QB Rankings

[*pally*]

It is that time of year when all the "experts" put together their lists. Both The Athletic and ESPN published their QB ratings today.

The Athletic interviewed 50 people at all levels of team mgmt from coordinators to GMs and asked them to rank the QBs based on tiers.

Joe was one of the only 2 QBs ranked unanimously in Tier 1. Mahomes was the other. They were joined in the tier by Jackson, Stafford, and Allen, though these guys weren't unanimous

Quote:This is Burrow's fourth consecutive season in Tier 1 and his first as a unanimous top-tier selection. Rodgers (six), Mahomes (five), Tom Brady (four) and Russell Wilson (one) are the only other unanimous Tier 1 selections in the survey's history.
"He is the closest thing to Joe Montana that I have seen," a head coach said. "That is about as big a compliment I can give you as a quarterback."
One difference: Montana's San Francisco 49ers led the NFL in fewest points allowed during the 1980s, while Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals ranked 25th last season.
"To me, it's Mahomes and then Burrow if I had to rank them," a veteran offensive coach said. "Burrow could be a 1 with a red cross on him. They don't protect him, and he gets the s--- knocked out of him constantly."
Burrow played all 17 games last season, leading the NFL in attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.
"He's a stud, particularly with those freaks he has out there at receiver," a defensive coach said. "I respect the arm talent, don't get me wrong, but you have to be able to fool him presnap, and you have to be able to rush with four and get there."

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky ranked individual skills

Joe ranked #1 in Ball Placement, Accuracy, Mechanics, decision making, and pocket presence
He ranked 7 in arm strength and 2nd reaction ability.
and he wasn't ranked for rushing ability.

Personally, I think his rushing ability is underrated. He almost always gets positve yardage when he runs. Same thing for 2nd reaction ability. Everyone ahead of him was a running QB. Joe looks to make a play downfield when they put the ball down and run it.

[depthchart]

(08-11-2025, 04:50 PM)pally Wrote: One difference:  Montana's San Francisco 49ers led the NFL in fewest points allowed during the 1980s, while Burrow's Cincinnati Bengals ranked 25th last season.

A veteran offensive coach said. "Burrow could be a 1 with a red cross on him. They don't protect him, and he gets the s--- knocked out of him constantly."

Burrow seems poised to be better than ever this Season.  RARE ELITE

Speaking to the Quotes shown above, I feel some Hope that the O-Line issues can improve but the Defense is a Major worry.

If Burrow's one Super Bowl appearance (early in his Career) ends up as the Pinnacle, then the Front Office will have wasted what should have been more.

[*bfine32*]

Since JB entered the league, I've always said there'sn't a QB in the NFL I'd want over him, and nothing has changed.

WTS, I've never asserted he was the Top QB in the NFL, but entering 2025, I'd say he's QB 2. I only put Mahomes above him and hopefully that changes this year

[*pally*]

Joe sees the field better than any QB in the league and it’s not even close

[Sled21]

(08-11-2025, 06:24 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Since JB entered the league, I've always said there'sn't a QB in the NFL I'd want over him, and nothing has changed.

WTS, I've never asserted he was the Top QB in the NFL, but entering 2025, I'd say he's QB 2. I only put Mahomes above him and hopefully that changes this year

Naw, Joe has always been the better QB. Mahomes is just a better athlete.

[Essex Johnson]

(08-11-2025, 06:02 PM)depthchart Wrote: Burrow seems poised to be better than ever this Season.  RARE ELITE

Speaking to the Quotes shown above, I feel some Hope that the O-Line issues can improve but the Defense is a Major worry.
 
If Burrow's one Super Bowl appearance (early in his Career) ends up as the Pinnacle, then the Front Office will have wasted what should have been more.

How you thinking  Bills and Ravens fans feel, Jackson and  Allen has yet to even get there and both are on HOF careers like Burrow.  It just shows how hard it is not going to get to SB but to win it. 

[*PhilHos*]

(08-11-2025, 06:24 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Since JB entered the league, I've always said there'sn't a QB in the NFL I'd want over him, and nothing has changed.

WTS, I've never asserted he was the Top QB in the NFL, but entering 2025, I'd say he's QB 2. I only put Mahomes above him and hopefully that changes this year

Same here. That said, Mahomes was NOT the best QB in the league last year (based only on last season). Heck, I don't know if you could put him in the top 5, let alone top 2 last year. And I'm hopeful he continues to decline this year.

[depthchart]

(Yesterday, 01:24 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: How you thinking  Bills and Ravens fans feel, Jackson and  Allen has yet to even get there and both are on HOF careers like Burrow.  It just shows how hard it is not going to get to SB but to win it. 

I agree. 

Young Burrow sort of grinded his way to the Super Bowl behind that poor Offensive Line (especially against the Titans) 

only to have Aaron Donald end the run.

Allen seems to carry the Bills with at least decent support from his Defense.

Jackson has excellent support from his highly ranked Defense.

*Getting the Bengal Defense to middle of the Pack level could be all Burrow needs. The O-line seems much better than the Super Bowl year.

**Just not sure Bengals have done enough to make the Defense even slightly better than in 2024. May not have moved that needle at all.

 

[Nepa]

Some of Orlovsky's comments on Burrow:

Ball placement:
"Last year, I put Burrow No. 1 on this list. He's back in the top spot. In 2024, he had the NFL's lowest off-target rate (11.0%), fourth-highest completion percentage (70.6%) and second-highest completion rate over expectation (4.9%, per NFL Next Gen Stats). Burrow is the gold standard in this department, and nothing has changed."

Mechanics:
"When it comes to mechanics, I'm looking for a smooth and repeatable throwing motion that doesn't change even under pressure. ... Burrow is the epitome of that. You almost can't tell what kind of throw he's making because they all look the same until the release point. It's amazing consistency, and he's still the best in the NFL in this area."

Decision-making with the football
"It's the third straight list where I have Burrow No. 1."

Pocket presence
"A fourth straight list led by Burrow, but who is going to argue with me? Burrow is dominant in creating operational space, even when it's a muddy pocket. The top quarterbacks in pocket presence can consistently and calmly slide or climb to avoid pressure. They can use a 6-inch shuffle here and a 6-inch step there to buy extra time and get off a clean throw. No panic, no desperation. Burrow had the league's fourth-best QBR from inside the pocket (71.7), throwing 35 touchdown passes. Last year, I wrote, "I don't know that anyone is better than him in the league at working in a phone booth." I still don't."

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45913841/2025-ranking-best-nfl-quarterbacks-top-10-trait-skill-arm-accuracy-rushing

[Bengalstripes9]

As I said in another thread this is the year Burrow wins the MVP.

With the defense we have and what he did to carry the team last year, it'll weigh heavy on voter's minds going into the year.

I'm expecting a repeat performance from the defense.
Opposing offenses know going into the game they will have to light up our defense to have a chance--and they'll throw everything they can at them.
There will be a lot of growing pains for this defense and this secondary in particular.

This is the perfect storm where Burrow will have to score just about every drive for us to win (just like last year).

If we make the playoffs he definitely wins MVP.

[*KillerGoose*]

Sounds about right. Joe is incredible.

The only argument you’ll get from me is that Lamar should also be a unanimous tier one QB.