NFL
From Mahomes To Mayfield, Rating The Top Young Starting Quarterbacks Currently In The NFL
Rookie and sophomore quarterbacks are leading a quarter of NFL teams. An influx of young QBs in the league at the precipice of several veterans’ careers has made for an interesting season.
Fanbases have begun to wonder if their front office made the right decision. There’s been a great deal of speculation regarding this group. The best way to compare them is simply by the numbers.
Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears (2nd Overall, 2017)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
77.6/ 15/ 9-10/ 185.6
Trubisky became Chicago’s starting QB last season amidst personnel changes and injuries. While the former Tar Heel struggled in his rookie season, his sophomore season has shown notable improvements. Trubisky has had mediocre offensive talent around him but is working with a QB-friendly scheme under coach Matt Nagy.
Behind Khalil Mack and the Bears defense, Trubisky struggles with inconsistency. Despite the defense’s ability to make stops and give Trubisky the ball, he often doesn’t capitalize. While Trubisky has shown he can get the ball downfield with some accuracy, he lacks a heat and speed on the ball.
His pocket awareness is, and short field awareness is subpar. With some additional talent around him and individual coaching, Trubisky has the potential to be a solid quarterback.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (10th Overall, 2017)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
125.8/ 4/ 13-0/ 295
After sitting out the 2017 season, Mahomes took on the starting job this offseason. After just three weeks of football, Mahomes has etched his name into the history books. His throwing mechanics, field awareness, and accuracy have many calling him a “generational talent.”
Almost effortlessly Mahomes can get the ball downfield with a great deal of precision. He’ll need to avoid the desire to go down the field on each play to avoid turnovers. Mahomes has shown improved patience to stay in the pocket from his collegiate days. Out of both draft classes, Mahomes is one of the most impressive talents. The sophomore QB plays like a seasoned veteran.
Mahomes is playing under offensive-guru Andy Reid and has a host of weapons around him including tight end Travis Kelce, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, along with running back Kareem Hunt. While Mahomes’ ability and skill level is nearly unmatched in this group, much of his success is due to the personnel around him, at least in part.
Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans (12th Overall, 2017)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
98.5/ 10/ 24-11/ 257
Watson’s freshman season was cut short when he tore his ACL in early November. After just seven games, Watson threw for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns. Watson showed off his mobility along with his precision passing through tight coverage.
This season it is unclear how the injury will affect him moving forward; his 120 rushing yards after just three weeks of football signals that he’ll likely be just fine. Watson will need to work on throwing to his slot receivers and avoiding under-throwing.
Watson is throwing to two top WRs in the league, William Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins. However, Watson is playing behind the second-worst offensive line in the league. Watson’s ability to avoid the sack and stay composed under pressure to extend plays has become invaluable. While his early season injury last year put a halt to Houston’s postseason march, Watson will keep the Texans in playoff contention just about every year he’s healthy.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (1st Overall, 2018)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
100.1/ 1*/ 0-0/ 201
When Tyrod Taylor went down with three minutes left in the first half, Mayfield seized the day. After playing only a half of football in the NFL, Mayfield has thrown for 201 yards off 23 attempts and 17 completions. Just days after the Thursday Night game, the Browns announced that Mayfield was the new QB1. Mayfield inherited a winless team, and his effect on the Browns was immediate and electric.
Mayfield’s ability to extend plays along with his field awareness create opportunities for the talented receivers around him (Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, and David Njoku). Mayfield needs to get in the habit of dropping back in the pocket rather than moving up; this leaves him vulnerable to fumbles and sacks.
Mayfield’s style of play sets him up for turnovers and potentially injuries. Mayfield should heed the warnings from coaches about holding onto the ball and avoiding some of his throws through hard coverage.
Mayfield is an emotional player and has a unique style of commanding his offense. The locker room clearly loves him and wants to play for him. As long as Mayfield stays coachable and unfazed by the big hits and turnovers the NFL will inevitably bring, he will be great in this league.
Sam Darnold, New York Jets (3rd Overall, 2018)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
72/ 3/ 3-5/ 233.7
Darnold’s first pass in the league was an interception returned for a touchdown. While he came back to put on a stunning performance in Week 1, his interception problem has followed him from college into the league.
Darnold’s string of sloppy mistakes in Week 1 and Week 2 echo his turnover problem at USC. So while he is interception throw, due to a slow release, Darnold’s ability to look off defenders and spacial awareness make him a special talent.
Darnold’s understanding of the game is good, and with some coaching of his mechanics and experience, the game should slow down for him. Darnold may be the roughest QB prospect but has one of the highest ceilings. Darnold came onto the 28th-ranked offense and has little help around him; their start thus far is much to his credit. The acquisition of Darnold was the first of many steps New York will need to take.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (7th Overall, 2018)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
76.8/ 3/ 2-2/ 171.7
After being named QB1 for Week 3, Allen upset the Minnesota Vikings in his first start at QB with help from his defense. The talent around Allen is average and also injured. Allen was one of the top draft prospects based off of his instincts on the field and talent in the pocket. He has a cannon for an arm, maybe more so than anyone else on this list.
The spike in competition from playing at the University of Wyoming to the AFC East will be a tough transition for the QB. His ability to get the ball downfield sometimes gives him faux confidence that the pass will be completed.
Some of Allen’s deep throws rather than becoming incompletions like in college, they will turn into interceptions. Allen’s natural abilities and football IQ give him great potential in the league nevertheless.
Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals (7th Overall, 2018)
Career Rating/ Games Played/ TD-Int/ Passing Yards per Game
31.5/ 1*/ 0-1/ 36
Rosen’s only regular-season appearance thus far was for a few minutes in a 4th quarter rally attempt. Rosen seemed unprepared for the moment, as unfair as the situation may have been. His lack of arm strength forces Rosen to rely on his defensive reads, something he will need experience and time in the tape room to enhance.
Rosen is one of the most athletic QBs of this group due both to pedigree and training. This athleticism has not translated as of yet in his ability to avoid the sack. His ability to complete passes and make big plays while under pressure in the pocket is a great sign for Rosen and Arizona. Rosen’s football IQ is one of a coach; However, there are several concerns regarding Rosen’s coachability.
Ranking The Quarterbacks By The Numbers
- Patrick Mahomes
- Baker Mayfield
- Deshaun Watson
- Sam Darnold
- Mitchell Trubisky
- Josh Allen
- Josh Rosen
Photo Credit
Featured Image courtesy of Erik Drost
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