Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen closed out one of the best season of his profession with six consecutive weeks at No. 1 in The Athletic’s QB inventory report, sustaining his lead over Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson after his personal six-week run up high.
As we entered the season with a maiden voyage on this quarterback undertaking, probably the most daunting query was apparent whereas the reply remained wildly unclear: How was anybody going to leapfrog Patrick Mahomes?
Each week, these rankings targeted on a confluence of main elements — present efficiency, profession résumé, future potential and the conditions across the QBs. So with Mahomes profitable three of the final 4 Tremendous Bowls, it was going to take one thing extraordinary for his demotion.
In fact, some extraordinary issues occurred. Mahomes and the Chiefs stored profitable regardless of their uncharacteristic struggles, whereas Allen and Jackson duked it out within the MVP race for the ultimate three months of the season. And whereas Joe Burrow performed at the next stage than Mahomes, the Bengals missed the playoffs, thereby invoking the situational parameter inside his rating.
On the flip facet, Aaron Rodgers is a Tremendous Bowl champion and four-time MVP. Mahomes is the one energetic QB with a superior résumé, however Rodgers completed within the bottom-10 of the rankings and has been within the 20’s since Week 11. His particular person performances, with just a few exceptions, had been accountable together with the Jets’ circumstances and a cap on the 41-year-old’s potential.
The Athletic’s Ultimate 2024-25 QB rankings
Alongside the best way, we dove deeper into sure quarterbacks, tapping into valued perception from a number of coaches and executives across the league. Their viewpoints additionally carried weight within the rankings. Among the many subjects hit this season: We examined Allen’s MVP surge, Rodgers’ downfall with the Jets, Bryce Younger’s midseason revival, Jordan Love’s contract validation, Caleb Williams’ resurfacing flaws and C.J. Stroud’s regression.
We hope you loved the primary season of rankings as a lot as we loved placing them collectively. Let’s shut it out by recognizing among the largest traits of the 12 months.
Largest preseason riser
Sam Darnold, on his fourth group in 5 years, opened coaching camp because the probably backup to rookie J.J. McCarthy, so expectations ranged from nonexistent to minimal.
Positive, Darnold’s pedigree because the No. 3 pick of USC couldn’t be ignored, nor might coach Kevin O’Connell’s QB-friendly system. However nobody might’ve predicted this.
Darnold completed fifth within the league in each passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) and completed sixth amongst certified QBs with a 102.5 passer score.
Darnold opened the season because the Twenty eighth-ranked quarterback, and he rose 19 spots. He’s been a principally steadying presence for the group that was tied for the third-most wins within the NFL. Star receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison by no means missed a beat.
Regardless of the meteoric rise, Darnold did dip for a bit, going No. 11 in Week 10 to No. 18 in Week 12. He nonetheless completed the season along with his solely three weeks within the high 10. Darnold will enter the offseason with the potential to turn out to be the crown jewel of the free agent market.
Largest preseason faller
Aaron Rodgers was nonetheless considered by many across the league as one of many NFL’s premier quarterbacks at first of the season, even coming off the torn Achilles, so the New York Jets QB debuted at No. 5.
He remained within the high six for the primary 5 weeks of the season earlier than the proof grew to become too nice to disregard, and he plummeted to No. 15 in Week 6. Rodgers fell to No. 20 in Week 11 and by no means improved his standing. He completed the season ranked forward of solely two quarterbacks who had been anticipated to open the season as their group’s starter.
Rodgers’ 63.0 completion share was his lowest since 2019, however he truly completed with extra yards (3,897) and touchdowns (28) and fewer interceptions (11) than in his closing season with the Packers.
Rodgers’ future could be very a lot up within the air. Whether or not he desires to proceed taking part in and if the Jets would need him again stay open questions. He should be an asset for a veteran group that believes it’s a QB shy of the playoffs, however Rodgers must play significantly better than he did amid the Jets’ chaos.
Largest midseason riser
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Younger’s turnaround was some of the spectacularly sudden tales of the season.
The 2023 No. 1 choose was benched after coach Dave Canales’ second sport. And though Younger’s efficiency justified the demotion, it raised vital questions on Younger’s future with a company that has made greater than its latest share of impulse choices.
It’s not just like the Panthers benched Younger with a definitive timeline for his return to the sphere, both. Younger solely acquired his job again after Andy Dalton injured his hand in a automotive accident.
And but, Younger performed properly down the stretch with 15 landing passes, 5 landing runs and 6 interceptions over his closing 10 begins. They had been additionally 4-6 throughout that stretch, which isn’t any small feat for a group that had misplaced 22 of its earlier 25 video games.
