Now that Patrick Mahomes has established himself as the new Tom Brady with his third Super Bowl ring, the question becomes…who will be the NFL quarterback to end his reign atop the league?
It won’t be easy but these seven signal-callers have the best shot at dethroning Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the future.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
A healthy Tua Tagovailoa proved that he can play against anybody in this league. The problem with the Dolphins was they couldn’t stop anyone on the defensive side. If they got down to a good team early, it was hard for the Dolphins offense to keep up. We’ve seen what they can do when they get on a roll, like when they steamrolled the Broncos and put 70 points on them. But Tua and Tyreek Hill can’t do it by themselves. The defense needs to make major improvements if they are to compete with Mahomes and the Chiefs but within their own division. They almost knocked off the Chiefs earlier in the season, but Tua and the Fins still have work to do if they want to take the next step.
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts was on an MVP pace last year and was one play away from leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. This past season was rough for the young quarterback as the Eagles replaced an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. The Eagles did bring in former Dallas Cowboys OC Kellen Moore who did wonders with Dak Prescott, but the problem with the Eagles was their defense. They couldn’t stop anyone, especially at the end of the season. Their failure on defense forced Hurts to carry this team on his back and, although he is a good quarterback, the Eagles offense just wasn’t good enough. But if they can right the ship, Hurts and the Eagles remain a team to watch.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy may not have won the Super Bowl, but he proved himself worthy of the spotlight. He also proved himself a formidable foe to Mahomes. Purdy threw for 255 yards and a touchdown and almost helped the Niners beat KC. If the 49ers can find a couple more offensive weapons to surround him with, it’s hard not to imagine they’ll be back in the Super Bowl next year. Purdy is not just a game manager, he proved he could make some plays with his arms and legs. This won’t be the last time we see him in a Super Bowl. Next year, he will be considered by many as the top quarterback in the NFC.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud proved in his rookie season that he will be a force to be reckoned with. Stroud was in the running for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and did take home Offensive Rookie of the Year. Like Purdy, if he gets more weapons around him, watch out. The Texans still have a ways to go, but Mahomes may need to start looking over his shoulder because Stroud is coming fast.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson came very close this season to knocking Mahomes off his throne, but once again fell short. Jackson put up great numbers during his second MVP season, but it wasn’t enough. A lot of the blame for the Ravens’ AFC Championship game loss has fallen on the shoulders of head coach John Harbaugh, who set his quarterback up to fail by divesting from the run game. Still, Jackson will pose a threat to Mahomes if Harbaugh and the Ravens can figure out how to get it done in the playoffs.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
If Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes is the modern Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning, it’s important to remember the ways that rivalry changed over time. While Brady dominated Manning for a long time, Manning would eventually defeat Brady on several occasions en route to multiple titles of his own. The question here is, can Josh Allen accomplish the same? Allen has come close several times to defeating Mahomes but always falls short. What finally helped Manning defeat Brady was a strong defense and a solid running game. That would take a lot of pressure off of Allen in Buffalo. The Bills better hurry as their Super Bowl window could be closing soon, especially as the AFC East looks competitive again next season.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The only AFC quarterback who has taken down Mahomes more than once is Joe Burrow. His Bengals defeated the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game just two years ago. Burrow and the Bengals have the swag and an explosive offense that can keep pace with KC. Their Achilles heel, however, is injuries. Burrow missed most of the past season because of an injury. If he can stay well, he and the Bengals can pose a real threat to Mahomes and the Chiefs. When he is accurate, he and Ja’Marr Chase are one of the best QB-WR combinations in the NFL.
