Ranking all 66 NFL starting quarterbacks in 2023 season, from Lamar Jackson (MVP) to Tim Boyle (WTF)
There are 32 teams still in the NFL, but thanks to injuries, benching decisions and other coaching-related factors, there have been once again more than twice as many starting quarterbacks in the league — 62 in all through Week 17 and four new starters adding to the list in Week 18 — for the 2023 season.
It’s another crazy high total, matching the single-season record set from 2022 that also had 66 QBs start in the regular season, an indication that league-wide attrition at the position is becoming a trend.
With so many teams throwing so often and so many quarterbacks fearless in using their legs to either buy time or gain yards, there are more QB hits and sacks, putting more QB in greater harm’s way. No wonder so many teams keep drafting and signing QBs, from rookies to veterans right off the couch.
Here’s Sporting News’ look at that massive group of superstar to fill-in passers, ranking them from best to worst based on their play and value to their teams:
MORE: Inside the NFL’s record-tying 66 starting quarterbacks in 2023
NFL starting quarterback rankings
Tier 1: The Most Valuable
1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Jackson silenced any remaining critics on whether he could be a pure pocket passer in the NFL in a beautiful transition to less running and more downfield throws in Todd Monken’s offense. By several metrics, taking away rushing stats and TDs, Jackson was better overall than his first MVP campaign in 2023.
2. Brock Purdy, 49ers
Purdy vindicated San Francisco’s decision to think he was the present and future at the position for the best team and overall offense in the NFC over Trey Lance. Purdy had a few games, but he’s well on his way to being an elite revelation as a second-year seventh-round steal.
3. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Prescott got settled in what became a steady pass-first offense after a slow start when the Cowboys just decided to open things up all over the field vs. forcing the running game too much with a sputtering Tony Pollard. He got better locked into primary weapons CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson and Brandin Cooks to light it up with great combination of efficiency and confidence.
4. Josh Allen, Bills
Allen keeps taking some lumps with his turnovers and still shaky decision-making given his high-paid veteran status, but he’s a physical, durable, relentless gamer who gets the job done however needed with arm and legs, even when dealing with midseason changing philosophies and personnel.
5. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Hurts’ downfield passing was affected by not being fully healthy and some compression and contraction from limited weapons. He also scaled back his designed running. In the end, however, he made the plays needed given the significant dropoff in the supporting traditional rushing attack and defense.
Tier 2: They’ve Still Got It
6. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
No quarterback is all about automatic magic for their entire careers. Mahomes was so magnificent early in his starting time racking up stats and two rings that there was bound to be some mid-career lumps tied to personnel and schematic transitions. Like Tom Brady before him, he’ll get out of it faster than most.
7. Joe Burrow, Bengals
Burrow worked to play hurt early in the season, which kept him from being full strength as a focused pocket passer who uses mobility to his full advantage. Unfortunately, as he was looking like his elite self, he suffered his second season-ending injury of his young career.
8. Joe Flacco, Browns
When Flacco was consistently winning from the get-go in his career as a first-round franchise passer for the Ravens, he never consistently put up prolific numbers. Despite his big arm, his Baltimore teams won on strength of defense and timely passes from him. Then he got hot to carry them to a Super Bowl win 11 seasons ago. That’s kind of play he’s giving the rivals in Cleveland just ahead of turning 39 as the new Vinny Testverde.
9. Aaron Rodgers, Jets
We hardly knew him back in his old offense in New York, but the atrocious QB play without him says just how much of a difference-maker he could be, so let’s see what he has left as his play begins again at 40.
10. Kirk Cousins, Vikings
The Vikings should have found a whole new appreciation for Cousins’ deep ball passing and career-best efficiency in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, given they couldn’t find any QB answers that came close between Josh Dobbs, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall.
11. Matthew Stafford, Rams
Stafford proved that like Flacco, you can never really fade away when near full health and having a big arm. At 36, Stafford was rejuvenated well by Sean McVay, thanks to revamping the offensive line, restoring a running game and adding another elite receiver in historic rookie Puka Nacua.
Tier 3: The Rising Young Guns
12. C.J. Stroud, Texans
Stroud has enjoyed one of the best rookie QB seasons every by operating confidently in a supreme system. He had great immediate connection with key weapons that included breakout receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, promising a future brighter than the present.
13. Anthony Richardson, Colts
Richardson didn’t waste time showing his immense arm and athletic upside before he went down early, making everyone wonder what could have been for the rest of his rookie campaign for a potential playoff team.
14. Jordan Love, Packers
Love waited to get his turn behind Rodgers and like Rodgers before him behind Brett Favre, absorbed his initial strong NFL system well. He had the expected ups and downs with a variable group of mostly young offensive skill support, but he’s ready for a more consistent groove in 2014.
15. Justin Fields, Bears
Fields deserves to remain Chicago’s starting QB given his second half of the season. He took major strides by getting a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver in D.J> Moore, so imagine what can happen with additional upgrades around him with high draft capital vs. selecting his replacement.
