Justin Herbert put any talks of a sophomore slump to bed as he went out and set multiple franchise records in 2021. While the Chargers ultimately missed the playoffs with one of the worst defenses in the league, Herbert finished with 5,014 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns and a 65.9 completion percentage.
Herbert's second season proved that his rookie season was not a fluke and he really is one of the best quarterbacks in all of the NFL. While the Chargers' success limited him from being in the MVP talk this season, Herbert is an early candidate to win the award next season.
We here at Bolt Beat come together and rank all 32 starting quarterbacks before a season begins and all 32 starting quarterbacks after a season ends. Three contributors and I ranked the quarterbacks 32-1 to come up with a consensus ranking and let me tell you, Justin Herbert is pretty high.
Let's dive into it.
32. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
- Average ranking: 31.25
- Highest ranking: 30
- Preseason ranking: 29
Sam Darnold is a really bad quarterback. While things started off on a decent note for Darnold and the Carolina Panthers, it all went down relatively quickly to the point where Cam Newton was actually playing quarterback again for the Panthers. Darnold returned and looked just as bad as we remembered him, making Carolina look extremely foolish for trading a second-round pick for him.
31. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
- Average ranking: 30.75
- Highest ranking: 30
- Preseason ranking: 32
Daniel Jones was able to move up one on this list just because Darnold was so bad! In all honesty, Giants fans should be upset that Jones got hurt this season as the front office is going to convince itself that the Giants were only as bad as they were because he got hurt. If he played the entire year, it probably would have been enough to show them that this guy is not very good compared to his peers.
30. Zach Wilson, New York Jets
- Average ranking: 29.5
- Highest ranking: 28
- Preseason ranking: 27
There was some hope that Zach Wilson could be better than some of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL before this season and those hopes were dashed as Wilson played really poorly. I will say, there is something there. There is no guarantee that he finds it but there is a world in which he is a slow developer, like Josh Allen.
29. Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
- Average ranking: 29.5
- Highest ranking: 27
- Preseason ranking: N/A
If it is a smaller injury like in Jones' case then we still include him as the starter, plus, it is very obvious that he is going to start in New York next season. Hill, on the other hand, became the starter once he got healthy after Jameis Winston tore his ACL. With Winston being a free agent this offseason, Hill very well could be the starting QB in New Orleans in 2022.
28. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
- Average ranking: 28.75
- Highest ranking: 28
- Preseason ranking: N/A
Andy Dalton was on this list before the season started but he is no longer in Chicago as Justin Fields played most of the season and will start for the team moving forward. Fields was probably in the second-worst position for a rookie quarterback in 2021 and while his season was very disappointing, he has shown some serious signs of potential and deserves the benefit of the doubt.
27. Davis Mills, Houston Texans
- Average ranking: 27
- Highest ranking: 26
- Preseason ranking: N/A
Davis Mills started for an injured Tyrod Taylor early in the season and it appeared to be a disaster. However, the 2021 third-round pick actually played some really good football at the end of the season when he won his job back from Taylor. In his last five starts, Davis completed 68% of his passes with nine touchdowns, two interceptions and 251.6 yards per game. Oh, and he beat the Chargers.
26. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
- Average ranking: 24.75
- Highest ranking: 22
- Preseason ranking: 24
The Detroit Lions may have only won three games but man, were they cover kings. The Lions went 11-6 against the spread this season and towards the end of the year, Jared Goff actually wasn't playing that bad of football. Goff has a higher ceiling than this if he is surrounded by talent but he definitely is not someone who is going to carry his team.
25. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
- Average ranking: 24.5
- Highest ranking: 23
- Preseason ranking: 13
Baker Mayfield really hurt his stock in 2021. There were always questions around Mayfield and he appeared to answer them in the second half of the 2020 season. Baker was really good in that second half of the season to lead the Browns to the playoffs. However, this season, Baker played with an injury and was not good at all. It will be interesting to see how Cleveland handles his future.
24. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Average ranking: 24.25
- Highest ranking: 23
- Preseason ranking: 17
Trevor Lawrence was touted as the surest thing to come in the draft since Andrew Luck and after seeing how good Justin Herbert was in his rookie year, we may have expected too much from Lawrence. He was undoubtedly in the worst situation of any quarterback this season and played like it. He looked good in Week 18, though, and deserves the benefit of the doubt. He may climb up this list substantially.
23. Taylor Heinicke, Washington
- Average ranking: 23.75
- Highest ranking: 22
- Preseason ranking: N/A
Ryan Fitzpatrick was signed to be the starting quarterback of the Washington Football Team and he was instantly injured against the LA Chargers in Week 1 of the 2021 season. Taylor Heinicke took over and played pretty decent football. He is not great by any means, but he got the job done for Washington.
22. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Average ranking: 23
- Highest ranking: 22
- Preseason ranking: 20
Ben Roethlisberger is holding the Pittsburgh Steelers back but they still were able to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh has to be one of the worst NFL playoff teams in recent memory because of Big Ben, but hey, at least he gets to go out in a playoff game (unless he signs with another team, which should not be ruled out).
21. Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos
- Average ranking: 21
- Highest ranking: 21
- Preseason ranking: 26
Everyone who put together a list ranked Teddy Bridgewater as the 21st-best quarterback in the NFL. Bridgewater is the definition of a game-managing quarterback and even though his ceiling is not high, his value was on full display after he got hurt at the end of the season and Drew Lock came in to stink up the place.
20. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
- Average ranking: 19.5
- Highest ranking: 19
- Preseason ranking: 23
Having Tua be right next to Teddy B is the perfect placement for him as thus far in his NFL career, Tua has been a game-managing quarterback. He is not someone who necessarily scares you but he did cut out the mistakes in 2021 and really benefitted from Jaylen Waddle's YAC ability. It will be interesting to see what Miami does in its head coaching search in relation to Tua.
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19. Mac Jones, New England Patriots
- Average ranking: 19
- Highest ranking: 17
- Preseason ranking: 22
Mac Jones had the best situation of any rookie quarterback in 2021 and that is why he ranks higher than the rest of his peers on this list. In the long run, Jones probably will fall below Lawrence and could even fall behind Justin Fields. However, right now, he is the only rookie quarterback with a playoff start.
That being said, his team was absolutely mauled in that lone playoff start and Jones didn't do anything to raise his stock.
18. Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts
- Average ranking: 17.75
- Highest ranking: 17
- Preseason ranking: 25
This might seem way too high for Carson Wentz, especially considering he put together a Wentz classic in Week 18 to keep his own team out of the playoffs. However, there is a big gap between this region of quarterbacks and the next tier, so that is important to note. Before that Week 18 game, though, Wentz wasn't playing all that bad. You just cannot trust him.
17. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
- Average ranking: 16.75
- Highest ranking: 15
- Preseason ranking: 30
I'll be honest, Jalen Hurts had a much better season in 2021 than I could have ever imagined. It is fitting that he comes in one spot ahead of his predecessor as well. There are times that Hurts looks pretty decent and you see why the Eagles like him. Then there are times where he looks like a bottom seven quarterback. Regardless of how he plays, the Eagles still won the Wentz trade.
16. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
- Average ranking: 16.5
- Highest ranking: 15
- Preseason ranking: 18
This is where the list reaches a new tier. Jimmy G is only one spot ahead of Jalen Hurts but the gap is still pretty big. Jimmy G is someone who can lead a team on a Super Bowl run, we have seen it before. He needs everything else around him to be really good, but he is capable. The next five quarterbacks or so fit that description.
15. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
- Average ranking: 14.5
- Highest ranking: 14
- Preseason ranking: 10
Ryan Tannehill is the perfect example of a quarterback who is good enough to make a run if the rest of his team is great. While the Titans have the better record, they are similar to the 49ers with their run game and defense. Some may say Tannehill should be higher but he had some really bad games with Derrick Henry out.
14. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
- Average ranking: 14.5
- Highest ranking: 12
- Preseason ranking: 12
Matt Ryan edges out Ryan Tannehill as his highest ranking was higher than Tannehill. Quite frankly, Ryan probably should not be this high and is coasting a bit off of his namesake. Ryan was not very good in 2021 but the Falcons had a terrible roster, so he naturally gets some benefit of the doubt. Personally, I would bet that Ryan is close to the 20s after the 2022 season.
13. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
- Average ranking: 13.25
- Highest ranking: 13
- Preseason ranking: 15
Kirk Cousins is right where he should be. The only reason he moved up two spots is that players in front of him fell below him after the 2021 season. Vikings fans complain about Cousins but I truly believe he is the line to great quarterbacks. Those above him can all be considered "great" or at least have great attributes. Those below him can be good, but not great.
12. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
- Average ranking: 11.25
- Highest ranking: 11
- Preseason ranking: 16
Even though he is a Raider, I have always felt like Derek Carr was slightly underrated by NFL media (unless it is his brother, who wildly overrates him). This is the perfect spot to put him on this list as he is one spot higher than Kirk Cousins as he is essentially a slightly better version of Cousins.
11. Matt Stafford, LA Rams
- Average ranking: 10.5
- Highest ranking: 8
- Preseason ranking: 11
Despite all of the buzz around Matt Stafford prior to the 2021 season, he finds himself in the exact same spot in our quarterback rankings. There was a lot of chatter about putting Stafford in the Sean McVay offense and the season started off on a really great note for the Rams. However, Stafford really struggled in the last month of the season, raising questions about his reliability.
