The 2025 NFL Season is two months away, and everyone is starting to get their opinions on which Quarterbacks will star or bust. From seasoned veterans, to second-year budding stars waiting to take the jump, every quarterback in the NFL has expectations for the 2025 season. This article will look at ten quarterbacks, and based on media and team expectations, determine if they are overrated or underrated.
Caleb Williams: Underrated
Caleb Williams did not have the rookie year many pundits expected from the 2024 Number 1 Pick. He struggled immensely at times, was sacked the most in the NFL last year, and had many questionable plays. However, I am still betting that he can live up to his hype. The offensive line has improved drastically over the off-season, with additions such as former chiefs guard Joe Thuney headlining the beefed-up o-line. Furthermore, acquisitions such as Colestand Loveland in the draft, year two with Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore, and an offensive wizard calling his plays in Ben Johnson also are why I’m all-in on Williams this year. Williams showed moments of immense promise, doing things only he and a select few other QBs can do, and I am betting that he can piece it together for seventeen games.
Jayden Daniels: Overrated
Look, Daniels had one of, if not the best, rookie QB seasons of all time. He was elite throughout the season, leading the Commanders to their first NFC championship game appearance since the George H.W. Bush administration. I still believe he will be an excellent player, but I do not think he will take the MVP leap seen out of players like Lamar Jackson from their first to second years. Defensive coordinators have a full year of tape to gameplan around him, increased expectations, and I think he will suffer the same fate as C.J. Stroud did last year—great but not that great. The silver lining in this is that the Commanders front office upgraded the offensive line and receiver corps with the trades for Laremy Tunsil, Deebo Samuel, and drafting Josh Connerly. The Commanders also face a top ten most difficult schedule based on their opponents 2024 win percentage, and the NFC East has only improved, with a healthy Cowboys team, ferocious Giants defense, and the Eagles still on top. Daniels will still be good, but don’t bet on him to become an MVP frontrunner.
CJ Stroud: Underrated
CJ Stroud took a step back from his elite 2023 rookie season. The Texans offense looked sluggish throughout most of the season, but I am betting he bounces back. Bobby Slowik is out, and Laremy Tunsil, whilst good in pass protection scenarios was the most penalized player in the NFL last year. Tunsil would often turn a 2nd and 5 into a 2nd and 10 or 15 because of his habitual false-starts or holds. The Texans also addressed the o-line in in the draft and free agency, with the selection of Aireontae Ersery, additions of Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, Trent Brown and more. Nico Collins will be fully healthy for the season which will give Stroud more options to work with as the Texans WR room was decimated by injuries by the end of last season. I think Stroud will bounce back in a big way in 2025 and be a dark-horse MVP candidate.
Brock Purdy: Overrated
The 49ers had a down year all around in 2024. They went from nearly winning the Super Bowl to finishing last in their division. Much of this can be chalked up to injury, which is true, but there was some regression. Christian McCaffery was hurt for most of the year and recently turned 30, which is typically when RBs decline. The McCaffery injury and offensive line reconstruction are why I am low on Purdy this year. The 49ers thrive when their rushing attack thrives, they live and die by it. Trent Williams is a year older, they lost pieces around the o-line such as Aaron Banks, and traded WR Deebo Samuel (who admittedly was not good in 2024). Purdy does get unjustly trashed by many around the league who decry him as a system QB, and this year is the test to see if that is true. The 49ers cannot rely on CMC carrying them to victory anymore, and the pressure is on Purdy. The 49ers window is rapidly closing with an aging roster and the salary cap closing in on them. For those reasons, I expect Purdy to have a disappointing season.
Michael Penix Jr.: Underrated
The Falcons shocked the NFL world with the selection of Penix Jr. 8th overall in 2024, mere weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $160 million contract. Kirk started out hot, but lost favor by the end of the season to Michael Penix Jr. Penix had his ups and downs in the few games he played in 2024, but this is part of the reason why I believe he will do so well in 2025. For the same reasons why I think Daniels and Stroud succeeded and regress last year, coaches do not have film on Penix. He is the undisputed starter in Atlanta this year, with one of the league’s most underrated offensive lines, and great weapons in Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and possibly Kyle Pitts. Penix has an elite deep ball that he showcased in the limited number of snaps he got last year, and I think that will make London and Penix one of the most lethal duos in the NFL this year. Robinson can handle the lion’s share of the offense this year, and Penix will have room to work with his weapons. Penix also received mentoring from Matt Ryan which will help his confidence, and Penix had an unusual start to his NFL career. Expect big things from Penix this year.
