One Word to Describe Every NFL Team's Franchise Player

How many NFL teams have a clear-cut “franchise player”? I count less than 20, although that could soon change as young quarterbacks potentially emerge in places like Denver, New England, Atlanta, Carolina and Indianapolis. 

Regardless, many have quasi-franchise players, or someone who has to be considered the closest thing. 

Let’s identify ‘em all and describe each in a single word.

AFC East

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Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen: Elite -- It’s really that simple when you’re the reigning MVP, and you’ve easily posted the best passing statistics in the NFL this decade. 

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa: Limited -- Whether it be because he consistently falls short in big moments, or because his injury history is highly problematic and concerning, the talented and handsomely paid 26-year-old has his glaring limitations. 

New England Patriots QB Drake Maye: Mysterious -- There’s a lot to like about what the 22-year-old did as a rookie. But with a small sample and limited support, plenty remains unknown.

New York Jets CB Sauce Gardner: Temporary -- As great as Gardner is, it’s far from ideal when a cornerback is a franchise player. You could also argue this oughta be Quinnen Williams or even Garrett Wilson, but none of that is ideal. The Jets will soon force a new franchise player in there.

AFC North

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Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: Unique -- A lot of glowing adjectives work, but the thing that stands out most about Jackson is that there isn’t another player quite like him in this league. 

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow: Inevitable -- Considering how off-the-charts Burrow was with an elite receiver group in 2024, it’s only a matter of time before he breaks back into the Super Bowl and/or lands his first MVP. 

Cleveland Browns edge Myles Garrett: Handcuffed -- The four-time first-team All-Pro is stuck on an awful team, which is why he wants out. However, it doesn’t look like that’ll come easy. 

Pittsburgh Steelers edge T.J. Watt: Legendary -- Also a four-time first-team All-Pro and former DPOY, the 30-year-old is a Hall of Fame lock.

AFC South

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Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud: Iffy -- Hard to believe that’s the word one year after it would have been “phenom,” but Stroud suffered from a clear-cut sophomore slump in 2024 and he faces a potential make-or-break campaign in 2025. That’s how unforgiving this league can be.

Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson: Unrefined -- I don’t know that there’s a quarterback in this league that possesses a mixture of raw talent and risk quite like Richardson, who simply can’t afford another poor season after a disastrous sophomore campaign in ‘24.

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: Embattled -- Coaching changes, personnel changes, injuries and flat-out inconsistent and often substandard performances have the 25-year-old former top pick likely fighting for his NFL future in 2025. 

Tennessee Titans DL Jeffery Simmons: Unremarkable -- Sure, he’s a Pro Bowler. But ideally, he’s only part of your core and not the closest thing you have to a “franchise player.” But that’s about right considering the state of the Titans.

AFC West

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Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix: Legit -- With only so-so support, the 25-year-old completed more than 70 percent of his passes and posted a 108.0 passer rating in the final eight games of his rookie season. I’m fired up to see what he can do in ‘25. 

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: Unsupported -- It’s a sad reality now, but he doesn’t have the weapons or the protection he once had, and it’s about to get a whole lot worse with Trey Smith and practically his entire pass-catching corps potentially on the way out this offseason. 

Las Vegas Raiders TE Brock Bowers: Load-bearing -- With no franchise quarterback, an offensive line that needs significant work and shortcomings at receiver and running back, the magnificent young tight end is pretty much carrying the entire load in Las Vegas. That needs to change. 

Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert: Consistent -- He might not—or ever—be a top-five quarterback, but the 26-year-old has posted a passer rating between 93 and 102 in each of his five NFL seasons.

NFC East

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Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: Albatross -- Harsh, but the 31-year-old has been part of two playoff victories in nine seasons and he’s missed significant chunks of three of the last five. All while costing the team $60 million per year.

New York Giants WR Malik Nabers: Weapon -- The 21-year-old went over 1,200 yards in a garbage offense as a rookie in 2024. With the right quarterback, the sky's the limit going forward.

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: Supported -- Honestly, it was hard to definitively peg a franchise player on this team. There were so many options, which might explain why they’re the champs. It also indicates just how much support Hurts has as the franchise quarterback. 

Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: Ready -- The 24-year-old was completely electric as Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, and he’s primed to explode as an elite NFL star in 2025.

NFC North

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Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams: Equipped -- Not only does Williams have the complete package needed to become an NFL star, but he also has the weapons at receiver, a talented defense, an exciting new offensive-minded coach and a front office that has substantial draft capital and money to spend. 

Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff: Armed -- The highest-rated passer in the NFC in 2024 might still have some limitations as a passer, but the existence of Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams and a jacked offensive line make him heavily armed and dangerous. 

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love: Unreliable -- The highly paid quarterback has simply been far too inconsistent and erratic the last two years. In 2024, he posted a passer rating between 92.0 and 107.0 just two times. He fell short of that range seven times and topped it six times.

Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: Superior -- As in, superior to every other wide receiver in the NFL. The dominant 25-year-old has been a first-team All-Pro in each of his last two healthy campaigns.

NFC South

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Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.: Crapshoot -- That’s just the reality with a first-round pick these days, and 105 passes in five games as a rookie isn’t enough to change that either way. 

Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young: Budding -- By no means is the 23-year-old suddenly a sure thing, but Young redeemed himself in a major way and potentially saved his career with 16 combined passing/rushing touchdowns to three interceptions in Carolina’s last seven games. 

New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr: Waste -- Statistically and otherwise, the 33-year-old vet has actually been pretty good the last two years. But he has a ceiling and so do the Saints, and it’s from anything resembling the Super Bowl. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: Insufficient -- The 2018 No. 1 overall pick led the NFC in touchdown passes but also in interceptions. And that combined with extreme inconsistency just doesn’t suffice on a decent-not-great team.

NFC West

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Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray: Special -- I know it hasn’t come together for the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, but Murray has one of the most unique and exceptional skill sets in professional football. Another word for that is special. Let’s see if he can bring it all together as a 28-year-old in 2025.  

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford: Exiting? -- Not to be mistaken for “exciting.” It looks like the Rams are on the brink of a reload, and there’s a good chance the 37-year-old Stafford leaves town along with Cooper Kupp this offseason. 

San Francisco 49ers edge Nick Bosa: Pressured -- As in, the pressure is now turned up high on Bosa, who has seen his productivity drop off in back-to-back seasons after winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. 

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith: Average -- Is it even him? Not sure who else it could be right now, so the well-paid quarterback is here by default. But Smith really has become your typical middle-of-the-road quarterback. The league-wide passer rating in 2024 was 92.3. Smith’s rating the last two years? 92.7.