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Jeremy Fowler
With 2025 NFL coaching camps on the horizon, the league’s true insiders made their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to assist us rank the highest 10 gamers at 11 completely different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This was the sixth version of those rankings, and as typical, a number of gamers moved up or fell off final 12 months’s lists.
A reminder of the rankings course of: Voters gave us their greatest 10 gamers at a place, then we compiled the outcomes and ranked candidates primarily based on variety of top-10 votes, composite common and dozens of interviews, with analysis and movie examine assist from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In complete, greater than 70 voters submitted a poll on at the least one place, and in lots of instances all positions. Extra voting and follow-up calls with these surveyed helped us break any ties.
Every part contains quotes and nuggets from the voters on each ranked participant — even the honorable mentions. The target was to establish the most effective gamers for 2025. This was not a five-year projection or a profession achievement award. Who’re the most effective gamers at this time?
We are going to roll out a place per day over 11 days. The schedule: operating backs (July 7), defensive tackles (July 8), edge rushers (July 9), safeties (July 10), tight ends (July 11), inside offensive linemen (July 12), offensive tackles (July 13), quarterbacks (July 14), off-ball linebackers (July 15), large receivers (July 16), cornerbacks (July 17).
A number of themes emerged from this 12 months’s quarterback polling, none extra vital than this: Tier 1 is traditionally good.
The highest 4 quarterbacks left the remainder of the sphere within the mud throughout this 12 months’s high 10 voting. All 4 are squarely of their primes, between 28 and 29 years previous. They’ve 5 MVPs amongst them. And though three of those quarterbacks are nonetheless chasing Patrick Mahomes’ Tremendous Bowl achievements, they look like closing the hole by the 12 months.
It is a golden period for younger quarterbacks that ought to be appreciated.
What else ought to you understand about this class?
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The group is extra unique this time round. In most years, at the least 16 quarterbacks entice vital votes. Not. Simply 12 gamers had traction this time round — the highest 10 plus two honorable mentions. That implies that 4 quarterbacks on contracts of $50 million or extra are usually not underneath severe consideration for the highest 10.
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4 of these 12 are from the 2020 draft class, which is popping out to be one of many absolute best of the 2000s.
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Since our rankings started in 2020, that is the primary 12 months with out Aaron Rodgers within the high 10.
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Youth prevails. Matthew Stafford is the one top-10 passer above the age of 30.
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The listing options three new entrants — together with one doable shock … although to not folks within the league.
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The league just isn’t involved with the opportunity of a Jayden Daniels dip in manufacturing. In any respect.
Here is how league personnel actually really feel about your favourite passers:
Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: 4
Age: 29 | Final 12 months’s rating: 1
Mahomes’ grip on the highest spot is loosening barely. After dominating the voting with back-to-back No. 1 rankings in convincing vogue, Mahomes garnered round 60% of the first-place votes this 12 months, which continues to be spectacular however effectively wanting final 12 months, when he obtained all however one first-place vote.
He has completed eighth in QBR the previous two years; from 2018 by means of 2022, he completed first or second 4 instances. Not often does Mahomes look as frazzled as he did vs. Philadelphia in Tremendous Bowl LIV.
However context is essential with these discussions, and Mahomes’ modest-by-his-standards efficiency in 2024 (3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) requires quite a lot of it.
“OL in decline, notably at deal with, WR group fully cleaned out by damage, [Travis] Kelce not close to the identical participant,” a veteran NFL coordinator stated about Mahomes’ supporting forged. “I believed he had extra command of time/rating/state of affairs and higher fundamentals from inside the pocket than ever. He is a one-man military. And no NFL coach needs to cope with him. Full dawg. Nobody like him. Perhaps [Joe] Burrow, however Burrow is not as harmful as a participant.”
Mahomes nonetheless leads the NFL in nearly each passing class — from passing yards to touchdowns and yards per try — since changing into the starter in 2018. No quarterback was extra environment friendly on third down than Mahomes final season. He led the NFL in third-down QBR (90.4) with a league-high 53.1% of his passing makes an attempt leading to first downs.
