NFL Analysis
12/19/24
6 min read
Quarterback Superlatives for 2024 NFL Season
Even with the 2024 running back renaissance, the quarterback still reigns supreme in the NFL.
The league is dominated by elite quarterback play, with all of the top Super Bowl contenders featuring firmly entrenched quarterbacks leading their respective offenses. Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen is expected to win his first MVP, while Baltimore's Lamar Jackson is close on his heels.
Instead of ranking the top quarterbacks this year, let's examine the 2024 superlatives for the position, recognizing the greatness of multiple players.
2024 Quarterback Superlatives
good lord Josh Allen pic.twitter.com/Q7xDYxTwHL
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) December 15, 2024
Best Arm Talent
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills 
There's really no one else that can compete with Josh Allen when it comes to arm talent.
Even the likes of Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes have elite arms but don't get to show them off with as much regularity as Allen has over and over again this year. According to Pro Football Focus, Allen leads the NFL with 33 big-time throws. No other quarterback in the league has more than 29.
What's more impressive this season is how much more efficient Allen has been this season. He's doing a great job of taking care of the football with just five interceptions without sacrificing his big-play ability.
The numbers may not reflect it compared to previous seasons, but this is the best version of Allen we've ever seen, and the arm talent continues to be amazing.
Every angle of Lamar Jackson's insane stiff-arm touchdown vs. the Bengals that may be his greatest highlight ever. 💪😈 pic.twitter.com/reBzzsi8P8
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) October 7, 2024
Best Out of Structure
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Along with being the most dangerous dual-threat quarterback in the league, Lamar Jackson has also turned his athletic ability into off-script brilliance at the NFL level.
The 2024 season has been no exception for Jackson. Per PFF, when Jackson gets the ball out in 2.5 seconds or more, he's posted an absurd 116.8 passer rating with 22 passing touchdowns and just one interception. Sam Darnold is tied with Jackson with 22 touchdown passes on delayed throws but also has nine INTs to go with it.
Some of Jackson's most impressive highlights this season have come when he dances around the backfield to make defenders miss before finding a receiver deep downfield for a big play. He's lethal as a runner with speed and elusiveness but also has the instincts to know when to get the ball out on off-script plays.
Jackson already has two MVP awards in his career, and his off-script ability is a big reason why.
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 16, 2024
Most Accurate
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions took a chance on Jared Goff after trading for him a few years ago. That chance paid off, as Goff has developed into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league.
Goff's accuracy numbers are some of the best in the league without just dinking and dunking down the field. He's second in the league with a 71.4 completion percentage but also third in the NFL with a 4.4 completion percentage over expected, per Next Gen Stats.
That accuracy shows up at all levels of the field but is almost unstoppable off of play-action passes. Per PFF, he's completed 74.2 percent of his passes off of play-action this year for 13 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 125.7 passer rating.
He may not be the most athletic or have the biggest arm, but Goff knows how to get the ball to his playmakers in stride or through tight windows.
Jameis knows 😊 @amazon pic.twitter.com/wA57OcXF9w
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) November 22, 2024
Most Entertaining
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
There isn't a better entertainer at the quarterback position than Jameis Winston.
Whether it's the incredible sound bites or chaotic on-field play, Winston is always worth watching because you never know what's going to happen. Despite only starting a handful of games, he managed to rank in the top 15 in touchdown and interception rate before being benched for Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
The turnovers led to Winston's benching, but it wasn't all bad for him as Cleveland's starting quarterback. He helped revive the career of Jerry Jeudy, who is suddenly fifth in the NFL with 1,052 receiving yards heading into Week 16.
If you want to know how beloved Winston is in NFL circles, the postgame interaction with former teammates and staffers following the Saints game is all you need to know. Even when things aren't going well, it's always going to at least be interesting when Winston is under center.
BAKER MAYFIELD C’EST QUOI ÇA ?!
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) November 10, 2024
Une passe pour un first down crucial, pendant qu’il stiff arm un défenseur 🤯 @bakermayfield #WeAreTheKrewe
📺 @beinsports_FR 4️⃣ #NFLextra
📱 Gratuit sur @DAZN_FR pic.twitter.com/pimKp5gTmJ
Most Confident
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield wasn't expected to do much with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and expectations were even lower after Chris Godwin's season-ending ankle injury.
That didn't seem to phase the former No. 1 overall pick.
After Mayfield looked like a quarterback on the verge of fading away, he has experienced a career renaissance with the Bucs. He's posting career-high numbers in 2024, even without Godwin, throwing for 3,617 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions for a 104.1 passer rating.
Mayfield hasn't been shy about running the ball, either. He has a career-high 266 rushing yards and three scores, trying to high-step defenders or run through them with absolute fearlessness. He's even been spotted sprinting downfield to get a block for his teammate.
This is the best football we've ever seen from Mayfield, and it might be enough to help Tampa Bay win an NFC South title.
Jordan Love Sicko throw of the week.
— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) December 16, 2024
Assist from Christian Watson. pic.twitter.com/VMDsERQBfS
Closest to Being Elite
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
It looked like the late-season surge from 2023 was just going to be a flash in the pan for Jordan Love, but he's starting to look like the best quarterback in the NFC.
The numbers are backing up that statement. He's currently second in the NFL in adjusted QB efficiency, sandwiched between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson through Week 15.
Whether it's Toyotathon or Love finally being healthy, the Packers quarterback has been on a heater over the last five weeks. During that time, he's completed 68.7 percent of his passes with 9.85 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns, and a 119.95 passer rating.
The interceptions were a problem earlier this year, but Love hasn't thrown a pick in four straight games. He's not sacrificing his explosive play potential during the turnover-free streak, either, as he continues to take chances by pushing the ball vertically.
Doubters and critics will continue to debate how good Love is, but the film and analytics suggest that the Packers quarterback is quickly becoming the league's next elite quarterback.
