How do you actually pick the best quarterback in the NFL? The question feels impossible to settle, like trying to define obscenity, something Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said he couldn’t actually explain, but would “know it when I see it.”
That’s what it’s like debating legends at the top of the game. For years, people called Tom Brady a “system quarterback,” but with seven Super Bowl rings and just about every award out there, it’s hard to argue against his G.O.A.T. status. You may not be able to define it, but you know it when you see it. So what does that mean for Patrick Mahomes? Is he the heir to Brady’s throne, or is he suddenly getting overlooked by some experts?
Why Did One Analyst Rank Patrick Mahomes Lower in Some Categories?
You can’t talk about today’s best quarterbacks without mentioning Patrick Mahomes. He has helped the Kansas City Chiefs win three Super Bowls, and he took home MVP honors in all three of them. Mahomes is also a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time league MVP, and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. Kansas City hasn’t just racked up regular-season wins under Mahomes; they’ve made it to the AFC Championship Game every year he’s been the starter.
With that kind of résumé, it caught a lot of people off guard to see former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky appear to slight Mahomes in his latest quarterback rankings for ESPN.
Instead of naming just one top quarterback, Orlovsky broke things down into seven skill sets: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, rushing ability, and second-reaction creativity. His ratings leaned on both how the players have performed and what to expect for the 2025 season.
“Arm strength” is where Mahomes shows up high, ranked second only to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. “The best in the game at this is Allen, but the top four on my list — including Mahomes, [Justin] Herbert, and [Lamar] Jackson — are collectively in a league of their own,” wrote Orlovsky.
The “ball placement” category is where Mahomes somehow drops to fifth, behind Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Jackson, and Allen. While Burrow claiming the top spot makes sense, he’s been the gold standard lately, fifth seems a little low for a quarterback as accurate as Mahomes.
Prime Patrick Mahomes to prime Travis Kelce was unfair
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) July 7, 2025
Things keep getting interesting with “mechanics,” where Mahomes is left out altogether, while Burrow, Daniels, and Matthew Stafford take center stage.
“Decision making” feels like Mahomes’ wheelhouse, but there he lands fifth, trailing Burrow, Allen, and Jackson once again.
Mahomes gets some love for “pocket presence,” earning the third spot behind Burrow and Jackson. Orlovsky notes, “Mahomes’ pocket presence is seemingly on display every snap. He never panics, keeping his eyes downfield as he steps aside from pressure.”
Fans know Mahomes can scramble, but Orlovsky ranks him fifth in “rushing ability.” He still gives Mahomes props as “still the best scrambler in the NFL.” The distinction seems to be that rushing ability is more than just scrambling; it’s become a core part of being a quarterback, and players like Jackson shine brightest there.
When it comes to “second-reaction ability,” Mahomes ties arm strength for his best spot in these rankings, coming in second behind Jackson. This is all about what a quarterback does when a play breaks down. “Jackson and Mahomes are elite on second-reaction plays. They remain passers first when it breaks down, dancing for space in the backfield and looking for open targets, but they can also run to threaten the defense at any moment. Jackson’s QBR outside the pocket was a league-best 92.7 last season, while Mahomes was sixth at 75.8.”
So Mahomes isn’t totally left off Orlovsky’s lists, but there are plenty of football fans who feel like he’s being undervalued. Still, it is worth remembering that lists and rankings are just opinions. What matters most are the championships, and Mahomes has more Lombardi trophies than any other quarterback currently playing.
