Quarterback Power Rankings Week 1: Where does Tua Tagovailoa rank?
By Jeremy Klump
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 12: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks toward the scoreboard during the game against the New Orleans Saints at TIAA Bank Field on September 12, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
32. Aaron Rodgers
Okay, let’s see who read the first slide. I am sure some angry football fans are calling me an idiot as they read this, but these quarterback power rankings are only for the 2021 NFL regular season. And Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the 2020 NFL MVP, was TERRIBLE on Sunday. He goes from first to worst to start the year.
31. Andy Dalton
Moral victories for Chicago Bears fans, and shoutout to my dudes Zach Aull and Big Cat. The Bears may be starting Andy Dalton instead of Justin Fields, but at least Dalton is ranked higher than Rodgers…this week!
30. Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill was sacked a bunch, but it was hard to watch him play the quarterback position on Sunday. The sacks played a role in his poor play, so hopefully, left tackle Taylor Lewan can get it figured out for Week 2.
29. Matt Ryan
If you only watched Matt Ryan on the first drive of the game, you would be confused about why he is ranked this low. Well, the rest of the game is was really bad. He needs to throw better passes to my dude Kyle Pitts!
28. Trevor Lawrence
There were ups and downs, but three interceptions are the reason he is ranked this low. He is a rookie and will learn, though, so I do not expect him to be a bottom feeder all season, well, unless Urban Meyer leaves for USC!
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Zach Wilson #2 of the New York Jets warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
27. Zach Wilson
Shoutout to Joey; you all know who I mean. Wilson was pressured a ton in this game, but he had some flashes. Jets fans should be happy with his performance, but there is a lot to clean up if he cracks into the top 16.
26. Taylor Heinicke
Ryan Fitzpatrick technically started, but he hurt his hip and was out. Washington could be in worse hands, but they could also be in better hands. Taylor Heinicke will not win you games, but he will lose them…
25. Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson is fun to watch run around the field and make plays with his legs. However, it is 2021, and he still makes my stomach hurt watching him throw the football, which was a big part of why his team lost. And his two fourth-quarter fumbles. But his legs will never likely let him drop lower than this.
24. Daniel Jones
The New York Giants were hoping they would see a much improved Daniel Jones, but instead, they just got the same old Jones. Fans want him to take the next step and become elite, but I just don’t see it.
23. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben won a big game against the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo, but he had 188 yards and one touchdown. I am sure he will improve as the year goes on.
22. Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy G is still San Francisco’s starter; even though 2021 No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance threw a touchdown, Garoppolo did solid.
21. Josh Allen
My preseason 2021 NFL MVP candidate got off to a rough start against a solid Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Allen did not look like an NFL MVP on Sunday.
20. Mac Jones
This was tough for me because I thought Mac Jones played a great football game on Sunday. He made the right reads and throws, but the training wheels were still on, which is why it was too hard for me to rank him higher than the next guy…
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 12: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
19. Tua Tagovailoa
Here he is! I am sure all season some Dolphins fans will be mad I do not have him in the top 10 every single week, but I am going to do these rankings as I see them, and I saw Tagovailoa as a top 20 quarterback in Week 1. His terrible INT was hard to watch, but he had a lot of good to build off of after a big win against a good Bill Belichick defense.
18. Carson Wentz
Another player everyone knows I am high on, so it is hard to have him ranked lower than I wanted him to play. I thought Wentz played solid football, but he just never did enough when the Colts needed him to. He needs to show he can get back to the MVP form, or the Colts may have traded a first-round pick for an average NFL quarterback.
17. Sam Darnold
I am sure some Dolphins fans will hate this, but I thought Darnold played well, and it made me happy to see him do well now that he is not on the Jets. Oh, and he beat the Jets, which makes it that much better.