Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks (2023)
Having an elite quarterback doesn't guarantee success, but it sure increases your chances of winning a championship. Just last season, the two teams in the Super Bowl were the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs were led by MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Eagles were led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, the MVP runner-up.
Football has been and will always be a team sport, and it's possible to not have an elite quarterback and still contend for a Super Bowl (just ask the San Francisco 49ers), but it's much easier to be a championship-caliber squad when you're led by a great franchise quarterback.
Last year, I made a list of the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL. And now, I will reassess that list with the top 10 quarterbacks entering the 2023 NFL season.
If you told me last year that I would have Geno Smith on my list of top 10 quarterbacks, I would've thought that you were a madman. But here we are. Smith was absolutely terrific in 2022, throwing for a Seahawks franchise record of 4,282 passing yards along with 30 touchdowns, and a 100.9 passer rating. Going into the 2023 season, Smith is surrounded by a lot of talent, including second-year running back Kenneth Walker III (who finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting), and wide receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith Njigba, who combine to make up one of the best wide receiver trios in the NFL. I think the Seahawks will have a very successful season this year, and Smith will be a huge reason why.
Projected stats: 67.3 completion %, 4,332 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, 160 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 10 interceptions
#9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (last year's ranking: 10)
After producing the best season of his career in the 2021 season, Dak Prescott's play declined in 2022. After throwing for a career-high 4,449 yards and a career-high 37 touchdown passes, Prescott threw for only 2,860 yards and 23 touchdowns (albeit he did miss 5 games due to injury). He also threw a career-high (and league-leading) 15 interceptions in just 12 games. However, Prescott was able to win the second career playoff game of his career and enters this season with an abundance of talent around him, including the new acquisition at wide receiver, Brandin Cooks, who will help take some of the attention off Cowboys Pro Bowl receiver Ceedee Lamb while also providing Prescott with a deep threat down the field. The Cowboys may never win a championship because of Dak, but I dispute the fact that they can't win with him as their franchise quarterback. He will bounce back from a down year last season and have a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2023.
Projected stats: 67.5 completion %, 4,073 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 274 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 10 interceptions
#8. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets (last year's ranking: 2)
After spending his first 18 years in the NFL in Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers is now a member of the New York Jets. As we know, Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs in 2020 and 2021, but in 2022, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer struggled, as the loss of All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams combined with playing with young wide receivers and a partially broken thumb were all too much to overcome. But heading into this season, Rodgers seems primed to have a bounce-back campaign. Jets running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson combine to give Rodgers two young, greatly talented weapons. Allen Lazard (who played with Rodgers in Green Bay from 2019-2022) is a solid number-two wide receiver. And the Jets' defence might be the best one Rodgers has had to lean on since 2010 when he and the Packers won Super Bowl 45. With a chip on his shoulder, Rodgers will look to prove that he can still be an elite quarterback in the NFL. And I think he will do just that.
Projected stats: 65.8 completion %, 4,195 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, 80 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 8 interceptions
#7. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (last year's ranking: unranked)
As the number-one overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Trevor Lawrence came into the league with heightened expectations after having one of the greatest collegiate careers ever in the NCAA. He struggled mightily during his rookie season, partially because Urban Meyer was a horrible head coach (never forget when he didn't even know who Aaron Donald was). But in 2022, the Jaguars hired former Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Peterson while adding wide receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in free agency. This, combined with Lawrence's own internal improvement, led to the Jaguars winning the AFC South and a playoff game last season. With All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Ridley now joining the offence, Lawrence seems bound to take another leap, perhaps into the MVP conversation, in 2023.
Projected stats: 68.1 completion %, 4,694 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 114 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 10 interceptions
#6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (last year's ranking: 5)
After throwing for over 5,000 yards and 38 touchdowns in 2021, many wondered what Justin Herbert would do for an encore in 2022. I had him winning the MVP award in my award predictions for last season. Unfortunately, mainly due to injuries to his top two wide receivers (Keenan Allen and Mike Williams) and conservative play-calling from his offensive coordinator, Herbert's numbers dropped, going from 5,014 passing yards and 38 touchdowns in 2021 to 4,739 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in 2022. But now, with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (who helped the Dallas Cowboys become one of the best offences in the NFL over the past few seasons) in the fold, along with the addition of wide receiver Quentin Johnston (their first-round pick in this year's draft) to go along with Allen, Williams, and the guy who leads the entire NFL in total touchdowns over the last two seasons (running back Austin Ekeler), Herbert is well-positioned to have a fantastic year in 2023.
