me no choice but to rank Tannehill so high after a poor season. At least with Tannehill I don’t feel guilty about giving him an injury excuse. Several injuries kept him out of five games, and he played a handful in pain to keep Malik Willis off his back. With Tannehill you will never be wowed but you feel okay about the floor he will provide. He can do the handoff PA game well enough to maintain his spot as a middle of the pack QB. With health, the addition of a true WR1 in Hopkins, and several starting OL additions I expect Tannehill to perform better than last year. Though if Tennessee’s playoff hopes are looking grim towards the end of the season I expect either Will Levis or Willis to replace the 35-year old QB. - Paul Noel 

PAID! Daniel Jones played well enough for the New York Giants to give him $40 million per year over the next four (could be just 3 if the Giants prefer to move on). Jones threw for 3200 yards, 15 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also rushed for 700 yards and ran for 7 touchdowns. These aren’t the most impressive numbers for 16 games, but Jones did enough to rally the Giants to the playoffs in a tough NFC East and even win a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, who won the NFC North. I do not believe the Giants will regret this contract, but I do think we’ve already seen who Daniel Jones is. - Adam Khatib

One in a million, or one in however many QBs in NFL history. That’s what Geno Smith’s career is looking like. Drafted in the early second round of 2013, and immediately handed the keys to be the Jets franchise guy, Geno flamed out by year two and was riding the bench almost exclusively for the next seven years. In what was supposed to be a down year for Seattle, Geno becomes Russell Wilson (the good one!). Hovering around 70 percent completion rate, 4300 yards passing, and a 3:1 ratio, Geno was a top 10 QB last year. It wasn’t all on the system as Geno was making plays. I rank him at 16 because in the end, it was only one season. Eight years versus one year is a tough argument. - Paul Noel

Tua is a unique QB to rank. He makes all the correct reads, goes through the motions perfectly, and is extremely coachable. Yet, the physical tools of the game is what’s holding him back. His arm strength isn’t there, but coach Mike McDaniels has catered the offense directly to Tua’s strength. The Dolphins arguably have the two fastest receivers in the league in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Tua put up an impressive 3500 yards, 25 touchdowns with just eight interceptions in only 13 games last season. With many questions regarding Tua’s future and his health, he’ll be entering year four this season with a chip on his shoulder. I do expect a leap from Tua and have high expectations for the Miami Dolphins this season. - Adam Khatib

Reports of Matt Stafford's elbow issues started way back in 2022 training camp. I don’t believe it to be fair to put too much stock into last season. I know I may have not been so kind to other QBs with injury excuses but those QBs weren’t seen hoisting a Lombardy the last time they were healthy. A healthy Stafford is a Super Bowl caliber QB (duh) with arm talent that still rivals anyone not named Mahomes, Allen and Herbert. I look for him to look like himself again but the production will lack due to the supporting cast outside of Kupp. - Paul Noel

If you’ve been paying attention to Cardinals football over the last year, you could tell there was a lot of dysfunction in the organization, especially involving Kyler Murray. There was almost a smear campaign toward Kyler from the media. People made a big deal about what he does in his free time and what was placed in his contract, while all ignoring his talent on the field. Playing 14 games in 2021 he threw for 3800 yards at 69 percent, 24 TD’s and just threw 10 interceptions. This all while rushing for an additional 400 yards with 5 rushing TD’s. We won’t see a full healthy season from Kyler again until 2024, but with a chip on his shoulder I think Kyler could easily become a top 10 QB. - Adam Khatib

In a year with multiple QBs falling off a cliff, I didn’t expect Dak to slide in my rankings, but leading the league in interceptions while missing five games will do that. A respectable arm but the desire to be a gunslinger like Mahomes or Allen can get him into trouble. Relying less on mobility after that horrible ankle injury in 2020, Dak must continue to improve as a passer to be seen as a guy you can win a championship with. After that ugly playoff exit, I can see why some may think it’s all downhill for him, but the addition of Brandin Cooks and another year for Gallup to get back to himself can help get Dak back inside the top 10 next year. - Paul Noel

Jared Goff is interesting to say the least. He’s played in a Super Bowl, has a few playoff wins under his belt, and then was sent to a rebuilding Detroit Lions team while his former team won the Super Bowl. Goff’s first year in Detroit was very shaky with an uninspired roster but a very inspired rookie coach and GM. Goff sure did turn things around last year putting up 4400 yards, 29 touchdowns  while just throwing seven interceptions. Detroit is looking at him to win their first playoff game in over THIRTY years. Will he be able to win a big game without offensive genius Sean McVay and receive a contract extension from the Lions? - Adam Khatib

This is without a doubt the toughest player to place on the entire list. Watson did not look good last season. I believe almost two years away from football is a legitimate reason for that. He was a top four player at his position the last time we saw him and it’s hard for me to just believe he lost all his talent like it’s Space Jam. At only 27 years old, I refuse to believe regression has anything to do with the poor play in the six games we saw. Watson has all the tools you can ask for at the position but the uncertainty wouldn’t allow for me to go any further than 10. I believe Watson will flourish as long as the coaching staff finds a healthy balance of utilizing his strengths as a passer while still getting the most of Nick Chubb who is arguably the best RB in the league. - Paul Noel 

