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Kansas City Chiefs Opposing QB Rankings 2021

Originally posted on Full Press Coverage
By Braden Holecek | Last updated 9/6/21

We are just under a week away from the beginning of the Kansas City Chiefs 2021 regular season. The preseason is now over. Rosters have been cut down. And most of all, certain position battles have been sorted out by nearly every team around the league.

That includes the quarterback position, where we now have a clear answer or indication as to who won certain battles among Kansas City’s opponents. There will be a new face inside the AFC West this season who won the starting job from a younger incumbent quarterback. Meanwhile, I would say this group is one of the weaker passer groups collectively that the Chiefs will have faced over the last few years. So many of these guys are creative enough on their own. But, even some of the guys who are lower on this list can only uplift their teams so much.

Other factors like pass catchers, offensive line and coaching were also factored into these rankings. Without further ado, let’s kick things off with number 14 on the list. Disagree with any of my order? Let us know on Twitter: @BradenHolecek9 or @FPC_Chiefs

14) Jalen Hurts- Philadelphia Eagles

Last season, the Eagles saw their former top draft selection in 2016 totally collapse under pressure. Carson Wentz tried hard to play hero ball. Doug Pederson tried hard to do things his own way. And most of all, the Eagles front office was trying even harder to do what they could to see if they had any future with Jalen Hurts. Allowing him to play late in a game at Green Bay, the switch gave Philly somewhat of a spark. Hurts made a touchdown throw on the run and earned the starting spot the following week against the Saints.

There were both flashes and head scratchers made by Hurts. His ability to connect on passes deep down the field is a work in progress. To boot, the Eagles would likely prefer to see him push the ball more often. His adjusted yards gained per pass attempt was measly, according to Pro Football Reference (6.76 yards). Learning to become more consistently accurate to all levels of the field is another area of improvement for Hurts. He finished 2020 with a combined completion percentage of 52.03 percent.

The leadership, toughness and dual threat ability is a nice starting point for Hurts. Though, there is a limited aggression in the passing game from him, and a shaky group of weapons in Philadelphia at best. If this offensive line continues to have injury issues, I could see the Eagles having a pretty good shot of “earning” the number one overall pick in 2022, or coming very close to it.

13) Teddy Bridgewater/Drew Lock- Denver Broncos

After a training camp battle, Teddy Bridgewater will open the season as the Broncos starting passer. This will be the second new team in as many seasons for the Louisville product. In many ways, I feel like his game is similar to that of the aforementioned Hurts. We know Bridgewater can win and adjust on the fly with his legs, if need be. I would not label him as an aggressive passer or someone who is accurate to different levels of the field. If anything, Bridgewater may have better results when going deep. I just think his ceiling is limited and the trust of him in big time moments is minimal late in games. The consistency from week to week is seemingly invisible. On the flip side, I would not be surprised to see Drew Lock back as the starter at some point this season, if things go awry.

Once again, I think the rest of this roster is playoff ready. The quarterback position should have been addressed differently this offseason. The Broncos reportedly missed out on a potential Matthew Stafford acquisition. You could give them props for trying. Yet, you still had the opportunity to draft Justin Fields or Mac Jones at nine overall back in April. That should be no indictment on their actual pick in Patrick Surtain II, the player himself. From a team lifecycle perspective, Denver is stuck in an awkward place. Can Bridgewater prove them right at the start of the year?

12) Daniel Jones- New York Giants

It has been an up and down start to the career of Daniel Jones. Injuries and hesitant play have put him behind the eight ball entering year three of his career in 2021. However, one thing stands out above all else. The turnovers.

There is nothing that points to him and New York’s current standing more than that. Jones and this team could play spoiler for many weeks out of the year. Despite that, Jones spoils himself by giving the football to the other team. He has thrown 22 interceptions in his two career seasons so far. Additionally, Jones has fumbled the ball 29 times in that timespan. If he can cut the turnover worthy plays out even marginally, the Giants could be around .500 this season.

