Silcoff's Signal Callers: Ranking The NFL's Top Quarterbacks Going Into The 2025 Season

With the NFL season just weeks away from kickoff, I figured it was time to revisit my quarterback rankings heading into the new year. For this list, I’m ranking 28 players — leaving out rookies entirely, and including second-year players only if they played at least nine games last season. I think this approach helps paint a clearer picture of the proven QBs heading into 2025. This list includes each team’s projected starter going into the season, and below are some notable players who will not be ranked.

Not Listed:

• Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

• Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons

• J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

• Spencer Rattler/Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

28-21: Flacco, Richardson/Jones, Fields, Wilson, Williams, Young, Maye, Lawrence

28) Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

2024 Stats: GP: 8 | TD: 12 | INT: 7 | CMP%: 65.3 | YDS: 1761  | QBR: 53.4

Flacco gave Cleveland some fun moments last year in 2023, helping bring the Browns to the postseason after joining the team late in the year. That being said, his 2024 season with the Colts was not good at all, as he began to show signs of his age. Now, back with the Browns, who are projected to be one of the worst teams in football this season, I expect him to look more like his 2024 self rather than 2023, which likely means it won't be long before his reign as the starter in Cleveland won't be long.

27) Anthony Richardson/Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Richardson 2024 Stats: GP: 11 | TD: 8 | INT: 12 | CMP%: 47.7 | YDS: 1814| RUSH TD: 6 | QBR: 47.4

Jones 2024 Stats: GP: 10 | TD: 8 | INT: 7 | CMP%: 64.1 | YDS: 2070 | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 47.8

Whether it’s Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones for the Colts, I’m not sure it matters. Richardson’s raw talent and athleticism is there, but going into year three, he has not shown any signs of improving his passing ability. On the flip side, it feels like we know what Jones is at this point in his career. An above-average athlete at the position who simply is not good enough to take you anywhere, mostly due to constant turnover issues. Because of the quarterback situation for the team, I just wouldn't be shocked if the Colts are in the mix to be picking near the top of the draft by the end of the season.

26) Justin Fields, New York Jets

2024 Stats: GP: 10 | TD: 5 | INT: 1 | CMP%: 65.8 | YDS: 1106  | RUSH TD: 5 | QBR: 50.8

Fields is one of the more interesting quarterbacks to watch going into the 2025 season. After a solid start leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record in 2024, he was eventually benched in favour of Russell Wilson, which is likely a big reason why he decided to go join the Jets in free agency. Fields is still one of the most dangerous runners at the quarterback position, but the passing production just isn’t there. This stint with the Jets will likely be his final chance to prove he can be a legitimate starter in this league.

25) Russell Wilson, New York Giants

2024 Stats: GP: 11 | TD: 16 | INT: 5 | CMP%: 63.7 | YDS: 2482  | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 51.3

Wilson was better in his lone season with the Steelers than he was in either of his two Broncos years, but he is no longer the game changer he once was. At age 36, his mobility has declined, but he still has one of the best deep balls in the NFL, which could thrive with a receiver like Malik Nabers, but at this stage, he’s more of a game manager. The question remains, is he finally willing to accept that?

24) Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 20 | INT: 6 | CMP%: 62.5 | YDS: 3541 | QBR: 46.7

Williams’ rookie year had its moments but for the most part was a disaster. The talent is there, but he holds the ball way too long, which led to him taking a record number of sacks in his first season in the NFL. With Ben Johnson now as head coach and an improved offensive line to protect him, Williams is one of the quarterbacks under the most pressure going into 2025, and we should find out a lot about the 2024 number one overall pick this season.

23) Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

2024 Stats: GP: 14 | TD: 15 | INT: 9 | CMP%: 60.9 | YDS: 2403 | RUSH TD: 6 | QBR: 54.1

Young had a terrible start to his career, but after returning from the bench in the second half of last season, he looked much better. His size is a major concern to me, and I wonder if he was a better story than player last year. I hope I'm wrong, because it truly would be a great story, but I'm still not convinced.

