Quarterback is undeniably the NFL’s most important position. So who has the best quarterback in the NFL today?

Join me as I rank all 32 NFL Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks, from top to bottom. From unproven young arms like Cam Ward, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Spencer Rattler, to aging veterans like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Matthew Stafford, to some the game’s best dual-threat options, like Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jayden Daniels, there’s plenty of variety across the league.

The top spot has typically gone to Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, or even Joe Burrow: who will get the crown this season?

My criteria is simple: which quarterback would I want most to win a game, right now, in 2025, with an otherwise neutral roster. To win in today’s NFL, being a dual-threat quarterback is also a huge plus. Finally, NFL experience and especially 2024-25 season matters a lot, and players with less NFL reps will naturally be ranked lower.

Read on for my Top 32 NFL Week 1 Starting Quarterbacks, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any rankings, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter/X, on Facebook, or by commenting directly on this post!

32. Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

31. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

(Jason Miller/Getty Images)

30. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

(USA Today Sports)

29. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

(Athlon Sports)

28. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

(Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

27. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

(Sports Illustrated)

26. Justin Fields, New York Jets

(Jets X-Factor)

25. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

(NFL.com)

24. Russell Wilson, New York Giants

(ESPN)

23. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

(Spectrum News)

22. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

(Newsweek)

21. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

(Justin Ford/Getty Images)

20. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

(BBC)

19. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

(PFF)

18. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

(9News)

17. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

(Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)

16. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

(Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
SEE ALSO: Week 1 Picks

15. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

(NFL.com)

14. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

(PFF)

13. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

(Athlon Sports)

12. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

(KSL Sports)

11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

(NFL.com)

10. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(NFL.com)

8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

(Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports)

7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

(Sky Sports)

6. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

(Sportsnet)

5. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

(Los Angeles Times)

4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

(Spectrum News)

1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

(KSL Sports)

Change Log

8/28/2025: Swapped Jordan Love (#10) and Jared Goff (#11). Moved C.J. Stroud from #8 to #10, moved Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff up a spot. Finally, re-ordered Stafford, Love, Stroud (in that order) to Stroud, Stafford, Love at #12-10.

See Also: 2025-26 NFL Division Predictions

AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West

NFC East, NFC North, NFC South, NFC West

SEE ALSO: NFL 2025: Playoffs and Super Bowl 60 Prediction
SEE ALSO: Preseason Power Rankings

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