2023 NFL QB Power Rankings: All 32 Starting Quarterbacks After Week 5

October 10, 2023

Brant Henson ranks all 32 NFL starting quarterbacks. Who are the top quarterbacks in the NFL? Which NFL teams have elite quarterbacks? Which teams will continue to struggle at the position?

Some of the hot names stayed hot in Week 5, as the top three quarterbacks on the ladder all looked impressive in wins. Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts are all square in the MVP race five weeks into the NFL season.

In other news, some of the NFL’s streakier quarterbacks had very down weeks. Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, and Daniel Jones were some of the biggest downward movers in this week’s edition of the quarterback power rankings.

The frontrunners in the quarterback landscape are separating themselves from the rest of the pack, while the back end of the list is losing job security by the day. Let’s dive into the power rankings entering Week 6.

1. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs

The reigning Super Bowl champ produced another solid game and a fourth straight win on Sunday, completing 31-of-41 pass attempts for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Mahomes survived a scare when top target Travis Kelce went down with an ankle injury, but he returned to the game to score a clutch touchdown.

2. Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins

Miami is the hottest offense in football right now and Tagovailoa is the pilot behind the wheel. The 25-year-old leads the league in passing by over 100 yards and continues to churn out hot performance after hot performance. He is squarely in the MVP race and has the Dolphins looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

3. Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts had one of his best games of the season on Sunday, defeating the Rams on the road 23-14. Hurts threw for 313 yards and also scrambled for 72, bringing the Eagles to a 5-0 record. Philadelphia is a threat to make the Super Bowl again and their young quarterback is playing some of his best football right now.

4. Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers

It’s time to give Brock Purdy his respect. The 49ers’ quarterback picked apart what was thought to be a league-leading Dallas defense for 42 points on Sunday night, throwing for 252 yards and four touchdowns and not turning the ball over a single time against a defense that feeds on takeaways. Purdy may benefit from the system he plays in, but his quick decision-making and pinpoint accuracy cannot be understated.

Brock Purdy, heir to the hot tub empire 😅 pic.twitter.com/pnfa7NwRDz

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2023

Unrelated fun fact: his parents also own a hot tub business in Arizona.

5. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen had a classic Josh Allen performance in London, passing for 359 yards and two touchdowns but also throwing an interception and ultimately falling short of a comeback attempt. There is always going to be excitement when Allen is under center, offering a Brett Favre-like gunslinger playstyle. Buffalo is now a game behind Miami in the AFC East at 3-2.

6. Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert and the Chargers were on bye in Week 5, which was good as Herbert hurt his non-throwing hand in Week 4. The rest time also allowed running back Austin Ekeler another week to heal up from an ankle injury that has kept him out since Week 2. Herbert and the Chargers return in Week 6 to take on a Dallas team that just got shredded by San Francisco.

7. Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars

After an inconsistent start to the 2023 campaign, Trevor Lawrence was clicking on all cylinders on Sunday morning. Lawrence completed 25-of-37 passes for 315 yards and a touchdown, adding 31 rushing yards in the upset win over Buffalo. He has started to look like the generational quarterback prospect we all thought he was, and if this offense gets humming Jacksonville should be able to compete with anybody in the AFC.

8. C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud broke an NFL record on Sunday, now holding the record for most completions without an interception to start a career. 

C.J. Stroud has broken Dak Prescott's record for rookie completions without a INT 🔥

177/0 pic.twitter.com/ondFNh801i

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 8, 2023

He also led an impressive late touchdown drive to take the lead late against Atlanta, although the Falcons ended up driving down for a game-winning field goal. Houston has their franchise quarterback.

9. Jared Goff - Detroit Lions

Jared Goff lit the box score up on Sunday without Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, throwing for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Granted he was playing the Panthers, but Goff and this Lions offense have looked legit and the team is sitting at 4-1 on the season on top of the NFC North. 

Jared Goff (9) to Sam LaPorta (2)
Detroit Lions
31 yards
pic.twitter.com/bW8oJZrc9q

— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) October 8, 2023

This offense is fun with coordinator Ben Johnson leading the way.

10. Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson suffered a down game on Sunday against Pittsburgh, turning the ball over in crucial moments which led to the Steelers’ win. Jackson threw an interception and fumbled the ball as Baltimore fell 17-10 to their divisional rivals. He struggled to get going on the ground, rushing for 45 yards. The AFC North is going to be a dogfight this year with all four teams sitting between 3-2 and 2-3.

11. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford played well in the Rams’ loss to Philadelphia, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns, but ultimately did not do enough to come out on top of a talented Eagles team. The return of Cooper Kupp is big-time for Stafford, as he connected with his star receiver eight times for 118 yards. Stafford’s receiver duo of Kupp and Puka Nacua is one of the better duos in the league and Los Angeles’ offense should be humming in the weeks to come as long as everyone stays healthy.

12. Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks

Geno Smith and Seattle were on bye in Week 5, and they return to action in Week 6 for a big-time matchup with the 2-3 Cincinnati Bengals. With the Rams playing good football again and the 49ers looking like the best team in football, the NFC West is a very tough division. Seattle is going to need to collect every win they can and all eyes will be on Smith as he travels across the nation to Cincinnati.

13. Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow finally looked like himself in Week 5’s win over the Arizona Cardinals, as he completed 36-of-46 passes for 317 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Burrow looked Ja’Marr Chase’s way early and often, connecting with his star receiver 15 times for 192 yards and three scores. While Burrow got off to a slow start this season, he will attempt to continue the momentum and get the team to .500 in a matchup with Seattle in Week 6.

14. Deshaun Watson - Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson and the Browns were on bye in Week 5, giving the quarterback another week to rest up his injured shoulder that kept him out of Week 4. Watson and the Browns host a 5-0 San Francisco team in Week 6, which could be a tough return to action for the 28-year-old if he is able to go. If not, P.J. Walker will start in his place rather than rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

15. Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins sits second in the league in passing yards, but the alarms are sounding for a 1-4 Minnesota Vikings team. Playoffs are looking out of reach, especially with San Francisco coming to town in two weeks. Cousins’ contract is up after this season, making the quarterback situation in Minnesota very worth monitoring.

16. Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were idle in Week 5, returning in Week 6 with a big matchup against the Detroit Lions. Tampa sits alone on top of the NFC South at 3-1, but the 3-2 Saints and Falcons are breathing down their neck. Mayfield has looked better than expected this season and his quest to earn the starting role beyond this season continues against a 4-1 Detroit team.

17. Justin Fields - Chicago Bears

Justin Fields has been streaky all season with plenty of booms and plenty of busts, but it was all boom on Thursday night when he led Chicago to their first win in 347 days amidst a 40-point offensive explosion.

The Bears celebrate their first win in 347 days 🔥

(📺: Prime) pic.twitter.com/JWizi1vs1p

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 6, 2023

Fields completed 15-of-29 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns, heavily targeting top receiver D.J. Moore in the process. He will look to lead Chicago to back-to-back wins as they face Minnesota next Sunday.

18. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense struggled to get anything going against San Francisco, falling 42-10 on Sunday night.

Dak Prescott after Dallas’ 42-10 loss: “Didn't see it coming. Put everything into it and got punched in the mouth. Called it a couple weeks ago humbling against Arizona, but this may be the most humbling (loss) I've ever been a part of.”
More: @toddarcher: https://t.co/CVnKoW6nRv

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2023

Prescott threw three interceptions in the frustrating loss, dropping Dallas to 3-2 on the season. He will look to bounce back in Week 6 against a hungry Chargers team coming off of a bye.

19. Sam Howell - Washington Commanders

Sam Howell did not play his best game on Thursday night in the blowout loss to Chicago, but the second-year quarterback still showed plenty of intrigue regarding his future. He completed 37-of-51 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and despite getting blown out still managed to throw up a decent stat line. Howell is by no means guaranteed a starting spot moving forward in Washington, but if he continues to play well, he could eventually wind up as a starter in this league.

20. Gardner Minshew II - Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson injured his shoulder in Indianapolis’ big divisional win over Tennessee on Sunday, bringing in Gardner Minshew as QB1 for the foreseeable future. Minshew’s familiarity with Shane Steichen’s offense along with his conservative playstyle should keep Indianapolis afloat while Richardson heals up. He completed 11-of-14 passes for 155 yards in the win.

21. Derek Carr - New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr did not have to do much in the Saints’ blowout win over New England, as Mac Jones took care of the Saints himself. Carr passed for two touchdowns but only threw for 183 yards in the blowout win. New Orleans will look to stay hot against the Houston Texans in Week 6.

22. Jimmy Garoppolo - Las Vegas Raiders

Despite the Raiders’ struggles last season they went out over the offseason and grabbed a capable quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, showing that they are attempting to compete. Five weeks in and they sit at 2-3 after a gritty win over Green Bay on Monday night, but they can quickly flip that into a 4-3 record with games against the Patriots and Bears in the next two weeks. Garoppolo returned from a concussion to throw 22 completions on 31 attempts for 208 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the win.

