The NFL top 10 Quarterbacks for the 2022 season
Excitement for the 2022 season is beginning to build as we approach the regular season. Over the past couple of weeks, NFL fans flooded training camps around the country to catch a glimpse of what they can expect from their favorite teams this season. Observing the quarterback will always help figure out whether your team is heading in the right direction.
An elite quarterback can separate an organization from being above average to Super Bowl contenders. Let’s look at who exactly ranks among the elite of the NFL’s most important position with a top ten list.
*All images are courtesy of the National Football League (NFL).
10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The 2021 season came to a disappointing end for Jackson in week 14 after suffering an ankle injury which closed the doors on postseason hopes for the Ravens fans. This would mark Jackson’s first season without appearing in the playoffs. The former M.V.P. led Baltimore to an impressive 8-3 start giving the Ravens a confidence boost, then falling short due to Jackson’s injury.
Losing key wide receiver, Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, over the offseason in a deal to send him to Arizona, will not help Jackson’s 2022 campaign. Although Brown’s departure will be difficult to replace, we’ve seen Jackson take over games using his elite rushing ability and finding other receivers on the run like All-Pro tight end, Mark Andrews.
Expect Jackson to have a bounce back season and to be a thorn in the side of the defending AFC champions, Cincinnati Bengals, for the battle of the AFC North title.
9. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Going into his ninth season with the Raiders, Derek Carr continues to prove that throughout adversity he will prevail. Carr leads the NFL with the most comeback fourth quarter wins since 2015, according to pro-football-refence.com, despite having six different head coaches in those eight seasons and constantly dealing with an unsatisfactory Raiders defense. Just as Carr became comfortable with Jon Gruden’s complex offense, adversity arrived once again. The hardships piled up the in news of second year wide receiver Henry Ruggs killing a Las Vegas resident driving over 100 mph under the influence of alcohol, Coach Gruden stepping down after racist and misogynistic emails leaked, special teams Coach, Rich Bisaccia, taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season and more. After all the mayhem Carr led the Raiders to their first playoff appearance since 2016, winning the last four games of the season to secure a wild card spot.
This time around Carr will be paired with a familiar face in former Fresno St. Teammate, top NFL wide receiver, Davante Adams from Green Bay to join the elite pass catching duo of Hunter Renfrow and tight end Darren Waller. Carr will have to learn a new offense as former Patriots offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, will take over as head coach for a second try after failing to keep the Broncos afloat his first time around.
Carr finally has a number one wide receiver at his disposal to help not only bring a championship parade to the Vegas strip but to prove the doubters wrong once and for all. Until then, he will remain the underdog.
8. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Intelligence combined with arm strength are two very important capabilities to have as an NFL quarterback. Luckily, the Chargers quarterback excels at both. Justin Herbert has captured the attention and respect of the league after just two seasons by exhibiting his insane football IQ and arm talent.
Before bringing Herbert along the Chargers organization waded through the doldrums of the 2010’s after constantly falling short in the AFC West with former quarterback, Phillip Rivers. Moving to Los Angeles gave the Chargers not only a new slate but also brought a new generation of talent in Herbert. Herbert’s impressive rookie season translated right over to his sophomore year as he finished second in yards with 5,014 and third in touchdowns with 38, according to pro-football-reference.com.
The L.A. quarterback’s heroics were not enough to take the Chargers to the next step as they lost a ‘win or go home’ bout versus the Las Vegas Raiders in the final game of the regular season. Trailing by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Herbert dragged his team back to tie it up by converting numerous fourth downs and completing improbable throws only to fall short by a field goal.
Herbert’s annual progression shows no signs of stopping as the Chargers resigned star wide receiver, Mike Williams, to a three-year, $60 million extension. The sky is the limit for the twenty-four-year-old Pro Bowler and will have his hands full in a historically tough division, the AFC West.
7. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
The 2022 season brings a new chapter for not only the Denver Broncos but also former Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler, Russell Wilson. Over the past couple of seasons, with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson’s production dwindled as injuries plagued him. The now thirty-three-year-old ‘moon ball’ throwing quarterback, will be faced with a new challenge after being signed to the Broncos over the offseason. Wilson’s ability to escape the pocket and use his gravity-defying arm power with accurate passes is what the Broncos are hoping they see from the classy veteran.
