Preseason Ranking of All Starting Quarterbacks: Tier 3

Tier 3 is full of quarterbacks that most NFL fans don’t know what to do with. These are veterans that most people believe are good because they consistently deliver good statistical seasons, but there are legitimate concerns. The top concern for these quarterbacks is that they make a lot of money and haven’t been able to win when it matters most. These quarterbacks are good, but they have defects holding back their teams from making a deep playoff run.

14. Kirk Cousins - Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins really embraces the Tier 3 problems that were just listed above. Kirk is coming off a torn Achilles that came during a week 8 matchup last year against the Green Bay Packers. At 35 years old, he is certainly entering the twilight of his career and there are significant questions regarding whether he can be the quarterback the Falcons need, especially coming off a grueling season-ending injury. During the offseason, Atlanta gave him a 4-year $180 million contract, and even after that they still went and drafted Micheal Penix Jr. out of Washington. Although he can consistently put up over 4,000 passing yards and 30 TDs a season, Kirk has never been good in prime-time games or the playoffs. At such a high price tag, and several concerns regarding his age, injuries, and ability to win when it matters most, it makes Kirk a very questionable pick-up by the Falcons.

13. Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa just recently got the bag from Miami as he will be making $221.4 million over 4 years starting next season. There are plenty of concerns with Tua, starting with his injury history which dates back to his collegiate days. As a smaller NFL quarterback, he has suffered many concussions and other injuries that have made him unavailable in several games in the past few seasons. Last year, he led the league in passing yards with 4,624, but a lot of that can be attributed to the elite weapons on this Miami offense. This begs the question, is Tua worth the money the Dolphins will be paying him over the next few years and what would he look like if he didn’t have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle? If the Dolphins can finally win a playoff game in January and beat their biggest obstacle, cold weather games, then Tua might finally prove to the NFL that he is a top-10 quarterback.

12. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys

Despite finishing second in MVP voting last year, Dak Prescott will not be making it on my top-10 quarterbacks heading into this year. Dak can have tremendous statistical seasons and get paid $40 million a year, but he has not achieved meaningful success in the playoffs in recent years. Despite 4,516 passing yards, 36 TDs, and a 12-win regular season last year, the Cowboys and Dak Prescott did what they always do and were disappointing in the playoffs with a 48-32 loss to Green Bay. The Cowboys can be hyped and marketed by the NFL all they want, but the bottom line is that Dak Prescott is a good quarterback, not a great one. With even fewer weapons this year than last year, and CeeDee Lamb currently holding out at camp, don’t be surprised if this season goes south for Dak and company quickly.

11. Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts made it to a Super Bowl not too long ago and was discussed as a premier quarterback until the Eagles flamed out at the end of last season. Jalen Hurts should be a top-10 quarterback, but with his trouble with Eagles head coach, Nick Sirrianni, it may be hard for Hurts to rise above the dysfunction. Hurts had 38 total touchdowns last year and his ability on the ground can be very effective. Now with Saquon Barkley added to the roster, this should be an effective offense unless the current coaching dysfunction gets in the way. Hurts did have his most interceptions last season with 15, so there is cause for concern with Jalen Hurts, but he is just too talented and dynamic to land any lower on this list.

10. Aaron Rodgers - New York Jets

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t been around for the past year as he only played a few snaps before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury last season. When Rodgers is on the field, he can be wildly exciting to watch as a passer. He can easily put up 4,000 yards and 30 TDs with minimal interceptions each year. He has had decent playoff success over his career, even notching a Super Bowl victory back in 2011. He can manipulate the line of scrimmage extremely well pre-snap which makes him a very effective signal caller. However, the questions about his age and off-the-field shenanigans that get talked about in the press all the time, call into question his leadership. With the Jets historically being a dysfunctional organization, and Aaron Rodgers constantly causing chaos among the media, this pairing could result in a disaster if this team doesn’t have immediate success coming out of the gate.

Who Should be Higher?

• Tua Tagovailoa
• Dak Prescott
• Aaron Rodgers
• Jalen Hurts

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Who Should Be Lower?

• Kirk Cousins
• Aaron Rodgers
• Dak Prescott
• Tua Tagovailoa

See All Options