10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- Average ranking: 9.75
- Highest ranking: 7
- Preseason ranking: 5
Lamar Jackson is the most disrespected quarterback in the NFL. Yes, his playstyle does make it hard for the Ravens to win multiple playoff games in a row against the best of the best. However, Mark Andrews carries Tyler Huntley in one start and the NFL media starts talking about Huntley being better than Jackson. It was absurd. Huntley is a good backup, but he is nowhere even close to a top 10 quarterback in the league.
9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
- Average ranking: 9.25
- Highest ranking: 7
- Preseason ranking: 7
Overall, the numbers for Dak Prescott were still pretty good in the 2021 season. He did not have the MVP season that some may have expected, but he still had a really good year. However, the eye test over the last few weeks has been a bit concerning as Dak is dealing with injuries. He still has a top-five ceiling in the NFL.
8. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
- Average ranking: 8.25
- Highest ranking: 7
- Preseason ranking: 3
Maybe it is the finger injury, maybe it is that the Seahawks just don't make him very happy. For whatever reason, Russell Wilson has not been himself really since the halfway point of the 2020 season. He still gets the benefit of the doubt and he is still a great quarterback, but it is hard to make him a bonafide lock for the top five like he has been the last half-decade plus.
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
- Average ranking: 7.25
- Highest ranking: 6
- Preseason ranking: 9
Just like he did last year, Kyler Murray came out of the gates hot and was the leading MVP candidate after the first month of the season. However, Kyler then got hurt and was not the same after the injury and the Cardinals stumbled into the playoffs after being the best team in the league for the first six or so weeks. Kyler has the ceiling to be a top-three QB in the league, he just has to stay consistent and durable.
6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
- Average ranking: 7.0
- Highest ranking: 6
- Preseason ranking: 14
Justin Herbert ranks higher than Joe Burrow but Burrow beat Herbert to the playoffs and to his first-career playoff win. These are two great young quarterbacks who will be the faces of the league for years to come. Burrow absolutely deserves a ton of love for how he played, but the Bengals did have the easiest schedule in the AFC while the Chargers had one of the hardest. Herbert was better statistically, so he gets the nod.
5. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
- Average ranking: 4.75
- Highest ranking: 4
- Preseason ranking: 4
Honestly, if we put these lists together after the Buffalo Bills Wild-Card domination over the Patriots then maybe Josh Allen would have been a spot higher on this list. Allen showed why he can be one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the league that game and put on a clinic. However, when it comes to overall numbers and consistency, this is a good spot for him after the 2021 season.
4. Justin Herbert, LA Chargers
- Average ranking: 4.0
- Highest ranking: 3
- Preseason ranking: 8
Justin Herbert proved all of the critics wrong in 2021. Herbert was viewed as a bust by many and then he went out and proved everyone wrong in his rookie year. However, those that doubted Justin Herbert doubled down, saying that he would regress in 2021 and that his production was not sustainable.
That did not happen. Justin Herbert was excellent in 2021. Sure, he had some ugly games, but literally every single QB in NFL history has bad games. Herbert broke several franchise records for passing and proved that he is a bonafide superstar that will occupy a top-five QB spot for years to come.
Heck, an MVP award is most likely in his future and could even come in 2022 depending on how the Chargers do record-wise.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- Average ranking: 2.75
- Highest ranking: 2
- Preseason ranking: 1
Patrick Mahomes still rightfully ranks in front of Justin Herbert as he has been at this level for longer and has more playoff success than Herbert, not that Herbert is to blame for that. Mahomes was the top quarterback heading into the season and was displaced by two veteran quarterbacks that simply had better seasons than him. Because of his age, Mahomes is still the future of the league at the QB position (for now).
2. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Average ranking: 2.5
- Highest ranking: 2
- Preseason ranking: 6
Tom Brady had one of the best seasons of his career as he led the league in passing yards and led the Bucs to the second seed in the NFC. Does Brady have the crazy athleticism that the guys behind him have? No. Mahomes, Herbert, Allen and a few others arguably have more raw talent in this point of time.
However, you cannot discredit what Brady did this season and if it was not for one stinker in primetime against the Saints he probably would have been the MVP.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
- Average ranking: 1
- Highest ranking: 1
- Preseason ranking: 2
Even though Aaron Rodgers won the MVP award last season he was still ranked second in the league in favor of Patrick Mahomes. After a second consecutive MVP award and the Packers being the best team in the league, it is impossible to deny Rodgers as being the best quarterback in the league right now.
He is rightfully going to win the MVP award this season and might end up on a different team in 2022.