Wilson will collaborate with the young and promising core of wide receivers in Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler along with a loaded backfield tandem of Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon. On paper, Wilson has many weapons at his disposable in Denver, but they have yet to show they can put it all together. Many speculate Wilson’s arrival in Denver to be the second coming of the Broncos Peyton Manning era, but much is still yet to be seen.
Taking the step to acquire a player such as Wilson’s caliber shows the Broncos are not ready to take the back seat in this stacked AFC West division. ‘Mr. Unlimited’ has proven his track record of elevating the level of play of teammates around him and being clutch in key moments. Denver’s postseason hopes will lean on the shoulders of Wilson’s play. With that being said, Broncos’ country, let’s ride.
6. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The rise of Joe Burrow captivated the league last year as he led Cincinnati to a memorable season taking his Bengals all the way to the Super Bowl to lose against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the Super Bowl loss, Bengals fans should be extremely excited about what they possess in a franchise quarterback such as Burrow.
The fearless, former LSU quarterback kept getting better and better as the season progressed. With help from stud wide receivers Ja’Maar Chase and Tee Higgins the Bengals were able to take the league by storm by toppling the dominant, Kansas City Chiefs, not only once but twice (second time in the AFC Championship). Burrow’s ability to stay focused in the pocket and never give up on the play till the whistle is blown, propelled the Bengals to their first AFC North title in 33 years.
Burrow’s success after suffering a gruesome season ending knee injury in his rookie year let the rest of the league know what kind of competitor the former college champion is. Watching Burrow withstand a below average offensive line and being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in all of football last season but continuing to put up the numbers while producing wins proved his relentlessness.
As the Bengals prepare for the 2022 season it will be imperative to protect their number one guy and make sure his presence will be in Cincinnati for a long time. With Higgins and Chase staying put, expect Burrow to have another stellar season and continue to give Bengals fans something to cheer for. Perhaps even, ‘Griddy’, their way to a consecutive division title.
5. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 2022 season will mark Tom Brady’s twenty-first season at a remarkable forty-five-years-old. The ‘G.O.A.T” as many would refer to Brady as, will be competing for his eighth Super Bowl ring and to build the narrative of the ‘best to ever do it’ even more.
Brady came close last season after losing to the future Super Bowl champion, Los Angeles Rams, in the playoffs with a quarterback duel of the century facing off against Matthew Stafford. Although they came up short, Brady put up career numbers with the talented receiver duo of multiple time pro bowl receivers, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Brady finished the 2021 season ranked first in yards with 5,316, first in touchdowns with 43 and second in QBR rating with a 68.1, according to pro-football-reference.com. Do not let Brady’s age fool you. He’s still got it.
After posting a tremendous season statistically, Brady seeks more than the numbers. The 2022 Buccaneers will have plenty of toys for Brady to work with as they added another veteran player Falcon’s all-time receiver, Julio Jones. Had this relationship begun five years ago it would have been a lot more dangerous but still will have a major impact in giving Brady a big and reliable weapon on the outside to work with, granted Jones can stay healthy.
Do not be surprised to see the seven-time champion raise a Super Bowl trophy over his head one more time after the season concludes.
4. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
If there was anyone in the NFL more deserving of lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, it was Matthew Stafford. After a grueling twelve seasons with the Detroit Lions, Stafford reached the summit of the NFL mountain for the first time in his career in just one season with the Los Angeles Rams. Although the Rams defense was among the top in the league led by defensive lineman, Aaron Donald, last season, Stafford orchestrated the offense with his consistent accuracy and beautiful touch on the ball.
Throughout the years in Detroit, Stafford was constantly undervalued due to the classic ‘judge a book by its cover’ stigmatism coming with the representation as a Lion. Head Coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams brought Stafford in with open arms as did their former quarterback, Jared Goff, did not pan out. Injecting the smart veteran into an offense that paired him with elite wide receiver, Cooper Kupp, became a match made in heaven. The duo immediately clicked, and it continued throughout the entire season. Bringing over Stafford helped Kupp break the all-time yards record by receiving a whopping 1,965 yards, according to pro-football-reference.com. Not to mention Odell Beckham’s addition to the already potent offense which gave Stafford even more firepower.
Over the offseason sure handed wide receiver, Allen Robinson, was signed to join Stafford and Kupp and help bring another championship to Inglewood. The Rams love their new quarterback so much that he already signed a four-year $160 million extension. Stafford’s story with Detroit and moving to Los Angeles upon immediate success was not a hoax. Watch out for the Rams in 2022 because they’re not going anywhere.
