Bo Nix has transformed the Denver Broncos into a perennial playoff contender in his first 2-season in the NFL. He is given the reins by Coach Payton to be the natural playmaker in and out of the pocket; essentially playing Bo Nix football. Nix is great at extending plays with his legs and keeping his eyes downfield for open targets. He will sit in the pocket and dish the rock to his weapons like a Vegas blackjack dealer or escape and make a play with his athleticism. Nix is developing into the Broncos' franchise signal-caller. Despite his and the team's success, the next phase of his development is protecting the football, especially under pressure. Nix tends to put the ball in harm's way whenever he feels pressure, and there's no obvious route out of danger. Improving his decision-making and protecting the football will ensure he rises into the next crop of high-quality NFL starting quarterbacks for years to come.

Brock Purdy is an established starting quarterback with plenty of postseason experience, including leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl. He played in only nine games last season due to multiple injuries. Purdy's proven to be the near-perfect quarterback for Kyle Shanahan's system. His game thrives on throwing with outstanding anticipation, accuracy, and timing. Purdy is an above-average athlete with good pocket quickness to create for himself whenever he senses pressure. He plays with immense heart and toughness, earning him a place among the NFL's winners. Purdy is a physically limited quarterback; he's on the shorter side of the height spectrum, and his arm strength is only average. His decision-making declined under heavy and consistent pressure last season. He's the prototype for high-end game manager and point guard-styled QB archetypes; you can win with those styles if your roster is built properly.

Jordan Love is one of the more efficient passers in the NFL. He is coming off another strong season, his third consecutive season over 3,300 yards. He threw for 3,381 yards with 23 touchdowns, six interceptions, completing 66.3% of his passes, and a passer rating of 101.2. Love continues to play at a highly efficient level and pace for the Packers. His accuracy, footwork, and ball placement are very good and getting better. He cut down on his interceptions compared to 2024, but there are head-scratching decisions where he tests heavily targeted weapons. He's on the cusp of elevating his game, but postseason moments and success will dictate where he ultimately lands among his peers.

Dak Prescott deserves more credit and praise as one of the league's top signal-callers. He is coming off his fourth 4,000-yard passing season. He is entrusted with carrying the Cowboys' passing offense with his arm, and he answers the bell more often than not. Prescott is a highly accurate passer in and outside of the pocket. When protected and with high-caliber weapons at his disposal, he will put up All-Pro numbers. The Cowboys put their offensive fate into Prescott's hands, and he delivers.

Lamar Jackson played in 13 games because of nagging hamstring and back injuries. Those injuries limited his mobility and magician-like escapability. He was unable to replicate the MVP-caliber season he had in 2024. Jackson never returned to full form after missing five games due to the injuries, but defenses respected him regardless. Jackson continued to help power the Ravens' offense forward. He handled the blitz, throwing 12 touchdowns to three interceptions. Jackson played more from the pocket and attacked the vertical plane well. The Ravens offense still lives and dies on Jackson's back, and his star impact cannot be replicated.

Drake Maye made one of the biggest jumps we've seen from rookie to year two. He threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Maye helped engineer the Patriots' Super Bowl appearance with his improved play. The game slowed down for him to read and react post-snap and find the open target. His legs created second-reaction throwing windows to overcome tight defense coverage. Maye helped spearhead the Patriots' run to the AFC East title and the dethroning of the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills. His accuracy improved, and his efficiency rose as a result. His first postseason experience resulted in team success, but Maye's play tapered off in those high-leverage games. He threw 6 touchdowns to 4 interceptions, with his passer rating dropping to 82 and his completion percentage to 58%. If Maye can continue his high level of play, he will force his name to be discussed among the league's elite franchise quarterbacks.