NFL Quarterback Rankings Stir Debate: Mahomes vs. Allen

July often serves as a lull between the NFL draft and training camp, a time filled with recycled football discussions. Recently, this has involved the ongoing debate over whether Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs or Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is the top quarterback in the league.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN contributed to this debate with his annual rankings. These rankings are based on a survey of NFL insiders, including coaches, executives, and scouts. This year, Josh Allen claimed the top spot, while Patrick Mahomes followed at number two, switching their positions from last year.

Mahomes is known for using criticism, whether real or perceived, as a powerful motivator. Despite this, the accomplished player—who boasts two NFL MVP awards, three Super Bowl titles, and three Super Bowl MVPs—publicly accepted his second-place ranking.

I mean, you understand it, coming off injury, Mahomes stated on Yahoo! Sports Daily on July 15. We didn’t play as well as we wanted to the last few years. You’re gonna drop in the rankings of some sort, but at the same time, there’s a lot of good quarterbacks on that list. I’m just happy to be a part of it. You have to go out and prove it every single year, so it’s my job this year to prove why I can jump up in the list back to No. 1.

Last December, Mahomes experienced a significant setback, tearing his ACL and LCL, which required season-ending surgery. This injury hit the Chiefs hard as they ended their season with a 6-11 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Their decline started with a game against Buffalo in Week 9, where the Chiefs, at 5-3, faced the 5-2 Bills. Allen’s team dominated, resulting in a 28-21 victory, marking the beginning of the Chiefs’ unfortunate 1-8 streak.

Despite Mahomes’ challenges, including an uncharacteristic season performance from the Chiefs, their rivalry with the Bills remains intense. While Allen holds a 5-1 regular-season record against Mahomes, Mahomes is undefeated 4-0 against Allen in the playoffs.

Mahomes expressed confidence in his recovery, stating his aim to start against the Denver Broncos in Week 1. This timeline suggests he will be ready for the much-anticipated matchup in Buffalo on Thanksgiving.