Big Gup’s 2021 Quarterback Hierarchy
It’s officially that time of year that NFL lists start popping up left and right. With ESPN recently releasing position lists put together by NFL GMs, coaches and players, NFL Twitter has sparked up an annual conversation and debate.
Who are the league’s best quarterbacks?
For everyone’s entertainment and education, I will let everyone in on the only list that matters and settles this whole thing:
Big Gup’s 2021 Quarterback Hierarchy.
Tier 1 : The Pantheon
1.Patrick Mahomes
2020 season: 18 Gs, 16–2, 66.1 Cmp%, 5590 YDs, 7.9 Y/A, 42 TD, 8 INT
75 rushes, 360 YDs, 3 TD, 4.8 Y/A
Mahomes is a wizard, it is well known. The 25 year old (he’ll turn 26 a day before Week 2 when the Chiefs play the Ravens) may have lost this past Super Bowl to the GOAT, but his greatness is impossible to dispute. Pat wields an arm that we’ve only seen to the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Dan Marino or John Elway.
In his three years as a starter he’s won an MVP, lost in an AFC Championship Game, won the Super Bowl, and lost in a Super Bowl. These are peak powers of a legendary quarterback we are watching.
2. Aaron Rodgers
2020 season: 18 Gs, 14–4, 70.5 Cmp%, 4941YDs, 8.1 Y/A, 53 TD, 6 INT
The disgruntled 37 year old Aaron Rodgers may not want to play for the Packers this year, but he will surely have to. Rodgers responded to the Packers drafting Jordan Love in the first round with winning the MVP. Another wizard at throwing the football, Rodgers was bested by Brady in the NFC Championship. A game which featured Rodgers not tucking it and running it for a handful of yards near the goal line, and Head Coach Matt LaFleur then deciding to kick a field goal rather than go for it on 4th down.
He’s a legendary arm talent and quarterback who cannot be happy with his ring total while Brady writes history. Green Bay has a good roster, and with Aaron Rodgers they will surely be in contention for the Lombardi Trophy.
3. Tom Brady
2020 season: 20 Gs, 15–5, 64.4 Cmp%, 5694 YDs, 7.6 Y/A, 50 TD, 15 INT
The GOAT. Golden Boy. Captain America. Night King. Comeback Kid. Tom Terrific.
It feels incredibly disrespectful and laughably ignorant to list Tom Brady at №3 on this list when he just won his seventh Super Bowl at 43 years old. He’ll turn 44 during train camp and if Tom went on to win the next two out of three Super Bowls at this point I wouldn’t be surprised. Brady is Michael Jordan or like Buddha of football. How long he continues to play and dominate mere mortals is apparently up to Giselle.
You would think ranking a 44 year old below a 26 year old generational phenom, or another active first ballot Hall of Famer who’s six and half years younger would be a logical decision. Yet I’m left feeling like an idiot for somehow underestimating, “hating” or “sleeping” on the GOAT like the rest of these lists, and he’ll probably be the first to repeat since he did it himself in ’03 and ’04.
Tier 2: Studs
4. Josh Allen
2020 season: 19 Gs, 15–4, 68.4 Cmp%, 5361 YDs, 7.7 Y/A, 42 TD, 11 INT
127 rushes, 566 YDs, 9 TD, 4.5 Y/A
Josh Allen has improved his completion percentage from 52.8 to 58.8 to 69.2% in his three seasons. Obviously adding one of the best receivers in football, Stefon Diggs, to an offense will help a quarterback and make his life easier. But the jumps Allen has made between years, specifically this last jump from year 2 to year 3 have been remarkable. Allen and the Buffalo Bills were stonewalled by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
№4 for the 25 year old Josh Allen may be too rich for some, and they’ll say they “need to see it more.” Understandable. I am here to tell you: Josh Allen is here, and he ain’t going anywhere. He’s gone from playoff debut follies to a super star. I was a doubter at points early on, but this 6'5" 237 lb kid is putting it together.