22) Drake Maye, New England Patriots

2024 Stats: GP: 13 | TD: 15 | INT: 10 | CMP%: 66.6 | YDS: 2276 | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 58.6

Maye is one of the quarterbacks I'm most excited to watch and confident in going forward. He might have had the worst combo of coaching, offensive line, and weapons I've seen in a long time as a rookie, and while he did struggle with turnovers, he still had a lot of great moments. With Mike Vrabel as head coach, Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator, and a draft class built around supporting him, I believe that he will take a significant jump in 2025.

21) Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

2024 Stats: GP: 10 | TD: 11 | INT: 7 | CMP%: 60.6 | YDS: 2045 | RUSH TD: 3 | QBR: 59.5

Lawrence is among the quarterbacks facing the most pressure in 2025 because of his issues with injuries and inconsistent play over the past couple of seasons. This should be the year we find out what he is all about, with new head coach Liam Cohen, who helped bring Baker Mayfield's career back to life in Tampa Bay, and weapons like Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. I don't think I can overstate how huge 2025 is for Lawrence.

20-11: Tagovailoa, Rodgers, Darnold, Prescott, Murray, Nix, Smith, Purdy, Love, Goff

20) Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

2024 Stats: GP: 11 | TD: 19 | INT: 7 | CMP%: 72.9 | YDS: 2867 | QBR: 60.3

When Tagovailoa is on the field, he has turned into one of the more efficient passers in the NFL. However, durability is always a question with him, and until Tua proves he can stay healthy on a regular basis and win those late-season cold-weather games, I think the Dolphins' ceiling is quite limited.

19) Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 28 | INT: 11 | CMP%: 63.0 | YDS: 3897 | QBR: 48.0

Rodgers' two years with the Jets were nothing short of a disaster. His 2023 season ended four plays in as he tore his Achilles in the season opener. The 2024 season, his first and only full one with the Jets, was just a constant soap opera. Sure, he threw 28 touchdowns and started all 17 games, but at 41 years old, the mobility isn’t there anymore, and I think the numbers looked better than the actual play, which is why the Jets only won 5 games. I do expect him to be better with the Steelers, but it is clear he can no longer elevate those around him anymore in what will likely be his final NFL season.

18) Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 35 | INT: 12 | CMP%: 66.2 | YDS: 4319 | RUSH TD: 1 | QBR: 60.4

Following in the footsteps of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield when it came to the recent "quarterback who seemed like a bust but is now good renaissance," Darnold enjoyed a career year in 2024 with the Vikings, throwing for 35 touchdowns and winning 14 games. But despite the success, those last two games for the NFC North title in Week 18 and the Rams playoff game, where he was awful, put a damper on his magical season. As a Seahawks fan, I’m skeptically optimistic, but with a troubled O-line, a defensive-minded coach, and really only one reliable weapon in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, I do have my concerns, as this is no longer Kevin O’Connell’s offense with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison catching his passes.

17) Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

2024 Stats: GP: 8 | TD: 11 | INT: 8 | CMP%: 64.7 | YDS: 1978 | RUSH TD: 1 | QBR: 45.3

After coming close to earning league MVP in 2023, Prescott had a truly forgettable 2024 season in which he only played in eight games and his performance was mediocre even in those games. Despite being the highest paid quarterback in the NFL, the playoff doubts are still there, and now the Cowboys have roster and contract questions. If Dallas is ever going to take that next step, Prescott will have to be the best version of himself.

16) Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 21 | INT: 11 | CMP%: 68.8 | YDS: 3851 | RUSH TD: 5 | QBR: 66.5

I find this ranking funny because you can make the argument that week-to-week, Murray has never really been the 16th best quarterback in football. You could argue he could be ranked in the top 8 when he's playing at his best due to his arm talent and athleticism. But when he's bad, it's really bad, as he tends to turn the ball over a ton while taking mind-boggling sacks. Murray enters 2025 in what feels like a make-or-break season for him and the Cardinals, as they have legitimate playoff hopes. The talent’s never been the question with Murray; it has just been whether he can put a full season of high-level play together rather than just a solid September up until about Halloween.

15) Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 29 | INT: 12 | CMP%: 66.3 | YDS: 3775 | RUSH TD: 4 | QBR: 56.8

Nix's rookie year was special, as he threw for 29 touchdowns and ran for 4, showing he is a better athlete than anyone thought, and won 10 games, taking the Broncos to the playoffs despite their over-under win total only being at 5.5 before the season began. Going into his sophomore year, expectations are high in Denver, as Sean Payton has stated he thinks Nix could be considered a top four or five QB in the next couple of years. Many are calling the Broncos a sleeper Super Bowl pick, thanks mostly to that elite defence but also the potential improvement from Nix and the offence. Personally, I think Nix will be a similar quarterback to what he was during his rookie season throughout his career, which is great to have, as he was already a top-half guy in the NFL to me, but I definitely could see a world where he eventually finds a way into the top ten.

14) Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 21 | INT: 15 | CMP%: 70.4 | YDS: 4320 | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 53.8

Over the last three years in Seattle, Smith has become one of the best deep ball passers in the NFL and definitely should be considered an above-average player at his position, but last year was not his best showing, as the 15 interceptions were costly, as a lot of them came in the red zone. Now reuniting with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, I do think Geno will bring some much-needed stability to a Raiders franchise that desperately needs it. But I do question how he’ll perform without the likes of DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett.

13) Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

2024 Stats: GP: 15 | TD: 20 | INT: 12 | CMP%: 65.9 | YDS: 3864 | RUSH TD: 5 | QBR: 67.9

While 2024 was a year from hell for the 49ers, I came away a bit more impressed with Purdy than I did in 2023, when he and the Niners went to the Super Bowl. He still put up decent numbers despite missing key players like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for most of the season—even if it didn’t translate to many wins. To me, that could have been good in the long run for Purdy and the 49ers, as he was forced to attempt to make the pieces around him work. Because of that experience, I expect him to once again improve in 2025 with McCaffrey back, and he remains perfect for Kyle Shanahan’s system. As the 49ers look to get back into the Super Bowl window, Purdy will have to prove he’s worthy of his new contract extension that puts him among the highest paid at the quarterback position.

12) Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

2024 Stats: GP: 15 | TD: 25 | INT: 11 | CMP%: 63.1 | YDS: 3389 | RUSH TD: 1 | QBR: 69.3

Because of a knee injury in Week 1, Love was never truly healthy for the 2024 season, which is likely why we didn’t see the big jump many expected. While some may be selling their stock, I’m buying it all. He’s one of the few actual gunslingers left in the league—sure, that causes turnovers, but it also means he throws some of the best deep balls down the field. It wasn’t a great year wire-to-wire, but Love still got this team to the playoffs, and there’s no doubt in my mind Green Bay has their next franchise QB.

11) Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 37 | INT: 12 | CMP%: 72.4 | YDS: 4629 | QBR: 68.4

Goff had his best season to date in 2024, throwing for 37 touchdowns and leading the Lions to the NFC's number 1 seed with 15 wins. In Detroit, he's become one of the best pocket passers in football and is the perfect QB for this Lions offense. But now without Ben Johnson calling plays and with a somewhat worse offensive line, it should be interesting to see how Goff handles the changes around him as Detroit looks to make a Super Bowl run in 2025.

10: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

2024 Stats: GP: 16 | TD: 20 | INT: 8 | CMP%: 65.8 | YDS: 3762 | QBR: 64.7

Even at 37, Stafford still has one of the top three pure arms in the NFL. My biggest concerns are his health and inconsistency. Before the reports about his mysterious back injury came out, I was leaning toward the Rams making a Super Bowl run—and I still might be if we get clarity on his condition. People tend to forget that, despite strong finishes, Stafford and the Rams have started each of the last two seasons slowly, including a 1-4 start just last year. When he’s at his best, Stafford can absolutely lead a team to the Super Bowl and deserves a higher ranking. But at this stage of his career, we can no longer fully depend on his greatness.

9: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 41 | INT: 16 | CMP%: 71.4 | YDS: 4500 | RUSH TD: 3 | QBR: 61.6

There’s no QB in the NFL today who plays with more fire or has turned around their career more than Mayfield in the last two years with Tampa Bay. He’s gotten better in the pocket and improved his deep throws, but he’s still a bit of a turnover machine—last year he tied for the league lead by throwing 16 interceptions but balanced that out by finishing tied for second in the NFL with 41 touchdown passes. In the NFC, Mayfield is one of the better quarterbacks, and I believe he could lead the Bucs to a Super Bowl appearance as soon as this year.

