When mentioning the top quarterbacks in the NFL the first few names off the board all reside in the AFC. Meanwhile the NFC starts getting brought up when we get to ranking the 7th or 8th best quarterback in football. A debate that has been stirring this offseason has been who is the best signal caller in the NFC? Every quarterback in the NFC has something impressive on their resume but has their flaws as well. Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott have been MVP candidates at one point in their careers. Guys like Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy have been very successful in the postseason. Jordan Love had a breakout season last year and looks like a franchise quarterback. Then Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins are consistent quarterbacks who have won many games in the NFL. Below we will take a deep dive into each player’s claim for the top spot.
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Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
Stafford has long been a reliable and effective quarterback, and his move to the Rams has only solidified his status as one of the best in the game. With a strong arm and the ability to make plays under pressure, Stafford is a true improvisor at the position. His career highlights include a super bowl win in 2021, making 2 pro bowls, and leading the league in both touchdowns and passing yards in 2011. One of Stafford’s biggest knocks is his decision making as he tends to throw interceptions at a higher rate than most starting quarterbacks.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
Goff has shown significant improvement since his early days in the league, and his performance with the Lions has been nothing short of impressive. His accuracy and decision-making have made him the perfect player for Detroit’s offense. In 2019 while still playing for the Rams, Goff led them to a super bowl appearance. Goff has also made three pro bowls in his career. He is a reliable option at the helm but does not provide the upside that some of the most talented quarterbacks in the league possess.
Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)
Prescott is a dynamic quarterback who can make plays with his arm and his legs. Dak may be one of the most controversial players in football when evaluating his success. Prescott has always had talented players on his rosters allowing him to put up massive numbers. His play in 2023 led to him being the runner up in the MVP voting. Prescott is also a winner; he has a career record of 73-41. Despite the success in the regular season the knock-on Dak comes with his postseason success.
Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
Purdy burst onto the scene in 2022, quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the league. His poise, accuracy, and ability to read defenses have been key to the 49ers’ success. Purdy in his first full season threw for 4280 yards, 31 touchdowns, with a passer rating of 113. This helped him finish fourth in MVP voting and led his team to the super bowl last season. The biggest thing with Purdy is they want to attribute his success to playing on the best roster in the NFL.
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Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
Love is another young quarterback who has shown flashes of brilliance. With a strong arm and the ability to make plays outside the pocket, Love has the potential to be a top quarterback in the NFC for years to come and reminds you of the guy that was starting before him in Green Bay. In his first season as a starter Love through for 32 touchdowns and had a passer rating of 96.1. With only one season of his play many question if he can continue this high level of play for years to come.
Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)
Hurts is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat you with his arm or his legs. His leadership and ability to make plays in clutch situations have been crucial for the Eagles. Hurts works very well within the Eagles offense and makes the right decisions when he needs to make them. In his MVP runner up season Hurts had a total of 35 touchdowns with only 6 interceptions that helped the Eagles make the super bowl. Last season Hurts regressed; He threw 15 interceptions last season but still managed 38 total touchdowns. A BounceBack year for Hurts will go a long way in establishing himself as the NFC’s top QB.
Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
Cousins is a consistent and reliable quarterback who keeps all of his teams in playoff contention. Cousins is a four-time pro bowler with almost 40000 career passing yards under his belt. His struggles in primetime games and the postseason are well known at this point. After his Achilles injury Cousins claim for the top spot in the NFC may no longer have validity.
Who is the Best?
The best quarterback in the NFC going into 2024 has to be Jalen Hurts still. Although his weaknesses were exposes last season, he still accounted for 38 touchdowns and has led his team to the super bowl. Not many guys on this list have both a super bowl appearance and an MVP runner up in their career. If Hurts continues his sloppy play from last season Matthew Stafford or Brock Purdy might take over the top spot.