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The 2024 season is already less than two weeks away and all 32 teams have more or less settled on their starting quarterbacks. As we head into the season, the spotlight always shines brightest on the quarterback. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, the quarterback position remains the cornerstone of every team’s success. Today, we’ll rank the starting quarterbacks for 2024. Let’s dive into the rankings and see who stands atop the quarterback hierarchy heading into another exciting year.
32. Bo Nix — Denver Broncos
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2023 Stats (college): 14 games, completed 364-of-470 passes, 4508 yards, 45 TD, 3 INT
Sean Payton got his guy in Oregon passer Bo Nix. The former Duck transformed as a player during his time at the college level. Nix started at Auburn, but eventually transferred to Oregon following three shaky years. Over the last two seasons, Nix became one of the most accurate QBs in all of college football. He’s athletic, accurate, and able to play within a structure — all traits Payton covets in his quarterbacks. After beating out Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson for the starting role, Nix will be aiming to prove that he should’ve been the first QB drafted in 2024.
31. Sam Darnold — Minnesota Vikings
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2023 Stats: 10 games, completed 28-of-46 passes, 297 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
The future will need to wait another year in Minnesota, as rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury. With Sam Darnold leading the offense, it’s officially the former first-rounder’s final chance to prove he’s worthy of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. Between Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson (when he returns from PUP list) and newcomer Aaron Jones, Darnold couldn’t ask for more talent to throw to. However, Darnold hasn’t thrown for double digit touchdowns in a season since 2019, so we fully expect him to be nothing more than a stop-gap in 2024.
30. Will Levis — Tennessee Titans
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2023 Stats: 9 games, completed 149-of-255 passes, 1808 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT
Will Levis will get a crack at the full-time starting job in ’24. He’ll enter the season with a completely different mindset. Last season, he was one of a trio of Titans QBs vying for the starting spot. Ryan Tannehill is gone (and still unsigned) and Malik Willis is now the back-up in Green Bay. Levis started with a bang in his debut, tossing 4 TDs against the Falcons. His last eight appearances — 4 TD, 4 INT, 57-percent completion rate, 77.5 passer rating — were a bit more indicative of why Levis slipped into the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Titans revamped the WR room — adding Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd — and Levis will have a chance to prove he belongs as a starter.
29. Bryce Young — Carolina Panthers
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2023 Stats: 16 games, completed 315-of-527 passes, 2877 yards, 11 TD, 10 INT
It could not have gone much worse for Bryce Young in Year 1. Credit to the youngster for his numbers not looking as bad as his play sometimes suggested. Young was erratic as a passer and never really found his groove. In his defense, Carolina’s supporting cast was among the league’s worst last year. It’ll be better in ’24 with the additions of Diontae Johnson and rookie Xavier Legette. Plus, the offensive line was upgraded, which should help Young establish more of a rhythm in the pocket. Year 2 is a big year for the former No. 1 overall pick.
28. Jacoby Brissett — New England Patriots
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2023 Stats: 3 games, completed 18-of-23 passes, 224 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT
With the Mac Jones experiment over, the Patriots will (eventually) turn to UNC passer Drake Maye to lead them to the future. However, entering Week 1, 1st year head coach Jerod Mayo decided Maye could use a bit more time and will be turning to journeyman Jacoby Brissett. The NC State vet has established himself as one of the more consistent back-ups in the league, and at this point, we pretty much know what to expect from him. He won’t wow you in any way, but he protects the ball and consistently makes the right read. With an offense lacking talent and a team expected to rely heavily on its defense to keep them in games, Brissett’s “game manager” playing style meshes perfectly.
27. Jayden Daniels — Washington Commanders
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2023 Stats (college): 12 games, completed 236-of-327 passes, 3812 yards, 40 TD, 4 INT
Washington’s Jayden Daniels may have been the No. 1 pick in any other year. He will immediately step onto an NFL field and become one of the most dynamic athletes in the game. At LSU, Daniels emerged as the country’s premier dual-threat QB en route to winning the Heisman trophy. His top-end speed is elite, and will easily translate to the next level. As a passer, Daniels is one of the best downfield throwers to come out of college in quite some time. He should be linking up for big gains consistently with Terry McLaurin.
