NFL Quarterback Tiers (2020 Offseason Edition)

Shoutout to my good friend Kyle for the inspiration behind this post. We each made our respective tiers a few weeks back over iMessage and I figured it would be a great idea as a post for my start-up blog to get the debate juices flowing. Enjoy and feel free to reply with your own tiers.

*The QBs featured on each list are not in any specific rank order*

2020 NFL QB tiers:

-Patrick Mahomes II–>

You could make the argument that this man deserves to be in a category of his own, and I wouldn’t be opposed whatsoever.

-Deshaun Watson–>

Has won on every level and people still continue to doubt him. Sorry Bears fans.

-Russell Wilson–>

Just because he’s 5″10 doesn’t mean he isn’t the clutchest player in the league. With the game on the line, give me Russ on my team all day everyday.

-Lamar Jackson–>

He is changing the sport. All of the next generations of football players are going to emulate his play style. He is paving the way for the next generation of QBs to not be just pocket passers, but athletes on the field. He will have a Steph Curry- like-effect on the NFL.

-Aaron Rodgers–>

You’ll stay here for now, A-Aron. Do I consider you to be playing on the same level as the other guys in this category? No. Truth of the matter is, at this stage in your career, you need a lot of help to win the big one these days. You’re probably a top 5 talent the league has ever seen at your position, but a changing of the guard is coming, as the kids are starting to push you out the door. Just off sheer name brand and all your State Farm commercials, I’ll keep you here for now. Don’t get too comfy.

-Eli Manning–>

I’ll put Eli here, but he was benched for almost the entire season. Round your pitchforks Eli stans.

-Drew Brees–>

Drew can sling it with the best of them and some of his records may never be sniffed, but one could argue the Saints haven’t been as explosive of an offense the past few years, as they’ve geared toward being more defense and run-oriented.

-Big Ben–>

Certainly a HOFer, but who knows if the ole backyard football gunslinger will be back after looking more like Santa Claus than an NFL QB at the end of this year’s regular season on the sideline.

-Tom Brady–>

We’ve all heard the chatter and the rumors and seen the handshakes with Mark Davis at UFC246. No matter where ‘Tawmy Boy’ winds up next season, we can all admit he has taken a step back, just not off of Max Kellerman’s sed cliff…just yet.

-Jimmy Garoppolo–>

The man of the hour. Yes, he’s been around the block, but not for long as a starter (Only 30 career games started) Need to see more. I had this take a few weeks back even before last night’s game. Let’s not forget he’s 28 years old.

-Sam Darnold aka Buddy Pine–>

Even as a crosstown rival, I respect Sam. He seems to be a good kid and has the makeup to be the face of the New York Jets. My only knock on him is he is highly turnover prone through the air since his USC days, which isn’t very easy to correct. Get Gase out of town and get him an O-line and I think the Jets are going to have an enjoyable next decade of football with Broadway Sam under the helm.

-Daniel Jones–>

Danny Dimes. Heir apparent. Eli Jr. Hoboken Green Rock’s biggest attraction. What more can I say about this guy? If he played all 16 games this year and didn’t have butter fingers he would’ve shattered the rookie TD record and probably quite easily taken home the Giants second consecutive OROY. As a Giant lifer I’ll admit I have a man crush on DJ, but in all seriousness, if wins games he will be a big star in the NY market. He has the demeanor for it.

-Kyler Murray–>

He’ll be a star if he isn’t already, due to his unique skillset and miniature stature. Heck, it even won him ROY hardware. Yes, shots fired intended. Josh Jacobs or AJ Brown put up far more impressive rookie campaigns.

-Josh Allen–>

World renowned NFL combine warrior, and Twitter fingers tweeter needs to stop being ragged on by the NFL community… this man can play. Budding star.

-Carson Wentz-ylvania–>

He’s a star. He has the potential to be top 5 QB if he stays healthy. Although he’ll never win over the hearts of Philly quite like Nick Foles did.

-Jared Goff–>

He regressed this year without a consistent running game. I need to see more from him. LAR has too talented of a roster and too expensive of a payroll to be missing out on the postseason and that falls on the QBs shoulders in this business.

-Baker Mayfield–>

Baker, I’ll admit I don’t like you very much after your comments about my QB, saying that he isn’t a winner when he had better #s than you this year with a far less talented roster and situation. *Kermit the frog tea sip* All jokes aside, he showed me enough his rookie year that he can be a franchise guy. I’ll admit he did have to deal with a lot of dysfunction this year and overall bad coaching. I just wish he would shut his mouth sometimes. He’ll get back on track this year with Stefanski.

