Ranking NY Jets' Aaron Rodgers and all 32 starting QBs in 2023

When the NY Jets made the decision to trade for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, they did so with the belief that they were acquiring one of the best QBs in the NFL.

Rodgers may be coming off a down year, but the Jets believe that he is still one of the very best players at his position. That's the hope, at least.

This is a Jets organization that has been tormented by lackluster quarterback play for the better part of its existence. Not since the days of the great Joe Namath have the Jets had consistently above-average quarterback play for an extended stretch.

There have been flashes of greatness, sure. Vinny Testaverde's magical 1998 season. Whatever happened to Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2015. The Jets haven't, however, had sustained success at the quarterback position in many decades.

The hope and expectation is that Rodgers will change that.

The 10-time Pro Bowler's arrival gives the Jets legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, but if they're going to compete in a loaded AFC, they're going to need Rodgers to be at his best.

The AFC is stacked with stellar quarterbacks, and that doesn't figure to change anytime soon. Rodgers may have won two of the last three MVP awards, but he'll be up against some steep competition this season.

With that said, where does Rodgers rank among all NFL starting quarterbacks? We did our best to rank all of them.

32. Josh Dobbs, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray is sidelined indefinitely and might not play this season. That has seemingly opened the door for career backup Josh Dobbs to start. It's not official yet, but Dobbs appears to be your Arizona Cardinals Week 1 starter.

The former fourth-round pick has started just two games in his career, and although he held his own with the Tennessee Titans last year, it's hard to consider him as anything but the worst starting QB in the NFL.

31. Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts

It's impossible to rank rookie quarterbacks before they've even taken a snap, so for the purpose of this list, these next three entries will strictly be based on draft position.

Anthony Richardson exceeded expectations this summer and beat out experienced backup Gardner Minshew for the starting job. Richardson has All-Pro potential, and the Colts are very excited about his future.

30. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

C.J. Stroud was able to beat out Davis Mills for the starting job in Houston, although it was never really much of a competition. This year's No. 2 overall pick will lead a young and suddenly exciting Texans roster this season.

29. Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

The No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, Bryce Young has a chance to succeed early in his career, although his team hasn't done him many favors. He'll be paired with an underwhelming skill position group and an offensive line that struggled this summer.

Nonetheless, Young obviously has sky-high potential, even if his transition into the NFL might not be ideal.

28. Sam Howell, QB, Washington Commanders

Sam Howell is in a very similar camp as Desmond Ridder and Jordan Love. He's a 2022 mid-round pick who was given a chance to start in a limited sample size last season before his team decided to make him the unquestioned starter going into the 2023 season.

Howell started one game last season, throwing for 169 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 26-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the final game of the year.

27. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

We know what Baker Mayfield is at this point. The former first-overall pick is a fringe starter whose inconsistencies hold him back. He was able to beat out the young Kyle Trask for the starting job, though.

Mayfield has a chance to help the Bucs make some noise in a weak NFC South this year, but there's also no guarantee he makes it through the full year as a starter.

26. Desmond Ridder, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Consider this your inexperienced starter tier (plus Baker Mayfield). It's hard to know what to expect from Desmond Ridder, but the Atlanta Falcons are going all-in on last year's third-round pick as their starter this season.

Ridder started four games in 2022 and has yet to throw an NFL interception. He'll be given every opportunity to prove that he's the guy this season.

25. Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

It's finally Jordan Love time in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers is gone, and the Packers have finally turned the reigns over to their former first-round pick.

Love has started just one NFL game entering his fourth season, but he'll be given an extended look this year.

24. Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Brock Purdy was one of the feel-good stories of the NFL last season. The seventh-round pick took the NFL world by storm, winning all five of his late-season starts, and nearly taking his team to the Super Bowl.

Purdy deserves plenty of credit for his success last season, but his numbers were slightly inflated by a brilliant offensive scheme. The key for Purdy will be replicating the success he found in his eight-game sample size last year.

23. Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots

Mac Jones took a sizable step back last year after a promising rookie season. He was temporarily benched in favor of rookie Bailey Zappe, who, less than a year later, was waived as part of final roster cuts.

I have confidence that Jones should be better in a Bill O'Brien offensive scheme, but he absolutely has a lot to prove this season.

22. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders made the controversial decision to move on from longtime quarterback Derek Carr this offseason, replacing him with the injury-prone Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo has experience in Josh McDaniels' scheme, but it's hard not to feel like the Raiders downgraded at the quarterback position. Even if he's healthy, Garoppolo is little more than a league-average QB.

21. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Kenny Pickett was better as a rookie than his raw box-score numbers indicate. Pickett may have finished the year with more interceptions than touchdowns, but his turnover-worthy play percentage, per Pro Football Focus, was actually among the best in football.

The 2022 first-rounder isn't helped out by an elementary Matt Canada offensive scheme, but he was quietly pretty good last season. The Steelers might have something here.

20. Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears

Justin Fields has a chance to shoot up these rankings by the end of the season, but as of now, it's impossible to rank him in the top half of all NFL quarterbacks.

Fields is a dynamic runner and big-play machine, but until he figures out how to limit the negatives (turnovers, sacks, etc.), his ceiling will be limited.

19. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans

Ryan Tannehill is a fine quarterback. He's a proven commodity who can keep you in games and remain competitive against most teams, but there is a clear ceiling with him.

Tannehill will return for his fifth year in Tennessee this season, but his time as a starter could be coming to an end in the near future.

18. Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson was a bad NFL quarterback last season. It's hard to know how much of Wilson's struggles can be attributed to the dumpster fire that was the 2022 Denver Broncos and how much of it was actual regression.