Bo Nix: Overrated
Nix and his Broncos shocked the league in 2024, leading them to a 10-7 record and the first playoff berth since 2015. Nix started horribly but rebounded and looked great down the stretch of the season, but I think he stalls in 2025. The Broncos also did not do too much to help Nix outside of the addition of Evan Engram at TE in free agency. Their draft choices were, interesting, with the selection of RJ Harvey from UCF in the second round. As I have talked about ad-nauseum in this article, many rookies hit the wall in their second year. Coordinators have a full year to pick apart their weaknesses and exploit them, and for Nix that was his deep ball. The Broncos ranked in the bottom half on big play percentage in 2024, and Nix ranked in the bottom of intended air yards in 2024. However, Sean Peyton is still an elite coach and should be trusted, but the Broncos still needed to upgrade their weapons more this offseason, which they didn’t and are instead banking on internal growth, which is never a good thing for young QBs.
Geno Smith: Underrated
Geno Smith has quietly been one of the most solid QBs in the league since his resurrection in 2022. He finished top ten in yards in 2024, and has a fresh start in Sin City. The Seahawks had a poor offensive line in 2024, especially along the interior, but Vegas is an upgrade in that department. Smith was second in the NFL in accuracy when he was kept in a clean pocket last year, and Kolton Miller and Jackson Powers Johnson will do a good job keeping the veteran upright. Brock Bowers also shattered the rookie TE receiving record, Jakobi Meyers quietly finished with over 1000 yards, and this gives Smith an excellent options Combine this with phenom Ashton Jeanty being the focal point of the offense, I think Smith has a year resembling the 2022 season and could lead the Raiders to a surprise playoff berth.
Jarred Goff: Overrated
Goff had an amazing 2024 season. He was top ten in yards, touchdowns, QBR, and EPA per play. He was fantastic. However, I believe that the losses of Kevin Zeitler, Frank Ragnow, Ben Johnson, and another year of high expectations will be too much for Goff. The offensive line is the main reason why I am low on Goff this year. Goff has never fared well against pressure. The Patriots exploited this weakness in Super Bowl LIII, and so did the Commanders in the divisional round, forcing three interceptions. Gibbs and Montgomery is arguably the best rushing attack outside of Philadelphia, but it will inevitably regress without a pro bowl center, and solid guard. I think Goff will still hover around a top ten Quarterback for the season, but without Johnson and a weakened o-line, don’t bet on him repeating his sixth place MVP-finish that was his 2024 season.
Russell Wilson: Underrated
Russell Wilson was one of the most frustrating QBs to watch in 2024. The Steelers held the division lead through December and blew it to the Ravens by January. The Steelers offensive was lethargic. But I think he will find new life in the Big Apple. Wilson will get his hands on one of the NFL’s elite WRs in Malik Nabers, a better rushing attack led by Tyrone Tracy, and a better o-line compared to Pittsburgh with Andrew Thomas returning. The Giants are also projected to have a top defense this year, led by Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and newcomers Abdul Carter and Jevon Holland. All Russell has to do is play mistake-free football, find Nabers, and let the defense win games. Russ does not need to cook for the Giants to improve in 2025.
Bryce Young: Overrated
Young had a start to the 2024 season straight from hell. He looked more like Jamarcus Russell than the Heisman Winner he was at Alabama. He even got benched during the season for Andy Dalton. However, a switch flipped after he was renamed the starter. Young looked more like the number one draft pick he was, and shone throughout the home stretch of the season, with the Packers game standing out in particular. The Panthers also added WR Tetora McMillan with the 8thoverall selection in the draft, and they look to be on the upswing. So why am I not high on Young? I just do not trust him. His completion percentage has been just over 60% throughout his whole career, his deep ball, while improved still needs work, and I still do not think a QB who is 5’10” on a good day can succeed. Every QB who Canales has helped revive their career, Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, has had legit weapons around them. The Panthers still have an unproven receiving room, ok o-lone, and no rushing game, which helps QBs immensely. I hope Young continues his progress, but I just do not believe in the hype.