Where are the positives with Jones? I do not believe people actually realize the above average arm talent of this passer. He can drive the football effortlessly down the field on a rope. There is also evidence of him being able to fit it into tight windows. Do not sleep on his deep ball either. According to Next Gen Stats, the Giants QB had the best CPOE (completion percentage over expectation) on deep passes (20+ yards downfield) in the NFL last year (+14.8 percent). Finally, Jones has shown admirable ball placement. If the consistency and next step is not found from the Duke product in 2021, it will be a crucial upcoming offseason for the New York Giants.

11) Derek Carr- Las Vegas Raiders

We know what Derek Carr is at this point, as he enters year eight with the Raiders. He is a middling quarterback at best, who needs so much to be put in place around him. The accuracy and aggression is impressive when present. But, it does not show up enough of the time. Carr can struggle to work through his progressions. His ability to escape pressure is average. Moreover, when opposing blitzers come at a high rate throughout the game, Carr becomes fixated and crumbles.

There has been a weird dynamic the last couple of years with reports of the Raiders possibly wanting to move on from Carr. In the end, they continue to stick with continuity. How long can a team choose the continuity approach at quarterback, when it is clearly not working? The redeeming moments are nice. Those are heavily outweighed by disappointing results, however.

What may be even more concerning for Carr this year, is the team around him. The offensive line was the best part of their team. Yet, they lost three key starters in Rodney Hudson, Trent Brown and Gabe Jackson. Furthermore, Kenyan Drake continues to be a puzzling addition to their offensive style. He will take away snaps from Josh Jacobs. And their wide receiver room is largely inexperienced, with Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards being the two projected starters on the outside as they each enter year two of their careers. I cannot see the Raiders finishing anywhere else than last in the AFC West.

10) Joe Burrow- Cincinnati Bengals

Last season, Joe Burrow enjoyed a strong start to his rookie campaign. He completed passes at a high rate (65.3 percent). Burrow was pushing the ball down the field and coming through on crucial downs with heroic efforts. Nonetheless, the success that he found was purely individual. The rest of the Bengals team surrounding the quarterback let the former number one overall pick down.

The main problem was an offensive line that was among the least talented in the entire NFL. For weeks, everyone was praying that Burrow would not take any major hits that he did not see coming. There were some pretty big booms that he took even in the first few weeks. Unfortunately, that continued up to the middle of the season. Against Washington, Burrow took a low hit and suffered a torn ACL. Simply put, it was a disservice to put a rookie quarterback in that type of environment.

Now entering year two, Burrow is back healthy. But, could he play less timid than what we last saw from him? That was part of the reason as to why I dumped him down the list a couple of spots. On the other hand, is the Bengals offensive line even that much improved? Guys like Bobby Hart and Michael Jordan are no longer with the team. Though, they spent their 2021 first round pick on a wide receiver, instead of going offensive line. And their first offensive line selection was questionable at best, in my view (Jackson Carman). There is no doubt that Burrow will still give it his all. Can he come back better than ever?

9) Ben Roethlisberger- Pittsburgh Steelers

It is an empty feeling to think that some of these longtime quarterbacks are nearing the end of their careers. It felt that way with Drew Brees last year. And over the last couple of seasons, it has felt that way with Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh roared out to an 11-0 start last season. Near the end of that undefeated start, it was noticeable how vulnerable the Steelers really were. They lost four of their last five in the regular season, before getting beat down by the division rival Browns in the Wild Card round.

This feels like the last season for Big Ben. Although his arm seemingly appears to be disintegrating in front of our very eyes, Roethlisberger can still win with the same attributes that he has before. His ability to make defenders miss with sack attempts is still vital to this offense. Amazingly, he shifts and navigates the pocket better than any other big bodied quarterback type. Furthermore, his deep ball is still highly accurate. Do not blink. Because if you think you have Roethlisberger completely accounted for, he will still pull a rabbit out of his hat.

