NFL End of Season Quarterback Rankings

With the 2020 NFL regular season and postseason fully in the rearview mirror, now is a great time to complete the tall task of ranking the top 10 at every single position. We start with the most important: quarterbacks.

*These rankings are based on the 2020 season ONLY

Honorable Mention: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Murray didn’t quite live up to the MVP status that the media was prematurely giving him last offseason, but his quick ascension has Cardinals fans confident in their future. In Year 2, Murray increased his already-solid completion percentage by 2.8 points, and tossed six more touchdowns in the same amount of games. His rushing ability might have been even more impressive than his arm. He totaled over 800 yards on the ground and scored 11 touchdowns, good for seventh in the league.

10. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns

After a sloppy sophomore season, Baker Mayfield decided to start doing more by doing less. He allowed his incredible backfield duo to take the lead and followed by posting the most efficient season of his career. Even with a career-low in passing attempts per game, Mayfield still threw 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, less than half of last season’s amount. Most importantly, behind his leadership, the Browns earned a playoff spot for the first time in my lifetime.

9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

With Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa garnering the most attention among rookie passers, it was a surprise to everyone to watch Justin Herbert emerge as the best of the bunch this year. His very first start was a precursor to his amazing year; he broke the 300-yard mark and nearly knocked off the mighty Chiefs back in Week Two. Just two weeks later, Herbert shredded the Bucs defense to the tune of 290 yards and three scores on 80% completion. He finished the year with 4,336 yards, shattered the rookie touchdown record (31), and took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

8. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans

After torching the league for ten games in 2019, Tannehill proved that his age-31 breakout campaign was absolutely no fluke. Even with the OPOY lined up behind him at tailback, “Tanny” still threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns… with just seven INTs. His passer rating of 106.5 placed him fifth in the league, just a year after he paced every QB in that same category. What’s scary is that with the way the game is today, Tannehill might be just entering his prime. With him, Derrick Henry, and A.J. Brown on the same starting 11, the Titans should be making noise for years to come.

7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

After becoming the league’s second-ever unanimous MVP, things weren’t as smooth in 2020 for the third-year man from Louisville. A 5-1 start quickly evaporated and nearly 3/4ths through the season, the Ravens were barely over .500. After a stint with COVID, Jackson returned and went on a ridiculous five-game stretch, throwing for over 800 yards, rushing for 430 more, and picking up 15 total touchdowns. Baltimore went undefeated in that span. Jackson also made sure to shake off his postseason demons and finally notch his first career playoff win.

6. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

If you read this list after Wilson’s first seven games, you’d be confused on how he fell this low. From Weeks 1-8, his average stat line looked like this: 307.3 YDS, 3.7 TD, 0.9 INT. He was on pace to hit almost 5,000 yards and take Peyton Manning’s TD record with him. Although he fell off a cliff during the last nine games, his second-half pace would still be pretty good. Wilson’s last nine games extrapolated to a 16-game season: 3,664 YDS, 25 TD, 12 INT. That’s a career year for a lot of guys. For Russ, it’s a bad stretch.

5. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

That’s right, a 43-year-old quarterback is still a top-5 QB in the National Football League. Brady continues to stand the test of time, winning an MVP at age 40, a Super Bowl at 41, and another at 43. Don’t think he’s some game manager at this point either. He just came off a regular season in which he threw 40 (!) touchdowns, the second-most of his career. I was one of the many who claimed before this season that Brady was no longer in the upper echelon of signal-callers. I stand very, very corrected.

4. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans

After spending the offseason watching his coach/GM do his best to ruin a franchise, Deshaun Watson was forced to play with the cupboard bare in 2020. It didn’t matter. Despite absorbing the second-most sacks in the league, Watson completed over 70% of his passes, led the league in passing yards, and posted a sterling 33:7 TD-to-INT ratio. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to overcome a team burdened with the 30th ranked defense, and the Texans won just four games. Historic things could be in store next season as Watson tries to maneuver his way to another team.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Unlike the NBA, the NFL does not have a “Most Improved Player” award. Regardless, I will be naming Allen the unofficial 2020 recipient of the fantasy award. Just compare the difference in his raw stats between 2019 and ‘20:

2019: 16 games, 10-6 record,  58.8 comp%, 3,089 YDS, 20 TD, 9 INT, 85.3 RATE, 49.4 QBR

2020: 16 games, 13-3 record, 69.2 comp%, 4,544 YDS, 37 TD, 10 INT, 107.2 RATE, 81.7 QBR

From below-average passer to bonafide superstar.

1b. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

In just 15 games, Mahomes threw for 4,740 yards and 38 TDs and nobody blinked an eye. This kind of greatness has become expected from the 25-year-old quarterback. If not for the Chiefs dominating the AFC so thoroughly, he could’ve played the 16th game and hit 5,000+ yards and 40+ TDs for the second time… in three years. Only Drew Brees has accomplished the feat multiple times (and he had 33 INTs between those two seasons compared to a likely 18 for Mahomes). Mahomes’ postseason was just as incredible. A week removed from a concussion, he threw for 325 yards and 3 TDs in the AFC Championship. And even if the box score doesn’t support it, those who watched know that despite unprecedented pressure, Mahomes still had one of the best performances in Super Bowl history.

1a. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

In what’s become a common theme in the career of Rodgers, his team fell one game short of the Super Bowl. That shouldn’t take away from the prolific season that he had for Green Bay. Falling just a yard short of 4,300 yards, Rodgers amassed unthinkable totals of 48 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 70.7% completion percentage. His passer rating of 121.5 was second all-time behind his own mark of 122.5 set in 2011. And if you think TD: INT ratios like that are anything new for Rodgers, look at this:

Aaron Rodgers’ 35+ TD Seasons

2011: 45 TD, 6 INT

2012: 39 TD, 8 INT

2014: 38 TD, 5 INT

2016: 40 TD, 7 INT

2020: 48 TD, 5 INT

No other QB has more than one such season (38+ TD, < 9 INT).

*all statistics are taken from Pro Football Reference & StatMuse

Writer

-By: Micah Jimoh