2023 NFL QB Power Rankings: All 32 Starting Quarterbacks After Week 1

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?

Quarterback play was all over the place in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. Many offenses stumbled through the week with nowhere to go but up, while a few other quarterbacks had some surprisingly stellar performances.

Joe Nicely ranked the league’s starting quarterbacks from 1-32 heading into Week 1. Heading into Week 2, those power rankings have been shaken up after some of the perceived top quarterbacks in the league had poor showings and others showed out in Week 1.

All that being said, Week 1 should not garner overreactions. However, this is a power ranking based on 2023 performance and not a true ranking on how these guys stand as franchise quarterbacks. Read on to see how we ranked the league’s starting quarterbacks top to bottom.

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1. Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs

Mahomes may have started the season 0-1, but his receivers tallied eight total drops in the season opening loss to Detroit. He still passed for 226 yards and two touchdowns in the loss and with Travis Kelce back in the fold sooner rather than later, we should see Kansas City’s offense humming in no time.

2. Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts did not have his best game in Week 1’s road win over New England, but playing that Belichick defense is no easy task. While he did have one fumble, Hurts game-managed his team to victory while completing 22-of-33 passes for 170 yards and a score. His numbers should be back to normal this Thursday when the Eagles take on Minnesota, a team that just surrendered two passing touchdowns and a win to Baker Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

3. Tua Tagovailoa - Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa silenced any doubters with an electric performance in Los Angeles on Sunday, throwing for 466 yards and three touchdowns while connecting with Tyreek Hill to cap off a game-winning drive with 1:45 left in the game. If Tagovailoa can stay healthy this season, he very well may solidify himself in the top tier of quarterbacks in the league and could remain right around here weekly in these power rankings. We will see him next on Sunday Night Football against the New England Patriots, a tough defensive test.

4. Trevor Lawrence - Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence appears poised to take the next big step as he enters Year 3 of his NFL career, as the addition of Calvin Ridley to the receiving corps is nothing to overlook. Lawrence looked Ridley’s way eleven times in the season opener, connecting with him eight times for 114 yards and a score. TLaw threw for 254 yards and two scores in the win and will match up in a top-tier showdown against Kansas City this week.

5. Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert looked more like his old self on Sunday after battling through injuries in 2022. He completed 23-of-33 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown and added a rushing touchdown and 18 yards on the ground. The Chargers’ offense looked explosive and went toe-to-toe with the Dolphins despite coming up short in the end. Herbert should be set for a bounce-back campaign in 2023.

6. Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams

Matthew Stafford had one of the more surprising Week 1 performances, dominating the Seattle Seahawks in his return to action. While he did not throw for any touchdowns, Stafford passed for 334 yards against a solid Seattle secondary with Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell acting as his top two receivers. Most importantly, the 35-year-old looked healthy after an injury-battered 2022 campaign. He will face a true test in Week 2 as the Rams take on a dangerous San Francisco 49ers defense.

7. Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen really struggled in primetime against a tough Jets’ defense on Monday Night Football, tossing three interceptions in the loss. He is still one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, but to truly rise into “elite” tier he is going to have to step up his game after declining last season and continuing to be turnover prone in Week 1. Allen should bounce back against a weak Raiders’ defense in Week 2.

8. Joe Burrow - Cincinnati Bengals

The NFL’s highest-paid player had the worst performance of his career to open up Week 1, passing for just 82 yards as Cincinnati scored only three points. While it was a rainy day, there was no excuse for the Bengals’ offensive showing to be that poor. Burrow will look to rebound in Week 2 against a Baltimore Ravens team that is already pretty banged up after Week 1 in his home opener.

9. Lamar Jackson - Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson was held in check by the Houston Texans, throwing an interception and failing to find the endzone through the air or on the ground. Despite that, he still managed to lead Baltimore to a win in a game that saw many of his teammates get banged up. Jackson will have to step up his play in Week 2 as a tough divisional game against Cincinnati looms.

10) Brock Purdy - San Francisco 49ers

One of the biggest winners of Week 1 was San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy diced up a respectable Steelers defense at home, completing 19 of 29 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. After facing speculation all offseason, the former Mr. Irrelevant showed that he belongs as a QB1 in the NFL.

