Pro Football Focus is regarded as the most valued public analytical database of NFL teams and players that records grades, advanced statistics, and player rankings. PFF’s Steve Palazzolo released his rankings of the 32 starting quarterbacks heading into this season, and boy does PFF still love Baker Mayfield!
Palazzo’s rankings divided into four tiers, in addition to his numerical rankings, with only three quarterbacks being rewarded in the tier of “High-end quarterbacks who can carry a team.”
Those three are six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes, and NFL record holder in passing yards and completions, Drew Brees.
Mayfield checked in as the No. 10 overall in Palazzolo’s rankings, accompanying a group that includes two MVP players (Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan), the 2008 passing touchdowns and passer rating leader (Phillip Rivers), two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL passing yards leader (Ben Roethlisberger), 2014 passing touchdowns leader (Andrew Luck), and the highest-paid player in NFL history (Russel Wilson).
Palazzolo describes the second tier of quarterbacks as, “Quarterbacks who can move the chains and take care of the ball. More likely to elevate teammates and achieve top-end production, even with lesser supporting casts.”
He notes that Mayfield’s No. 2 ranking in big-time throw percentage and his sixth overall slot in their accuracy chart as the supporting factors in ranking Mayfield so high.
Among the quarterbacks ranked behind Mayfield are Carson Wentz, Deshaun Watson, and Cam Newton.
As Mayfield prepares for his sophomore season in the NFL, Palazzolo said, “[the] influx of playmakers has [Mayfield] poised to break with an MVP-caliber season in 2019.”
As a brief reminder, Hue Jackson didn’t give Mayfield any first-team reps until going into week four of the 2018 regular season.