Tier 4: They Were Drafted High For A Reason
16. Jared Goff, Lions
Goff, the No. 1 pick in 2016, showed that he can still operate the offense of a big-winning playoff team, blowing up the notion he was just a post-Stafford bridge after being traded for Stafford.
17. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
Mayfield, the No. 1 pick in 2018, showed that, like Goff, when he’s got playmakers around him an offense that’s set up well for balance and explosiveness, he can deliver winning results, too. Go figure Tampa Bay didn’t have to do much to find good QB play after Tom Brady.
18. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Tagovailoa is still trying to convince Miami coaches and fans he was worthy of going No. 5 overall in 2020. The underrated development is how he looked even more comfortable in Year 2 of Mike McDaniel’s offense in getting the ball out quickly to avoid the same kind of hits and staying durable.
19. Justin Herbert, Chargers
Herbert’s fourth NFL season, his first after his mega second contract as the No.6 overall pick in 2020, was a major disappointment over only 13 healthy games. There was hype he would reach special levels in Kellen Moore’s offense, only to see breakdowns around him to copy the limited efficiency he had in the previous season in not maximizing his big arm, smarts and athleticism. The Chargers need to hit on the right coach for him to send his career trajectory soaring again.
20. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, was having some issues connecting with all his additional weapons well to build on his 2022 breakout. He did his best adjusting to Calvin Ridley and had to endure losing true go-to guy Christian Kirk. He also got a bit sloppy, forcing things that weren’t there based on the offensive framework. That said, he has the physical talent and mental makeup to have his true blowup season in 2024.
21. Deshaun Watson, Browns
Watson, taken No. 12 overall in 2017, was just turning the corner with his play in Kevin Stefanski’s offense when he just couldn’t stay healthy enough to play while facing rough times with his shoulder. Yes, if a settled Flacco is doing this, there would also be much higher upside if Watson can ever be the best Texans Watson.
22. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, gets more of an incomplete because he missed 7 games still recovering from his late knee injury last season. But recent improving play in Drew Petzing’s offense while getting comfortable with remixed weapons confirmed to coaches he still should be the franchise QB ahead of adding more key rebuilding assets for him.
Tier 5: The Meh Valuable
23. Derek Carr, Saints
Carr hasn’t been the expected major QB upgrade from Jameis Winston, but he’s proved to be tough, durable and gritty. He just sometimes plays too tentative or too aggressive at the wrong times.
24. Geno Smith, Seahawks
Smith came down to earth after his long-awaied post Jets breakout season, but the offensive line issues and other systemic support letting him down also reminded everyone just how much of a dependent 33-year-old passer he is.
25. Russell Wilson, Broncos
Wilson was actually much improved from the Nathaniel Hackett disaster with some respectable play in Year 2 in Denver operating Sean Payton’s offense. But he couldn’t lift the team through some issues running the ball and having a limited, oft-injured receiving corps. Wilson will now need to try to find his offensive comfort zone elsewhere.
26. Gardner Minshew, Colts
Minshew has been underwhelming and unassuming as the Colts’ starter in relation to the dynamic rookie Richardson, but his knowledge of Shane Steichen’s offense from Philadelphia have made him the savvy and sometimes flashy game manager they needed to help push the running game and defense toward the playoffs.
27. Mason Rudolph, Steelers
The Steelers obviously made a mistake the past two seasons by not making him the surefire No. 2 behind Kenny Pickett or even using him as the bridge. Still, as we’ve seen with him before, he will fizzle with bigger sample size.
28. Sam Howell, Commanders
Howell has run around like nuts and taken a ton of sacks trying to prove himself as a worthy franchise QB. He didn’t get the needed time to develop and the lumps may be too much to overcome.
29. Andy Dalton, Panthers
He’s done well as a professional backup since his time starting for the Bengals and perhaps Carolina should have gone the bridge route with him, after all, to avoid the Frank Reich mess.
30. Josh Dobbs, Cardinals and Vikings
The Arizona Dobbs was the best Dobbs in the familiar Browns system, but he eventually hit a wall when overextended filling in for Murray. The Minnesota version of Dobbs started out well but then he got overwhelmed with his downfield passing limitations and melted down with mistakes. He did prove, however, he has the makeup to backup anywhere.
31. Jake Browning, Bengals
The good news is the Bengals have a keepable long-term backup for Joe Burrow. The bad news is after a few starts, they could see the separation of how much they really missed Burrow.
32. Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders
Jimmy G has to regret going to Las Vegas now given the Josh McDaniels firing and no shot at staying the bridge. It will be interesting if he would land back in actual New England next season.
33. Desmond Ridder, Falcons
Classic Arthur Smith: He didn’t fully let the second-year evaluation play out with Ridder before wasting time with a bridge to nowhere. Ridder does have key passing limitations but like Howell, he needed more time.