Another example of 49ers Brock Purdy manipulating defenses with his eyes that leads to Aiyuk touchdown

Purdy sells PA, his entire body language shows he wants to go to Deebo and it moves the safety out of the zone which makes Aiyuk wide-open after he cooked Peterson pic.twitter.com/LHf1tpe1Kg

— Brad (@Graham_SFN) September 14, 2023

11. Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott did not have to do much in the Cowboys’ blowout 40-0 win over the New York Giants, completing 13 of 24 pass attempts for 143 yards and rushing for an additional six yards. Prescott has shown to be a more than capable game manager over the course of his career and if he plays like a top-half quarterback this season, Dallas should be set for a big year.

12. Jared Goff - Detroit Lions

Jared Goff did not play lights out by any means in the season opener against Kansas City, but he had a good game and brought home a win despite playing the Super Bowl champs on the road. Goff went 22-for-35 for 253 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers. He could find himself sneakily moving up these rankings if he continues to play like he did down the stretch last season.

13. Mac Jones - New England Patriots

No quarterback helped their stock more in Week 1 than Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. All offseason he heard the rumblings of Bailey Zappe potentially taking his job if he were to slip up, and he delivered in a big way on Sunday going toe-to-toe with Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Mac threw 54 passes, completing 35 of them for 316 yards and three touchdowns along with an interception. He will be in prime time this week against the Dolphins on Sunday Night Football for another big opportunity to put numbers up.

14. Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins has been and always will be the definition of a league average quarterback. Cousins looks like he will be heading a very pass-heavy offense this season, dropping back for 44 passes on Sunday in the loss against Tampa Bay. He completed 33 for 344 yards and two touchdowns along with an interception. Primetime Kirk Cousins returns to the fold on Thursday against the Philadelphia Eagles in their home opener.

15. Deshaun Watson - Cleveland Browns

Deshaun Watson continued to look rusty on Sunday, missing a few open throws although he was playing in poor weather conditions. Watson went 16-for-29 through the air for 154 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He added some big plays on the ground, rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown. If he cleans up his accuracy and returns to the dual threat machine he was prior to his suspension, he could easily work his way up this list.

16. Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers

Jordan Love’s debut as the Packers’ franchise quarterback quite possibly could not have gone any better than it did. Love went 15-for-27 for 245 yards and three touchdowns, carving up the Bears’ defense and looking poised despite missing his top receiving option in Christian Watson. While Love looked very impressive, the Bears are probably still a bottom five team in the league. Love gets the Falcons this week and the Saints the following week, which should provide more of a test.

17. Justin Fields - Chicago Bears

Justin Fields had some shining moments in Sunday’s loss to the Packers, but it was more of the same for the third-year quarterback out of Ohio State. The team around him did not look much improved and he did not have much time to get the ball out, being forced to make plays with his legs. It may still be another year or two before Fields has the talent around him to elevate his play to the next level.

18. Jimmy Garoppolo - Las Vegas Raiders

Jimmy Garoppolo had a classic Jimmy G performance on Sunday, finding a way to win and putting up respectable numbers. He was an efficient 20-for-26 for 200 yards and two scores with one interception, delivering his first win in a Raiders’ uniform over division rival Denver. If Garoppolo can stay healthy this season, he can lead the Raiders to a much better record than many anticipated going into the season.

19. Daniel Jones - New York Giants

Daniel Jones crumbled in prime time against a stout Dallas Cowboys defense. He threw for just 104 yards and had two interceptions, turning in a total of zero points in the 40-0 shutout. Jones will have a chance to get his feet under him against the Arizona Cardinals this week, but his Week 1 performance was discouraging for Giants fans who held high expectations coming into the season.

Dallas picks off Daniel Jones AGAIN 😳

(via @nfl)pic.twitter.com/OGr3Lh0z5G

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 11, 2023

20. Russell Wilson - Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson picked up where he left off last season - looking painstakingly average. Wilson completed 27-of-34 pass attempts for 177 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. While he did not pull off the win, he was also lacking weapons with top receiver Jerry Jeudy out with a hamstring injury. We shall see if Russ can step his level up this season and move up the rankings as the year goes on.

21. Derek Carr - New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr led the Saints to a win in his New Orleans debut. While the offense only put up one touchdown in a defensive battle, it was enough to get the job done. He threw for 305 yards while going 23-for-33, also tossing a pick in the victory. With Michael Thomas back in the fold and Rashid Shaheed emerging, Carr has a plethora of weapons at his disposal. Carr’s season continues Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers on a Monday night doubleheader.

This is ELECTRIC.

