In the world of American football, last-place finishes in the NFL can have a silver lining for teams moving forward. It sets them up with easier schedules in the following season, thanks to the league’s promotion of parity. However, the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans didn’t quite get the luck of the draw in 2023. Despite finishing at the bottom of the standings, they were slated to face off against stellar quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert in 2024.
As the results of the 2024 Quarterback Tiers were released this week, the focus turned to analyzing the strength of opposing quarterbacks for all 32 teams. The unfortunate injuries to Burrow and Herbert last season played a significant role in their teams’ struggles, ultimately leading to their low rankings and subsequent matchups against the Patriots and Titans as part of the fourth-place intra-conference rotation.
Since the QB Tiers survey conducted among 50 coaches and executives does not account for rookies, adjustments were made to include reasonable ratings for newcomers like Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears (3.1), Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders (3.8), and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos (4.0). Williams found himself teetering on the edge of Tier 3, nestled between established names like Geno Smith/Derek Carr and Russell Wilson. Daniels’ rating of 3.80 placed him on par with Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts, while Nix was pegged at 4.00, mirroring the performance of Sam Darnold.
In the realm of quarterback rankings, the logic behind these placements was clear. Williams showed promise that warranted a higher rating than a typical rookie, though not quite reaching the level of seasoned starters like Carr and Smith. Conversely, Daniels and Nix were deemed fitting for Tier 4, a category designated for unproven players and veterans who may not be suited for a full season as a starter.
As the anticipation builds, teams are ranked based on the toughness of their opposing quarterback schedules. The comprehensive breakdown includes every team’s lineup of quarterbacks, sortable by week or average tier vote. It’s a crucial aspect of the game that can have a significant impact on a team’s overall performance throughout the season.