Canales has had a pleasant historical past along with his quarterbacks, so it was stunning to see it begin so poorly. However now that Younger is getting into the offseason taking part in his finest soccer, the Panthers will likely be an intriguing group getting into 2025.
GO DEEPER
‘We acquired our man’: Bryce Younger and the Panthers go into the offseason on excessive notice
Largest midseason faller
It was imagined to be C.J. Stroud’s 12 months. It by no means performed out that manner.
The Houston Texans QB debuted at No. 7 and soared to No. 3 only a week later. That’s the place he remained for many of the first half, together with as late as Week 9, however Stroud steadily fell the remainder of the best way. His rating worsened in eight of the ultimate 10 weeks, all the best way right down to No. 15.
Stroud’s numbers had been down throughout the board. He accomplished 63.2 % of his passes for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and an 87.0 passer score. His rookie numbers had been superior in each class, which is much more noteworthy contemplating he performed two fewer video games in 2023.
The Texans have to construct a greater offensive line as a result of the stress was the principle deterrent to Stroud’s success. The accidents didn’t assist, both.
And but, Stroud and the Texans are again within the playoffs. There are many causes to stay bullish on Stroud.
Finest rookie
This wasn’t troublesome.
Jayden Daniels opened the season at No. 22, jumped to No. 13 by Week 6 and into the highest 10 in Week 9. The Washington Commanders QB closed the season with three consecutive weeks at No. 8.
Daniels accomplished 69 % of his passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and a 100.1 passer score; he added 891 dashing yards and 6 touchdowns.
He was so composed in tense moments, highlighted by 4 game-winning drives. Daniels’ Hail Mary in opposition to the Bears was an all-time second, however the late drives in opposition to the Eagles and Falcons had been extra significant and may present optimism the rookie is able to repeating the feat within the playoffs.
Caleb Williams had a rocky season, however the Chicago Bears QB nonetheless put up some numbers for a group that went via a ton of adversity. Bo Nix wasn’t requested to hold the Denver Broncos, however he carried his weight to finish their playoff drought. Drake Maye was usually misplaced within the chaos in New England, however the younger Patriots QB confirmed proof of being a particular participant. Lastly, Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. created momentum for subsequent season along with his strong play in three begins.
It’s shaping as much as be an excellent draft class.
Incomplete …
After which there was one.
J.J. McCarthy missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus, main to groups across the league questioning what the Vikings plan to do at quarterback. Typical pondering suggests they’ll let Darnold hit free company and switch towards their first-round choose in 2025. It’s simply sensible asset administration.
However what if Darnold leads the Vikings to the Tremendous Bowl and even the NFC Championship Sport? The Vikings can have $75 million in cap house, in accordance with Over The Cap, to allow them to pay Darnold to maintain every thing intact.
There’s a fair larger issue at play, although. McCarthy would rank because the No. 1 quarterback if he had been within the 2025 draft class, in accordance with a number of executives and coaches who’ve evaluated Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. The Vikings would definitely have a market in the event that they determined to maneuver McCarthy.
Who’s subsequent?
On a associated notice, there was a significant shakeup within the draft order over the ultimate two weeks, and that ought to have a major influence on the quarterback class.
For thus lengthy, the QB draft dialogue targeted on the Giants and Raiders. In spite of everything, they had been considered as the 2 most quarterback-desperate groups within the league, and so they constructed what appeared to be an indestructible residence atop the draft order.
A lot for that. The Giants will choose third after a Week 17 victory in opposition to the Colts, whereas the Raiders’ late wins in opposition to the Jaguars and Saints dropped them to No. 6.
Even till Sunday, when the Patriots had a short lived maintain of No. 1 till they beat the Payments, QB-needy groups knew the choose was probably up for public sale. Anybody keen to pay might get their man.
Then the Titans and Browns entered the chat.
The Titans, who maintain the highest choose, aren’t going to construct round Will Levis if this season was any indication. And the Browns know they need to get youthful to search out Deshaun Watson’s successor, whether or not that’s in Week 1 of 2025 or someday thereafter. Watson’s setback from his Achilles harm might speed up his to-be-determined successor’s timeline.
The Titans are in an excellent spot in the event that they love Ward or Sanders — or McCarthy, which might open up a brand new vary of choices. As for the Browns, they’ve made strikes previously to make sure Watson would have an unobstructed path to the beginning job, so that they’re barely extra of a wild card. Perhaps the star attraction of Colorado’s Travis Hunter shifts their focus to a QB in a later spherical.
Any manner you have a look at it, the draft simply acquired much more fascinating.
Dropped out: Mason Rudolph (No. 31 final week), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (No. 32 final week).
(Photograph of Josh Allen: Steph Chambers / Getty Photos)