Ranking Recent NFL QB Classes
Over the last couple years we ‘ve watched the end of an era within the NFL as this generations great QBs hung up their cleats including Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and finally Tom Brady. Its time to look towards the future with the leagues next great group of young passers who are already taking over the sport. This is my ranking of the last five years of QB prospects grouped by their year. Not every QB will be listed so I pulled the top ones from each year and compiled the ranking of how I see it currently in the NFL. These rankings could certainly change over time but I thought it be fun to see how they’ve panned out over the last half decade.
CLASS OF 2020
JOE BURROW
TUA TAGOVAILOA
JUSTIN HERBERT
JORDAN LOVE
JALEN HURTS
The class of 2020 has the strongest QB class of the last five years headlined by the first three selected; Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. Burrow is playing like a future MVP while Tagovailoa and Herbert had great seasons that just fell short of the playoffs. The four name to mention that had the biggest jump is Jalen Hurts who went from a second round pick to winning the NFC Championship. Judgement is still out on Jordan Love if he somehow takes over for Aaron Rodgers but non the less, this class is headlined by four legit star quality QBs who look like the future of the NFL.
CLASS OF 2018
BAKER MAYFIELD
SAM DARNOLD
JOSH ALLEN
JOSH ROSEN
LAMAR JACKSON
During the first few years this class showed promise led by Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, but since then the two stars of the group are Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. While Allen has developed into one of the best all around QBs in the league and a future MVP, Jackson has become the gold standard for dual threat QBs and is the youngest MVP in NFL history. The other QBs drafted in the first round, Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen, have been journeyman QBs on various but this class has still produced two of the most exiting QBs in the league.
CLASS OF 2021
TREVOR LAWRENCE
ZACH WILSON
TREY LANCE
JUSTIN FIELDS
MAC JONES
While its only been two years, the class of 2021 is shaping up to be an interesting one led by a couple of young budding stars, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. Lawrence has helped reshape the young Jacksonville Jaguars into a bonafide playoff team while Fields is flashing brilliance as a runner with potential to be molded into a big time passer down the road. Zach Wilson hasn’t lived up to his gigantic expectations in New York and Mac Jones stills to be the starter in New England but may not be the answer long term. Rounding out the group is one of more interesting QBs, Trey Lance, who had franchise level upside entering the draft but has been hindered by injuries and may have lost his spot to 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy. If Lance can stay healthy and show his talents with either the 49ers or another team, this class could end up being just as good as 2018 or better.
CLASS OF 2019
KYLER MURRAY
DANIEL JONES
DWAYNE HASKINS
DREW LOCK
The class of 2019 at one point had a lot of intrigue due to the potential of such QB prospects including Drew Lock and the late Dwayne Haskins who both flashed great talent in college football. The two that have turned into notable starters are Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones. Murray was thought to have fallen into the perfect position being drafted and paired with former HC Kliff Kingsbury but the team has since moved onto their next HC in defensive mind Jonathan Gannon. Daniel Jones was a polarizing prospect in the draft but this season turned a corner with HC Brian Daboll and is on the verge of a contract extension.
CLASS OF 2022
KENNY PICKETT
DESMOND RIDDER
MALIK WILLIS
BAILEY ZAPPE
SAM HOWELL
BROCK PURDY
Rounding out the groups is the newest and youngest group, the class of 2022. Kenny Pickett was the lone first round pick of the group but that doesn’t mean there isn’t potential for some of these names to be future starters down the road like Desmond Ridder and Sam Howell. The last name on the list, Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, took over for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and led the 49ers to the NFC Championship. The class may not have a lot of star power but there might certainly be some quality starters in the near future.