26. Gardner Minshew — Las Vegas Raiders
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 305-of-490 passes, 3305 yards, 15 TD, 9 INT
Vegas’ starting QB job was one of the last to be decided this offseason. After the Raiders skipped on QB entirely in the draft, Gardner Minshew officially won the job over sophomore Aidan O’Connell. Although O’Connell is a familiar face within the team and showed flashes during his rookie year, Minshew is the classic gunslinger/gamer who gives the Raiders the best chance to win. Full transparency, O’Connell would be 32nd on our list. Instead, Minshew narrowly dodges the bottom five.
25. Daniel Jones — New York Giants
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2023 Stats: 6 games, completed 108-of-160 passes, 909 yards, 2 TD, 6 INT
What a turnaround ’22 was for Daniel Jones. Entering the year, the Giants declined the QB’s fifth-year option — indicating a potential breakup in the offseason. Instead, Jones was rewarded with a lucrative four-year extension worth $160 million following a breakout campaign. There already might be some buyer’s remorse. Jones was awful in six games last year before getting sidelined with an injury. Of course, it’s not entirely his fault. New York’s receiving corps was among the league’s worst. They added LSU’s Malik Nabers through the draft, who will provide a much-needed big-play threat. Still, it doesn’t seem like the team is overly sold on Jones. They reportedly considered taking a QB at pick 6. Jones will be on the hot seat in ’24, as the Giants can release him after the season without suffering a significant cap penalty.
24. Anthony Richardson — Indianapolis Colts
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2023 Stats: 4 games, completed 50-of-84 passes, 577 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 136 rush yards, 4 rush TD
The Colts opted to select Florida gunslinger Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft. It was just the third time in the last 25 years that the Colts selected a QB in the first round. It worked out fairly well the other two times they’ve tried (Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck). Richardson had the best tools of any QB in the draft and instantly had one of the most powerful arms in the entire NFL. If his development is steady, Richardson has the chance to be a dual-threat superstar. It’s a matter of him staying healthy after being limited to just four games as a rookie.
23. Caleb Williams — Chicago Bears
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2023 Stats (college): 12 games, completed 266-of-388 passes, 3633 yards, 30 TD, 5 INT
High expectations are already in place in Chicago for rookie QB Caleb Williams. The former Heisman winner is regarded as one of the best quarterback prospects to enter the league in years. The Bears front office has done an excellent job of rebuilding the roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Not too often do you see the No. 1 pick enter a situation where he has three go-to wideouts like Williams does in D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and fellow rookie Rome Odunze. There’s no throw Williams is incapable of making, earning him some comparisons to three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes. The rookie has a long way to go, but we’re excited for what he can do in Year 1.
22. Deshaun Watson — Cleveland Browns
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2023 Stats: 6 games, completed 105-of-171 passes, 1105 yards, 7 TD, 4 INT
Watson was downright awful in ’22. That’s why some Browns fans were pleasantly surprised with how he started the 2023 campaign. The Browns were 5-1 in games that Watson played in. But, that record doesn’t tell the whole story. Watson’s individual numbers were virtually identical to the year prior, as the Browns leaned on an all-world defense to secure wins. It’s now-or-never in 2024 for Watson – he hasn’t had an elite statistical season since 2020.
21. Russell Wilson — Pittsburgh Steelers
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2023 Stats: 15 games, completed 297-of-447 passes, 3070 yards, 26 TD, 8 INT
Russell Wilson and the Broncos failed to live up to expectations after the team traded a boatload of picks to acquire the QB. Denver’s offense struggled throughout Wilson’s stint. Sean Payton was brought in and essentially turned Wilson into a game manager who kept it safe. Ultimately, a breakup was in the cards. Swooping in were the Pittsburgh Steelers who moved on from former first-round pick Kenny Pickett. Additionally, the Steelers traded for former Bears QB Justin Fields. Fields could be the future in Pittsburgh, but Wilson will get the first crack at the starting job in Week 1. Can Wilson revert to All-Pro form… or even close to it?
20. Derek Carr — New Orleans Saints
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 375-of-548 passes, 3878 yards, 25 TD, 8 INT
The overall numbers don’t look all that bad, but Derek Carr’s first year in New Orleans was widely seen as a disappointment. New Orleans finished the season just 9-8 with one of the easiest schedules in the league and ended up losing a tiebreaker to the Buccaneers for a division title. Carr’s spotty play throughout the year was the main culprit. He looked like a deer in headlights against any competent team. That’s alarming for a 10-year pro. Heading into ’24, the Saints upgraded at offensive coordinator by hiring Klint Kubiak. The son of the former Super Bowl-winning head coach spent last year crafting the 49ers’ passing game. The risk-averse Carr in a Shanahan-inspired offense is an intriguing mix.