-Jameis Winston–>

Jury is out. He can’t throw to the right team.

-Kirk Cousins–>

IMO the most overpaid QB in the league. A stat padder who will get you to playoffs but no further than that consolation prize.

-Ryan Tannehill–>

Can win in the right situation as shown this postseason. However, who knows he’ll even be in town this time come next year with Giselle rumored to be enrolling her kids in the local Music City middle school.

-Dak Prescott–>

He’ll never be a “Superstar” because of his talent but you could argue he could be a superstar for winning on the big stage and the for the mere fact that he’s the QB of America’s team. He’ll be franchise tagged again this offseason in hopes of cashing out next offseason following the new CBA agreement that should get done shortly.

-Cam Newton–>

I fear he’ll be the next Andrew Luck.

-Mitchell Trubisky–>

Gave him the benefit of the doubt just because of the Bears defense and Nagy’s play-calling prowess.

-Jacoby Brissett–>

I predict he’ll be the highest paid backup QB in the league next regular season. Colts jumped the gun.

-Teddy Bridgewater–>

He’s a solid starter in this league and you can certainly win with him, but he doesn’t have talent to carry a squad imo. He’ll get a nice pay day this offseason to be a “bridge” QB to one of these rookies coming out in the draft, with the Saints putting their eggs in the Taysom Hill basket.

-Matt Stafford–>

Statt Padford. S/O FS1’s Rob Parker. He has a shot at HOF due to stats, but I just have an inkling he won’t be in DET much longer.

-Matt Ryan–>

Matty Ice has a shot at HOF due to stats as well, but will probably never win the big one due to the sheer trauma of that 28-3 choke job.

-Dwayne Haskins–>

I think he should’ve sat for a year or even 2. Personally do not think he was ready to play this year, but shoutout the Redskins dysfunction.

-Gardner Minshew–>

Love this guy’s charisma & handlebar mustache. He’ll put butts in seats in the sunshine state. I think he’ll be a serviceable starter, but never a star.

-Josh Rosen–>

After Josh’s draft night guarantee of making all the teams who passed on him pay, he’s spent his NFL tenure on the 2 worst rosters in the league the past 2 years. The Cardinals and Dolphins simply didn’t believe in him. He needs someone to give him a shot. Bill Bellichek I’m looking at you.

-Drew Lock–>

He showed me a lot this year, but still too early to tell. Elway’s handpick QB’s don’t necessarily have an outstanding track record.

-Derek Carr–>

Yea, he starred on Hard Knocks and endured the Antonio Brown saga, but rumors are Las Vegas will look to lure Tom Brady to town as the once proud franchise heads into a new chapter.

-Joe Flacco–>

Can’t see him ever being a productive starter again. Please don’t compare him to Eli ever again.

-Nick Foles–>

Immortalized in Philly and will never have to pay for a cheesesteak again in his life, Foles still isn’t worth the bang for his buck.

-Andy Dalton–>

I believe he will play for the New England Patriots next season. As a Patriots QB under Bill, you’ll always have a shot to win big.

-Philip Rivers–>

I’m not as high on him as other people are. I feel like he always had great rosters and could never win. I’ll take Eli’s 2 rings as the Giants can look back and say they overwhelmingly won that 2004 Draft night blockbuster. I think River’s will play for Bruce Arians in Tampa Bay next season.

-Case Keenum–>

Wouldn’t count out Keenum to find his way back to starting for some team due to injury and making some noise. Gritty player who always finds a way.

-Ryan FitzMagic–>

The perfect bridge/tank/rebuild QB there ever was. Legend. He is the definition of what a journeyman QB should be and look like.

-Marcus Mariota–>

He’ll find his way into a backup role this coming season just because of his #2 pick draft pedigree. A Seattle or Chargers will give him a shot.

-Tyrod Taylor–>

Here’s a guy I feel like can still play, especially in today’s NFL. However, Tyrod (whichever way you or he chooses to pronounce it) is nothing more than a journeyman.

-RGIII–>

Robert Griffin is now watching his fellow teammate, Lamar Jackson, do what he would’ve done in the NFL, if it weren’t for his inability to slide and get out of bounds. He’s a bonafide backup, but a real good guy and teammate from what I hear.

This concludes my FULL NFL Quarterback Tier list that featured a lot of my input with how I feel about each player, and a little bit about where I expect them to be and what I expect of them, this upcoming season. I know I left out some guys, but these are specific players I felt were worth talking about. A very long article, way longer than I anticipated, but I wanted to get all of my thoughts out on the page in regards to the state of the Quarterback position for next year, and for years to come in the league. I hope whoever reads this enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it up.