Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we’ll be ranking all 32 current starting quarterbacks from best to worst. Here’s the breakdown following Week 1.
32. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: It’s hard to believe we’re putting the reigning MVP in this spot, but his 36.8 Week 1 passer rating was nearly twice as low as any other starting quarterback in the league.
31. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: The 36-year-old averaged just 4.7 yards per attempt in a dud performance at home to start the season.
30. Andy Dalton, Chicago Bears: Just a bridge to Justin Fields, Dalton was quite ineffective in a weak showing on the road to kick off the campaign. It’s only a matter of time.
29. Daniel Jones, New York Giants: A sub-60 completion percentage and another costly fumble for the third-year turnover machine in a Week 1 home loss.
28. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: Despite huge expectations, the reigning MVP runner-up wasn’t himself in a poor Week 1 home showing. For now, he belongs in the bottom five.
27. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: The usually steady veteran was ineffective while averaging a league-low 1.6 air yards per attempt in a brutal Week 1 loss.
26. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: The 2020 first-round pick continues to be a work in progress. He had a sub-60 completion rate, one touchdown, and one pick, but it was enough to help the Dolphins win on the road Sunday.
25. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: There were several highs and lows for the No. 1 overall pick Sunday, but a blowout loss and three interceptions isn’t ideal.
24. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: Big Ben wasn’t a train wreck and the Steelers did walk away with a win Sunday, but the 39-year-old had the second-highest bad throw rate in Week 1 (behind only Rodgers).
23. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns: He threw a pick and failed to find the end zone in a loss, but the fourth-year No. 1 overall pick was extremely accurate outside of that as the Browns put up a fight against the defending AFC champions on the road.
22. Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts: It wasn’t a kick-ass debut in Indy for Wentz, but a triple-digit passer rating and no interceptions is the key.
21. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: With limited support, he threw three touchdown passes and nearly led a magical comeback against a tough opponent. Not bad at all.
20. Zach Wilson, New York Jets: The rookie No. 2 overall pick was by far the most pressured quarterback in the league in Week 1, yet he fought through and rebounded from a rough start for a solid performance on the road.
19. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers: The former Jet was also under plenty of pressure in his Carolina debut, but he posted a triple-digit passer rating in a victory anyway.
18. Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans: In place of Deshaun Watson, the veteran journeyman posted a 112.1 passer rating, threw two touchdown passe, and added 40 rushing yards in a win.
17. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers: With Trey Lance breathing down his neck, Jimmy G was extremely efficient in a Week 1 win.
16. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings: So was Cousins, who posted 351 yards and was on target 89.1 percent of the time in a tough road loss.
15. Mac Jones, New England Patriots: The rookie No. 15 overall selection was on target on an AFC-best 89.5 percent of his passes in an extremely promising maiden start.
14. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees’ successor posted the exact same on-target rate in his season debut for the Saints. Critically, he committed zero turnovers in a convincing victory.
13. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: Two fumbles in a loss hold Jackson back here, but he was solid with his arm while rushing for 86 yards on the road.
12. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders: The underrated veteran passed for 435 yards in an impressive overtime victory to wrap up Week 1.
11. Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team: In relief of the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick, only three quarterbacks averaged more air yards per attempt than Heinicke in a promising Week 1 performance.
10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: The numbers (one touchdown, one pick, 85.2 passer rating) don’t do justice to the sophomore’s performance in an impressive road win over a defensively stout opponent.
9. Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos: He has his limitations, but the league’s 10th-highest-rated passer did everything the Broncos needed in a Week 1 road victory.
8. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: Three touchdowns, no picks, a 77.1 completion percentage and 57 rushing yards in a road victory. Boom.
7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: It was a promising showing for the veteran in his return from a severe ankle injury, as he completed more than 70 percent of his passes for more than 400 yards in a tough loss.
6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: The third-year No. 1 overall pick lit up a strong opponent on the road with five combined passing/rushing touchdowns. This could be his big breakout season.
5. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Four touchdown passes for the 44-year-old in a debut that would have looked a lot better if not for mistakes from his supporting cast.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: The sophomore No. 1 overall pick was again under too much pressure, but he still completed 74.1 percent of his passes and posted the league’s fifth-highest passer rating in an upset road victory.
3. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: The league’s highest-rated passer averaged a fantastic 7.0 air yards per attempt in his debut. He looks damn comfortable in L.A.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: The magic is back as he completed 75 percent of his passes and posted a 131.4 passer rating, while also rushing for a critical touchdown in a Week 1 victory.
1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: The perennial MVP candidate is off to another hot start after throwing four touchdown passes to zero interceptions in a road win. He was on target on a league-best 90.5 percent of his passes, while averaging a tremendous 6.2 air yards per attempt.