An AFC scout famous that Mahomes “in all probability does not have that very same worry issue” from opponents that he had a couple of years in the past but in addition expects him to bounce again in 2025, with a more healthy receiving corps and a rebuilt offensive line.
Mahomes is squarely in his prime, however he should take care of three elite quarterbacks additionally of their late-20s arc who’re gaining on him.
“Different guys performed nice,” an NFC government stated, explaining why he voted Mahomes fourth. “He took just a little step again primarily based off the previous couple of seasons. I do not anticipate it to final.”
Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: 4
Age: 29 | Final 12 months’s rating: 3
Allen’s standing in our high 10 sequence has been a journey — and a degree of competition in Buffalo. Because the sequence began in 2020 till 2023, Allen’s place within the quarterback pantheon was universally celebrated amongst voters contained in the league and highlighted on this piece yearly. He grew to become, unquestionably, a top-shelf quarterback within the league.
By the top of the 2023 season, turnovers had began to mount. Allen had thrown 47 interceptions and had fumbled 18 instances (seven misplaced) over a three-year span. That led an NFC government to criticize Allen as “overrated,” to which Buffalo normal supervisor Brandon Beane took exception.
“There’s idiots in every single place.”
Full feedback from #Payments GM Brandon Beane on an nameless NFL Government that referred to as QB Josh Allen “overrated.” #BillsMafia #BillsCamp pic.twitter.com/QR8Iv9hjMG
— Dom Tibbetts (@DomTibbettsTV) July 24, 2024
Allen’s efficiency in 2024, nonetheless, erased any doubt, along with his play making use of stress on Mahomes for the highest spot. With almost 4,300 complete yards, 40 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 2024, Allen confirmed what his absolute best garners: an MVP award and 13 regular-season wins regardless of the shortage of a real No. 1 receiver in his prime.
“He is performed the whole lot,” an NFC personnel government stated. “He is answered each take a look at. He makes much less errors and takes care of the ball. Solely factor left to do is win all of it.”
Allen epitomizes the fashionable quarterback, with mobility that may thwart nearly any protection, which makes him harmful within the pocket however much more so out of it.
Stress didn’t have an effect on Allen final season, when he led the NFL in QBR (85.3) and yards per dropback (6.5) underneath stress, and his 13 passing touchdowns underneath duress tied the NFL lead. Allen additionally had the bottom sack price in all the NFL on all dropbacks (2.6%) regardless of his willingness to remain within the pocket to let performs develop or to purchase time and scramble.
Conversely, Allen’s 18.1% off-target price was the worst clip among the many 18 quarterbacks who obtained at the least one vote on this 12 months’s high 10.
“He is nonetheless obtained that risk-taking to his recreation and the occasional head-scratching play, however he is taking extra calculated dangers than wild dangers, which helps his general play,” an NFL personnel evaluator stated.
Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: 5
Age: 28 | Final 12 months’s rating: 2
Prolific is one of the best ways to explain Burrow’s 2024 marketing campaign, main the NFL with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns on his option to a second Comeback Participant of the Yr award.
Burrow makes a compelling case as the sport’s most correct quarterback. His 70.6% completion price in opposition to the backdrop of a league-high 652 makes an attempt in 2024 is spectacular. His 11.0% off-target price can also be the bottom amongst beginning quarterbacks.
“If we’re speaking about taking part in the quarterback place, no one is taking part in it higher than him,” a veteran AFC scout stated. “Footwork, ball placement, the psychological recreation on the line of scrimmage, really feel for the pocket, eye degree, discovering creases to step up and throw — he is the most effective proper now. And he is extra cell than he will get credit score for.”
Final season, Burrow grew to become the primary participant in NFL historical past with 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in eight straight video games. And just like Mahomes, he had a lot to beat final 12 months.
“I get the man has two elite wideouts, however their run recreation was common and the offensive line was not excellent both,” an AFC government stated. “On high of all that, their protection was porous and he stored them in each single recreation for essentially the most half. I believed it could have been his greatest 12 months, but it surely did not get the identical pub due to the opposite high-profile groups.”