5. Russell Wilson
2020 season: 17 Gs, 12–5, 67.5 Cmp%, 4386 YDs, 7.5 Y/A, 42 TD, 14 INT
87 rushes, 563 YDs, 2 TD, 6.5 Y/A
Let Russ Cook. Right? It seemed that was the direction Seattle was heading this year with their offense until they reverted back to a more Pete Carroll envisioned version of themselves (I am not one to hate on the run, or ever underestimate its importance in winning games). But Russ had low moments himself, notably: the three interception outing in a 34–37 loss to Arizona in Week 7, throwing four interceptions in two weeks against Buffalo and the Rams in losses Weeks 9 and 10, a 12–17 loss to the Giants in Week 13 where he threw an interception. And obviously Seattle fizzled out against the Rams in the postseason, another game Russel Wilson threw an interception.
It feels like I’m nitpicking Russ and to be fair, Seattle’s roster probably isn’t quite to the level of the Bucs, Bills, Chiefs and Packers. But Wilson also only has won only one playoff game since 2016, for a quarterback we all know is supremely talented he’ll need to remind us in the postseason. He’ll look to rejoin The Pantheon after this season if things go according to plan for him.
Tier 3: Dudes
6. Dak Prescott
2020 season: 5 Gs, 2–3, 68.0 Cmp%, 1856 YDs, 8.4 Y/A, 9 TD, 4 INT
18 rushes, 93 YDs, 3 TD, 5.2 Y/A
2019 season: 16 Gs, 8–8, 65.1 Cmp%, 4902 YDs, 8.2 Y/A, 30 TD, 11 INT
52 rushes, 277 YDs, 3 TD, 5.3 Y/A
Dak suffered a gruesome ankle injury just about a quarter into last season. Prescott is likely to win Comeback Player of the Year if he returns to his old self, which the Cowboys clearly think he will after finally extending him with a new contract.
Mike McCarthy in his second year hopes to see his defense improve to about league average (which would be a milestone achievement) in order of having hopes of contending. If it happens, a lot of the Cowboys’ success will be squarely on Dak’s shoulders as the offense will be expected and need to be a juggernaut. He’ll certainly have the weapons to do it with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup lining up for him. But don’t be fooled, it’s Dak Prescott that makes this offense go in 2021 and he will determine if Dallas can ever become something again. That can only happen in the postseason.
7. Deshaun Watson
2020 season: 16 Gs, 4–12, 70.2 Cmp%, 4823 YDs, 8.9 Y/A, 33 TD, 7 INT
90 rushes, 444 YDs, 3 TD, 4.9 Y/A
It is an uncertain ongoing situation regarding one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Deshaun Watson is obviously an incredible football talent, and if innocent he finds himself on one of the worst teams in comparison to other top quarterbacks.
I am not informed on the current or most accurate accounts of the situation regarding Watson and the allegations he is facing, so I will write no more.
8. Lamar Jackson
2020 season: 17 Gs, 12–5, 64.4 Cmp%, 3098 YDs, 7.3 Y/A, 26 TD, 11 INT
184 rushes, 1175 YDs, 8 TD, 6.4 Y/A
Lamar Jackson is an All-Pro and an MVP in just two and a half years of professional football. He is another generational talent, and it wouldn’t be hyperbole to say Lamar may be the most or second most feared ball carrier in the open field maybe other than Derrick Henry(?). Lamar has already shown huge strides in improving as a passer like his classmate Allen, but he will need to continue to improve and fine tune his arsenal.
Lamar can be a top quarterback and still need work as a passer. He can be a game changer already, one of the best players in the league. And not yet be at the peak of his powers, or where he needs to be in order to go where he wants to go. If you were to put Lamar at №6 I wouldn’t have a huge gripe. I think Dak and Deshaun are better passers at this point, and that will ultimately win the highest stake games, but Lamar’s also three years younger than Dak. It wasn’t until 2019 that I was completely sold on Dak as a passer. Lamar will continue to win the Baltimore Ravens football games like he’s done since his first snap, and the next step would be an AFC Championship birth.
