Ranking Chargers' Justin Herbert and the 32 best quarterbacks after 2022

4. Justin Herbert, LA Chargers

• Preseason ranking: 4

Justin Herbert checks in at the same spot as he did before the year. Two of the three quarterbacks ranked ahead of him are the smae on this list as the LA Chargers quarterback didn't do enough to climb into the top three.

Don't get me wrong, the Chargers still have an elite quarterback on their hands and the fourth through second spot on this list is pretty fluid. They could completely be jumbled after next season depending on what happens.

For now, though, Herbert checks in at no. 4 after having a down year (statistically) in which he carried the Chargers to the playoffs with multiple injuries.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

• Preseason ranking: 3

Josh Allen still has the ceiling of being the best quarterback in the league as he genuinely can do things with his athleticism and arm strength that no other quarterback in the league can do. That being said, some of the old mistakes crept back into Allen's game as he took a step back with Brian Daboll out of town.

2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

• Preseason ranking: 6

Two things can be true at the same time. Joe Burrow might be getting the most help in the league with his insane receiving corps and the fact that he has a great defense as well. But he also is still putting up great numbers, is winning playoff games and deserves to be ranked no. 2 after the 2022 season.

If you flipped Burrow and Rodgers and put Burrow on last year's Green Bay team then he probably is not as good (and Rodgers is probably still in the top three himself). But we have to rank these quarterbacks based on reality, not a what-if, and that is what gives Burrow the no. 2 spot. There is a very short list of quarterbacks who go to the Super Bowl and Conference Championship in back-to-back years.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

• Preseason ranking: 2

Patrick Mahomes is simply on a planet of his own (which is unfortunate for Chargers fans). The fourth through second-ranked quarterbacks on this list are truly elite, while Mahomes is on his own tier as the one of one.

Mahomes just won his second MVP, Super Bowl, and Super Bowl MVP in only his fifth season as a starter. If it was not for Tom Brady's legendary career, we would already be discussing if Mahomes was on his way to the best career of all time (and he still might be).