Projected stats: 66.2 completion %, 4,808 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 95 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 13 interceptions
#5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (last year's ranking: 7)
One of the most talented quarterbacks to ever step foot in the NFL, Lamar Jackson is out to prove his doubters wrong once again in 2023. Last season (in only 12 games), Jackson produced 3,006 total yards, and 20 total touchdowns while leading the Ravens to an 8-4 record and first place in the AFC North. Then, for the second straight season, Jackson got injured and Baltimore unsurprisingly struggled as a result, going 2-4 in their last six games (including the playoffs). This offseason, the Ravens' front office responded by doing three smart things: number one, they finally inked Jackson to a long-term contract, number two, they signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr and drafted wide receiver Zay Flowers to improve the weapons around Jackson. And number three, they replaced outgoing offensive coordinator Greg Roman with Todd Monken, who is fresh off helping the Georgia Bulldogs win back-to-back national championships in the NCAA as their offensive coordinator, and who will help install a more pass-heavy offence in Baltimore. This offseason for the Ravens was all about building around Lamar Jackson, and their superstar QB is perfectly set up to reward their trust in him.
Projected stats: 65.1 completion %, 3,848 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns, 758 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns, 9 interceptions
#4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (last year's ranking: unranked)
Coming into 2022, there were questions about Jalen Hurts. Could he have a successful season and prove to be the Eagles' next franchise quarterback? The answer was a resounding yes. Hurts had a breakout campaign, finishing the season with 4,461 total yards (3,701 passing yards, 760 rushing yards), 35 total touchdowns (22 passing touchdowns, 13 rushing touchdowns), and a 101.5 passer rating, which ranked top five in the NFL. And of course, he also led the Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl, before losing in a thriller to Patrick Mahomes (more on him later) and the Kansas City Chiefs. With elite weapons such as A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, and the league's best offensive line protecting him, Hurts is well-positioned to have another fantastic season for the defending NFC champions.
Projected stats: 64.8 completion %, 3,882 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, 688 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns, 7 interceptions
#3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals (last year's ranking: 9)
You know those special players who, as soon as they are drafted by a team, immediately make an impact and change that team's fortunes? Well, Joe Burrow is one of those guys. In 2021 (just his second season in the NFL), Burrow led the Bengals all the way to the Super Bowl. And last season, Burrow threw for a career-high 35 touchdowns while leading the Bengals to their second consecutive AFC North division title and AFC Championship game. The Bengals have been around since 1968, and from 1968-2020, the franchise as a whole had only five playoff victories to show for it. But, over the last two years combined, they have won five playoff games with Burrow as their quarterback. As I said earlier, football is a team sport, so it's not like Burrow carries this team alone. But he has played the biggest role in the team's amazing turnaround that will likely continue in 2023 and for years to come.
Projected stats: 68.7 completion %, 4,590 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, 225 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 11 interceptions
#2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (last year's ranking: 3)
It was a very tough decision for me when it came down to picking between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen for the second spot in my quarterback rankings. And although Burrow has put up better numbers and recently outplayed Allen in the playoffs last January, I ultimately chose Allen. Yes, Josh Allen can be quite an enigma: at times, looking like the best quarterback in the NFL with his crazy arm talent and athletic ability (as you can see in the photo above) and at other times, he just plays bad football by carelessly turning the ball over. But that's what makes Josh Allen, Josh Allen. The Bills would do him a solid by improving their running game so that he doesn't have to carry their whole offence (wink, wink, Dalvin Cook). Will 2023 be the year that the Bills finally return to the Super Bowl? Who knows, but what we do know is that if they do get there, Allen will be the biggest reason why.
Projected stats: 64.8 completion %, 4,485 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 645 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, 13 interceptions
#1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (last year's ranking: 1)
You already knew who was going to be number one on this list. Patrick Mahomes is simply phenomenal, and there's no real answer as to how to stop him. If you get pressure on him, he will simply move out of the pocket, and dice you up with a crazy sidearm throw (or with a simple flick of the wrist). Keep him inside in the pocket, and he will happily oblige and carve up your defence that way too. Even when he's injured (as he was throughout the playoffs last season), he still finds a way to make plays when they aren't there and win the game. Mahomes is not only the best quarterback in the league, but also the best overall player, and it doesn't seem like he (or the Chiefs for that matter) is going to be stopped anytime soon.
Projected stats: 67.4 completion %, 4,975 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns, 358 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Honourable mentions:
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: Goff was excellent last season for the Lions, throwing for 4,438 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions while nearly leading Detroit to their first playoff appearance since 2017. Chances are he will indeed lead the Lions to the postseason this season and could make the top 10 next year.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings: Cousins is very similar to Goff: A good quarterback who can win you games, and perform well, but ultimately, you won't win big games because of them.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: Tua was in the midst of an MVP campaign before a barrage of concussions ruined his (and the Dolphins) season. But if he can stay healthy (and that's a huge if), he has a chance to be great and lead the Dolphins on a deep playoff run.
Comments
Post a Comment