Highest rating: 1 | Lowest rating: 6
Age: 28 | Final 12 months’s rating: 4
Jackson is essentially the most breathtaking participant within the recreation. He may be essentially the most feared, too, relying on whom you ask. And he was near profitable a 3rd MVP final season, in actual fact beating out the precise MVP Allen for first-team All-Professional standing in an uncommon break up of these honors. Successful a 3rd award would put Jackson on a brief listing so achieved that first names aren’t mandatory: Manning, Rodgers, Brady, Favre, Brown, Unitas.
What Jackson did final 12 months nonetheless places him in his personal class — he grew to become the primary participant in NFL historical past with 40 passing touchdowns and 4 or fewer interceptions in a season.
“A ten-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio [10.3], profitable share is insane [74.4%] and he is a number one rusher on any staff he is on,” a veteran NFL coach stated. “He is one in all a sort.”
Jackson additionally led the NFL in Complete QBR (77.3) and yards per dropback (8.3) and set new profession highs in passing touchdowns (41), passing yards (4,172), yards per try (8.8) and touchdown-to-interception ratio. His Complete EPA was 160.6, greater than 16 factors larger than another quarterback.
“Finest house runner within the NFL, and he is such an excellent passer now,” an NFL defensive coordinator stated. “He in all probability does not get sufficient credit score for the way he is improved there.”
Years in the past, some evaluators knocked Jackson’s expertise as a pocket passer. However he has busted by means of that narrative because the Ravens dedicated to a stronger passing recreation by hiring offensive coordinator Todd Monken and including playmakers through free company and the draft. Jackson has ranked within the high 5 in QBR in every of the previous two seasons and has mixed for 7,850 passing yards throughout that span.
“I feel he needed to develop up as a passer,” a veteran NFL personnel man stated. “He was all the time extra athletic than everybody else, so why not run? However he needed to keep within the pocket just a little bit extra to extend his profession, and he is doing that more and more effectively.”
Highest rating: 5 | Lowest rating: 10
Age: 24 | Final 12 months’s rating: not eligible (rookie)
Daniels’ phenomenal rookie season demanded an look someplace within the high 10. That he pushed his method into the highest 5, narrowly outdistancing Stafford within the voting, reveals voters don’t have any downside validating his hype.
Final season, Daniels posted the fourth-highest QBR within the NFL (70.6), the most effective mark for a rookie since Dak Prescott in 2016. However he was even higher on third and fourth downs, recording a league-leading 95.3 QBR on these downs.
“Single-handedly took one of many worst franchises to the NFC title recreation as a rookie with a foul protection, one reputable large receiver, a dinosaur at tight finish [12th-year pro Zach Ertz] and average-at-best OL,” stated an NFL coordinator who ready for Daniels final season. “The child can learn coverages, throw with accuracy and contact to all ranges of the sphere, simply as harmful as Lamar and Josh Allen along with his legs and has a clutch issue to him as a result of his staff already believes that if he has the ball with an opportunity to win, he will discover a method. If he repeats something near his rookie 12 months, he is no decrease than No. 3 on this listing subsequent 12 months.”
Daniels was a real twin risk in his rookie 12 months, rating second within the NFL in yards per rush (6.0) and first in scramble yards (570).
Generally the Yr 1 hype may be powerful to copy. C.J. Stroud landed at No. 7 final season and struggled at instances in Yr 2, although he has proven sufficient to persuade Houston he is clearly the long-term reply. Some across the league are at the least asking the query of whether or not Daniels’ play will taper off a bit as defenses alter to each him and Washington’s offense. However the consensus is Daniels has an excessive amount of going for him.
“Received 12 video games with a mediocre-at-best protection and only a respectable offensive roster round him,” an NFC coordinator stated. “System he performs in requires him to play off-schedule and make performs along with his ft regularly for fulfillment. And he’s nonetheless stable within the pocket.”
Highest rating: 4 | Lowest rating: unranked
Age: 37 | Final 12 months’s rating: 5
There is a cause Stafford garnered vital commerce curiosity when the Rams entertained transferring him this offseason — only some quarterbacks command the place like he does. Gamers come and go in Los Angeles, however Stafford makes all of it work, a really scheme-transcendent quarterback.
Why does he stay so excessive within the rankings every year?
“Trigger he is powerful as s—,” an NFL coordinator stated. “Elite poise and toughness within the pocket. The power to throw with timing and site whereas he is about to get hit within the chin is among the many greatest.”
