The starting QB race is on who's the best and who's the worst, we rank them all. Most NFL starting quarterbacks have great job security and don't have anything to worry about, others are on short leashes and are going to have to fight for their jobs and quite possibly their careers in 2021 with that all said, let's dive into our annual rankings for every NFL team starting quarterback from worst of first.
Related: NFL 2023 Quarterback Rankings Week 7
32. Tyrod Taylor — Houston Texans
The chances of disgruntled star Deshaun Watson ever playing for the Texans feel like zero at this point, and so they'll roll into 2021 with veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills. Taylor made one star for the Los Angeles Chargers last season he's a solid dual threat guy who does a good job of protecting the football, it says we don't know what he'll be able to do with such a lackluster supporting cast.
31. Zach Wilson — New York Jets
Wilson's monster 2020 season at byu catapulted him from potential sleeper to the number two pick in the draft, the Jets have a brand-new coaching staff led by Robert Saleh, the offense features three other notable rookies in guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, Receiver Elijah Moore and Running Back Michael Carter there will be flashes, but there will also be growing paints.
30. Teddy Bridgewater — Denver Broncos
He won the starting job, that means Bridgewater will get to lead an offense that features several big time weapons including Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Noah Fant, thing is we're still talking about a quarterback who since being selected in the first round in 2014 has never thrown for more than 15 touchdowns in a season, and he's never even sniffed the 4,000 yard plateau Teddy may be better than Drew Lock, but that's not saying much.
29. Daniel Jones — New York Giants
The Giants invested plenty of resources in fixing up the offense around him Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, John Ross and Kyle Rudolph have now joined the group. New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones main issue is turnovers, 22 interceptions and 20 fumbles and 27 games to be exact.
28. Andy Dalton — Chicago Bears
Matt Nagy made it clear that Dalton will open 2021 as the starter over Justin Fields. Dalton really struggled in a star-studded Dallas Cowboys offense last season replacing an injured Dak Prescott, he has less talent to work with in Chicago and let's be honest he's just not a starting caliber quarterback anymore.
27. Ryan Fitzpatrick — Washington Football Team
You know what you'll get in Fitzpatrick, he'll have his hot games then go on a turnover spree lose his starting job and so as Fitz is only a short-term option here we wouldn't be surprised if Taylor Heinicke managed to nab the starting job at some point.
26 Sam Darnold — Carolina Panthers
Have to think that Darnold will be better in Carolina, I mean Matt Rhule and Joe Brady are two very creative offensive minds also how could Darnold not improve as a Panther when he has D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Christian McCaffrey and rookie Terrace Marshall Jr as his go-to playmakers not saying he'll be a superstar but Darnold should look more like a competent starting QB in 2021.
25. Mac Jones — New England Patriots
When he win the approval of Bill Belichick as a rookie quarterback, you know you're doing something right and that's accurately what Mac Jones has done since being selected by the pats with the 15th overall pick this summer, with Cam Newton gone, it's officially Mac Jones time in Foxborough and based on what many scouts analysts and personnel around the league are saying the former Alabama star is more than ready for it.
24. Jared Goff —Detroit Lions
Goff was a solid quarterback during his time with the Rams, but he also had a great supporting case there now he goes to Detroit when Rashad powerman and Tyrell Williams will be his top white-outs it's no wonder we expect to see some major regression from the former first overall pick.
23. Jalen Hurts — Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts displayed moments of brilliance in his four game audition last season after taking over the struggling Carson Wentz that was despite a terrible receiving core and an incompetent offensive line while the o-line should be better in 2021, with the return of Brandon Brooks then they drafted former Alabama wide-out DeVonta Smith with the 10th overall pick this offseason, the Eagles front office did their job now it's up to Hurts to do his.
22. Jimmy Garoppolo — San Francisco 49ers
2021 is surely his final season in San Francisco in case you missed it the 49ers traded up to take Trey Lance with the number three selection. Garoppolo is a fine game manager, and he can keep the 49ers in contention but let's face it the 49ers win despite him now because of him, if he struggles early on expect len to take over the starting job for good.
