NFL quarterback rankings, Week 1: Patrick Mahomes sets the pace
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. player. 48. Pick Analysis. QB. Tom Brady. 7. Scouting Report
2019 stats: 4,057 yards | 60.8 completion % | 24 TDs | 8 INTs | 6.6 YPA | 55.7 QBR
The 43-year-old is changing uniforms and getting a massive upgrade in weaponry. This is the best offense Brady has played on since the days of Wes Welker and Randy Moss in New England. His 2019 was substandard, but the film shows a quarterback betrayed by his surroundings, not his skills.
Scouting Report. QB. Aaron Rodgers. 6. player. 49. Pick Analysis. Green Bay Packers
2019 stats: 4,002 yards | 62.0 completion % | 26 TDs | 4 INTs | 7.0 YPA | 52.5 QBR
Rodgers has been declining slowly in recent years, but he’s still an upper-echelon talent. If the Packers are going to reach the Super Bowl, though, Rodgers needs to recapture his MVP form. The desire will be there with Jordan Love on the bench, but will that be enough?
Drew Brees. 15. Scouting Report. QB. 5. player. Pick Analysis. New Orleans Saints
2019 stats: 2,979 yards | 74.3 completion % | 27 TDs | 4 INTs | 7.9 YPA | 73.3 QBR
This could be it for Brees, who is searching for his second Super Bowl title. After missing five games last season, the 41-year-old returned and looked sharp, throwing for 15 touchdowns against zero interceptions over New Orleans’ final four regular-season games. The magic is still there.
player. 26. Scouting Report. QB. Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson. Pick Analysis. 4
2019 stats: 3,127 yards | 66.1 completion % | 36 TDs | 6 INTs | 7.8 YPA | 83.0 QBR
Some may argue Jackson is a few spots to low. Maybe that’s fair. The reasoning for his placement is while his rushing ability is Michael Vickian, history says it’s unsustainable. In the air, the numbers were terrific, albeit with a low yardage total. Jackson is a top-five quarterback, but he needs to win more often from the pocket for Baltimore to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
10. Pick Analysis. 3. player. Deshaun Watson. Scouting Report. QB. Houston Texans
2019 stats: 3,852 yards | 67.3 completion % | 26 TDs | 12 INTs | 7.8 YPA | 70.5 QBR
Watson got paid on Saturday, and he deserved it. Despite playing behind a leaky offensive line and dealing with Bill O’Brien as a head coach, the former Clemson star still led Houston to an AFC South crown while making one play after the next. He’s a wonderful dual threat, and he’ll need to be without DeAndre Hopkins moving forward.
36. Scouting Report. QB. Russell Wilson. player. Pick Analysis. Seattle Seahawks. 2
2019 stats: 4,110 yards | 66.1 completion % | 31 TDs | 5 INTs | 8.0 YPA | 71.5 QBR
If Wilson played in an East Coast media market, he’d be talked about as one of the all-time greats. With the Seahawks, Wilson has continuously played outstanding football despite a coaching staff hellbent on playing like it’s 1992. With a real nice cast of weapons, look for Wilson to push once more for the MVP.
124. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Kansas City Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes. player. QB. 1
2019 stats: 4,031 yards | 65.9 completion % | 26 TDs | 5 INTs | 8.3 YPA | 77.7 QBR
Right now, it’s Mahomes and everyone else. The fourth-year star is the favorite both for MVP and to win the Super Bowl, with his Kansas City Chiefs loaded with dynamic playmakers. Mahomes has offensive genius Andy Reid devising schemes, and will routinely have Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman and Clyde Edwards-Helaire as targets. It’s comical.