Power ranking the NFL's first- and second-year starting QBs

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated over the summer that the NFL was in a golden era for quarterbacks.

Mahomes may have a point. Of the top 10 rated passers last season, seven were 27 or younger with five of them having three years or fewer of starting experience. The NFL is certainly enjoying a QB renaissance, led by a younger generation of up-and-comers. 

With that in mind, here’s a look at how each of the first- and second-year starting QBs stack up:

1. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers

With running back Najee Harris, receivers Dionte Johnson, George Pickens and Allen Robinson, plus tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington, the Steelers have put Pickett in position to thrive in 2023.

After an underwhelming first couple of starts, Pickett won six of his eight last starts, which included three fourth-quarter comebacks and four game-winning drives. The 25-year-old looked locked in during the preseason, and he presumably has no excuse not to have a Pro Bowl-caliber year.

2. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Of the eight players on this list, an argument can be made that Purdy has the best collection of talent around him that includes a supporting cast of running backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, tight end George Kittle plus one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL in Trent Williams.

The problem with putting Purdy in the top spot is he played only in seven games. They were a really good seven games (1,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions), but who’s to say the 23-year-old doesn’t have a Sam Bradford-like drop-off in his production in his second season?

3. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

If Packers fans are expecting Aaron Rodgers-level success in Love’s first year as a starter, they will likely be disappointed. However, that doesn’t mean that Love isn’t capable of having a good year, especially with the new weapons the Packers got him in rookie tight end Luke Musgrave and rookie receiver Jayden Reed.

Love looked solid coming off the bench last year against the Eagles, completing six of nine passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, and after three years sitting behind Rodgers, he may be more along in his development than many will give him credit for.

4. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Although it was just the preseason against mostly second- and third-string defenses, Young, who completed 14 of 24 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, looked poised and in control of Carolina’s offense.

The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has the benefit of having running back Miles Sanders in the backfield, who rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, plus a reliable tight end in Hayden Hurst and a solid receiving core with veteran Adam Thielen plus young wideouts like Laviska Shenault, Jonathan Mingo, D.J. Chark and Terrace Marshall Jr.

5. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

While the Texans have perhaps the worst collection of pass-catchers on this list, John Metchie and Tank Dell have the potential to turn into really good players with a capable quarterback like Stroud.

Houston invested heavily in its offensive line (to the tune of $118 million guaranteed), so Stroud should be the best-protected passer on this list in 2023. If the Ohio State alum can stay upright, his dual-threat ability should keep opposing defenses on their toes, and he has the arm strength to rifle passes deep downfield for Metchie, Dell, Nico Collins or Xavier Hutchinson, all of whom could turn into reliable deep threats.

6. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

Had the Colts not went off the deep end and sabotaged their relationship with star running back Jonathan Taylor, Richardson would likely be higher on this list. 

The Florida alum will be under even more pressure to create something out of nothing while running for his life as defenses pin their ears back and come at him full force without the threat of a credible run game.

 7. Sam Howell, Washington Commanders

Howell had only one start to prove what he could do as a rookie, and he delivered an efficient performance, completing 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 26-6 win over Dallas in the season finale.

While he didn’t exactly blow the doors off, Howell did enough to convince head coach Ron Rivera to hand him the starting job for the 2023 season — a decision the 22-year-old proved just may be the right call after a standout performance in the preseason in which he completed 75.6 percent of his passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns.

8. Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

Ridder was solid in his four starts at the end of last season, posting a 2-2 record while passing for 708 yards and two touchdowns, but he didn’t exactly face the most fierce competition either as his starts came against the Saints, Ravens, Cardinals and Bucs.

The 24-year-old has the weapons to succeed — Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Drake London, Mack Hollins, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith — but I’m still not convinced he’s NFL starting quarterback material. The Falcons reportedly tried to trade for both Ryan Tannehill and Kyler Murray during the 2023 draft, so perhaps they aren’t sold on Ridder either.