Right? RIGHT?!
The idea has been a familiar refrain through the career of these quarterbacks. Four of the five selected in the first round are actively pursuing this accolade. With training camps for the upcoming season open, all four are once again in position to be in the conversation surrounding the Big Game.
The playoffs in 2024-25 welcomed all four quarterbacks to the mix, with the odds seemingly in favor that at least one of Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, or Sam Darnold making to the Super Bowl.
Instead, fans were treated to a matchup between Kansas City and Philadelphia. Mayfield (with Tampa Bay) and Darnold (with Minnesota) each bowed out in the Wild Card round. Jackson's Baltimore Ravens fell to Allen's Bills in the Divisional Round, with Buffalo falling to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
The eighth season for this group of quarterbacks arrives with the same expectations of securing the elusive title. Looming is the usual gauntlet of a 17-game season and the pitfalls that come along with it. But when all is said and done, one among the group should finally have the ring desired.
Josh Allen
Last season, Allen and the Bills again came up just short in their pursuit of reaching the franchise's first Super Bowl since January 1994.
In falling 32-29 to Kansas City, Allen dropped to 0-4 against the team in the playoffs. Allen and the Bills can't seem to overcome KC in the playoffs. Opposed to the regular season, where Allen is 4-1, with four straight wins.
2024-25 saw Allen pick up his first NFL MVP award, narrowly defeating Jackson. Allen led Buffalo to a 13-4 record, passing for 3,731 yards, the first time since 2019 which Allen threw for under 4,000. He completed 63.6 percent and passed for 28 touchdowns against only six interceptions (the lowest of his career).
Allen also ran for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In the playoffs, Buffalo picked up two wins, including a 27-25 victory over the Ravens. Allen improved his record in the playoffs to 7-6. He completed 70.7% of his passes, throwing for 636 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Allen could very well reach 30,000 passing yards for his career this season. Currently, Allen is 76-34 with 26,434 yards, 195 touchdowns, and 84 interceptions.
A talented running back in James Cook helped ease the load on Allen last season. Cook returns, and Allen has talented receivers in Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Joshua Palmer. If Elijah Moore can return to promise, plus excellent tight end play, Buffalo will once again have a high-octane offense to support Allen in '25-26.
Allen and Buffalo have a strong chance to start the season 4-0 with their opening schedule. At the very least, I see them starting off 3-1.
First four weeks: vs BAL (9/7), @ NYJ (9/14), vs MIA (9/18), vs NO (9/28)
Lamar Jackson
Jackson was "oh-so-close" to picking up his third MVP award last season. And he definitely had the numbers and performance to back it up.
Baltimore was 12-5 under his guidance and Jackson put up career-best numbers in completion percentage (66.7), passing yards (4,172), touchdown passes (41), and interceptions (4).
The addition of running back Derrick Henry opened things up in the passing game but did not slow down Jackson's effort in the ground game. Jackson ran for 915 yards and four touchdowns.
Henry returns this season and with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and DeAndre Hopkins, Jackson has a trio of receivers to keep the Baltimore offense flowing this season.
Jackson had decent numbers in the playoffs, leading the Ravens to a 28-14 victory over Pittsburgh before bowing out to the Bills. He completed 73.9% for 429 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.
The win and loss dropped Jackson's playoff record to 3-5.
Jackson crossed 20,000 passing yards for his career last season and has 166 touchdowns and 49 interceptions. Overall, the last pick of the first round in 2018 is 70-24 in the regular season.
Baltimore has a tough schedule early on and, though unexpected, it wouldn't surprise me if the Ravens were either 4-0 or 1-3 out of the gates.
First four weeks: @ BUF (9/7), vs CLE (9/14), vs DET (9/22), @ KC (9/28)
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield has found a home in Tampa Bay, where he hopes to lead the Buccaneers to the playoffs yet again in '25-26.
The end result last season was a one-and-done playoff appearance, losing on a last-second field goal to the Washington Commanders. Mayfield had a mixed bag of results in the loss. He was 15 of 18 for 185 yards and two touchdown passes. But he had a fumble and Tampa Bay failed to convert on short yardage situations late in the loss.
Still, Mayfield led Tampa Bay to a 10-7 record and had career-bests in multiple categories. Mayfield completed 71.4% and passed for 4,500 yards. He also had 41 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions.
Mayfield also got his legs going, rushing for 378 yards.
The renaissance of Mayfield in Tampa Bay has seen the top-pick improve to 50-53 as a starting quarterback. Mayfield has 24,832 passing yards, 171 touchdown passes, and 90 interceptions for his career.
Tampa Bay should again be competitive in the NFC South. Mayfield as a solid duo in the backfield, plus the terrific tandem of receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Toss in Jalen McMillan and first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, plus tight end Cade Otton, and the Bucs have a solid offense to work with.
The Buccaneers face a difficult schedule to open but if they open 2-2, that should be a record to build positively from.
First four weeks: @ ATL (9/7), @ HOU (9/15), vs NYJ (9/21), vs PHI (9/28)
Sam Darnold
Entering his eighth season, Darnold will be playing with his fifth team. A season after leading the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record, Darnold moved out west and is playing with the Seattle Seahawks.
Darnold was never part of the long-term plan in Minnesota, so Seattle was a good place to land. However, the veteran could see himself in a battle for the starting spot and ultimately may find himself again in a backup situation.
Last season, however, Darnold had a career-best effort. He had Minnesota rolling most of the season, passing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, completing 66.2% of his pass attempts.
A stumble at the end of the season ultimately had people saying, "there's the Darnold we knew". Specifically, it was Darnold's performance in the season finale loss to Detroit (18-41, 166 yards) and loss in his first career playoff game that left a sour taste in the mouth of fans.
Against the Los Angeles Rams, Darnold was 25-40 for 245 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 27-9 loss. Though his struggles were evident, they should not negate what was a solid season.
Darnold is 35-38 as a starter in his career, with 16,383 yards, 98 touchdown passes, and 68 interceptions.
Even if Darnold takes the reins, the Seahawk receiving corps will look much different than in previous seasons. Jaxon Smith-Njigba returns but gone are DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Cooper Kupp steps in to help out but even then, the offensive line is a downside to this team.
The opening weeks are terribly tough, and Seattle could be 3-1 or 2-2 heading into the next quarter of games if things go right.
First four weeks: vs SF (9/7), @ PIT (9/14), vs NO (9/21), @ ARI (9/25)
Josh Rosen was also selected in the first round of the 2018 draft. The 10th overall pick is entering his third season without playing and is currently enrolled in business school at Wharton.
This continuing series following the careers of these five quarterbacks is now in season eight. Be sure to check back in after week four for updates.
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