Preseason Ranking of All Starting Quarterbacks: Tier 1

Tier 1 are the standout quarterbacks that are the faces of the NFL. These generational quarterbacks separate themselves from the pack and have taken the reins from the legends that came before them. Their franchises expect them to have tremendous playoff success and eventually lead them to the Super Bowl regardless of the rest of the roster. Any team would give up the farm to get one of these quarterbacks. So who are these elite quarterbacks in the NFL?

5. C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans

When C.J. Stroud entered the league last year I was critical of him, but after 3 games I completely changed course. The Texans were coming off a disastrous season the year prior, but the combination of C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans has resurrected this franchise. In his rookie season, with a bunch of young receivers, C.J. Stroud put up over 270 passing yards a game, 26 total touchdowns, and only threw 5 Ints. Entering this season, Stroud is going to have new weapons with Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs which should only bring out his greatness even more. Don’t be surprised when the Texans start to challenge the Chiefs in the AFC as early as this year.

4. Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals

I wish more than anything that Joe Burrow could just stay healthy. When Burrow is healthy he can put up 4,500 passing yards and 35 TDs a season. Joe Burrow has shown, apart from just his stats, that he can contend and beat Patrick Mahomes in big games. No other quarterback has been able to effectively contend with Mahomes in the playoffs outside of Tom Brady and Joe Burrow. However, one of the most important things for all athletes is availability. When Burrow is healthy he is elite, but he hasn’t been able to show he can consistently stay on the field. Currently, the Bengals and their Super Bowl hopes are at the mercy of Joe Burrow’s health.

3. Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson can be a game-wrecker if defenses don’t prepare and play him properly. Last year, Lamar averaged 230 passing yards and 50 rushing yards a game while scoring 29 total touchdowns. He is a true dual-threat quarterback and it creates so many opportunities for the Ravens offense to succeed. With the addition of Derrick Henry, this team is going to hit hard and make a serious case to be a Super Bowl contender. Lamar needs to start having better playoff success, but his unique abilities as a runner and a thrower make him an elite quarterback in the NFL.

2. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen has gone toe-to-toe with Mahomes several times, but he has come up just short of getting out of his shadow. Josh Allen is starting to have a legacy similar to Peyton Manning as Peyton constantly lived in Tom Brady’s shadow. Last year, Josh Allen had 4,800 total yards and scored 44 total TDs. He is a big, strong, and confident quarterback who can sling the ball as well as anyone in the league. The Bills' biggest fault is that they can be overly reliant on Josh Allen to be great which can get him into trouble. With terrible offensive weapons and a defensive-minded head coach, the Bills may struggle to win games this season. However, the Bills struggles will not be Josh Allen’s fault and he should be commended for any success the Bills have this season.

1. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes, when it is all said and done, will likely go right alongside Tom Brady as the best quarterback of all time. With one of the worst receiving units in the league, Mahomes still found a way to win a Super Bowl, again. People could say that Mahomes had his worst statistical season last year, but at the end of the day he won the Super Bowl and that should make all his stats irrelevant. In this league, all the matters is whether or not you can win. Even so, Mahomes still threw for over 4,100 yards and 27 TDs. His ability to fit the ball into any place on the field is insane and his play is the sole reason the Chiefs are primed to go back to the Super Bowl. Despite all the talented quarterbacks in the AFC mentioned previously, everyone fears facing Mahomes in a big game. No matter who is on the roster, the Chiefs will be a contender solely because they have Patrick Mahomes and the other teams don’t.