Derek Carr: Football guy. 😤

(🎥: @NFL)pic.twitter.com/NGDCZb8nHu

— theScore (@theScore) September 13, 2023

22. Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baker Mayfield played far from a perfect game on Sunday, but at the end of the day he pulled off an upset over the Minnesota Vikings to start his Tampa career off 1-0. Baker went 21-for-34 for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The former number one overall pick has a large chip on his shoulder, starting a season opener for his third team in three years. He will be fun to watch this season.

23. Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks

Has Geno’s magic cooled off? He did not look sharp in Week 1’s loss, going 16-for-26 for 112 yards and a touchdown as the Rams pulled off an upset over Seattle. Geno Smith enjoyed a resurgent 2022 season after being touted as a bust early in his career, but the trend could buck in 2023 as Geno cooled off significantly down the stretch last season.

24. Anthony Richardson - Indianapolis Colts

Anthony Richardson looked like the most poised rookie quarterback of the bunch in Week 1. He played conservatively for a majority of the game but showcased elite athleticism. Richardson went 24-of-37 for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Colts fans should be enthused - five years after Andrew Luck’s retirement, they may finally have a franchise quarterback.

25. Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young’s lack of weapons may cause issues for the rookie this season. Young completed 20-of-38 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown and also tossed two interceptions in his debut. He showed some flashes but overall it was not the most encouraging debut for the number one pick. That being said, rookie quarterbacks often struggle in year 1. Young has a long season ahead of him to take the training wheels off.

26. C.J. Stroud - Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud was tasked with playing against a tough Baltimore defense at home in his NFL debut. While he didn’t put the ball into the end zone once, he didn’t get rattled and put together a decent stat line. Stroud went 28-for-44 for 242 yards through the air and added 20 rush yards in the loss. The Week 2 matchup between Stroud and Anthony Richardson will be very intriguing as both rookies will be seeking their first career win.

27. Sam Howell - Washington Commanders

Washington’s second-year quarterback led the Commanders to a comeback win in Week 1, but Sam Howell was expected to win against a bottom-tier Arizona Cardinals team. He went 19-for-31 for 202 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and added a rushing touchdown to boost his fantasy output. Is Sam Howell the franchise guy in Washington, or is he simply a bridge to a rookie next season? Time will tell, and the ball is in Howell’s hands this season to prove himself.

28. Desmond Ridder - Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Ridder has a legitimate chance to attempt the least amount of passes as a starting quarterback since the 1920’s. Arthur Smith has proven time and time again that he loves to run the ball, and it worked on Sunday as Atlanta glided to a 24-10 victory. Ridder was efficient when he did pass, going 15-for-18 for 115 yards and a touchdown, but rarely threw the ball down the field. Until we see more, he is going to be hovering around the bottom five on this list.

29. Kenny Pickett - Pittsburgh Steelers

Kenny Pickett struggled in Pittsburgh’s blowout loss to the 49ers, going 31-for-46 through the air for 232 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. San Francisco arguably has the best defense in the league, but Pickett’s Week 2 matchup, the Cleveland Browns, looked great themselves defensively in Week 1. The second-year quarterback has a lot of work to do to improve his standing amongst the NFL’s signal callers.

30. Ryan Tannehill - Tennessee Titans

It may only be a matter of time before the Tennessee Titans are no longer starting Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. Tannehill struggled against New Orleans in the 16-15 loss, throwing three interceptions and failing to score a single touchdown. The 35-year-old offers plenty of experience, but if Tennessee starts losing they may want to get Malik Willis and Will Levis some reps.

31. Zach Wilson - New York Jets

On just his fourth snap as a New York Jet, Aaron Rodgers sadly tore his Achilles which effectively ended his season. This thrust Zach Wilson back under center in New York, and he did not look much more promising than he did last season despite the Jets pulling off the Week 1 win over Buffalo in overtime. Wilson went 14-for-21 for 140 yards for one touchdown and one interception. Robert Saleh stated that Wilson is their quarterback going forward this season.

32. Joshua Dobbs - Arizona Cardinals

Joshua Dobbs was thrust into a fortunate but unfortunate situation when he was moved to Arizona near the end of the preseason. On the bright side, he got a chance to be a Week 1 NFL starting quarterback. On the not-so-bright side, he was thrown into a team that is actively tanking and had to learn the playbook on very short notice. Dobbs was efficient but not effective in Week 1, going 21-for-30 for 132 yards. Arizona’s lone touchdown on the day was defensive.

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