21. Trevor Lawrence — Jacksonville Jaguars
Yes, Lawrence has yet to play an NFL snap, but he's been heralded as a generational talent for a reason other generational QB prospects like John Elway and Peyton Manning showed flashes in their rookie seasons not saying Lawrence will be elite in his rookie year, but there should be more good than bad.
20. Tua Tagovailoa — Miami Dolphins
Funny how this guy got so much criticism as a rookie when he won six of nine starts, well, Tua can only get better after a sluggish transition to the NFL. Did we mention that the Dolphins signed Will Fuller before drafting to his former teammate Jaylen Waddle and this Miami offense already has a borderline promo wide out in DeVante Parker with three potential 1000 yard receivers at the side two should enjoy a much more productive year in 2021.
19. Jameis Winston — New Orleans Saints
This is a tough one to predict Winston did lead the NFL in passing yards during his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he'll have to think he'll cut down on the turnover totals in Sean Payton's efficient offense, but Michael Thomas will miss a huge portion of the season meaning Alvin Kamara is the lone game changer left on that offense. Winston does have an elite o-line to protect him up front, but can he get it done with Tre'Quan Smith as his top receiver, only time will tell.
18. Ben Roethlisberger — Pittsburgh Steelers
The future Hall of Famer is well past his playing prime, but he's still an effective quarterback, I mean he did complete 65.6 percent of his passes in 2020 better than Matt Ryan and Ryan Tannehill by the way, and he had 33 touchdowns and 10 picks only six quarterbacks and more passing touchdowns than Big Ben last season that said his usually reliable online lost three starters in Maurkice Pouncey, Alejandro Villanueva and David DeCastro that could be bad news for someone as immobile as Big Ben.
17. Carson Wentz — Indianapolis Colts
his placement will seem awfully high to some considering how awful his 2020 season was and the fact that he's already injured, but he is expected to be back at some point during the first half of the season and when he does return, he'll have a dominant offensive line and a world-class run game waiting for him, he's also proven before that he can play at an MVP level under Frank Reich so let's not completely write off the 2016-second overall pick just yet.
16. Baker Mayfield — Cleveland Browns
Mayfield bounced back from a lousy sophomore campaign and flourished as a game manager for Cleveland's run heavy offense, he had 26 touchdowns against only eight picks and his sack total fell from 40 to 26, he may not be an MVP caliber quarterback, but that's okay Mayfield just has to be above average for the browns to succeed as we saw in 2020.
15. Kirk Cousins — Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins was top 10 in passing yards' completion percentage and touchdown passes last season, only five quarterbacks topped his 35 TDS. Sherry's overpaid and has a painful record against winning teams, but the stats don't lie. Cousins is better than half the quarterbacks in the NFL today.
14. Matt Ryan — Atlanta Falcons
Even without Julio Jones for seven games, Matt eyes threw for 4581 yards last season fourth most in the NFL, Jones may not be a Falcon anymore but prize tight end prospect Kyle Pitts promises to be a game wrecker in that offense which still has the likes of Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage oh and new head coach Arthur Smith saved Ryan Tannehill's career so it'll be interesting to see what he can do with a 36 year old Ryan.
13. Derek Carr — Las Vegas Raiders
Carr's numbers just keep getting better and better under John Gruden his completion percentage has been above 67 in each of the past three years and his 67 touchdowns against 27 picks in that span is no joke either Carr's kept the Raiders in the playoff hunt over the last two seasons but how will he function without Gabe Jackson or Trent Brown and Rodney Hudson a trio of stars on that once dominant Raiders o-line we wonder.
12. Joe Burrow — Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals QB Joe Burrow played like a superstar before unfortunately suffering season ending ACL and MCL tears in week 11. buddies are covered and good to go . 2021 should be a great year for the 2021st overall pick borough has reunited with former LSU teammate Ja'Marr Chase who should produce right off the bat not to mention the Bengals also have Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon with all that skill and explosiveness at his disposal borough should have an epic sophomore campaign.
