Preseason Ranking of All Starting Quarterbacks: Tier 2

Tier 2 has guys who are just outside of the elite quarterback group in the NFL. These are franchise quarterbacks who deserve the attention they get. Sometimes they don’t get the love they deserve for one reason or another but they certainly command respect. With a little bit of help, they could certainly get their team to a Super Bowl soon.

9. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams

Since coming to LA, Matthew Stafford has shown up by leading the Rams to a Super Bowl victory just a few years ago. During that season, Stafford played like a top-5 quarterback as he threw for over 4,800 yards and 41 TDs! Since then, Stafford has been banged up, but he has still led the Rams under Sean McVay effectively. With new star Puka Nucua, and old-reliable Cooper Kupp, Stafford and this Rams offense should light up the league and put up some serious numbers this season even in a stacked NFC West.

8. Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers

After sitting for several seasons behind Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, Jordan Love showed last season that he is ready to ball out. With loads of young receivers around him, Love should be set up to be successful in the NFC playoff race this season. Now typically, after first-year starting quarterbacks have a successful season, they run into a “sophomore slump.” This is because opposing teams now have lots of game tape and can use that to create a successful defensive game plan against that quarterback. However, I am bullish on Love to overcome the slump as he lit up the league last year with over 4,100 passing yards and 32 TDs. 

7. Jared Goff - Detroit Lions

I have been riding the Jared Goff train ever since he got traded from the Rams to Detroit a few years ago. Over the past two years, Goff has averaged 4,500 passing yards, 30 TDs, and 9 Ints in a run-first-based offense. His leadership and play have elevated the Lions to become one of the best teams in the NFC. I give a lot of credit to Dan Campbell and the rest of the Lions roster, but Jared Goff has been the glue that has held a lot of this together. Years ago, on the Rams, he did struggle in that Super Bowl against the Patriots but we can’t lose sight that he got the Rams to the Super Bowl before getting defeated by Tom Brady! Goff has been underrated and over-hated for years and he will only continue to prove the doubters wrong.

6. Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert has had to deal with a lot of dysfunction early on in his career. Through just 4 years in the league, he has had to deal with 3 different Head Coaches and a number of offensive coordinators as well. Any other quarterback would struggle with this many coaching changes. However, Jim Harbaugh is going to correct course for the Chargers and this offense. Despite all this chaos, Herbert still shows out each season and puts up outstanding numbers. There are concerns with this wide receiver core, but I would look for this offense to look different than it has in years prior which will see Herbert throw it less and hopefully make him more efficient as a quarterback.