Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Top NFL QB Rankings by Coaches, Execs

Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes continues to set the pace at quarterback in the annual rankings from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Mahomes occupied the No. 1 position, though Fowler said his "grip on the top spot is loosening slightly" in the eyes of coaches, executives and scouts around the NFL.

The Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow swapped places in second and third, respectively. Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens held strong in fourth.

ESPN Quarterback Rankings

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

6. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

9. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mahomes didn't end his 2024 season on a high note as he and the Chiefs were overwhelmed by the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Still, he threw for 3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the year.

Any general manager building a roster from scratch would probably take Mahomes over any other quarterback.

Allen is closing the gap, though, on the heels of an MVP campaign that saw him finish with 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions through the air. His 77.3 QBR was tied for first in the NFL with Jackson at ESPN.com.

"He's done everything," one personnel executive from an NFC team said. "He's answered every test. He makes less mistakes and takes care of the ball. Only thing left to do is win it all."

Therein lies the problem for Allen. Until the Bills lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy, he may not overtake Mahomes in the eyes off a lot of people around the league.

The Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels was a big climber in Fowler's rankings. He debuted at No. 5, being ineligible for inclusion as a rookie.

Daniels had 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns along with 891 yards and six scores on the ground. More than that, Washington won 12 games and claimed a playoff berth.

"Single-handedly took one of the worst franchises to the NFC title game as a rookie with a bad defense, one legitimate wide receiver, a dinosaur at tight end [12th-year pro Zach Ertz] and average-at-best OL," one coordinator said. "The kid can read coverages, throw with accuracy and touch to all levels of the field, just as dangerous as Lamar and Josh Allen with his legs and has a clutch factor to him because his team already believes that if he has the ball with a chance to win, he's going to find a way. If he repeats anything close to his rookie year, he's no lower than No. 3 on this list next year."

Houston Texans signal-caller C.J. Stroud went in the opposite direction, going from seventh in 2024 to unranked in 2025.

Stroud averaged 54.7 fewer passing yards per game and doubled his interception total to 12. A year after being one of the hotter candidates on the NFL coaching market, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik was given the boot in a sign of how much Houston regressed on offense.

"That can affect your confidence when the protection and the play-calling around you isn't great," a quarterbacks coach told Fowler. "It can all tie together. But the framework of what made him great his rookie year is still there ... Such a natural thrower of the football with elite ball placement."

First-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley is tasked with getting Stroud back on track.