Man, what a year. If you tried to predict the 2024 NFL season back in August, you probably failed miserably. I know I did. We all thought we knew exactly how the hierarchy worked. Mahomes was the king, Stroud was the next big thing, and guys like Sam Darnold were just holding seats for rookies.
Then the actual games happened.
The 2024 NFL quarterback rankings ended up looking like a fever dream. We saw career resurgences that made no sense, rookie debuts that defied history, and some of the most established names in the sport playing "statistically fine" but visually uninspiring football. Honestly, if you’re still looking at passer rating as your main metric, you’re missing half the story.
The MVP Who Didn't Win the Ranking: Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Josh Allen actually took home the NFL MVP trophy for the 2024 season. He was a monster. 13-4 record, 43 big-time throws (leading the league), and a staggering 14 rushing touchdowns. He basically willed the Bills into the AFC Championship game.
But if you ask most film junkies or look at the raw efficiency, Lamar Jackson was actually better.
It’s a weird paradox. Lamar’s stats were insane: 4,601 passing yards and 45 passing touchdowns against only five interceptions. Read that again. Forty-five to five. He also ran for over 1,000 yards. He was the engine, the transmission, and the fuel for the Ravens. Even though Allen got the hardware, Jackson’s 2024 campaign was arguably the most efficient dual-threat season we’ve ever seen in the history of the sport. He finished with the highest PFF passing grade (93.3) and looked like he was playing at a speed nobody else could match.
Joe Burrow’s Forgotten Masterpiece
You’ve probably heard people say the Bengals had a "down" year because they finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs. That’s a massive mistake. Joe Burrow was arguably the best pure pocket passer in the league this year.
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Burrow led the NFL in passing yards with 4,918 and tossed 43 touchdowns. He was surgical. The problem? Cincinnati’s defense couldn't stop a nosebleed for the first two months of the season. Burrow was out there playing hero ball every single week just to keep them in games. He finished with a 70.6% completion rate despite being under constant fire. Honestly, if the Bengals had even a league-average defense, Burrow is likely the MVP favorite. Instead, he’s the "guy who had a great year on a mediocre team." Don't let the record fool you; 2024 Burrow was peak "Joe Cool."
The Chaos Tier: Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield
If you told me three years ago that Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield would both be top-10 locks in the 2024 NFL quarterback rankings, I’d have asked for whatever you were drinking.
Goff has found a soulmate in Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. He threw for nearly 5,000 yards (4,942 to be exact) and led Detroit to their first-ever #1 seed. He’s not the most mobile guy—he had zero rushing touchdowns—but his ability to distribute the ball to the middle of the field is elite.
Then there’s Baker. Man, Baker is just fun. He threw 41 touchdowns this year. Sure, he also tied for the league lead in interceptions with 16, but that’s the Baker Mayfield experience. He’s a gunslinger. He lost Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for chunks of the season and still kept that Bucs offense humming. He’s erratic, kinda wild, and definitely a headache for his coaches, but he wins games.
The Rookie Revolution: Jayden Daniels is the Real Deal
Most rookies hit a wall. Jayden Daniels seemingly flew over it in a supersonic jet.
Washington actually made it to the NFC Championship game. Let that sink in. A rookie quarterback took the Commanders—historically a mess—to the brink of a Super Bowl. Daniels didn’t just play well for a rookie; he played like a top-5 veteran.
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- Passing: 4,390 yards and 30 touchdowns.
- Rushing: 1,026 yards and 7 scores.
- The "It" Factor: That game-winning Hail Mary against the Bears.
He finished with a PFF grade of 90.6, which is unheard of for a first-year player. On the flip side, Caleb Williams had a much rockier road. He showed flashes of that "Caleb Magic," but the efficiency just wasn't there yet, finishing with a much higher "bad throw" percentage (21.1%) compared to the elite guys.
What Happened to Patrick Mahomes?
This is where the rankings get controversial. Patrick Mahomes is still the best quarterback on the planet. If you need one drive to win a game, you pick him. But in terms of 2024 regular-season production? He was... fine?
The Chiefs went 15-1, but they did it with a "squeeze-the-life-out-of-you" style. Mahomes' average depth of target was only 7.0 yards. That’s tied for the third-lowest in the league. He wasn't taking the deep shots we're used to seeing. He threw 31 touchdowns but also had 20 turnover-worthy plays. The Chiefs' defense was the real star of the show for most of the year. Mahomes is still the King, but his 2024 "statistical" ranking is lower than his "talent" ranking, and that's okay.
The "I Didn't See That Coming" Award: Sam Darnold
We have to talk about Minnesota. Sam Darnold was supposed to be a bridge. Instead, he turned into a franchise pillar. He threw 35 touchdowns and led the Vikings to a 14-3 record. Being in Kevin O'Connell's system with Justin Jefferson certainly helps, but Darnold made throws this year that he never even attempted in New York or Carolina. He finally looked like the guy who was drafted #3 overall.
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Offseason
The 2024 season proved that the "mobile vs. pocket" debate is officially over—you basically need both to be elite. If you're looking at how these 2024 NFL quarterback rankings impact the future, keep these three things in mind:
- System Matters More Than Ever: Look at Jared Goff and Sam Darnold. Both were "busts" until they hit the right scheme. When evaluating QBs, look at the play-caller first.
- The AFC is a Bloodbath: Jackson, Allen, and Burrow all had historic seasons, and one of them (Burrow) didn't even make the dance. The talent density in the AFC is just stupid right now.
- Rookie Windows are Real: Washington is going to be a problem for the next three years while Jayden Daniels is on that cheap rookie contract. They can afford to overpay for defenders while he’s producing like a $50 million man for a fraction of the cost.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the coaching carousel. The next "Sam Darnold" is likely a talented veteran currently stuck in a stale offense.