1. Josh Allen

Of the elite QBs, Josh Allen has retained the most weapons from 2021. Steady possession receiver Cole Beasley was released but he had a down year in 2021 following a strong season in 2020. Allen flourished with him having a down season so there’s no indication that this won’ t continue. Stefon Diggs is still WR1 and they added OJ Howard of Tampa and Jamison Crowder of the Jets. The Bills haven’t suffered any significant losses that will make the offense look completely different. The other elite QBs on this list are dealing with significant changes that could potentially impact their production. On paper, this doesn’t appear to be the case for Josh Allen so I feel comfortable ranking him as the best QB going into 2022.

1. Patrick Mahomes

From a talent and skill vantage point, Patrick Mahomes is by far the best QB in the NFL. However, KC traded all-world WR Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins. Tyreek Hill is unique because he’s the best deep treat since Randy Moss but he’s also a gamebreaker who can turn an 8 yard slant into a 50-yard gain. He puts pressure on defenses every possession. Teams not only cannot double all-pro TE Travis Kelce when he’s suited up but his speed forces safeties to play off creating space for everyone on the field. The Chiefs acquired JuJu Smith-Schuster who is a solid WR and will play well with Mahomes but he doesn’t create the mismatches like Hill did nor does he stretch the defenses out like him either. Teams will be able to put a spotlight on a soon to be 33 year-old Kelce and defend the Chiefs in ways coordinators haven’t been able to during the Mahomes-Era. I still expect a great season from Mahomes but I think losing Hill will make him take a step back from the All-Galaxy status that he’s been flying in since 2018.

1. Russell Wilson

After a down season in his last year as a Seahawk, I think Russell Wilson is going to have a big year for Denver. The Broncos have a sneaky good offense. They have Melvin Gordon who has been productive despite shaky QB play. Javontae Williams is an absolute gamebreaker who as the lead back could be a top 5 fantasy football pick. He’ll be splitting the load with Gordon again, so that will lessen his overall production but he’s a great player. Jerry Jeudy is a guy who I think can breakout and have a big campaign. Tim Patrick and Cortland Sutton are both solid as well. Offensive line is a question mark, but Russell Wilson has thrived for years under below average Seahawk offensive lines, so I don’t think it’s cause for worry in Denver. I expect a strong MVP-level season from Wilson.

1. Tom Brady

Gronk is retired, AB is gone, and Godwin is injured. The Bucs are pretty depleted and are going to have to find weapons. There are a lot of questions marks at the moment. I believe in Tom Brady and fully believe that they’ll put together an 11 or 12 win season but I can’t see him being a top 3 QB just because of how much they have lost.

1. Justin Herbert

The Chargers are absolutely stacked. They might be the most loaded team in a loaded AFC West division that is one of the most talented 4-team division that we have ever seen. The Chargers underperformed last season by not making the playoffs. I think Herbert capitalizes in year 3 and fully takes the leap into the realm of the elite.

1. Aaron Rodgers

The Packers may have the best 1-2 RB punch in the league with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. They’re going to need to rely on them heavily because losing Devante Adams is going to hurt. I thought that the Packers needed a great WR opposite Adams to get over the hump and get back to the SB. Being so reliant on Adams has hurt them in those tough physical playoff matchups that they haven’t been able to win. Losing him made a shaky situation one of the worst in the league. I don’t see ARod winning his third consecutive MVP.

1. Joe Burrow

SB losers have historically had a tough time bouncing back from the loss. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are as poised as any other team to rectify this. Like Justin Herbert and the Chargers, Joey B and the Bengals are pretty stacked. Ja’Marr Chase had one of the greatest seasons ever by a rookie WR and he should only improve in year 2. Joe Mixon is one of the more underrated RBs in the league. He’s a great player. Tee Higgins is an excellent number 2 to have. The Bengals are not void of weapons and I think Joe Burrow will continue to establish as one of the finest QBs in the game.

1. Lamar Jackson

Lamar is going to have another prolific and productive season for the Ravens. The issue isn’t him but the weapons around him. Outside of Mark Andrews, the Ravens didn’t have a lot of playmakers. Baltimore could use a productive RB and a genuine WR1 as Marquise Brown wasn’t that. Rashod Bateman has potential but is unproven. As it has been for years, WR and passing game-planning remain an issue and until it’s improved, Lamar is stuck in this range, despite having the potential to rival for first.