8: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 23 | INT: 3 | CMP%: 65.9 | YDS: 3870 | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 64.8

This might be a hot take, and it kills me to say because I love Herbert, but I have to drop him out of his seemingly consensus top-five spot. He’s almost everything you want in a QB—6'6", mobile in the pocket, a great downfield thrower, and he only threw three picks last year. But the postseason is where legends are made, and Herbert hasn’t delivered there. Last year, he was awful in the playoffs, throwing more interceptions in one game than he did all regular season. Plus, it feels like he’s plateaued since his rookie year. While he was arguably a top-five QB then, he hasn’t improved much since. Until he either improves or shows up in big games, I can’t put him higher.

7: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 20 | INT: 12 | CMP%: 63.2 | YDS: 3727 | QBR: 49.8

I firmly believe Stroud has become underrated going into his third year. After a strong rookie season, expectations were high for him to be an MVP candidate in year two, but that didn’t happen—mostly due to circumstances around him. His offensive line was terrible, almost all of his receivers missed significant time, and his play caller was so bad that he was fired at the end of the year. Despite all that, he still won a playoff game for the second straight year against one of the NFL’s better defences in the Chargers and gave the Chiefs everything they could handle at Arrowhead. Stroud isn’t the most mobile QB, but he’s excellent in the pocket. His offensive line might not improve much, but he’s good enough to compensate, and I expect him to lead the Texans to another division title in 2025.

6: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 25 | INT: 9 | CMP%: 69.0 | YDS: 3568 | RUSH TD: 6 | QBR: 70.6

Daniels had arguably one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history, taking his team from a second overall draft pick in 2024 all the way to the NFC Championship game. He’s one of the most accurate passers and elite dual-threat QBs in the league already. I’d like to see him improve his deep ball accuracy, but other than that, I have no complaints about Daniels. Let's hope he avoids a sophomore slump heading into year two.

5: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

2024 Stats: GP: 15 | TD: 18 | INT: 5 | CMP%: 68.7 | YDS: 2903 | RUSH TD: 14 | QBR: 65.6

Hurts might be controversial at number five, but the guy just wins. The Super Bowl MVP can run when you need him to, throw deep when you need that, he shows up in big games and is so good good that certain NFL teams want a single play banned because of how good he is at it. Because of that, he deserves to be in the top five going into the year.

4: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 43 | INT: 9 | CMP%: 70.6 | YDS: 4918 | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 74.7

In 2024, Burrow led the NFL in nearly all the major QB stats, including touchdown passes and passing yards—yet it still wasn’t enough to get the Bengals into the playoffs because of their defense. He was so good last year that he earned MVP votes despite playing for a team that missed the postseason and somehow even had a legitimate case. While I’d love to argue Burrow belongs as high as number two, the lack of team success has to factor into his ranking.

3: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 41 | INT: 4 | CMP%: 66.7 | YDS: 4172 | RUSH TD: 4 | QBR: 77.3

Jackson somehow gets better every year with his passing and remains the best dual-threat QB in football. But now, it’s time for the two-time MVP to finally come through in the playoffs and show he can win when it counts the most.

2: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

2024 Stats: GP: 17 | TD: 28 | INT: 6 | CMP%: 63.6 | YDS: 3731 | RUSH TD: 12 | QBR: 77.3

Allen is the reigning MVP for a reason. He’s a true specimen with maybe the strongest arm in all of football while also being a powerhouse on the ground. Allen became a much smarter player in 2024, throwing fewer interceptions, and let’s hope that continues throughout his career. He does play well when the games matter most in the playoffs, but he has yet to have that signature moment in January. Much like Jackson, it’s time for him to dethrone the next player coming up shortly if he wants to make a legit case for the top spot.

1: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

2024 Stats: GP: 16 | TD: 26 | INT: 11 | CMP%: 67.5 | YDS: 3928 | RUSH TD: 2 | QBR: 67.6

Patrick Mahomes should still be considered the top dog at the position—five Super Bowl appearances in the last six years, including three straight trips. However, this feels like the first year he has some real competition breathing down his neck. That said, he’s the only guy in sports I truly never bet against. Don’t be shocked if he and the Chiefs avenge last year’s Super Bowl loss to the Eagles by finding a way back to the top.