Tier 4: On the Cusp
9. Justin Herbert
2020 season: 15 Gs, 6–9, 66.6 Cmp%, 4336 YDs, 7.3 Y/A, 31 TD, 10 INT
55 rushes, 234 YDs, 5 TD, 4.3 Y/A
A top ten ranking for Herbert already may seem ludicrous to some, but it was very apparent in his rookie season that Justin can sling the rock and has “it”. It was the 2019 NFL Draft when Justin Herbert was mulling over declaring for the draft and or going back to school, and it seemed his draft stock was highest then. After returning for his senior year and declaring in 2020 his stock never seemed to pick up quite the same amount of steam. There were certainly those though who stayed steady and thought Herbert was special.
The Chargers got a cornerstone player in Rashawn Slater this past draft that will help keep Herbert upright for the foreseeable future. I’m not sure exactly how much team success the Chargers will have, maybe somewhere above or below a .500 season, but the battle in the AFC West between Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes could become a storied rivalry in the future. He could move up and become a dude or more in 2021, or he could take a step back.
Tier 5: Proven Commodity or Up and Coming?
10. Ryan Tannehill
2020 season: 17 Gs, 11–6, 65.7 Cmp%, 3984 YDs, 7.9 Y/A, 34 TD, 8 INT
45 rushes, 272 YDs, 8 TD, 6.0 Y/A
Tannehill has played some of the most efficient quarterback play over the past couple of seasons in Tennessee. Once cast away and stuck with Airhead Adam Gase in Miami, Tannehill has revived his career with the Titans. Much thanks to Derrick Henry, Mike Vrabel, and recently departed and now Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith. A beast like AJ Brown certainly doesn’t hurt, and alien and future Hall of Famer Julio Jones joining the squad certainly won’t hurt either. Tannehill has worked the play action and shown of his wheels off in an impressive fashion the past twenty four months, credit is due.
But Tannehill won’t come close to cracking the top seven or eight quarterbacks by next off season for me unless the Titans were to make a Super Bowl this year. All the power to ’em in their quest, I am a huge fan of the coach, team and its identity.
11. Kyler Murray
2020 season: 16 Gs, 8–8, 67.2 Cmp%, 3971 YDs, 7.1 Y/A, 26 TD, 12 INT
133 rushes, 819 yards, 11 TD, 6.2 Y/A
Kyler has displayed the most encouraging play of these young quarterbacks in this tier (that is not to say I think he’ll end up being the best of the young quarterbacks in Tier 5). He is an electric Rugrat on the gridiron, capable of zipping off and scampering for a first down at any time, or firing a laser sixty yards downfield.
I am not sure I am a believer in Kliff Kingsbury as a head coach in the NFL, or Arizona’s chances in 2021, but I am a believer in Kyler Murray’s talent. The NFC West will be a gauntlet, if Murray and the Cards were the last ones standing I would be pretty damn shocked and I’ll be more likely to credit Murray more than jump to say Kingsbury is close to Shanahan or McVay.
12 . Kirk Cousins
2020 season: 16 Gs, 7–9, 67.6 Cmp%, 4265 YDs, 8.3 Y/A, 35 TD, 13 INT
It’s Kirk Cousins. It’s like a ham and cheese sandwich. You’re not going to write home about it, but he’ll get the job done. Maybe. Or you might stop at Taco Bell for the sexier Naked Chicken Chalupa.
13. Matt Ryan
2020 season: 16 Gs, 4–12, 65.0 Cmp%, 4581 YDs, 7.3 Y/A, 26 TD, 11 INT
Once an NFL MVP and now without career teammate Julio Jones, Matt Ryan welcomes new head coach Arthur Smith and phenom tight end Kyle Pitts to Atlanta in hopes of bringing the Falcons back to relevance.
14. Matthew Stafford
2020 season: 16 Gs, 5–11, 64.2 Cmp%, 4084 YDs, 7.7 Y/A, 26 TD, 10 INT
Always one to put up a lot of numbers but he hasn’t ever won a playoff game, Matthew Stafford is heading to L.A. under coach Sean McVay for a chance to rid the stink of the Lions off him and actually win something. The Rams are talented and McVay can coach, he’ll have his best chance yet.