8) Ryan Fitzpatrick- Washington Football Team

I feel like Ryan Fitzpatrick is still one of the more disrespected quarterbacks in the league. Maybe it is the head scratching interceptions that come from time to time. Or, Fitz is viewed as an all or nothing type of player far too often. The main thing is, I believe he is still in the top half of the league among the current starting quarterbacks.

Fitzpatrick is now 38 years old. But even still, I would trust him to come through in the two minute drill or on a potential game winning drive more than most other passers. His unbelievable completed pass against the Raiders last year is one of the better examples of that. While his facemask was getting pulled sideways, he still put the throw on the money way down the field. Fitzpatrick had also been highly trustworthy during his time with Tampa Bay, New York, Houston, Tennessee and near the end of his time in Buffalo.

The career numbers for him show that he is not a simple dink and dunk quarterback. His career yards per attempt (6.9) and yards per completion (11.4) numbers have generated scores in bunches. To boot, his aggressive nature can leave defensive backs on their heels or guessing. The rushing ability and hard work to avoid sacks is another part of his game that helps his team more than it hurts. In the last 13 seasons played, Fitzpatrick has only been sacked 25+ times in three of those seasons. The bottom line is, Fitzpatrick will carry the team on his back if he has to, no matter what.

7) Baker Mayfield- Cleveland Browns

After years of mediocrity at the quarterback position, the Cleveland Browns have finally found their guy. Baker Mayfield has already accomplished more in three seasons than the previous Browns QBs combined for over 20+ seasons. He set a new record in 2018 for passing touchdowns by a rookie (27). That was later broken last season by Justin Herbert. Yet, his 27 came in just 13 starts. Moreover, Mayfield brought the team their first winning season since 2007 last year. And it was Cleveland’s first playoff appearance since 2002. Let alone, he not only got them there, but also generated a playoff victory. A contract extension is likely coming soon.

There are a few reasons as to why I bumped Mayfield one spot ahead of Fitzpatrick on this list. First off, the former Oklahoma Sooner has sneaky good arm talent. His ability to drive balls into tight windows and in between defenders is highly impressive. Especially, when you consider his somewhat smaller frame and compact build. Mayfield is also one of the more accurate passers in the league among younger quarterbacks. He can put it in the basket to any area on the field.

I also believe that Mayfield’s creativity and calmness under pressure help to mix for a perfect mindset at the position. We know he is highly confident in the way that he plays or speaks. However, already knowing what mistakes he cannot make is above most other younger passers. The more that continues, the likelihood that Cleveland can win a Super Bowl will increase.

6) Ryan Tannehill- Tennessee Titans

There are many players who have found immense success after having played for Adam Gase. The list still continues to grow to this day. Ryan Tannehill may be one of the best examples in that category. Tennessee hardly gave up anything to acquire Tannehill from Miami. A seventh round pick in one year, followed by a fourth rounder the year after is all the Dolphins got back in return. Now, the Dolphins are in a good position currently. It just took so long for Tannehill to find any real development in Miami, though.

He came to Tennessee and quickly helped transform the Titans offensive attack. Tannehill does a fine job of spreading the football around to all areas of the field. His last two seasons produced the two best marks for him, in terms of completion percentage (70.3 percent and 65.5 percent respectively). It is the deep passing that still marvels most people today. His rushing ability and feel of the pocket has also improved over the last couple of seasons. Like Fitzpatrick, Tannehill is another underrated quarterback among the entire ranks of the NFL.

5) Justin Herbert- Los Angeles Chargers

In 2020, Herbert was the clear and obvious choice for Offensive Rookie of the Year. And if not for a freak injury to Tyrod Taylor, we would have never seen him show out like he did. His touchdown to interception ratio kept the Chargers in every game (31 TDs:10 INTs). Week after week, Herbert put his team in a position to win, while not forcing mistakes or errant passes. His yards per attempt (7.3) and completion percentage (66.6 percent) kept Los Angeles highly productive. Meanwhile, his confidence and toughness could eventually lead him to more success down the line. He had one fourth quarter comeback and three game winning drives last year as well.

