The 2020 season is coming up soon, and here are the top five quarterbacks heading into the upcoming season:
5. Tom Brady
Tom Brady is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history. He is a six-time Super Bowl champion, which is the most ever for a single player. He is also a four-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time NFL MVP, he is the all-time leader in Super Bowl passes with 2,576 and he has played in 40 postseason games, the most all-time.
Brady did not perform as elite compared to other seasons in 2019, only totaling 24 touchdown passes, 373 completions and 4,057 passing yards. Brady has played under Bill Belichick for over 20 years and together the duo was able to find tremendous success. Brady was also accompanied by several great players like tight end Rob Gronkowski, wide receiver Julian Edelman, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and running back James White.
Rob Gronkowski will join Brady with the Bucs this season, so it will be interesting to see how the two can create plays and success this season. This will be Brady’s true test to see how he can cope with playing in a different division with a different team and a different coach and still find success.
4. Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is the face of the Cowboys and has been for the past four seasons. After signing a $31.4-million franchise tag last month, Prescott is determined to stay in Dallas for years to come. Prescott had a great 2019 season with 4,902 passing yards, second-most in the NFL, 30 touchdown passes, fourth-most in the NFL and a 70.2 quarterback rating, fourth-most in the NFL.
Prescott has had consistent seasons since being with the Cowboys. He has shown that he can lead a team to a successful playoff run if the players around him can perform. This season, Prescott will be accompanied by first-round draft pick wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back Ezekiel Elliot.
The Cowboys offensive line will be lethal this season, and it all starts with Prescott. Prescott can help lead the Cowboys to a promising playoff run this upcoming season with his dynamic passing abilities and speed that can make it tough for opposing teams to defend.
3.Ryan Tannehill
Ryan Tannehill and the Tennessee Titans were the biggest surprises in the 2019 season. After the Titans started the season 2-4 under Marcus Mariota, head coach Mike Vrabel decided to bench Mariota and start Ryan Tannehill.
Since Tannehill took over, the Titans went 7-3 and landed a spot in the playoffs. The Titans went into the playoffs and knocked off both The New England Patriots and the No. 1 seeded Baltimore Ravens. Before being traded to the Titans, Tannehill played for the Dolphins where he struggled for a portion of his career due to several injury woes.
Tannehill’s first season with the Titans ended with 12 touchdown passes, 2,742 passing yards and 8.5 yards per attempt in 12 regular-season games with the Titans. Tannehill was accompanied by great help in the offensive line, including running back Derrick Henry.
Henry had a stellar year with 1,540 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns and an average of 102.7 yards per game. It will be interesting to see if Tannehill can keep his success story going in Tennessee this season. The Titans are the favorites this season to win the AFC South, and if Tannehill and Henry can find the same success they did last season, the Titans will be a team to look out for in 2020.
2. Lamar Jackson
Coming off an MVP season, Jackson will be one of the top quarterbacks to watch out for this season. Jackson ranked number one in quarterback ratings in the NFL with 81.8 percent, number one in touchdown passes with 36, and number one in rushing yards for a quarterback with 1,206.
Jackson is the only MVP to be voted unanimously, next to Tom Brady according to The Guardian. The Ravens last season were by far one of the most dominating teams in the running game. Last season, the Ravens as a team had 3,296 rushing yards and averaged 33.2 points per game. Jackson showed ridiculous talent with speed and agility that will make it hard for teams to continue to defend him this season. Jackson also has great chemistry with its offense line, especially with tight end Mark Andrews.
Jackson’s 2019 season was record-breaking, so it will be hard to match or even exceed the success he had last season, however with little changes done to the Raven’s in the offseason, Jackson will still be a huge threat to opposing teams in 2020.
1. Patrick Mahomes
After signing a 10-year, $503-million contract extension, Mahomes is the number one quarterback to look out for this season. Mahomes record-breaking contract extension is the biggest ever in sports history according to Bleacher Report. This comes after Mahomes led the Chiefs to its second-ever Super Bowl victory.
Last season, Mahomes ended the season with 4,031 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Mahomes has completely transformed the Chiefs since he started on the team three seasons ago. He has taken over full leadership of the team, bringing them several successes in the past two seasons.
Mahomes has the potential to create a great dynasty in Kansas City, according to teammate Sammy Watkins. “And he’s gonna be the man for the next 10 to 15 years, that’s what we’re debating. We’re going to have a dynasty… If the Kansas City Chiefs can keep all the players together, we’re going to be a dynasty” says Watkins.
If the Chiefs can maintain their players for years to come, the Chiefs can become the new “New England Patriots” of the decade. Mahomes has the skills and the leadership to lead his team to another Super Bowl title and knowing that he is here to stay in Kansas City until 2031, the Chiefs may become a very dangerous team for the next few years.