15. Baker Mayfield
2020 season: 18 Gs, 12–6, 62.7 Cmp%, 4030 YDs, 7.2 Y/A, 30 TD, 9 INT
If you wanted to throw Baker at №12 over his older constituents here, I wouldn’t refute it all that much. But I would like to see another year of him showing he’s got it all figured out. The Browns are now a damn good football team, but the fact that Baker was capable of being the guy to bring winning to Cleveland Browns’ football again is a miraculously impressive feat in itself. If Baker puts another year together, I’ll likely have him in my top dozen; if Baker went to an AFC Championship with the Browns I’d have to move him to №10.
16. Joe Burrow
2020 season: 10 Gs, 2–7–1, 65.3 Cmp%, 2688 YDs, 6.7 Y/A, 13 TD, 5 INT
Joe Burrow saw his rookie season come to a disappointing end with an ACL injury. The Bengals better be sure to protect their new quarterback going forward because I’d put money on him being a real player. Burrow’s old buddy Jamar Chase will certainly give him a dynamic weapon in the passing game this season.
17. Trevor Lawrence
2020 season: N/A, ‘21 rookie
This is an exception. I would not typically put a rookie, who has not yet played, on this official list. I may project where they end up. But I would not typically list them over players just yet.
Trevor Lawrence, arguably a top four prospect of all time along with John Elway, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, will in my opinion be at least better than half the league’s quarterbacks in his rookie year.
Tier 6: Serviceable
18. Derek Carr
2020 season: 16 Gs, 8–8, 67.3 Cmp%, 4103 YDs, 7.9 Y/A, 27 TD, 9 INT
Another ham and cheese kind of quarterback, except sometimes it falls apart and Jon Gruden throws it out the car window.
19. Ben Roethlisberger
2020 season: 16 Gs, 12–4, 65.9%, 4304 YDs, 6.4 Y/A, 37 TD, 14 INT
[I could not put “Cmp%” for completion percentage because Ben is a porn addict and I do not want to trigger him. So I simply put “%” in its place.]
Big Ben is apparently on a new diet and inspired to get into the best shape of his life. There’s also been a recent Twitter discovery that Ben lifts his left heel every time it’s a pass out of shotgun, and he remains flat footed when it’a s a run. Pretty funny, thought I’d share.
I think it’s likely over for Ben. But he’ll still probably hover around decent to “well I’d take Ben over that guy”.
Tier 7: To Be Determined
20. Sam Darnold
2020 season: 12 Gs, 2–10, 59.6 Cmp%, 2208 YDs, 6.1 Y/A, 9 TD, 11 INT
Sam Darnold could be in the same tier as the one below, “Looking For a Bounce Back”, and even that could be a generous ranking. But I’m not sure I ever saw Darnold given anything you’d expect a guy to succeed with. If Sam does well in Carolina, Adam Gase should be banished from coaching football in North America.
Tier 8: Looking for a Bounce Back
21. Carson Wentz
2020 season: 12 Gs, 3–8–1, 57.1 Cmp%, 2620 YDs, 6.0 Y/A, 16 TD, 15 INT
This feels like an overwhelmingly generous ranking for someone who was one of the worst few quarterbacks in the professional football last season. However we have seen Wentz display impressive peaks before, and he is heading to meet up with old friend and excellent offensive coach Frank Reich. The Colts are damn good, it’ll be interesting to see how things turn out. If Wentz became a top sixteen quarterback again I wouldn’t be surprised, if he flopped miserably I wouldn’t be surprised either.
22. Jared Goff
2020 season: 16 Gs, 9–7, 66.9 Cmp%, 4281 YDs, 7.0 Y/A, 22 TD, 13 INT
Jared is a nice guy. I’m just not so sure he’s a good quarterback.
He showed some toughness in the playoffs, but McVay REALLY didn’t want him around and traded a lot to get rid of him in favor of Stafford. Goff’s relocation to a rebuild in Detroit isn’t as pretty of a destination as somewhere like Indy where Wentz landed.
Tier 9: Journeymen
23. Ryan Fitzpatrick
2020 season: 7 Gs, 4–3, 68.5 Cmp%, 2091 YDs, 7.8 Y/A, 13 TD, 8 INT
The Washington Football Team can play defense, they got a few guys on offense. Let’s let it rock till the wheels fall off Fitzy.
