The Top-10 Quarterbacks Age 27 & Under Entering 2023 (By Marissa Kasch)
Out with the old, and in with the new. That’s right; we’ve reached that point in football again. The point where new seasons bring new hopes and exponential growth for young players, specifically quarterbacks. Believe it or not, the quarterbacks that are done (or on their way out) are the QBs I grew up on: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, to name a few. Wilson and Rodgers may have one or two good runs left in them, but the modern era (next 10 years) belongs to a new group of gunslingers.
It breaks my heart to see these older QBs fade into memory, but there’s some consolation: The new-age QBs are fun to watch. Like, a lot of fun. The standard has been set, and everyone’s wondering who the next Brady is. Now, we get to watch these young players become the veterans we know and love. So, of these quarterbacks, who has the best chance to become the new-age GOAT? Let’s take a look at the top-10 quarterbacks 27 and under heading into the 2023 season.
1. Patrick Mahomes (27)
I feel that I might have to justify some of these rankings. Not this one. Five straight AFC Championship appearances, three Super Bowl appearances, two rings, two MVP awards, and the only player in the league with over 5,000 passing yards last season. Not to mention his 41 touchdowns. All at 27 years old. Enough said. Mahomes is No. 1. Don’t @ me…
2. Josh Allen (27)
This is another QB where I feel like not a whole lot has to be said. He’s mobile, he’s a decision-maker, he’s a playmaker and he’s got the biggest arm in the game. The fact that it’s hard to decide whether his best asset is his arm or his mobility tells us everything we need to know. At 27, Allen has made the Bills what they are today: playoff contenders and top-end Super-Bowl favorites nearly every year.
3. Joe Burrow (26)
I know some people are going to be upset about Burrow being behind Allen, but trust me, there’s a reason. These two players are close to being just a coin flip apart. The only thing setting them apart is their rushing abilities. Allen has significantly better mobility than Burrow, giving him more options and versatility in his playbook. However, less mobility has yet to pose a problem for Burrow. Remaining relatively stationary is a feat not many QBs can pull off. Why? Because if you’re not mobile, your throws have to be pretty perfect to justify relying on them. Luckily, Burrow’s are. He has the best career completion percentage in recent QB history at 68.2%. With numbers like that, he can throw it as much as he wants.
4. Jalen Hurts (25)
Jalen Hurts is another quarterback that’s just fun to watch. In fact, the only time I don’t like to watch him is when I’m playing against him in fantasy football – and that’s only because I know the damage he’s about to inflict on my team. This guy slings the ball, averaging eight yards per pass and 22 touchdowns. Usually, those are the guys who throw a million interceptions. Not Hurts. He threw just six interceptions all season. The most exciting part about him is that it seems he’s just getting started. The other exciting part is that the Eagles have all the makings of a Super-Bowl-winning team, led by a young, talented quarterback.
5. Justin Herbert (25)
This guy is another fantasy monster. Obviously, fantasy isn’t always indicative of true talent. In this case, however, it matches up. He’s one of the few QBs who came out of the gates swinging. Typically, when a rookie season is this great, the rest of the QB’S career is subpar. Not for Justin Herbert: He holds the record for most passing yards and total touchdowns by a player in their first three seasons. Last season, he trailed only Mahomes in passing yards, with 4,739. He also finished just 0.01% behind Burrow in completion percentage, at 68.2%.
6. Lamar Jackson (26)
LJ is one of those guys who started with a bang. But unlike the rookie phenomenon, he didn’t burn out. Some people perceive it that way because of fantasy. Like I said, it’s not always indicative of talent in a player. People just saw him lighting the fantasy world on fire one year, and falling back toward the median the next. Because of that, they wrote him off as overrated or a “one-hit wonder.” But Lamar’s play on the field is anything but average. I am a firm believer in the eye test, and if you’re using that, he’s still one of the best QBs in the league due to his mobility and decision making.
7. Kyler Murray (26)
It hurt me to put Murray so low on this list. He has a lot of talent. But when you’re looking at his last few seasons, his stats are sparse. Why? Because he can’t stay healthy. I should know – I’ve had him on my fantasy team one too many times. Unfortunately, he almost always suffers down the stretch as well. At the end of last season, he threw more than enough careless interceptions which were not atoned for by an insane number of touchdowns, or even passing yards. It’s not hard to understand the reason why: Even when he played, he wasn’t fully healthy. When he is, he’s great. Unfortunately, that’s not often enough to rank him higher up.
8. Trevor Lawrence (23)
After a rocky start, things seem to finally be falling into place for T-Law and the Jags. He is on his way to proving himself as a franchise QB – this time, without a shadow of a doubt. He’s clutch, and he’s a playmaker; I’d expect nothing less after his spectacular four-year run at Clemson. He has all the makings of a franchise QB – a great one at that. The only reason he’s not ranked higher is because this is all still in motion. He still has a lot to prove, and we haven’t seen enough consistency from him just yet. But how could we? The guy is only 23. If this season is anything like 2022, he could be a top-5 QB heading into next season.
9. Tua Tagovailoa (25)
This is another ranking that pains me. As a Dolphins fan, I’d love to put him at No. 1. As a realist, he’s staying at No. 9. You know by now that I’m a fan of the eye test. I can tell you that by watching the Dolphins play every Sunday, he doesn’t pass. On paper, Tua looks great. Don’t get me wrong, he can make huge plays that change the outcome of the game. But is it him making those plays? Or is it the speed and athleticism of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle? Miami finally has most of the pieces they’ve been missing – I just don’t think Tua is their guy.
10. Justin Fields (24)
Unfortunately, Justin Fields is the recipient of the final spot in this ranking. Though he has some of the necessary components of a good quarterback (speed, athleticism, a strong arm), he’s just not one. His movements are awkward while in the pocket. Rhythm and timing are also not friends to Fields. The best QBs look graceful and composed while throwing the ball. That’s just not Justin Fields. Last season, he tied Russell Wilson for the most sacks taken on the year. There’s only one difference: The Bears offensive line isn’t great, but it’s markedly better than Denver’s. Last season, Fields also had one of the lowest completion rates in the league and threw for less yards than most starting QBs. He’s still only 24, so I don’t want to write him off yet. At the same time, I’ve seen what I needed to see. You can fix minor mechanical issues or careless interceptions, but his problems run deeper than that.