While the AFC is loaded with young, highly-skilled quarterbacks, the NFC has more of the good-veteran types. Few NFC quarterbacks could move to a good AFC team and start right away. Although, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith might try to give even Patrick Mahomes a challenge.
Because of the lack of multiple great quarterbacks in the conference, this makes the NFC a bit more wide open than the AFC. And then, whichever NFC team makes the Super Bowl has a punchers chance against the AFC representative.
Heck, the Seattle Seahawks could make the Super Bowl this year, if they can first make it to the playoffs. That's the challenge. NFC teams have to face mostly better AFC teams in the regualr season. But which NFC has the best quarterback? Here's how they rank.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith among the best in the NFC
Quarterbacks 16 through 13 (No Seahawks QB yet)
16: Colt McCoy/Clayton Tune - Arizona Cardinals
Even if Kyler Murray were healthy, I wouldn't have him in the top of the conference. He has special skills where he can run, but he is far too inconsistent and seems to put a bit. I also worry about his work ethic. But as it is, Murray is hurt and could miss most, if not all, of the season and Arizona can't even decide who will start so far.
15: Kyle Trask/Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Again, this is a team that can't yet decide on a quarterback. What does it say about Mayfield that he wanted the Browns to sign him to a big deal in the 2022 offseason and then he couldn't find a home for a bit last year. Now he might not even beat out Kyle Trask (who has one NFL start) to be the starter in Tampa Bay. At least whoever the quarterback ends up being will have some decent receivers to throw to (better than Arizona).
14: Desmond Ridder - Atlanta Falcons
Ridder started the last four games of 2022 for the Falcons and kept them in each one. Atlanta won its final two games of the season. The Falcons aren't ready to make the playoffs, but they are improving. Plus, I think Ridder can be a strong leader, and as he proved in college at Cincinnati, he just seems to know how to win.
13: Sam Howell - Washington Commanders
I'm going to assume Howell wins the start job with the Commanders. He will probably also be a bit better this year than he showed in limited action in 2022. Howell doesn't have a cannon for an arm, but with the right pieces around him, he can find a way to make them better. This is what he did in college at North Carolina. While he will never be an All-Pro QB, I do think he can be a serviceable NFL starter.
Quarterbacks 12 through 9
12: Jordan Love - Green Bay Packers
Three years into his NFL career, we still have no idea if Jordan Love can be an NFL quarterback. That isn't exactly his fault as he has mostly been sitting behind Aaron Rodgers. He did start one game in his second year and he was not good. In 2022, he saw even fewer snaps. The Packers wasted a first-round choice on Love no matter how he plays in 2023 as he is already in his fourth year.
11: Whoever starts for the San Francisco 49ers
Take most of the rest of the quarterbacks on this list and they are likely better in the San Francisco 49ers offense. My point is that it isn't really the player behind center that makes the team run; The scheme makes the QB better. So whoever is healthy enough to end up behind the starter in San Francisco in 2023 is going to have a terrific season.
10: Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers
If I do this list again next season, I have a strong feeling that Young is going to be a lot higher on this list. But for right now, he is a rookie quarterback with not a great receiving corps playing for a team that is still trying to rebuild into being a perennial playoff contender. Young will help the Panthers get better, but most rookies have a rough first year at QB.
9: Daniel Jones - New York Giants
Daniel Jones got paid a lot of money this offseason. He isn't a terrible quarterback, but he also isn't among the best in the NFC. He started 16 games in 2022 and threw 472 passes, yet he only had 15 touchdown passes. That's an awful ratio. Still, he runs well and doesn't turn the ball over, so he is going to help win some games for the Giants.
Quarterbacks 8 through 5
8: Justin Fields - Chicago Bears
Fields is tremendous with his legs (he ran for a crazy 1,143 yards last year) and has a strong enough arm. But he hasn't truly shown he can be consistently accurate. He also hasn't had much help in his two-year career as far as fellow offensive weapons. This year he will have DJ Moore to throw to, however, so his passing numbers should improve as well.
7: Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings
Kirk Cousins is a very good quarterback as long as a team has zero hopes of winning a game in the playoffs. You like 4,000-yard a seasons from your starter? Cousins is your guy. But he is 1-4 in the postseason. He doesn't have bad numbers in the playoffs, but he lacks the killer instinct that a great QB has. Plus, if you put any of the other top quarterbacks on this list in Minnesota then the Vikings are probably better.
6: Jared Goff - Detroit Lions
I never thought Jared Goff was as bad a quarterback as many people thought he was with the Los Angeles Rams. Goff got a bad rap with the Rams that he wasn't overly intelligent and was somehow a Sean McVay-created system quarterback. And yet, he seems just as good, if not better, with the Lions after having gotten away from McVay.
5: Derek Carr - New Orleans Saints
I think Carr is a good quarterback, but not a great one. He's been in the league long enough now that were he going to elevate his game, he would have. Basically the Saints can expect 25 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions and about 4,000 yards passing from Carr this season. He'll guide the team to a 9-8 record which might just be good enough for the team to make the playoffs in the NFC South.
Quarterbacks 4 through 1 (including the Seahawks QB)
4: Dak Prescott - Dallas Cowboys
I debated putting Prescott anywhere in the top four. He's got arm strength, and the ability to run, and yet somehow he seems to underwhelm every season...just...enough. In two of the last three years, he also missed at least three games. In 2022, Prescott played in 12 games but threw 15 interceptions, tying for the league lead. That's not top-of-the-conference stuff.
3: Geno Smith - Seattle Seahawks
There appears to be a vocal minority of 12s that don't want Geno Smith to be the Seattle Seahawks quarterback. Why? He led the NFC in touchdown passes last year (30), and led the league in completion percentage (69.8). He also did this without having a good defense to support the offense and multiple running back injuries in the second half of the year. Oh, also, the Seahawks started two rookies at the offensive tackle spots. What else did people want from Geno Smith last year?
2: Matthew Stafford - Los Angeles Rams
Stafford partly ranks this high because he is the only NFC quarterback who has led his team to a Super Bowl victory. He's had a slightly odd career, though. Twice he's thrown for 41 touchdowns and once he led the league in interceptions. Heck, the season the Rams won the Super Bowl with him under center (2021), Stafford had 41 TDs and a league-high 17 picks. He's only made one Pro Bowl in 14 seasons. Hall of Famer? No. But still a good quarterback.
1: Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts simply refuses to not get better. He lost his job in college to Mac Jones. He had to struggle to become the starter with the Eagles even though the line on him was he couldn't throw. Then in 2022, he showed the NFL he could be accurate and not turn the ball over. He can also run with the best of quarterbacks. He's a perfect fit with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it should also be noted that the Eagles wanted to build their offense around Hurts' unique skillset. It worked well enough to get the Eagles to the Super Bowl ast year.