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
The ‘Lambeau Leap’ was under full display last season as the Green Bay Packers, long time future Hall of Famer, continued to terrorize the NFC North. The seventeen-year veteran went out and had another historic year, totaling his fourth NFL M.V.P trophy. The award selection comes as no surprise due to the typical domination Rodgers displayed over his opponents. Glamour, fame, and attention are a few ways to describe Rodgers, but the media does not move him once the autumn wind arrives, it’s all business.
Rodgers had many opportunities to ‘discount-double check’ after tallying a monster 37 touchdowns to 4 interceptions ratio, according to pro-football-refenerence.com. Former Packers receiver, Davante Adams, made many of these touchdowns happen as they stormed their way into the playoffs stomping over the NFC North as usual. Finding Green Bay in the NFC championship game has been a common occurrence over the years but unfortunately it has been a tough mountain to climb for Rodgers as his last Super Bowl appearance came in 2011.
Reaching the summit will be a difficult task for Rodgers after losing his number one target throughout his M.V.P stretch in Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Now deep ball threat wide receiver, Allen Lazard, veterans Sammy Watkins and Randal Cobb will have to step it up upon Adams’ absence.
Even though Rodgers has a knack for bringing out the best in his wide receiving core it will be not as talented on the outside as in the past. The pressure is on as the clock ticks for one more ring to add to his illustrious career.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
It is very rare that a quarterback contains elite abilities in all facets of the position, Josh Allen exceeds all of them. The 6’5- 237-pound Buffalo Bill does things on a football field that you may have never seen a quarterback of Allen’s stature do such as hurdling defenders, lowering a shoulder for the extra two yards to get the first down, and putting opponents on ice skates weaving in and out of traffic as he does so well. The combination of size, strength, speed, arm power, and killer instinctual football skills torments every defensive coordinator’s gameplan each week they must face number seventeen.
Allen put up M.V.P. campaign numbers in 2021 leading Buffalo to a consecutive AFC East title and racking up 36 touchdowns, six of them via his feet, according to pro-football-reference. Bills Mafia finally has something to feel confident about as Allen has become one of the most reliable and consistent players in the league. Buffalo’s playoff expectations skyrocketed as the speedy QB brought them to the Divisional playoff round to lose to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Allen stepped toe to toe with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, in what was a game for ages. Allen portrayed intense poise and tunnel vision focus to achieve the victory over the Chiefs after making numerous throws for touchdowns that later be wiped by the Kansas City offense.
All eyes are on Buffalo to make it all the way this year after the soul crushing defeat to Kansas City. Not only are the Bills favorites in Vegas to win the Super Bowl at +650 but their workhorse QB is favorited to win M.V.P as well at +700. Going into his fifth season Allen is looking to give Buffalo something they have not had in a long time, a championship.
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Over the past four seasons no quarterback has been as dominant as ‘your favorite sneaker head’. Kansas City’s generational talent in Patrick Mahomes arrived on the scene in 2018 and has not looked back. Mahomes’ Hall of Fame career kicked started quickly with four playoff appearances, three of them AFC Championship games, an M.V.P. trophy and a Super Bowl ring at just twenty-six years old.
All these accomplishments have come at a rapid pace due to the high-flying offensive mind Chiefs’ Head Coach, Any Reid, brings to the table. Reid provides the play calling and when the play does not go to plan Mahomes figures it out on the fly with ease. The calmness in Mahomes cannot be compared with others as he runs in circles just to find an open receiver thirty yards down the field. An extreme challenge like sacking Mahomes is rarely completed due to his keen vision for the field. Not only does the former M.V.P. see everything but also makes throwing on the run look like a walk in the park. The way Mahomes cradles his fingers tightly high on the ball past the laces and whips it on a rope ranging to his right or left will continue to drop jaws.
Mahomes finished the 2021 season among the top five in touchdowns and yards but fell short of a Superbowl birth in a home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship. Over the offseason the Miami Dolphins snagged the speedy and insanely talented Chief wide receiver, Tyreek Hill.
Mahomes now deals without Robin to his Batman and will take on the loaded AFC West with incoming wide receiver studs JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. If the all-time Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, remains in Kansas City there will always be a chance for Mahomes to have an M.V.P. year.
Honorable Mentions:
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
*All images are courtesy of the National Football League (NFL).