23. Russell Wilson - Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos are falling behind fast in the AFC West, now sitting at 1-4 following a loss to the New York Jets. Like in most games this season, Wilson did not play poorly but did not do enough to make up for a lackluster Denver defense. He completed 20-of-31 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, adding 49 rushing yards. If Denver’s struggles continue, it will be interesting to see how long Wilson remains under center.

24. Ryan Tannehill - Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill kept the offense moving against the Colts but ultimately did not end up on top, now sitting at 2-3 on the season in a tight AFC South race. Tannehill threw for 264 yards, his highest passing yard total on the season. He sits at seventeenth in the league in passing yards but 31st in passing touchdowns, having thrown only two.

25. Joshua Dobbs - Arizona Cardinals

Joshua Dobbs cooled off a bit against Cincinnati, throwing two costly interceptions that allowed the game to get out of hand and showing why he is not considered a starting quarterback in this league. Arizona sits at 1-4 in a tough NFC West and fans are looking ahead to next season as they hold two first-round picks that will likely be high along with quarterback Kyler Murray who could be moved for a slew of assets.

26. Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young sits at 0-4 as a starting quarterback and Carolina does not hold their first-round pick for next season after moving it to Chicago when moving up to select Young with the first overall pick in 2023. Despite the bad start, Young threw for the highest yardage total of his career (247) and had his first multi-passing touchdown game (3) of his career. He possesses plenty of talent but the talent around him is not currently enough to translate into wins.

27. Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh Steelers

Kenny Pickett stepped up in the clutch, delivering a game-winning 41-yard touchdown strike to George Pickens.

GEORGE PICKENS OVER MARLON HUMPHREY
pic.twitter.com/kmkejxWRDp

— PFF (@PFF) October 8, 2023

Aside from that play, he was shaky all game. Pickett went 18-of-32 for 224 yards and a touchdown. Despite shaky quarterback play, Pittsburgh is 3-2 and in the hunt in the AFC North.

28. Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers

He started hot, but Green Bay’s young quarterback has been ice-cold over the last two games. On Monday night, Jordan Love threw three interceptions against a Raiders defense that typically struggles to create takeaways. 

Jordan Love is 6/24 on passes 20+ yards downfield, with two interceptions and no TDs.

Charted as accurate on 5 of the 24 attempts, third-lowest in the NFL

So, yeah pretty much https://t.co/GrYP1Yorns

— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 10, 2023

Love struggled mightily with deep ball accuracy, a trait that is coveted by NFL franchises. Green Bay sits at 2-3 after starting 2-1 and Love is playing the rest of the season for a long-term job.

29. Desmond Ridder - Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Ridder delivered a clutch drive on Sunday to set up a game-winning field goal from Younghoe Koo over Houston, bringing his career home record to an impressive 31-0 (5-0 in the NFL).

Desmond Ridder Desmond Ridder
at home on the road pic.twitter.com/ad9AFIJsN2

— FFYT🎱 (@_FootballFilms_) October 8, 2023

Despite his inconsistencies, Ridder looked poised on Sunday and passed for a season-high 329 yards. If he can keep Atlanta afloat, he may buy himself another season as the Falcons’ starting quarterback.

30. Zach Wilson - New York Jets

Zach Wilson was shaky against a historically bad Denver Broncos defense, passing for just 199 yards and an interception, but the Jets came out on top to bring their season record to 2-3. Wilson draws a tough matchup against Philadelphia next week, which could put his job for the rest of the season on the hot seat if he struggles again.

31. Mac Jones - New England Patriots

Speaking of struggling quarterbacks, Mac Jones has seemingly gotten worse each week since opening the season hot against Philadelphia. Jones completed just 12-of-22 passes against the Saints for only 110 yards, throwing two interceptions in the shutout loss. It marked the second straight week that Jones was yanked for Bailey Zappe, although Bill Belichick has stated that Jones will remain the starter going forward.

32. Daniel Jones - New York Giants

Daniel Jones left the Giants’ blowout loss to Miami early with a neck injury, but the injury is not considered serious and he could suit up next week against the Buffalo Bills. New York has been one of the biggest disappointments this season, sitting at 1-4 in the cellar of the NFC East. Jones was expected to take a step forward with additional weapons added to the team, but in reality, he took two steps backward just after earning a contract extension.

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