The annual QB tier rankings from The Athletic

[dave mcbride]

The tier rankings are based on interviews with dozens of NFL GMs, head coaches, coordinators, position coaches, and scouts. There is simply too much here, so I apologize for no clips/quotes, but for those who can access it, enjoy. It’s my favorite Athletic feature of the year. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514160/2025/08/11/nfl-qb-rankings-tiers-2025-jackson-daniels/

[hondo in seattle]

The thing I noticed is that I have to scroll down to Tier 3 to find any AFCE QBs other than Josh who's a Tier 1 operator.

[HappyDays]

With 50 voters Mahomes and Burrow were the only unanimous Tier 1 QBs. I was wondering how Allen and Lamar got 3 votes and 4 votes respectively that placed them outside of Tier 1. Then I saw that 6 of the voters were former GMs and it clicked.

[BillsFan4]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I was wondering how Allen and Lamar got 3 votes and 4 votes respectively that placed them outside of Tier 1.

Yeah I wondered the same thing.

 

I’d like to know their reasons for voting them tier 2 but I’m sure it would just be some nonsense anyway. lol 

[LEBills]

6 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

With 50 voters Mahomes and Burrow were the only unanimous Tier 1 QBs. I was wondering how Allen and Lamar got 3 votes and 4 votes respectively that placed them outside of Tier 1. Then I saw that 6 of the voters were former GMs and it clicked.

Polian is still sure Lamar would be a heck of a WR

[julian]

When you get 46 and 47 voters voting one way,  then 4 and 3 voters being the outliers, you know it should’ve been unanimous unless you wanna believe these few people have spotted something the other 47 voters weren’t smart enough to see.

 

 

[PetermansRedemption]

Mahomes in tier 1 over Lamar and Allen is a joke. He is clearly the 4th option after last season. 

[buffblue]

To me the most honest ranking includes a) Recognition that Josh/Lamar/Mahomes are the top 3 QBs regardless of order AND b) Burrow is the distant #4 BUT still clearly better than anyone in the league other than the big 3

[Billl]

3 minutes ago, buffblue said:

To me the most honest ranking includes a) Recognition that Josh/Lamar/Mahomes are the top 3 QBs regardless of order AND b) Burrow is the distant #4 BUT still clearly better than anyone in the league other than the big 3

It’s Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, and Burrow in that order then a wide gap after that.  Anyone who didn’t put Josh and Lamar in the top tier is an idiot.

[eball]

Sorry, Burrow doesn’t hold a candle to Mahomes and Allen. 
 

[JohnNord]

1 hour ago, dave mcbride said:

The tier rankings are based on interviews with dozens of NFL GMs, head coaches, coordinators, position coaches, and scouts. There is simply too much here, so I apologize for no clips/quotes, but for those who can access it, enjoy. It’s my favorite Athletic feature of the year. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6514160/2025/08/11/nfl-qb-rankings-tiers-2025-jackson-daniels/

I think it was Dan Orlavsky that said, it’s Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, and Jackson at the top.  And you can make an argument for ago of those 4 to be #1

[SoonerBillsFan]

To me Allen is a mix between Elway and Favre.  I wish he had a system like both did when they won superbowls.  A top WR doesnt hurt either.

[Mikie2times]

 

22 minutes ago, buffblue said:

To me the most honest ranking includes a) Recognition that Josh/Lamar/Mahomes are the top 3 QBs regardless of order AND b) Burrow is the distant #4 BUT still clearly better than anyone in the league other than the big 3

Burrow is in that group. To say he is a distant 4th is almost as bad as putting Lamar and Mahomes ahead of Josh.

[dcinmuncie]

7 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

 

Burrow is in that group. To say he is a distant 4th is almost as bad as putting Lamar and Mahomes ahead of Josh.

Burrow is great, no doubt 

 

but he also throws to 2 number one receivers.

 

no one other than maybe Philly has better top two receivers 

imagine Josh or Lamar in that situation? 

[Mikie2times]

Just now, dcinmuncie said:

Burrow is great, no doubt 

 

but he also throws to 2 number one receivers.

 

no one other than maybe Philly has better top two receivers 

imagine Josh or Lamar in that situation? 

I think he would be just fine without them. He's the the best pure passer in football. One of the only ones left who play like QB's used to play. 

[PetermansRedemption]

13 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

 

Burrow is in that group. To say he is a distant 4th is almost as bad as putting Lamar and Mahomes ahead of Josh.

And Burrow puts up the numbers without the rushing threat. I’d say he has an argument as the best pure QB of the 4. The guy just slings it. 

[julian]

9 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

I think he would be just fine without them. He's the the best pure passer in football. One of the only ones left who play like QB's used to play. 

We don’t know.. the last time he didn’t have two #1 WRs he was at Ohio state unable to beat out Haskins for the starting job… once he transferred to LSU he went from Jefferson and Chase to now Chase and Higgins.

 

I suspect his numbers would fall off if he didn’t have arguably the best one/two punch at WR, but this isn’t a knock on him, we just haven’t seen him without the plethora of weapons.

[Billl]

7 minutes ago, PetermansRedemption said:

And Burrow puts up the numbers without the rushing threat. I’d say he has an argument as the best pure QB of the 4. The guy just slings it. 

Burrow can’t kill you with his legs the way the others can, and Lamar can’t beat you with the creativity that Allen and Mahomes can.  As you go up the ladder, each guy can do something that the guys below him can’t.

[Mikie2times]

7 minutes ago, julian said:

We don’t know.. the last time he didn’t have two #1 WRs he was at Ohio state unable to beat out Haskins for the starting job… once he transferred to LSU he went from Jefferson and Chase to now Chase and Higgins.

 

I suspect his numbers would fall off if he didn’t have arguably the best one/two punch at WR, but this isn’t a knock on him, we just haven’t seen him without the plethora of weapons.

I'm good with this take. If I get some time tomorrow I will take a look at how he has done with one or both Chase and Higgins out. I know they have missed a lot of time. I'm sure he has a decent sample to consider. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

No idea how Stafford made it into the top tier. 

 

There's a pretty large gap after Allen/Mahomes/Jackson/Burrow. Whatever order you want to put those guys in, they are a clear cut above the rest of the league.