Ranking all 14 quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Playoffs

The NFL playoffs are here and that's great.

The NFL playoffs are coming up, and they're dangerous, too.

Why is this dangerous? As you know, what will happen over the next month (likely) will dramatically change the way we view things and certain people. It's clear that the playoffs are the most important part of any NFL season, but the games are so big that we often overshadow everything that's going on here. That's understandable, but this process also eliminates important context.

Whether you agree with it or not, it's safe to say that next month (again) will define specifically how we view certain people, namely quarterbacks. Not. Those who get it done, or those who don't get it done, at the most important moments will be praised or held accountable for it.

Thankfully, we're here to provide you with answers before the test begins.

Ranking all 12 NFL playoff quarterbacks

First of all, trying to rank anything is inherently difficult and, in fact, impossible. I think strawberry is the best ice cream flavor and Tom Holland is the best Spider-Man. I think you have a problem with one, if not both, of these statements.

But if you're concerned about that, let me tell you that things get a little tough from here on out.

Twelve teams will participate in the playoffs. That means 12 quarterbacks will play in the playoffs. I'll start ranking them now. it's okay. These are just words. they can't hurt you.

Ultimately, in order to rank these signal callers, I think it's fair to categorize them into several tiers. I can't stop watching yet so I'll go in ascending order evil You told me a long time ago that you want to build drama.

Tier 1: Congratulations on being here, but I'll have to wait and see before I trust you

I'm going to go all out and give the rookies a chance to play in the playoffs. I think it's definitely a choke point in that these are generally the most inexperienced players (I said that clearly), but it also comes down to the situation in which they stack on top of each other.

14: Russell Wilson pittsburgh steelers

13: Bo Nix denver broncos

12: Sam Darnold minnesota vikings

11: Jayden Daniels commander of washington

I lied! Russell is certainly no playoff novice, but this teeth first playoff game against another team seattle seahawks. This week will obviously be the first playoff action for Sam Darnold, Box Knicks and Jaden Daniels.

I think Russell is the only one of these four who can't hang in the same way. This is not to disrespect Russell, but throughout this season I haven't seen him make as many plays and help the team as much as the other players in the group. Fairness is fair.

With all that being said…I think the player to lose the most here is Sam Darnold. If Russell is bad, people will ignore it based on how things have been the last few years. If the Knicks or Daniels don't make it, well, they're young and have a long future ahead of them.

If Darnold does badly, the story of the Vikings being the top choice in 2022 as everyone said (which was unfair!) will be revived and he will return to Minnesota or whatever. Regardless of where he goes, he will likely follow Darnold in free agency this year.

Level 2: You have my trust and you have the changes to improve yourself.

To me, this playoff group is quarterbacks that I know can make it in the NFL. Because we've seen them do it many times. Most of them even did so at some point during the playoffs.

But this group is unique in that everyone has a playoff win or two that separates them significantly from the pack. If they win this week and maybe even win next week on top of that…we're talking about another stratosphere.

Photo by: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

10: Jordan Love, green bay packers

9: CJ Stroud houston texans

8: Baker Mayfield tampa bay buccaneers

7: Justin Herbert Los Angeles Chargers

I think the playoffs are important for both Love and Stroud. If they get overwhelmed, all the goodwill built up last year will really evaporate and disappear. This sounds unfair, but if Herbert makes it stink, people will just keep pouring. He has already crossed the line on the Internet and reached a place where logic and reason elude people. That's what separates him from the others here, who could perhaps join him in that wilderness.

Baker Mayfield is unique in that no one actually hates him or thinks he's terrible or overhyped beyond what's practical and/or fair. If he wins Sunday night and helps the Buccaneers put together a season where they can win back-to-back playoff games…I think his story changes a little bit.

Tier 3: Seriously guys, but it's time to build up a little more.

To me, this tier is about a quarterback that we know and believe is legitimate and that we trust pretty much everything, but we're ready to see more. More than that, we're ready to see it again.

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

6: Jalen Hurts philadelphia eagles

5: Matthew Stafford Los Angeles Rams

4: Jared Goff detroit lions

Each of these quarterbacks has made it to the NFC Championship Game at some point in the last three years, and obviously Stafford went far beyond that and won a Super Bowl.

But outside of these runs, we haven't seen anything else with this current team, especially in the playoffs. 2022 was a magical year for Jalen Hurts and obviously last season was a great season for the Lions as a whole. This year, one of those three will do it again, proving that their great year (Goff may be in the middle of it) wasn't a one-off, and making it to the finals. It's important to join the group.

Tier 4: Baller, Shotcaller

Let's be adults here and admit that we can order this however we want. wrong In the real sense. transaction? transaction.

The ordering method is like this.

3: Patrick Mahomes kansas city chiefs

2: Josh Allen buffalo bills

1: Lamar Jackson baltimore ravens

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

I love all three of these quarterbacks and most teams would be very lucky to get them. All of this could be true.

It could also be true that Mahomes is clearly on his way to becoming the GOAT, and that his “down” year landed him at No. 3 is no sign of serious disrespect. We can contextualize where he and his team are and recognize the uniqueness of how they are playing and winning.

For most of this season, I believed Josh Allen was MVP, and clearly he has a legitimate claim. he was great

But Lamar Jackson is exhibiting a different kind of “that guy has a problem” energy right now, and seems to be at the peak of his powers that we've come to know from him, even though he's That's really saying something considering he's already won MVP twice.

We talked.