With the 2021 NFL season concluded, we've decided to refresh our countdown of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL.
Before we get to our list, here are a few notes of what went into creating this list:
- This list is not meant to be a ranking of who the top 10 quarterbacks were during the 2021 season. Rather, we took what we learned in 2021 and tried to use it to project who the 10 best quarterbacks will be moving forward.
- As Deshaun Watson's legal situation continues to play out, the 26-year-old was not considered for this list. Just in terms of his talent, he's certainly deserving of being in the top 10. But we don't know when Watson will play next, or who it will be for.
- Had Tom Brady not retired, he would have been in the top five of this list, considering he led the NFL and passing yards and touchdown passes in 2021. Who knows, perhaps he'll come out of retirement in time for our 2022 preseason countdown.
With all that acknowledged, here are the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL right now:
10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Jason Miller/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 5
Jackson falling down to 10 is less of an indictment on him, and instead speaks more to the ascension of some other young quarterbacks. Jackson turned the ball over too much in 2021, but there was probably too much pressure on him to be perfect given that the team was decimated by injuries from the get-go. There's a very real chance that Jackson will be an MVP candidate and lead the Ravens back to the playoffs in 2022. The only question from here is whether he'll be able to go throw-for-throw with a playoff game on the line in a stacked conference.
9. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: Not in Top 10 Because of Injury
A year from now, we're going to look back at those predicting Wilson's demise as, well, not very smart. Wilson missed three games with mallet finger and probably came back to early from the injury. Even still, he threw 25 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2021. Have things run their course in Seattle? Maybe, but whether it's with the Seahawks or another team, we'd bet on a major bounce-back from Wilson next year.
8. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Nick Cammett/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 4
There are legitimate criticisms to be made about how the Cardinals' 2021 season ended and the poor body language that Murray shows when things aren't going his way. However, some have gotten carried away in piling on Murray after an ugly playoff performance against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Rams. Murray is one of the shiftiest quarterbacks that we've ever seen, and is a very good passer. The Cardinals would be wise to repair their relationship with the 24-year-old -- even if he's partially at fault for whatever issues exist -- because he may be the best thing that's ever happened to their franchise.
7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 8
The second annual Nickelodeon MVP had to find his way onto this list, right? In all seriousness, while the Cowboys may have to retool their offense a bit this offseason and Mike McCarthy will likely enter 2022 on the hot seat, Prescott has developed into one of the most excellent quarterbacks in the league. In his age-28 season, Prescott tossed 37 touchdowns, quickly making you forget about the devastating ankle injury that ended his 2020 season.
6. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 6
Stafford spent -- or wasted, as the case may be -- 12 seasons in Detroit flashing elite arm talent and the ability to be cool under pressure. He left the Lions and preceded to win a Super Bowl title in his first season with the Rams. Things are more nuanced than that, of course, but long-time Stafford supporters should be taking a victory lap right now. He needs to cut down on his interceptions in his second season in Sean McVay's offense, but it's hard to be too concerned about a guy that tossed 50 touchdowns between the regular season and playoffs in his first year on a new team.
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5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 7
Herbert is kind of the next evolution of Stafford -- there's not a single thrown on the field that he can't make, plus he has the ability to take off and run with the ball. The Chargers haven't yet made the playoffs with Herbert, but even with the incredible amount of quarterback talent in the AFC, we would bet on Los Angeles reaching a Super Bowl in the next five years.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: Not in Top 10
Burrow was the first person off the list during our midseason countdown, but things have obviously changed since then. Burrow is tremendously talented, but his most impressive trait is that he has the type of personality that changes an entire organizational culture, a quality that even many elite quarterback talents don't possess. The Bengals need to make massive investments in their offensive line this offseason to assure that Burrow stays healthy.
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 3
The 2021 season was hardly stress free for Rodgers and those around him, but he's now won back-to-back NFL MVPs and four total. Only Peyton Manning has more MVPs in NFL history. In terms of regular season production, you would be hard pressed to name five quarterbacks who have had better careers than Rodgers. Winning a second Super Bowl -- whether it's with the Packers or someone else -- would cement one of the greatest careers in league history.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 2
He's still working to become as consistent of a passer as the two quarterbacks that he's wedged in between, but Allen is one of the most physically-gifted quarterbacks that the league has ever seen. He has the strongest arm of any quarterback in the NFL currently, and is able to beat you with both power and speed on the ground. He arguably had the best game of any player on the field during the Bills' crushing overtime loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round. Allen has Hall of Fame talent.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.(David Eulitt/Getty Images)Midseason Ranking: 1
If you don't think Mahomes is a top five quarterback -- or top three, for that matter -- either you don't know what you're talking about or you're trying to get a rise out of people. Even in a season where he looked mortal at times, Mahomes threw 37 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions, while racking up 4,839 passing yards. Still only 26, Mahomes has a chance to go down as one of the five greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
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