Herbert’s style of play is the exact type that I would personally cling to, if I were building a team. His movement skills are highly noticeable, given his tall and well-built frame. His strong arm makes throws look effortless down the field. I also thought Herbert improved on his footwork/base and touch as the year went on last season. Now, the rest of the team just needs to learn to stop blowing games in order for Herbert and the Chargers to become a playoff threat.

4) Lamar Jackson- Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson is one of the most difficult quarterbacks to prepare for. His attention to detail and growing knowledge for what opposing defenses are trying to do stand out more and more each game. He may already be the best rushing quarterback of all time. On the flip side, Jackson adds a certain versatility in the passing game.

The Louisville product throws accurately while on the run. He is also not as hesitant as many people may think. Pushing the ball down the field and fitting it in between defenders can go highly unnoticed. Jackson is not the dink and dunk type that some may believe he is.

If anything, there are still improvements to be made when throwing over the middle. Working through progressions is still important in order to take the next step. Additionally, Jackson will need to start feeling the pocket collapse quicker, when it does happen. If those steps are taken, he could be higher on this list entering 2022.

3) Dak Prescott- Dallas Cowboys

Before suffering a devastating leg injury, Dak Prescott was on a record setting pace in the passing game last year. His 371.2 passing yards per game were over 120 yards more than his passing yards per game average across his first four seasons. His 7.72 net yards per attempt was putting the Cowboys in position to score nearly every handful of plays. Let’s not forget about his lone fourth quarter comeback and game winning drive from 2020.

Dallas trailed the Falcons 20-0 at one point and 29-10 at halftime. It eventually became a 39-24 Atlanta lead with just under eight minutes to go. The Falcons ended up botching an onside kick recovery. In the end, Prescott fired a bullet to put the Cowboys in field goal range and they miraculously won 40-39.

Dak has been one of the more consistently deadly passers in the NFL when throwing deep (20+ yards downfield). His 52.6 percent adjusted completion rate on those throws in 2019 were third best in the NFL. It all goes back to mechanics and confidence for Prescott. Coming back from that injury and masking a horrible defense will be challenging. Dak is determined to get the job done.

2) Josh Allen- Buffalo Bills

The positive jump that Josh Allen took from year two to year three in his career is one of the best in recent NFL play. All of his numbers improved drastically. Here are the major categories from 2019 to 2020: Completion percentage (58.8 in 2019 to 69.2 in 2020), touchdown passes (20 in 2019 to 37 in 2020), net yards per attempt (5.72 in 2019 to 7.33 in 2020) and passing yards per game (193.1 in 2019 to 284 in 2020).

The arm talent has always been there for Allen. He can put the ball on a rope with ease and fire by opponents before they are even ready. His improvements in working within the pocket, ball placement and testing defenders deep all made for a dangerous Bills offense. They won their first division title and first playoff game since 1995. A lot of people believe Buffalo has a strong chance of representing the AFC in this year’s Super Bowl. If that happens, Allen may be walking away with the league MVP, if he is able to take yet another step forward.

1) Aaron Rodgers- Green Bay Packers

Speaking of MVPs, the 2020 winner is no doubt the easy choice for the top of this list. Just last season, Aaron Rodgers set new career highs in year 13 as the starter. That includes touchdown passes (48), completion percentage (70.7 percent) and yards per attempt (9.2). His five interceptions were also tied for his lowest as a starter.

Game after game, Rodgers was nearly perfect. You could count his regular season mistakes on one hand. He simply let it fly and the results made Green Bay one of the league’s most dangerous teams. If not for a head scratching game plan in the NFC Championship Game, Rodgers could have likely won his second Super Bowl title.

Now after mulling retirement and being swirled within trade rumors, Rodgers is back with the Packers. This feels like it could very well be his last hurrah in the green and gold. And even though his age continues to climb, the play of Rodgers continues to get more complete. The Kansas City Chiefs toughest opposing quarterback in 2021 is on a mission to prove even those in his own organization wrong.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles throughout this upcoming week. For more great sports and NFL content stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.

This article first appeared on Full Press Coverage and was syndicated with permission.

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