Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes. The idea of what makes an elite QB is pretty standard. You’re better than everyone else. Even being the 6th or 7th best in the world is no small feat. But some people are just ‘built different’.
Today in the NFL there’s four QBs that stand out from the rest. Patrick Mahomes, the prodigy who already has legitimate claims at being the GOAT less than a decade in. Joe Burrow, who puts up gaudy numbers with a star studded offense and is one of only two active players to defeat Mahomes when it mattered most. Lamar Jackson, the single best running QB we’ve ever seen… who’s made tremendous strides, and now possesses one of the most accurate arms in the league. And of course Josh Allen, the most prolific scorer and winningest QB in NFL history relative to time played.
These four QBs are universally recognized as the ‘elite’ group. But what exactly is the criteria?
Joe Burrow joined the ranks of the elite after beating Mahomes in Arrowhead and leading a title run attempt in 2021. The Bengals have not been back to the postseason since 2022. Indeed, Burrow puts up the gaudy stats you would expect from an elite quarterback, but he does it with arguably the best one-two punch in the league at the receiver position. Baker Mayfield put up gaudy stats in the 2024 season, as he all but solidified himself as the Buccaneers long term answer. He also earned his team to a playoff berth. He doesn’t quite have the playoff pedigree of Burrow but his team has recently had a lot more success. If you tell someone Jalen Hurts is in your top four, they’re likely to give you a confused look.. but why?
Burrow was elevated just for beating Mahomes, Hurts out dueled Mahomes on the biggest stage on two separate occasions and even got the convincing win, yet he falls outside of some people’s top 10. Jared Goff has now spearheaded two high powered Super Bowl contending offenses but is relegated to just a game manager in many people’s eyes. Jayden Daniels has one great season and already surpasses all the work these veterans have done. Watching CJ Strouds regression in year two after anointing himself a top five QB is a cautionary tale to consider.
The narratives surrounding quarterbacks often define them. Josh Allen was a “turnover merchant” through year six, then produced the most efficient season in NFL history as it pertains to negative plays. Still Josh is discredited for lack of team success… fair to say those people just don’t like Josh Allen. The quarterback hierarchy season to season has become a popularity contest.
What matters most when determining the best quarterback?
Is this years best QB determined by overall career/team success like Patrick Mahomes? Is it putting up gaudy numbers with a lack of team success relative to others in the elite class like Burrow? Is it leading a high powered dynamic team with gaudy stats, regular season success and all the accolades, but putting forth your worst performance of the season when the lights are brightest like Lamar? Is it dominating the defending champs on the biggest stage en route to a SB MVP, yet struggling statistically with all the talent in the world around you like Hurts? Is it consistently coming up short despite putting up gaudy numbers, breaking records, and regularly making deep playoff numbers with significantly less talent around you, relative to other elite teams like Josh? What do you measure most? Whatever it is, it must be consistent. Finding the right variables everyone can agree upon might be a good place to start.
Editor’s babble: Many thanks to Justus Radford for contributing to our blog. Justus is the bomb, and can also be found on Xwitter @JA17MVP.
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