Tier 6: We’re Really Not Totally Sure If They Are Busts
34. Will Levis, Titans
Levis flashed right away with his big arm and athleticism but then he started to succumb to limited weaponry and offensive line woes. Tennessee needs to load him with more help, fast, along with better pass-friendly scheming in 2024.
35. Kenny Pickett, Steelers
The Steelers like his tenacity and moxie, but the passing just wasn’t there in the terrible Matt Canada offense. He needs one more shot to break out when healthy in a scheme that actually is tailored well to his arm and athleticism skill set.
36. Bryce Young, Panthers
Young also has been running around mostly on an island trying to make plays, only with less reliable talent around him up front and downfield in a run- dependent offense. Young’s shaky rookie play seems more the product of the organization’s total dysfunction and lack of offensive direction or identity.
Tier 7: Didn’t Know Where To Put These Guys
37. Tyrod Taylor, Giants
Taylor has endured as a backup QB and often bridge starter because he has a big arm, nice wheels and can quickly learn offenses to execute them. He’s bound to be a solid No. 2 behind a young franchise passer in 2024.
38. Tyler Huntley, Ravens*
Jackson’s supersub gets to start for him in the best way ahead of Baltimore’s Super Bowl run as the No. 1 seed. He can be a lot like Taylor, who started as Flacco’s top backup for the Ravens.
39. Carson Wentz, Rams*
Wentz somehow didn’t get a call until late in the season, but the No. 2 overall pick in 2016 behind Goff got into a good spot to revive his career behind Stafford and under McVay. It sure worked well for Mayfield. He needs to take full advantage of Week 18.
40. Sam Darnold, 49ers*
Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in 2018, also has landed a primo backup gig for Kyle Shanahan behind Brock Purdy. The best thing that can happen for him in Week 18 is a compelling shootout with Wentz.
41. Blaine Gabbert, Chiefs*
Gabbert, the No. 10 overall pick in 2011, has made a nice career for himself as a prized backup. Going from Brady to Patrick Mahomes isn’t too bad.
42. Mac Jones, Patriots
Seriously, it’s getting more difficult to remember that Jones was a first-round pick.
43. Daniel Jones, Giants
Seriously, it’s getting more difficult to remember that Jones was a first-round pick.
44. Ryan Tannehill, Titans
Tannehill had his career spike in Tennessee but everything is starting to go downhill.
45. Case Keenum, Texans
He always has a Ryan Fitzpatrick-like case to stay in the league.
Tier 8: Yes, They All Really Did Start!
46. Aidan O’Connell, Raiders
He had some flashes with his big arm, especially late, but there are clear limitations to the point he looks a lot more like a career backup.
47. Easton Stick, Chargers
He has been in Los Angeles long enough with Herbert to be somewhat competent for a few fill-in games, but he was also thrown into a crumbling personnel and schematic situation.
48. Zach Wilson, Jets
Wilson wasn’t even supposed to be the guy and it become harder when they flipped the entire offense to suit that other guy.
49. Tommy DeVito, Giants
Let’s just be thankful this weird lesser mashup of Tebowmania and Linsanity was more short-lived than both of those things.
50. Drew Lock, Seahawks
He’ll always have that win over the Eagles to further remind them they won the Russell Wilson trade.
51. Bailey Zappe, Patriots
He has one of the best names to stay, but one of the worst frantic games to watch.
52. Taylor Heinicke, Falcons
He likes to throw the ball everywhere to everyone, writing checks his body and arm cannot cash.
53. C.J. Beathard, Jaguars
Among the caretaker veteran types with good scheme experience. he’s not the worst.
54. Jarrett Stidham, Broncos
He’s only starting for Payton because he’s not Russell Wilson.
55. Tyson Bagent, Bears
We’ll always remember him as the Tommy DeVito of Chicago.
56. Nick Mullens, Vikings
Hey, he’s the second-best Southern Miss QB to wear a Vikings’ uniform, so there’s that.
57. Trevor Siemian, Jets
He’s becoming the not as rich man’s Chase Daniel.
58. Mitchell Trubisky, Steelers
So sad how he has kept wasting all that physical talent.
59. P.J. Walker, Browns
He probably didn’t do enough well to stick as a veteran backup anywhere in the league.
60. Brian Hoyer, Raiders
He seems like he should be running Bill Belichick’s offense instead of still being in the league.
61. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Browns
DTR was thrown into the fire after a promising preseason but there’s a lot to develop there behind Watson.
62. Jeff Driskel, Browns^
Driskel will probably will making random starts for random teams from now until the end of time. Cleveland apparently needed “one for the thumb” with starting QBs this season.
63. Clayton Tune, Cardinals
Tune parlayed his preseason work into an inriguing develomental backup for Murray.
64. Brett Rypien, Rams
This start is becoming very difficult to remember given the state of their offense with Stafford.
65. Jaren Hall, Vikings
We’re not even sure why he was forced into action.
66. Tim Boyle, Jets
He was just another Jet who shouldn’t have been on the roster just because of Rodgers.