1. Kyler Murrary

Kyler Murray was an MVP-candidate for the first half of the season but he quickly and drastically tapered off in the second half, culminating in an awful first round playoff loss. The offseason has been rough too, as Kyler is strangely demanding a contract extension. It’s odd that Kyler would make these types of demands as if he wouldn’t get it. He’s not even 25 and he’s one of the most dynamic and unique QBs in the league, he’s going to get a huge deal by just playing the course. I’m not sure why he’s so jumpy but he’s a talented QB even though him and coach Kliff Kingsbury seem to get figured out before the season ends. It’s uncertain if they will buck this but AZ is a deadly offense with Murray at the helm, so you can expect high-level production from him.

1. Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford answered any doubts about his ability last season. I personally think that he punched his ticket into Canton. I’m not sure if the Rams will go back-to-back but I expect another great season from Stafford as he gets even more acquainted with Sean McVay’s offense.

1. Dak Prescott

The Cowboys lost Amari Cooper in a trade to Cleveland but the offense is still stacked. There could be a changing of the guard in the backfield between Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard but regardless, the Cowboys will be deploying one of the best 1-2 RB punches in the NFL. CeeDee Lamb is incredible and I think he’ll prove himself as a fine number 1. Dan Arnold is a good TE and the Cowboys have really offensive line to protect Dak. I think he’s going to be very productive as he has been for his entire career. Ultimately, however, Dak and the Cowboys will be critiqued by what they do in the postseason and not weeks 1 through 17.

1. Jalen Hurts

People are unnecessarily hard on Jalen Hurts. He was solid in his first season as a starter. The Eagles offense wasn’t exactly a murder’s row last season, yet they made the playoffs in part because of Hurts’ play. He still has a ways to go as a consistent pocket passer but his athleticism, speed, impact on the game, and overall talent are apparent. I could definitely see Hurts taking a similar leap like Josh Allen did in year 3. Hurts appears to have an excellent work-ethic, so I think he’s going to push himself to improve. Adding AJ Brown opposite Devonta Smith in year 2 won’t dampen Hurts’ outlook either.

1. Derek Carr

Streaky is the best way to describe Derek Carr. Sometimes he has flashes of a very good QB, but it’s not nearly consistent enough to justify him the top 10. The Raiders are pretty stacked now that they have DaVante Adams. Him, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow are arguably the most dynamic trio in the NFL. Add Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake in the backfield and on paper the Raiders have a potentially prolific offense. The determining factor for how well the Raiders perform will be on Derek Carr and which version of him consistently shows up to play.

1. Jimmy Garoppollo

The Niners are moving on from a good QB. He’s not perfect and has benefitted from excellent play-calling, an amazing run game, dynamic playmakers, and a stout D, yet he hasn’t gotten in the way of his team’s success and there’s something to be said about that. He does put a cap on the 49ers’ potential, but he has won a lot of games with them and has proven to be competent. Jimmy G is above a game-manager and more importantly, he won’t lose you games. He’s a solid QB who is a consistent winner.

1. Kirk Cousins

Kirk is the opposite of Jimmy G in a lot of ways. Minnesota has a stacked team with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, KJ Osbourne and Dalvin Cook yet they struggle to consistently win. Kirk was brought in following a 13-3 season and an NFC Championship appearance to be the guy that takes them over the top and reach the SB. They haven’t come close to that despite giving Kirk an elite defense and elite playmakers during his tenure. He ostensibly has a high ceiling but in actuality he has given the Vikings a lowered floor that they have stumbled into.

1. Ryan Tannehill

Ryan Tannehill can look really good if he has weapons around him. Derrick Henry is coming off of a lower body injury and A.J. Brown was traded to the Eagles. Tannehill had the best season of his career in 2020 but a decent one in 2021. I expect a run-of-the mill performance for Ryan Tannehill in 2022.

1. Mac Jones

2. Trevor Lawrence

3. Jameis Winston

4. Tua

5. Matt Ryan

6. Carson Wentz

7. Baker Mayfield

8. Justin Fields

9. Taylor Heinicke

10. Davis Mills

11. Zach Wilson

12. Jared Goff

13. Daniel Jones

14. Sam Darnold

15. Mitch Trubisky

16. Geno Smith