The hierarchy has shifted. If you’re still looking at a list from three years ago and seeing the same names in the same spots, you aren’t watching the same league I am. The 2025 season just wrapped up, and honestly, the tape tells a much different story than the jersey sales. We’ve got second-year guys outplaying seasoned vets and former MVPs struggling to stay in the conversation.
Basically, being a "top tier" quarterback isn't just about arm talent anymore. It's about surviving a league where defensive coordinators have finally figured out how to slow down the high-flying passing games of the early 2020s.
The New Reality of Top 10 NFL QBs
Ranking these guys is kinda subjective, but the numbers from this past season don't lie. We saw some massive jumps. Drake Maye, for instance, didn't just play well for a young guy; he put up an MVP-caliber campaign in New England. Meanwhile, some of the "unquestionable" legends had to grit out ugly wins just to stay relevant.
1. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
Josh Allen is a unicorn. Period. In 2025, he finished with 4,247 total yards and 39 total touchdowns. He became the first player ever to put up 250+ passing yards and two rushing scores in a single quarter (Week 1 against Baltimore). You've seen the hurdles, but it’s the efficiency that’s scary now. He broke a franchise record this year by completing 88.5% of his passes in a game against the Chiefs. He's the engine. Without him, that team is fighting for a top-five draft pick.
2. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
Lamar just keeps winning. He’s the reigning MVP for a reason. During the 2025 regular season, his 8.4 yards per attempt ranked near the absolute top of the league. People still try to call him a "run-first" QB, but he’s carving teams up from the pocket now. He led the NFL in EPA (Expected Points Added) on scrambles, but his ability to handle the blitz—posting a 0.305 EPA per dropback—is what actually kills defenses.
3. Drake Maye (New England Patriots)
Yeah, I'm putting him here. Deal with it. Maye's 2025 stats are honestly absurd for a second-year player: 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 8 picks. He led the league with a 113.5 passer rating. He’s the primary reason the Patriots went from a laughingstock to a division title. Watching him, you see a mix of Herbert's arm and a weirdly calm improvisational style that looks like a young Aaron Rodgers.
4. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
Stafford is 37 and still slinging it better than almost anyone. After everyone worried about his back in the offseason, he went out and tossed 46 touchdowns. Forty-six. That led the league. He’s the master of the "no-look" and the tight-window throw. If he’s healthy, the Rams are a problem. He finished the regular season with 4,707 passing yards, proving that "old" in NFL years is a myth if you have that arm.
5. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
Burrow had a weird 2025. He was limited to 8 games due to various bumps and bruises, but when he was on the field, he was surgical. He still holds the highest career completion percentage in NFL history. In the games he played this year, he threw 17 touchdowns against only 5 interceptions. The Bengals' offense just looks different when #9 is back there—more rhythm, more confidence. He just needs to stay on the grass.
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6. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)
Under Jim Harbaugh, Herbert has become a more "complete" winner, even if his raw stats aren't as inflated as they used to be. He threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns in 16 games. The interceptions (13) were a bit high, but he’s playing with a level of toughness that’s infectious. Harbaugh recently called him a "winner" through and through, and you can see why when he’s converting 3rd-and-longs with three defenders in his face.
7. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
The heir to the throne in Green Bay is officially "The Guy." Love posted a 101.2 passer rating this season, ranking 6th in the league. There was a game against the Bears in Week 14 where he threw an interception but still finished with a 120.7 rating because he had three touchdowns over 20 yards. He’s a big-play machine. He doesn't panic. That’s the most important trait for a Packers QB.
8. Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
The "system QB" talk needs to die. Purdy finished 2025 with 20 touchdowns and a 100.4 passer rating. He’s incredibly efficient in the second half of games, where his rating actually jumps to 108.8. He’s not just handing the ball off; he’s leading game-winning drives against teams like Philly and Indianapolis. He’s a winner who knows exactly where the ball needs to go before the snap even happens.
9. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
Hurts is still the best goal-line weapon in football. He had 8 rushing touchdowns this year and 25 through the air. His 9.2 average depth of target (aDot) shows he’s still willing to take those deep shots to A.J. Brown. While his completion percentage fluctuated, his ability to create something out of nothing remains elite. He's 11th in the league in overall PFF grade, which feels right.
10. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)
Stroud had some "sophomore slump" moments in 2025, but his ceiling is still through the roof. He eclipsed 1,700 yards by mid-season and had a monster 4-touchdown game against Baltimore. He’s still finding his footing in terms of consistency, but the talent is undeniable. When it clicks, like it did in that 44-10 win over the Ravens, he looks like a top-three player.
What Actually Separates the Greats?
It isn't just the 40-yard dash time or how far they can throw a Hail Mary. The common thread among these top 10 NFL QBs is their "EPA under pressure."
Look at Jayden Daniels. He isn't on this specific top 10 yet because of a late-season tailspin where the Commanders went 5-12, but his rookie year was historic. He had a 143.4 passer rating against the blitz during a specific stretch. That is what translates to long-term success. If you can't handle a defensive coordinator sending six guys at your face, you won't last in this league.
The "System" vs. "Creator" Debate
- Creators: Allen, Jackson, and Mahomes (who had a down year statistically but is still the most feared man in January).
- Processors: Purdy, Burrow, and Stafford.
Most fans get this wrong. They think you have to be one or the other. The best—the guys at the very top of the list—are starting to do both. Josh Allen is learning to take the check-down. Lamar Jackson is staying in the pocket.
The Mahomes Elephant in the Room
You noticed Patrick Mahomes isn't in my top 10 for the 2025 regular season. That sounds insane, right? Statistically, it was a rough one. He had 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a QB rating of 89.6. He also lost 11 fumbles.
Is he still the best player in the world? Probably. But if we are ranking based on 2025 performance, he took a step back while the Chiefs worked through some offensive growing pains. You can't ignore 11 fumbles. You just can't.
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How to Evaluate QBs Like a Pro
If you want to move beyond the box score, keep an eye on these three things:
- Success Rate on 3rd Down: Anyone can throw a screen pass on 1st-and-10. Who moves the chains when the defense knows a pass is coming?
- Turnover Worthy Plays: Sometimes a QB throws a terrible pass that a defender drops. Box scores count that as a completion; film watchers count it as a mistake.
- Pocket Movement: It’s not about speed. It’s about moving three inches to the left to avoid a sack.
The league is changing fast. By this time next year, Drake Maye might be #1, or we might be talking about a rookie from the 2026 class like Carson Beck. For now, the guys above are the ones setting the standard.
Keep track of off-season coaching changes. A guy like Justin Herbert or C.J. Stroud can jump three spots just by getting a better play-caller. Watch the "EPA per dropback" stats early in the 2026 season to see who is actually making a leap versus who just had a lucky Week 1.