The annual QB tier rankings from The Athletic

[BigAl2526]

The main difference between Burrows and Allen/Mahomes is that Burrows is less inclined to do creative things with his legs.  For Allen and Mahomes, that makes for an extra dimension that is really hard on defenses.  Another thread reported that Jamar Chase said the difference between Allen and Burrows is that teams have to game plan for Allen.  

[Mike in Horseheads]

43 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

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. 

Were all happy you approve of that take.

[GoBills808]

Burrow😂😂

[H2o]

I guess the tiers are close to being right. The top 5 is probably the top 5 legitimately. Mahomes, Burrow, JA17, and Lamar are clearly the cream of the crop. People can argue the order if they want, but they are the best. I don't know if I would put Purdy and Love in tier 2, but they are middle of the pack QB's. The rest are the rest. 

[eball]

8 hours ago, Billl said:

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.

 

Except there’s nothing Mahomes and Allen can’t do.  That’s why they should be the clear 1A/1B without question.

 

[CSBill]

The top four are the top four—there can be a lot of discussion on the order, but they are undoubtedly the four best. But I do not get Stafford's inclusion in there.

 

Is that like a career award for him?

 

If you could pick any QB right now to build your franchise with--outside Pat M, Josh A, Joe B, or Lamar J--would you pick Stafford? I doubt it. Jayden Daniels would probably be the choice based on his potential, maybe CJ Stoud, but certainly not Stafford. There are probably 4-5 others you would pick before him. 

 

 

Edited August 12 by CSBill

[TH3]

8 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

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.

The bills set a record for scoring last year…pretty sure his system works

8 hours 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. 

Slings it to two of the best wideouts in the league

[dave mcbride]

7 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Except there’s nothing Mahomes and Allen can’t do.  That’s why they should be the clear 1A/1B without question.

 

Burrow is not only amazingly good, he literally has the highest completion percentage in NFL history. He is not the same player as Allen or Mahomes, but he is as good as them, more or less. At a certain point, it becomes a matter of personal preference.

[GunnerBill]

Who is voting Matthew Stafford into Tier 1? It's not a lifetime achievement award ffs. It's a problem these things always have. NFL GMs are slow to move guys down. Seen it in previous editions with Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers to mention but two. 

 

Matt Stafford was underrated in his prime partly because he spent so long on bad Lions teams. And now it has flipped the other way. He is not a tier 1 Quarterback at this stage of his career. Not even close. 

[boyst]

7 hours ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

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. 

pedigree anointed by those who give the honors. if they can't give him that distinction now it will dishonor their high beliefs in him to begin with - which is funny because many thought Mahomes was a reach and big risk. and josh was always the wrong josh so they can't go back on their word.

 

there are 2 or 3 that would put Rosen in tier 2 just because they can't sell out their original ideas.

 

it's pathetic. 

[Toledo Bill]

9 hours ago, eball said:

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

Not in his pompous, cigar smoking opinion 😂

[GunnerBill]

Comparing the Athletic Survey's tiers to mine posted earlier this offseason:

 

Tier 1

Gunner: Mahomes; Allen; Burrow; Jackson

Athletic Survey: Mahomes; Burrow; Allen; Jackson; Stafford

 

Tier 2

Gunner: Hurts; Herbert; Prescott; Daniels; Goff; Love; Mayfield; Stafford; Stroud

Athletic Survey: Daniels; Herbert; Goff; Stroud; Hurts; Mayfield; Prescott; Love; Purdy

 

Tier 3

Gunner: Tagovailoa; Purdy; Nix; Smith; Lawrence; Murray

Athletic Survey: Murray; Rodgers; Tagovailoa; Lawrence; Smith; Nix; Darnold; Maye; Williams; Young; Cousins; 

 

 

I've cut it off after that as the way they categorise is different.... indeed the last five of their tier 3 guys are the four guys who were in my tier 4 (with Rodgers) plus Cousins who I didn't rank as I ranked Penix as the Falcons likely starter. 

 

But basically the big differences they have are Stafford and Rodgers who they have a tier higher than I did (as I said above, classic NFL GMs who are typically late to spot the decline on these things) and Purdy who they have bottom of tier 2 and I have top of tier 3 - I am a little harsher on him given how he looked when his pieces were out last year. 

 

 

[eball]

34 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Burrow is not only amazingly good, he literally has the highest completion percentage in NFL history. He is not the same player as Allen or Mahomes, but he is as good as them, more or less. At a certain point, it becomes a matter of personal preference.

 

I can appreciate these statements but the fact remains that we have never seen Burrow have to operate without elite weapons.

 

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, eball said:

 

I can appreciate these statements but the fact remains that we have never seen Burrow have to operate without elite weapons.

 

 

But he has operated this whole time with one of the worst OLs. Certainly the worst by far out of the top tier QBs. So there is some balance there.

[dcinmuncie]

Someone already mentioned this, but the more eye popping thing are the 3 idiots who had Josh second tier and the 4 idiots who had Lamar 2nd tier 

 

clearly they have no effing idea what they are watching 

 

I’ve seen the ravens without Lamar. It’s not good 

I’ve seen Buffalo without Josh in preseason and end of season. It’s unwatchable 

[SoonerBillsFan]

47 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Burrow is not only amazingly good, he literally has the highest completion percentage in NFL history. He is not the same player as Allen or Mahomes, but he is as good as them, more or less. At a certain point, it becomes a matter of personal preference.

When you have the #1 wr in the NFL and another #1 opposite him, it's nat difficult to do that. 

[Mikie2times]

8 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Were all happy you approve of that take.

I'm happy you felt the need to let me know you're happy 

[buffblue]

53 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

But he has operated this whole time with one of the worst OLs. Certainly the worst by far out of the top tier QBs. So there is some balance there.

True, but he also is guilty of holding the ball too long at times. The guy takes a significantly higher amount of sacks relative to the other 3. I feel like Burrow lives off the Bengals 2021 Super Bowl run which was predominantly a result of their defense. His numbers were pedestrian, and I don't care how weak your offensive line is - you can't take 9 sacks in a playoff game like he did against the Titans that year and get away with it, unless your defense is balling out.

Edited August 12 by buffblue

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, buffblue said:

True, but he also is guilty of holding the ball too long at times. The guy takes a significantly higher amount of sacks relative to the other 3. I feel like Burrow lives off the Bengals 2021 Super Bowl run which was predominantly a result of their defense. His numbers were pedestrian, and I don't care how weak your offensive line is - you can't take 9 sacks in a playoff game like he did against the Titans that year and get away with it, unless your defense is balling out.

 

He was incredible last year. The last time a QB played anything like that well and missed the playoffs because of the ineptitude around him was 2015 Drew Brees. 

[machine gun kelly]

11 hours 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/

Dave, the rankings are similar enough to the way I would rank minus the #1 status I would’ve been fine with either Lamar or Josh taking #1 amd #2 in either order.  They both had a fantastic season in 2024. As I scrolled down the tiers, I’d only be quibbling over a spot here or there, but overall it seemed fine to me.