19. Baker Mayfield– Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 364-of-566 passes, 4044 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT
Baker Mayfield’s career turnaround can be linked back to his signing with the Rams. After a couple of memorable moments — including a 99-yard game-winning drive — Mayfield entered free agency and signed with the Bucs. Year 1 in Tampa was a revelation. The former No. 1 pick led the Bucs into the postseason after clinching the NFC South. There, Mayfield and the Bucs blitzed the defending NFC champion Eagles in the Wild Card round — and fell just a couple of plays short of an NFC title game berth. He’s always had a live arm, and it seems like he’s matured a ton since his time in Cleveland. The Bucs could do a whole lot worse, and they inked Mayfield to a three-year extension after a strong 2023 campaign.
18. Geno Smith — Seattle Seahawks
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2023 Stats: 15 games, completed 323-of-499 passes, 3624 yards, 20 TD, 9 INT
They wrote him off, but Geno Smith didn’t write back. Smith looked destined to be a career backup after early struggles with the Jets. He signed with the Seahawks in 2020 and was Russell Wilson’s reserve for two seasons before landing the starting role. Smith has been excellent ever since. Poise in the pocket and an elite deep ball make him one of the more effective passers in the game. The Seahawks have a winning record with Smith each of the past two years, and he’s earned Pro Bowl nods both times.
17. Kyler Murray — Arizona Cardinals
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2023 Stats: 8 games, completed 176-of-268 passes, 1799 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT
One of the most dynamic players in the league, Kyler Murray’s one defect has been his ability to stay healthy. He’s missed games each of the last three years and has been inconsistent as a passer in the last two. As the injuries have piled up, Murray has become less effective as a runner. In 2020, Murray averaged 51.2 rushing YPG and scored 11 times on the ground. In the three years since (33 games) he’s averaging just 32.9 rushing YPG and 11 TDs total. He’ll have a premier wideout to throw to again in rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., but the Cardinals are hoping for a bit more out of their $230 million QB in 2024.
16. Tua Tagovailoa — Miami Dolphins
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2022 Stats: 17 games, completed 388-of-560 passes, 4624 yards, 29 TD, 14 INT
Tua Tagovailoa is likely the most polarizing QB in the game today. On one hand, the former Alabama hurler led the league in passing yards last year with 4,624 while throwing for a career-high 29 TDs. However, he also tossed 14 INTs and unraveled down the stretch. Playing in all 17 games (plus the Wild Card round) was certainly a welcomed sight after he missed time in each of his first three seasons. Tua and the Dolphins have put up massive regular season numbers, but it has yet to translate in the Winter months. We’ll see if he and HC Mike McDaniel can add another wrinkle to the offense in ’24.
15. Kirk Cousins — Atlanta Falcons
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2023 Stats: 8 games, completed 216-of-311 passes, 2331 yards, 18 TD, 5 INT
One of the most intriguing QB rooms in the league this season resides in Atlanta. After QB play derailed their season a year ago, the Falcons went out and inked free agent Kirk Cousins to a massive deal in the offseason. It was a perfect match as Cousins has always been adept at getting the ball to his playmakers. The Falcons have plenty of those on offense in Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. However, the front office threw a curveball by drafting Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. Penix is unlikely to earn the starting role for at least a couple of years. However, there lies a chance Cousins can’t immediately revert to form after tearing his Achilles a year ago.
14. Trevor Lawrence — Jacksonville Jaguars
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2023 Stats: 16 games, completed 370-of-564 passes, 4016 yards, 21 TD, 14 INT
Finding consistency will be key for Lawrence’s development moving forward. Year 1 was a disaster under former head coach Urban Meyer. Doug Pederson was brought in the next season, and it immediately paid dividends on the field for the QB. 2023 was expected to be a big year for the Jaguars after adding Calvin Ridley to the receiving corps. However, Lawrence battled accuracy and turnover issues as Jacksonville found itself outside of the playoff picture. Lawrence’s best moments are up there with the league’s elite tier of quarterbacks, but managing the mistakes will have the Jacksonville QB in a better place.