Kirk Cousins is the bar between a franchise QB and an elite QB. I don’t think Kirk has ever been elite, but has shown elite flashes, which is why he is a franchise QB. All of Kirk’s QB peers respect him based off his production and what he’s been able to do in Minnesota. Over the last 3 years Kirk is averaging 4300 yards, 32 TD’s and just 11 interceptions. The biggest issue with Kirk Cousins is his ability to perform when the lights are bright. We all know how great he is during those 1PM regular season games, but will he ever be able to perform like that in primetime during the playoffs? - Adam Khatib

Rodgers was certainly not Rodgers last season. I feel there were some excuses with the offensive personnel around him but to me I felt that Rodgers played below his standards separate from that. He had missed throws we haven’t been accustomed to seeing from a legend known for his otherworldly arm talent. I’m not ready for a funeral though. The change of scenery seems to have him in much better spirits. Garrett Wilson is a significant improvement over anything in Green Bay and he’ll have one of the league's best defenses to lean on. I’m not expecting the return of Godgers but the arm is still strong and he’s more experienced than the top 10 combined. I believe there still is a borderline elite QB ready to compete for a tough AFC East division. - Paul Noel 

Trevor Lawrence is knocking at the door of becoming an elite QB if you do not think he’s there already. Trevor was one of the most sought-out QB prospects of the last decade, and after a hysterical rookie year with his rookie head doach being fired mid-season, everyone could notice the leap he took. He had his ups and downs last season, but the highs were extremely high while throwing 4100 yards, 25 touchdowns and just only eight interceptions. I think the league can expect another leap from Trevor based off his potential alone. - Adam Khatib

An astronomical leap has placed Hurts in a spot no fan would’ve seen possible after that playoff game in Tampa Bay. His improvement in accuracy, decision-making and confidence have made the “Josh Allen leap”, that every fan prays for their young QB to make, turn into the “Jalen Hurts leap." Jalen’s biggest strength is still his legs even after his improvement as a passer. He alone provides an offense with a run game with his threat to keep the ball on the option. He's similar to Lamar but what makes Jalen more unique is he is built to take those hits and you can be utilized more in short yardage/sneak game. He will still have to look to find a healthier balance after taking an unnecessary hit that cost him a MVP trophy. I look for Jalen to continue to tune his game and put up stats with elite weapons in AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. - Paul Noel 

Special. That's the one word to describe former MVP Lamar Jackson. I don’t think many people will argue with you if you claim that Lamar is the greatest dual-threat QB of all time in such a short career already. He’s only played 12 games each of the last two seasons because of injuries, but he was able to throw 5100 yards and rush for 1500 yards across two injury-ridiculed seasons. With a new offensive coordinator, two new receivers in Super Bowl winner Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie receiver Zay Flowers, I would not be surprised if Lamar Jackson added another MVP trophy to his collection. This could be the most exciting offense next year. - Adam Khatib

Justin Herbert seems to be one of the most polarizing players to be discussed and I don’t understand it one bit. Of all QBs in NFL history through their first 3 seasons, Herbert ranks first in passing yards, first in total touchdowns, and second in passing touchdowns. What more can you ask of a single player? In a sport where over 30 different players will take the field for each team, I believe people get too carried away over team success. Herbert has been everything you can want and more since stepping in the league, in both the stat sheet and the eye test which shows unbelievable throws week in and week out. He owns elite tools, can make every throw, and has elite production to match. Sounds amazing to me. - Paul Noel 

A lot of people can and will make the argument that Burrow should be No. 2 after last season. Joe Burrow simply put, is a WINNER. His first healthy season in the NFL he led his team to the Super Bowl, the first time the Cincinnati Bengals reached the big game since1988. This came just two years after winning the College Football National Championship with the LSU Tigers. In the last two seasons he’s thrown 9000 yards at 69 percent completion, 69 touchdowns with just 26 interceptions. He is elite and undoubtedly a top quarterback in the league. - Adam Khatib

An absolute alien. I wouldn’t blame him if he secretly hated Pat Mahomes because if it weren’t for Mahomes, Allen would be looked at in a different light. He's listed at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds moving like a mixture of a running back and tight end. This is a created player. We’ve seen Allen grow from just a freak of nature to a legitimate QB. There will be some occasional boneheaded plays attempted and that’s only because he’s converted them before. Allen was consensus top two going into last season but a poor finish to the season has created a conversation between him and Burrow. I believe the UCL injury suffered in week eight slowed him down from a season that would’ve kept him in the top two unanimously. - Paul Noel 

Generational. GOAT. Patrick Mahomes is the unanimous No. 1 quarterback in the league and nobody will fight you about that. His trajectory is something we’ve never seen before and people are already calling him a top five QB of all time. In just five seasons, Mahomes has led the Kansas City Chiefs to two Super Bowl wins and four AFC Title appearances. Last year he threw for 5200 yards, 41 touchdowns and just only 12 interceptions. This is coming after many people wondered if he would be able to succeed after losing superstar receiver Tyreek Hill. Well, those doubters were once again proved wrong as he went on to win the Super Bowl without Hill. When watching Mahomes you could see traits from QB legends like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers. He is undoubtedly the best QB in the league while everyone else is fighting for the No. 2 spot. He’s the greatest show in the NFL. - Adam Khatib