Tier 10: *squint* Maybe? But Probably Not.
24. Daniel Jones
2020 season: 14 Gs, 5–9, 62.5 Cmp%, 2943 YDs, 6.6 Y/A, 11 TD, 10 INT
65 rushes, 423 YDs, 1 TD, 6.2 Y/A
This man averages like two turnovers per game. That ain’t going to win games. It may already be put up or shut up for Daniel Jones and David Gettleman in New York. Adding Kenny Golladay and Saquon returning from injury helps, but I’m not sure if the offensive line was addressed thoroughly enough.
25. Cam Newton
2020 season: 15 Gs, 7–8, 65.8. Cmp%, 2657 YDs, 7.2 Y/A, 8 TD, 10 INT
137 rushes, 592 YDs, 12 TD, 4.3 Y/A
Another former MVP that has fallen from grace. Cam wasn’t exactly given much to work with last year. While the Patriots drafted Mac Jones in the first round, we’ll see if Cam can win and keep the starting job with new Patriots’ tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry now beside him.
26. Jalen Hurts
2020 season: 4 Gs m, 3–1, 52 Cmp%, 1061 YDs, 7.2 Y/A, 6 TD, 4 INT
63 rushes, 354 YDs, 3 TD, 5.6 Y/A
We didn’t see a whole lot out of Hurts last year. There were some flash plays, and there were also lousy plays. I won’t take a hard stance on Hurts just yet.
Tier 11: Spot Starters (Likely Not For Long)
27. Teddy Bridgewater
2020 season: 15 Gs, 4–11, 69.1 Cmp%, 3733 YDs, 7.6 Y/A, 15 TD, 11 INT
If Teddy beats out Drew Lock, he’ll be slinging it all the way down the field, 5 yards at a time.
28. Andy Dalton
2020 season: 9 Gs, 4–5, 64.9 Cmp%, 2170 YDs, 6.5 Y/A, 14 TD, 8 INT
What could be more exciting for Chicago Bears fans than sitting Justin Fields for Andy Dalton? Who knows? It could be for the best thing for Fields, but if that defense is still high caliber and Dalton is just leaving them out there to die… that locker room is going to start mumbling.
29. Jimmy Garoppolo
2020 season: 6 Gs, 3–3. 67.1 Cmp%, 1096 YDs, 7.8 Y/A, 7 TD, 5 INT
Kyle Shanahan has himself a shiny new car in the garage in Trey Lance. Nobody’s quite sure when we’ll see Lance hit the field, but we know Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco is ticking. Jimmy G may go revive his career a bit somewhere, or more likely become a spot starter or bridge quarterback, but Garoppolo clearly has his warts: limited talent and often injured.
Tier 12: Who Knows?
30. Taysom Hill/Jameis Winston
I couldn’t tell you who really starts or if it’s some kind of awkward split, but because its Sean Payton it’ll still probably end up being better than seven or eight situations listed above this.
31. Tua Tagovailoa
2020 season: 9 Gs, 6–3, 64.1 Cmp%, 1814 YDs, 6.3 Y/A, 11 TD, 5 INT
Tua won some games his rookie year, but he also looked ehh. I am a believer in Brian Flores and what he’s building in Miami. I’m not sure if I’m a believer in Tua.
I have not seen enough yet to take a stance.
New Toys (Unboxing Yet To Be Seen)
Zach Wilson
Trey Lance
Justin Fields
Mac Jones
We’ll for sure see Wilson to start. Who knows if and when we’ll see Fields, Jones or Lance this year.
I’m pretty bullish on Fields in terms of him as a prospect, but I am not a fan of Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy.
Zach Wilson probably has the most impressive arm talent but he’s slight in frame and it’s the Jets, though I do like the direction they’re heading.
Trey Lance displays impressive physical traits, and he had experience in a pro style offense at North Dakota State where he had to make calls at the line of scrimmage. He falls into the best spot of the rookie quarterbacks with Kyle Shanahan as his head coach.
Mac Jones may be the least physically impressive of the bunch, but he had a stellar year at Alabama and we’ve seen New England succeed with quarterback that’s not all that physically impressive before.