ESPN: Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL's top 10 QBs for 2025

[Califan007]

ESPN QB Rankings

“A reminder of the rankings process: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, more than 70 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties.”


1. Mahomes
2. Allen
3. Burrow
4. Jackson

5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders​

Highest ranking: 5 | Lowest ranking: 10
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie)

Daniels' phenomenal rookie season demanded an appearance somewhere in the top 10. That he pushed his way into the top five, narrowly outdistancing Stafford in the voting, shows voters have no problem validating his hype.

Last season, Daniels posted the fourth-highest QBR in the NFL (70.6), the best mark for a rookie since Dak Prescott in 2016. But he was even better on third and fourth downs, recording a league-leading 95.3 QBR on those downs.

"Single-handedly took one of the worst franchises to the NFC title game as a rookie with a bad defense, one legitimate wide receiver, a dinosaur at tight end [12th-year pro Zach Ertz] and average-at-best OL," said an NFL coordinator who prepared for Daniels last season. "The kid can read coverages, throw with accuracy and touch to all levels of the field, just as dangerous as Lamar and Josh Allen with his legs and has a clutch factor to him because his team already believes that if he has the ball with a chance to win, he's going to find a way. If he repeats anything close to his rookie year, he's no lower than No. 3 on this list next year."

Daniels was a true dual threat in his rookie year, ranking second in the NFL in yards per rush (6.0) and first in scramble yards (570).

Sometimes the Year 1 hype can be tough to replicate. C.J. Stroud landed at No. 7 last season and struggled at times in Year 2, though he has shown enough to convince Houston he's clearly the long-term answer. Some around the league are at least asking the question of whether Daniels' play will taper off a bit as defenses adjust to both him and Washington's offense. But the consensus is Daniels has too much going for him.

"Won 12 games with a mediocre-at-best defense and just a decent offensive roster around him," an NFC coordinator said. "System he plays in requires him to play off-schedule and make plays with his feet on a regular basis for success. And he is still solid in the pocket."

*****

Hurts was 9th…Stroud and Love were honorable mentions.

No clue where Dak ended up lol…

 

[NoCalSkins]

Sounds right about where I would rank him for now but I do think by the end of this season or sometime during next season he is leap frogging over at least Lamar Jackson because I think what we are going to see going forward is JD5's reaction time get even better than it was as a rookie. There will be a flow to his style that was somewhat absent as a rookie. As good as he was as a rookie, you could still see at times he would sometimes play a little robotic sort of like someone learning an instrument and they know what to do but are almost reassuring themselves in real time. That is going to go away pretty soon if not at the start of this season and once he has that smoothness to his game I think the fact that he is largely a more reliable passer than Lamar Jackson is going to shine through.

 

[Phantvm]

Sounds right about where I would rank him for now but I do think by the end of this season or sometime during next season he is leap frogging over at least Lamar Jackson because I think what we are going to see going forward is JD5's reaction time get even better than it was as a rookie. There will be a flow to his style that was somewhat absent as a rookie. As good as he was as a rookie, you could still see at times he would sometimes play a little robotic sort of like someone learning an instrument and they know what to do but are almost reassuring themselves in real time. That is going to go away pretty soon if not at the start of this season and once he has that smoothness to his game I think the fact that he is largely a more reliable passer than Lamar Jackson is going to shine through.

I’m hoping we see him able to use audibles from tempo within the same personnel packages to avoid the nonsense defenses we’re doing last year with substitutions. Ive been a bit disenchanted that a rookie leading the NFL in no huddle usage hasn’t been part of the narrative around his season. In fact I’ve heard that it somehow made it easier. Like what? If this were true why has something like this NEVER happened?

I currently rank Jayden 4th having only Mahomes, Allen, and Lamar ahead of him because they are all NFL MVPs. I think Daniels is so close to Burrow as a passer and obviously obliterates him as a runner and the running gives Jayden the edge for me. Also Burrow has missed significant portions of two seasons and I have to weigh that as part of my opinion as well. I wouldn’t trade Jayden for any player on the NFL though. I personally think he is #1 on this list next season because I believe he will win MVP, SBMVP, and giving him a pinchers chance at OPOY too. I also hope he does it against Mahomes just to really solidify it.

Anyone else agree about opening up his ability to use audibles in a Peyton like way while running the no-huddle? Also is anyone else a bit agitated that people don’t talk enough about a rookie running a base no-huddle offense like he did last year? Or even trying to minimize the 4th down efficiency because it’s unsustainable? Of ourse it isn’t sustainable but the fact that a defensive head coach did this with a rookie is just unheard of. It should all be much much much more celebrated than it has been imo. Even to a degree within our own fan base but certainly at the national level.

 

[mistertim]

Live view of Eagles fans after seeing Hurts ranked #9

 

[Bigwig]

I agree that running the no huddle should be a bigger part of the narrative, but Daniels is still getting plenty of love nationally. We can expect him to rise even further in such rankings as his track record grows.

Quinn is the one who is not properly credited, IMHO, for changing the team from a wasteland to a magnet, for both players and coaches.

My sense is that the punditry doesn’t want to highlight that they didn’t foresee the turnaround, with a sprinkling of deference to Cowboys fans who are reluctant to give Quinn credit since he left them.

 

[Phantvm]

I agree that running the no huddle should be a bigger part of the narrative, but Daniels is still getting plenty of love nationally. We can expect him to rise even further in such rankings as his track record grows.

Quinn is the one who is not properly credited, IMHO, for changing the team from a wasteland to a magnet, for both players and coaches.

My sense is that the punditry doesn’t want to highlight that they didn’t foresee the turnaround, with a sprinkling of deference to Cowboys fans who are reluctant to give Quinn credit since he left them.

Quinn, Kingsbury, and especially not Peters get enough credit. I just don’t think Jayden gets nearly the credit he should be getting considering the nature of the historical season he just had. I get it that it’s just 1 year, but also, no it isn’t 😉