10 NFL Quarterbacks Who Aren’t Nearly as Bad as People Claim

NFL discourse is truly wild. One week, a quarterback is the savior of a franchise. The next, he’s “mid” at best and “washed” at worst.

Fans love to overreact, so let’s take a deep breath and appreciate these 10 quarterbacks who don’t deserve nearly as much hate as they get.

10. Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield haters, let’s talk. This guy took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—post-Tom Brady, mind you—to the playoffs. He played through injuries, dealt with chaotic coaching situations, and still managed to make something out of nothing. Is he elite? No. But is he an absolute disaster like some claim? Also no.

9. Justin Fields

Look, we get it. The passing numbers weren’t exactly Hall of Fame-worthy. But Justin Fields had to run for his life behind an offensive line that provided about as much protection as a broken umbrella. The guy can absolutely torch defenses with his legs, and with actual weapons and coaching consistency, he still has a chance to prove his doubters wrong. Let’s see how he’ll do in New York.

8. Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold is the NFL’s biggest “what if?” What if he had started his career somewhere other than Adam Gase’s personal disaster factory? What if he didn’t bounce between teams faster than a journeyman kicker? When Darnold finally got a solid chance in Minnesota last year he proved he’s got the stuff to win. Now the pressure is on to see if he can continue that success in Seattle.

7. Geno Smith

Remember when people thought Geno Smith was done? Fast forward to the Seattle era, and now he’s an actual Pro Bowler and Comeback Player of the Year. Sure, he may not be lighting up the scoreboard like prime Mahomes, but he’s more than capable of keeping his team competitive.

6. Brock Purdy

Somehow, people think leading a team to the NFC Championship and playing in a Super Bowl isn’t enough to prove you’re good at football. “He’s just a system quarterback,” they say. Cool. So was Tom Brady. So was Joe Montana. The system is part of the game, folks. Purdy may not be a human highlight reel, but he’s an efficient, smart quarterback who makes the throws he needs to. Stop overthinking it.

5. Dak Prescott

Ah, Dak Prescott—the quarterback that Cowboys fans love to hate more than opposing defenses. Every time he throws an interception, Twitter melts down. Meanwhile, he’s consistently putting up top-10 numbers and winning double-digit games. No, he hasn’t dragged Dallas to the Super Bowl, but neither has anyone else in the last three decades. Put some respect on his name.

4. Matthew Stafford

People were ready to write Stafford off before he even turned 36, which, in quarterback years, is basically your early 30s. The guy won a Super Bowl and still gets slandered like he’s some washed-up has-been. When healthy, Stafford slings it with the best of them. He played a full decade in Detroit before escaping to Los Angeles—give the man some credit for his resilience alone.

3. Bryce Young

Can we all agree to let Bryce Young breathe for, like, five seconds? He just got dropped into one of the worst offensive situations imaginable, with zero O-line help, a questionable receiving corps, and a revolving door of play-callers. Give the kid some time before we start labeling him a bust.

2. Jared Goff

At what point do we stop pretending Jared Goff is bad? The man has revived the Detroit Lions. DETROIT. LIONS. He’s playing some of the best football of his career, leading one of the most exciting offenses in the league, and somehow people still act like he’s just a stopgap. Nope. He’s legit, and it’s time we acknowledge it.

1. Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa slander is a full-time job for some NFL fans. “He’s too fragile,” “He can’t throw deep,” “He’s only good because of Tyreek and Waddle.” Blah, blah, blah. When Tua is on the field, Miami’s offense looks good. He led the league in passer rating and has consistently put up elite efficiency numbers.