13. Jared Goff — Detroit Lions
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 407-of-605 passes, 4575 yards, 30 TD, 12 INT
Jared Goff was set to be written off following his trade from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions. It certainly seemed as such in Goff’s first year with Detroit. While the Lions limped to a 3-13-1 record, Goff’s former team went on to win the Super Bowl with Matthew Stafford at the helm. However, Goff flipped the narrative around and will now be one of the highest-paid QBs in the league. Detroit made it all the way to the NFC title game with Goff playing at a high level. They ultimately came up short in a close game against the 49ers, but Goff played well and had the Lions in position to make a Super Bowl berth. As a result, the Lions rewarded Goff with a $212 million extension that has $170 million in guarantees. He’s emerged as a true franchise QB and one that can lead the Lions for the foreseeable future.
12. Aaron Rodgers — New York Jets
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2023 Stats: 1 game, completed 0-of-1 passes, 0 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
The start to the Jets’ 2023 season could have not gone more poorly. Just four plays in, Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers ruptured his Achilles and was forced to miss the entire season. It was a crushing blow to a franchise searching for an elite quarterback for decades. It seemed like Rodgers attempted to make a shocking late-season comeback, but ultimately did not. The 40-year-old will have had a full 12 months to recover from the surgery, and we expect him to play at an elite level as long as he can stay on the field.
11. Jordan Love — Green Bay Packers
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 372-of-579 passes, 4159 yards, 32 TD, 11 INT
It was a breakout campaign for Jordan Love in his first year as a starter. Some were concerned with his transition into the starting role following Aaron Rodgers’ departure. He calmed any concerns with an electric stretch to end the year. In his last eight regular season games, Love threw for 18 TDs to just one interception. He lit up the Cowboys’ defense for 272 yards, 3 TDs, and a near-perfect passer rating (157.2) in the Wild Card round. Green Bay was a couple of plays away from making the NFC title game, but Love ended up tossing a pair of costly interceptions in San Francisco. That’s the kind of play you’ll likely get from him. He seems to have emulated Rodgers’ mechanics, but at his core, he has a gunslinging mentality similar to former Packer Brett Favre. Either way, the talent is evident and the strides taken throughout the season were massive. Expect a huge 2024 for Love.
10. Jalen Hurts — Philadelphia Eagles
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 352-of-538 passes, 3858 yards, 23 TD, 15 INT, 605 rush yards, 15 rush TD
The Eagles shocked everybody when they drafted Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft — with former QB Carson Wentz still on the roster. Of course, it turned out to be a wise decision as Hurts has emerged as a true franchise quarterback. He’s one of the league’s top dual threats with an elite athletic profile. 2024 will present some unique challenges for the young passer. Future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce announced his retirement, dealing a crushing blow to one of the league’s best offensive lines. Can Hurts continue his great play if the supporting cast begins to decline?
9. Dak Prescott — Dallas Cowboys
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 410-of-590 passes, 4516 yards, 36 TD, 9 INT
Any quarterback suiting up for the Dallas Cowboys is going to face an overabundance of criticism – especially when the team has come up short time and time again in the postseason. Dak Prescott hasn’t had his breakout playoff moment just yet, but he remains one of the steadiest signal callers in the game. Prescott boasts a 73-41 record as a starter and has been one of the league’s most successful QBs since the first moment he stepped on an NFL field.
8. Brock Purdy — San Francisco 49ers
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2023 Stats: 16 games, completed 308-of-444 passes, 4280 yards, 31 TD, 11 INT
From Mr. Irrelevant to MVP candidate, Brock Purdy’s journey in the NFL has already been magical. Purdy took over for the Niners in Week 12 of the 2022 regular season and hasn’t looked back. Since then, he’s won 17 of 21 regular season games and collected four playoff wins. Naturally, critics point to San Francisco’s loaded offense and elite scheme as reasons for Purdy’s success. But, there are plenty of talented rosters across the league — and no QB was putting up the numbers Purdy was last year. In ’23, Purdy led the league in yards-per-attempt (9.6), passer rating (113.0), and touchdown percentage (7.0). He had his fair share of struggles in the postseason, but ultimately played well down the stretch of each game.
