NFL Playoffs 2025: Rating all 14 quarterbacks from worst to greatest

The NFL playoffs are right here and that may be a fantastic factor.

The NFL playoffs are right here and that’s additionally a harmful factor.

Why is that this harmful, you ask? You see, what occurs over the course of the following month (ish) goes to dramatically alter the way in which that we view the panorama of issues and sure individuals. Clearly the playoffs are an important factor relative to any given NFL season, however we regularly dilute something and every little thing that occurs into EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS HERE as a result of the video games are so large. I get it, however the course of additionally weeds out essential context.

Whether or not you agree with that or not it’s protected to say that subsequent month (once more, ish) goes to outline particularly how we view sure individuals… aka some quarterbacks. Whoever does or doesn’t get it completed within the largest moments goes to be celebrated or need to reply for that.

Fortunately I’m right here to supply the solutions earlier than the take a look at itself begins.

Rating all 12 quarterbacks within the NFL playoffs

Let me first say that attempting to rank something is inherently tough and actually not possible. I feel that strawberry is the perfect ice cream taste and that Tom Holland is the perfect Spider-Man. I think about you have got points with one in all if not each of these statements.

However let me inform you, if that bothered you then we’re in for a bumpy trip over the following little bit right here.

There are 12 groups taking part in within the playoffs which implies that there are 12 quarterbacks taking part in within the playoffs. I’m about to rank them. It’s okay. These are simply phrases. They can not harm you.

In the end to rank these signal-callers I feel it’s truthful to interrupt them down into some tiers. We’ll go in ascending order as a result of I nonetheless can’t cease watching Depraved and that taught me a very long time in the past that you really want the drama to construct.

Tier 1: Congrats on being right here, however we have to see it to belief you

It’s right here that I’m going to go very chalk and provide the newbies to the playoff panorama. I feel that it’s positively chalk (clearly, I mentioned that) in that these are usually essentially the most inexperienced gamers, nevertheless it additionally works relative to the place they stack up towards each other.

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photos

14: Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

13: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

12: Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

11: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

I lied! Russell is definitely not a playoff beginner, however this is his first playoff sport with a workforce apart from the Seattle Seahawks. This week will provide the primary little bit of playoff motion for Sam Darnold, Field Nix and Jayden Daniels although, clearly.

Of those 4 I feel that I feel Russell is the one one who can’t grasp in the identical method. This isn’t a slight towards Russell, however we haven’t seen him make as many performs throughout this season to assist his workforce as we now have the others within the group. Truthful is truthful.

All of that being mentioned… I feel the participant with essentially the most to lose right here is Sam Darnold. If Russell is unhealthy individuals will simply shrug it off based mostly on what the previous couple of years have been. If Nix and/or Daniels don’t get it completed, properly, hey, they’re younger and have lengthy futures forward of them.

If Darnold delivers a stinker it should revive all the discuss in regards to the Vikings being entrance runners the way in which that individuals mentioned in 2022 (which was unfair!) and observe him in free company this yr whether or not he returns to Minnesota or goes elsewhere.

Tier 2: You’ve got my belief, and you’ve got the change to raise your self

For me this playoff group comes all the way down to quarterbacks who we all know can ship within the NFL as a result of we now have seen them do it time and time once more. Most of them have even completed so in some unspecified time in the future within the playoffs.

However the group is exclusive in that they’re all additionally a playoff win or two from actually distancing themself from the pack. Ought to they win this week and possibly subsequent week on high of it… we’re speaking a few totally different stratosphere.

Photograph by Wesley Hitt/Getty Photos

10: Jordan Love, Inexperienced Bay Packers

9: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

8: Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

7: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

I feel these are essential playoffs for each Love and Stroud. In the event that they underwhelm then the nice will they constructed up final yr will actually fizzle and fade away. This sounds unfair, but when Herbert stinks it up individuals will simply proceed to pour on. He has already crossed the road of the web to the place logic and cause escape individuals. That’s what separates him from the others right here, they will possibly be a part of him in that wilderness.

Baker Mayfield is exclusive in that no person actually hates him or thinks he sucks or hypes him up past what’s sensible and/or truthful. If he wins on Sunday night time and helps the Buccaneers have again to again seasons with playoff victories… I feel his narrative modifications a bit.

Tier 3: Critical dudes, however it’s time to stack some extra

For me this tier is about quarterbacks who we all know and consider are authentic and that we belief with most of every little thing, however we’re able to see extra. Greater than that, we’re able to see it once more.

Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos

6: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

5: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

4: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Every of those quarterbacks has reached the NFC Championship Recreation in some unspecified time in the future within the final three years, clearly Stafford even went properly past that and gained the Tremendous Bowl.

Exterior of these runs although, with their present groups, we now have not seen a lot of anything within the playoffs particularly. 2022 was magical for Jalen Hurts and clearly final season was superb for the Lions at massive. This yr is about doing it once more for one in all these 3 and proving that their superb yr (Goff is perhaps in the midst of his) was not a one off in order that they will be a part of the ultimate group.

Tier 4: Ballers, Shot-Callers

Let’s be adults right here and admit that you could order this nonetheless you need and never be mistaken in any possible way. Deal? Deal.

Right here is how I’m ordering it.

3: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs

2: Josh Allen, Buffalo Payments

1: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Photograph by Michael Owens/Getty Photos

I really like all three of those quarterbacks and most groups could be past lucky to have them. This will all be true!

It will also be true that Mahomes is clearly on a GOAT path and that his “down” yr slotting him third isn’t some huge signal of disrespect. We will contextualize the place he and his workforce are at and acknowledge the distinctiveness with how they’re taking part in and profitable.

For a lot of this season I used to be of the idea that Josh Allen was MVP and to be clear he has a rightful case. He has been very good.

However Lamar Jackson presents a special form of “that dude is an issue” vitality proper now and is seemingly on the peak of his powers that we now have come to know from him which is de facto saying one thing provided that he has gained MVP twice already.

I’ve spoken.