Stafford appears to handle accidents yearly however performs by means of them … whereas profitable video games. The Rams final 12 months grew to become the primary staff in NFL historical past to make consecutive playoff appearances after having been three video games underneath .500 earlier in these seasons (1-4 in 2024 and 3-6 in 2023).
Stafford is nice in two areas:
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After a break: He produced 39 touchdowns to 9 interceptions over the steadiness of the 2023 and 2024 seasons in video games that adopted the bye week (together with playoffs)
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And on play-action, producing the third-highest QBR within the NFL off it in 2024 (81.5). His 10 touchdowns to zero interceptions off play-action mark the most effective efficiency since Aaron Rodgers in 2021.
Conversely, 17.6% of his throws had been thought of “off course,” the second-worst such clip among the many quarterbacks who obtained at the least one vote.
“A giant issue for quarterbacks is what they’ll do on third-and-10 — Matt scares you greater than nearly anyone in that state of affairs,” the coordinator stated. “And he could make performs off-schedule.”
Highest rating: 3 | Lowest rating: unranked
Age: 27 | Final 12 months’s rating: 6
Herbert’s immense expertise retains him within the high seven however hasn’t vaulted him into the primary tier of quarterbacks, regardless of elite manufacturing.
His 21,093 profession passing yards are essentially the most in NFL historical past by means of 5 seasons. Final season, he was requested to sacrifice yardage as a part of offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s run-heavy assault, along with his makes an attempt per recreation dipping from 35.0 to 29.6 12 months over 12 months. Sticking to the ball-control plan, Herbert’s three interceptions on 504 makes an attempt marked the bottom interception price (0.6%) by any certified quarterback since Tom Brady in 2016.
Many evaluators agree: If beginning the league from scratch and drafting quarterbacks, Herbert continues to be getting picked very excessive.
“He is all the time been a top-5 to -8 QB — correct to all ranges, athletic, sound decision-maker,” an AFC government stated. “It is nearly like he is underrated now, for my part. He is taken without any consideration.”
And it isn’t as if he cannot thrive late in video games. His 15 game-winning drives are essentially the most from any quarterback drafted in 2020 or later. Nonetheless, some evaluators imagine one thing seems to be holding him again, and his 0-2 playoff file does not assist.
“The gamers above him [in the top 10] constantly create extra off-schedule performs, are extra harmful within the two-minute [drill] and have gained within the playoffs,” a veteran NFC personnel evaluator stated. “The offense he at present performs in is by far the least QB-friendly by way of the passing recreation, which does not assist him. Justin can get there. He has the flexibility, so it ought to are available time.”
Highest rating: 5 | Lowest rating: unranked
Age: 30 | Final 12 months’s rating: 9
Three years in the past (heck, even two), putting Goff within the high 10 was a daring transfer. Now, it is uncommon to discover a poll with out his identify on it. Goff appeared on 82% of the top-10 submissions.
“He is developed into one of many recreation’s greatest pure passers,” a veteran NFC defensive coach stated. “He does not flip the ball over like he used to. He is a dependable quarterback with an actual arm. He is not only a dropback passer who makes s— occur. He is develop into greater than that.”
Goff ranked second within the NFL in yards per try final season (8.6) and threw for the second-most yards within the league (4,629). He was particularly good on play-action, finishing 75.4% of his play-action passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns, main the NFL in each classes.
Coming from an Air Raid offense at Cal, Goff entered the league as a rhythm-and-timing thrower. He struggled when go rushers disrupted that timing. He has countered that weak point and elevated his recreation.
“He is improved in his capability to reset his ft and ship the ball precisely, and it is modified his profession,” a veteran AFC scout stated. “The teaching workers in Detroit gave him a better sense of calm within the pocket, and he is capitalized on it.”
Goff’s success has include two of the sport’s greatest playcallers, Sean McVay and now-Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Now, he should show he can do it with out them, and his profession adaptability suggests he’ll be as much as the problem.