Will Wilson be better with Sean Payton? Quite possibly. Unfortunately, that ugly 2022 season tanked his place in these rankings.

17. Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants

The Giants' newly-paid franchise quarterback is coming off what was likely the best season of his career, and there's every reason to believe he will continue his ascent.

The Giants have surrounded Daniel Jones with more talent, and Jones has gotten better every year. He's significantly cut down on his turnover issues and could be primed for a big season.

16. Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

A year after helping lead his team to a Super Bowl title, Matthew Stafford struggled mightily in 2022 due in large part to an elbow injury that limited him to just nine games.

A healthy Stafford is still a top-10 quarterback in the NFL, but it's hard to predict what we'll see from him this season. Last year wasn't pretty.

15. Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

Jared Goff was quietly really good last season. The former No. 1 overall pick finished with 29 touchdowns, only seven interceptions, a 65% completion percentage, and a healthy 7.6 yards per attempt.

Goff is a large reason why the Lions found so much success last season. He should be firmly established as a top-half quarterback after his 2022 campaign.

14. Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr remains one of the most over-hated and underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. The Raiders may have moved on, but the New Orleans Saints won't be complaining.

Carr joins a Saints team that has every chance to compete in a very weak NFC South. Carr and the Saints should be considered the favorites to win that division.

13. Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Geno Smith is evidence that perseverance pays off. The former Jets second-round pick shocked the NFL world last season, making his first career Pro Bowl at the age of 32.

Smith was genuinely an excellent quarterback in 2022, and if he puts together an equally impressive season in 2023, he will likely establish himself as a top-10 quarterback. What a story.

12. Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns

How can anyone possibly rank Deshaun Watson at this stage? Abhorrent off-field issues aside, Watson returned from suspension last season and was...not good.

The talent Watson showed in Houston is still there, and it's probably a safe bet to assume he bounces back. But until he does, he can't be ranked any higher than this.

11. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa entered the 2022 season with perhaps more to prove than any NFL quarterback, and he more than passed the test. The former Alabama star was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL and was a big part of Miami's offensive renaissance.

Injury concerns are real, and he no doubt benefitted from his supporting cast, but Tagovailoa deserves a lot of credit as well. He's a borderline top-10 QB.

10. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins is a better version of Derek Carr. He's perennially underrated and over-hated, despite being a borderline top-10 quarterback for the majority of his career.

Cousins is obviously a step below the NFL's elite, but that shouldn't take away from what he's been able to accomplish in Minnesota. He's a very good quarterback.

9. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Speaking of over-hated, Dak Prescott is firmly in the same camp as Cousins and Carr. He may not be a bonafide superstar, but that doesn't mean he's not still really good at what he does.

Much like Kenny Pickett, Prescott's turnover concerns are overblown. He may have led the NFL in interceptions last season, but he didn't even rank top-10 in turnover-worthy play percentage.

8. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

We've officially reached the second tier of NFL quarterbacks, starting with the player who arguably took the biggest leap last year — Trevor Lawrence. Freed from the shackles of Urban Meyer, Lawrence looked like one of the better quarterbacks in football in 2022.

The former No. 1 overall pick finished with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions a year after throwing five more interceptions than touchdowns. He's on his way to becoming one of the best QBs in the NFL.

7. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson hasn't been able to replicate the same level of success he found in his magical MVP season in 2019, but he's still every bit as dynamic of a player.

Jackson has battled injury issues, but when on the field, he remains firmly in the second tier of NFL quarterbacks. Now with a new contract, Jackson will look to return to his MVP form in 2022.

6. Aaron Rodgers, QB, NY Jets

Here he is. The Jets' new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, may be coming off an injury-riddled down year by his standards, but he still belongs in the borderline top-five range.

This is still the same player who won consecutive MVPs in 2020 and 2021. Now healthy and reunited with Nathaniel Hackett, the arrow is pointing up for the four-time league MVP.

5. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Last year's MVP runner-up, Jalen Hurts led his Philadelphia Eagles to an incredible 14-1 record as a starter last season, proving that he isn't someone to bet against.

Hurts belongs in the top-five QB discussion, and while he may not be as physically gifted as some of the freaks ahead of him, he's proven that he has what it takes to compete for a Super Bowl. He's a great quarterback.

4. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

We've reached the top tier. Justin Herbert may not have found the same postseason success as the other three QBs ahead of him, but that shouldn't take away from what he's done on the field.

Herbert is one of the very best quarterbacks in the NFL, and his lack of postseason experience speaks more to the Chargers' failures than his own. The arrival of Kellen Moore is promising for Herbert and the Chargers' offense.

3. Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Leading your team to consecutive AFC Championship Games in two of your first three NFL seasons has to count for something. Joe Burrow is, without a doubt, an elite NFL quarterback.

Burrow has thrown for 69 touchdowns over the last two seasons and has helped make his team one of the best in football. Realistically, you can flip-flop him and the next player on this list.

2. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills have fallen victim to a stacked AFC over the last few years, but it's impossible to take away what the former Wyoming standout has been able to accomplish.

Allen is a certified freak who has helped revolutionize the quarterback position. At just 27 years old, he should continue to dominate opposing defenses for the foreseeable future.

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

What else is there to say at this point? Patrick Mahomes is in a tier of his own. He's the best quarterback in football, and if he continues on this trajectory, he'll be giving Tom Brady a run at the GOAT label down the road.

Mahomes has already won two MVPs, been named to five Pro Bowls, and earned three All-Pro honors in just five years as a starter. There is no question about it — he's the best quarterback in the NFL.