7. Matthew Stafford — Los Angeles Rams
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2023 Stats: 15 games, completed 326-of-521 passes, 3965 yards, 24 TD, 11 INT
After an injury-riddled ’22, some were beginning to wonder if Stafford’s best days were behind him. Those critics were wrong, as the 35-year-old enjoyed one of his best seasons in years. We’ve always known about the arm talent. Stafford still has his fastball after all these years. And, he has become comfortable in Sean McVay’s offense. With Stafford at the controls, the Rams offense is among the league’s best. While he enters the twilight years of his career, we’ll see if the former Detroit Lion has enough left in the tank to make one last Super Bowl push.
6. Joe Burrow — Cincinnati Bengals
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2023 Stats: 10 games, completed 244-of-365 passes, 2309 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT
Injuries were the main theme for Joe Burrow in 2023. He missed the entire preseason nursing a calf injury and immediately reinjured the area in Week 1. It clearly seemed to bother him until he suffered a wrist injury in Week 11 which sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Now, he’ll get a full offseason to get his health fully back before attempting to make another deep playoff run. When healthy, Burrow is a surgical passer who is extremely accurate with the football.
5. C.J. Stroud — Houston Texans
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2023 Stats: 15 games, completed 319-of-499 passes, 4108 yards, 23 TD, 5 INT
CJ Stroud is looking to build off one of the great rookie QB seasons the league has seen. His poise stood out among all other traits. Stroud never looked overwhelmed by NFL defenses. He consistently made plays both within and outside of the structure and always kept his eyes downfield. His accuracy in throwing to all areas of the field is already among the league’s best. Adding Stefon Diggs (and getting Tank Dell back from injury) will only help Stroud even further.
4. Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers
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2023 Stats: 13 games, completed 297-of-456 passes, 3134 yards, 20 TD, 7 INT
Justin Herbert tried to keep the ship above water last season. Injuries devastated the Chargers roster, including ones suffered by the franchise QB who was forced to miss the last four games of the season. Herbert is capable of leading a team to the postseason if surrounded by competent teammates, but that might not be the case in ’24. Jim Harbaugh was brought in to replace Brandon Staley, and the roster has been stripped down. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler are all gone. Herbert is a gifted passer, an exceptional decision-maker, and boasts one of the strongest arms in the league. Can he lead a depleted squad back to the playoff picture?
3. Josh Allen — Buffalo Bills
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2023 Stats: 17 games, completed 385-of-579 passes, 4306 yards, 29 TD, 18 INT, 524 rush yards, 15 rush TD
All eyes will be on Josh Allen in ’24. For the first time since 2019, Stefon Diggs will not be wearing a Buffalo Bills uniform. Allen was not considered an elite QB before Diggs came to town. However, he’s developed all parts of his game during that time. We don’t expect a major dip in his production with Diggs now catching passes in Houston. Allen is an offense all unto himself. He’s thrown for over 4,000 yards four straight years and has 53 rushing TDs in 93 games. While he’s yet to win the award, Allen enters each season as an MVP candidate.
2. Lamar Jackson — Baltimore Ravens
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2023 Stats: 16 games, completed 307-of-457 passes, 3678 yards, 24 TD, 7 INT, 821 rush yards, 5 rush TD
Lamar Jackson added some more hardware to his trophy case, earning his second MVP trophy for his efforts in ’23. It’s almost unfathomable how much the 26-year-old has already accomplished in his young career. Jackson has already stamped himself as the greatest rushing QB of all time. He’s also a polished passer who has previously led the league in passing TDs – all while leading the Ravens to a near 75-percent win rate as a starter. Now, it’s all about capturing that elusive Super Bowl. Jackson’s Ravens will have to get through a certain AFC juggernaut residing in Kansas City to make it happen…
1. Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City Chiefs
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2023 Stats: 16 games, completed 401-of-597 passes, 4183 yards, 27 TD, 14 INT
Was there any doubt? Three Super Bowl wins, three Super Bowl MVPs, and two regular season MVPs for the No. 1 quarterback in football. Patrick Mahomes has been dominating the league ever since he got the starting nod. Last year, some were counting out the Chiefs after an up-and-down regular season. Mahomes delivered in the playoffs (yet again) — and was sensational in the Super Bowl leading the game-winning drive in overtime. Nobody is coming for his mantle anytime soon as the Chiefs look for the three-peat in ’24.