Highest rating: 6 | Lowest rating: unranked
Age: 26 | Final 12 months’s rating: honorable point out
Hurts’ standing is cemented. He is a Tremendous Bowl winner who performs huge in huge moments. He is essentially the most potent short-yardage quarterback rusher in NFL historical past. His streak of 4 consecutive seasons with 10 or extra dashing touchdowns is the league’s longest ever for a passer.
He is additionally one of many recreation’s most correct passers, rating first in completion share over anticipated (+6.6). And he throws a ravishing deep ball. That landing go to Devonta Smith in Tremendous Bowl LIX was a Superdome-sized murals.
“He had a greater 12 months operating the ball, and the way in which he performed down the stretch when wholesome was spectacular,” stated an AFC government who voted Hurts within the high 5. “Higher throwing the ball on the whole this 12 months and reduce out the turnovers.”
When requested to be a high-volume thrower in 2023 (538 makes an attempt), Hurts struggled caring for the ball, leading to 15 interceptions. To his credit score, he reduce that quantity down to 5 in 2024, although on far fewer makes an attempt (361).
The query is not whether or not Hurts belongs within the high 10 — he undoubtedly does. It is whether or not he has the flexibility from the pocket to vault into the highest 5 ultimately, as his Tremendous Bowl pedigree would counsel he may.
Various voters see shades of a Russell Wilson profession arc — Hurts has many traits that contribute to profitable at a excessive degree however wants a gentle operating recreation round him and would not essentially thrive in a pass-heavy system.
Highest rating: 5 | Lowest rating: unranked
Age: 30 | Final 12 months’s rating: unranked
Baker Mayfield walked so Sam Darnold may run. The previous No. 1 decide is emblematic of the NFL’s capability for profession resurgences on the recreation’s most vital place, setting the blueprint for close to busts to sooner or later attain $100 million.
When Mayfield signed a modest one-year cope with Tampa in 2023 and led the Bucs to the playoffs, it was a pleasant storyline a couple of former No. 1 decide regaining his footing. When he did it twice and his efficiency improved, that is proof of idea.
Solely Allen and Jackson have extra touchdowns over the previous two seasons than Mayfield’s 73.
“Fearless as a thrower and a runner,” an NFL personnel evaluator stated. “He is obtained on-field management the place teammates wish to assist him. Significantly better arm than given credit score for. Good mover within the pocket and might rush for yards. Assaults the third degree of the protection. When he is obtained time [in the pocket], he is pretty much as good as nearly anyone proper now.”
Final season, Mayfield joined Brady as the one quarterbacks in Buccaneers historical past with 40 passing touchdowns in a season. Mayfield dominated in opposition to the blitz, main all quarterbacks in completion share (72.3%) and passing touchdowns (18) in opposition to 5 or extra go rushers.
“He truthfully jogs my memory of Favre just a little bit so far as fashion of play,” the personnel man stated. “He is obtained a moxie to him, like, ‘F— you, I am on the assault.’ And defensive guys really feel that presence.”
Honorable point out
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: The voting for spots eight by means of 11 was shut. Stroud appeared on almost half the ballots however struggled to seize the identical momentum that landed him within the No. 7 spot after his rookie 12 months. Whereas his manufacturing was down from the earlier 12 months in most classes, Stroud needed to overcome points with Houston’s offense in 2024. Most doubters anticipate him again within the high 10 subsequent 12 months.
“That may have an effect on your confidence when the safety and the playcalling round you is not nice,” an NFL quarterbacks coach stated. “It will probably all tie collectively. However the framework of what made him nice his rookie 12 months continues to be there … Such a pure thrower of the soccer with elite ball placement.”
Jordan Love, Inexperienced Bay Packers: Love appeared prepared for top-10 standing by the top of 2023. “He was f—ing excellent,” an NFL personnel evaluator stated about that stretch. “Play-action on time, huge arm, confidence.” That shifted barely in 2024, due partially to a Week 1 knee damage that value him two video games. “It regarded prefer it took him time to work by means of managing that damage,” the personnel evaluator stated. “One other full offseason with [head coach Matt] LaFleur and extra receiving choices and he’ll be high-quality.”
Additionally receiving votes: Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals), Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers), Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), Aaron Rodgers (Pittsburgh Steelers), Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins), Bo Nix (Denver Broncos)