11. Kyler Murray — Arizona Cardinals
Murray's aggression at the end of 2020 which cost Arizona a playoff spot can't be ignored. However, he took major strides at the beginning of the season and he should be even better in year three, not sure how much A. J. Green is left in the tank but DeAndre Hopkins alone ensures that Murray will produce some eye-popping stats and the addition of center Rodney Hudson should give the 510 quarterback a little more time and space in the pocket.
10. Ryan Tannehill — Tennessee Titans
The 2019 comeback player of the year showed that his first season with the Titans was no fluke. He led the team to an AFC south division title tossing a career-high 32 touchdowns against only seven picks losing offensive coordinator Arthur Smith Hurts but the team added future Hall of Famer Julio Jones to go with the likes of Derek Henry and Aj Brown so, there should be no complaints on Tannehill's end.
9. Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert is coming off the best rookie quarterback season ever having thrown for 436 yards and 31 touchdowns against only 10 picks but trust me the best has yet to come, this charger's offense is loaded with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jared Cook and Austin Ekeler. Herbert should enjoy some improved protection up front with the addition of Corey Linsley and Rashawn Slater don't expect a sophomore slump for the 2026th overall pick.
8. Dak Prescott — Dallas Cowboys
We saw just how much the Cowboys crumbled following Dak's brutal season ending ankle injury, this team just isn't the same without number four so you can't fault Jerry Jones for giving him a shiny $160 million deal.
Dak was on pace to throw the most passing yards ever in a season before his injury averaging a ridiculous 371.2 per game with a trio of stud receivers and the dynamic rushing duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, why shouldn't that go off again in 2021 this is gonna be a big year from him, we're calling it now unless that injury did its damage.
7. Matthew Stafford — Los Angeles Rams
We expect big things from Stafford he did so much on a flawed and dysfunctional Detroit team, now he gets to play for Sean McVay, one of the game's best offensive minded coaches with a top tier o-line and a stacked set of weapons. Matthew Stafford was arguably top 10 caliber during his time with alliance no doubt in our mind that he'll be an mvp conversation this year, he's a perfect fit for McVay's offense.
6. Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is two years removed from an MVP season is 30 and seven as a starter and has over 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons, why are there still people questioning Lamar Jackson who cares the passing numbers aren't eye-popping, Jackson is still a winner.
5. Russell Wilson — Seattle Seahawks
Wilson completed 68.8 percent of his passes last year and tossed 40 touchdowns both career bests you can expect more of the same from Russ in 2021, he still has the dynamic receiving duo of Dk Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and the o-line should be better following the trade for Gabe Jackson at 32 years old. Wilson will take all the protection he can get.
4. Tom Brady — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Well, so much for being product of the patriot system already did was smash practically every buc single season passing record and led the team to their second Super Bowl in franchise history despite playing through a torn mcl we're done doubting him, he's the goat just stop ignoring it. He had some sketchy stuff in the past still the goat, he'll be as good as ever at age 44.
3. Josh Allen — Buffalo Bills
Allen had the best quarterback season in Bill's History, what a breakout year it was a 69.2 completion percentage for 4544 yards 37 touchdowns and 10 picks and a division title and trip to the AFC championship game, no reason that Allen can't be even better in 2021, he and the Bills are really just getting started.
2. Aaron Rodgers — Green Bay Packers
It looks like the reigning MVP will be back for at least one more season in Green Bay after all he was also close to taking the packers back to the Super Bowl in 2020. there'll be contenders once again in 2021. The main question is will this be the last dance!.
1. Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City Chiefs
He's the face of the NFL period, the Super Bowl 55 blowout wasn't on him. Mahomes will be back with a force thanks to a retooled o-line featuring two new stars in Orlando, Brown and Joe Tooney.
Mahomes is in his own class right now, plain and simple, we don't think this is up for debate to be quite honest it just isn't who do you think is the best starting quarterback entering the 2021 NFL season.