No surprise at top of 'Madden NFL 24' QB rankings

While it isn't surprising to see Mahomes top the list, there are some interesting storylines further down the list. 

'Big Three' Cemented

Following Mahomes are two other young stars who are faces of their historically embattled franchises: the Bengals' Joe Burrow (No. 2) and the Bills' Josh Allen (No. 3). 

These ratings (also not particularly surprising) reflect what has become generally accepted as the top tier of quarterbacks in the NFL today. These QBs' ability not to just launch bombs, but improvise and scramble to make plays when necessary makes them must-see television every week. 

Expect them and their teams to be right in the thick of things come playoff time — and for Burrow's and Allen's 2023 campaigns to be judged on securing a Lombardi Trophy. 

Hurts Underrated?

Despite taking the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl and going toe-to-toe with Mahomes and the Chiefs, Jalen Hurts comes in at fifth in this year's rankings. 

Philadelphia finished with a 14-3 regular-season record, and Hurts went 14-1 in the 15 games he played in his second full season as the Eagles starter, completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also contributed as a runner, adding another 760 yards and 13 TDs. Just as encouragingly, he threw three fewer interceptions in 2023 compared to 2022 on 28 more pass attempts. 

If he manages to continue his trend of increasing completion percentage and TDs while cutting back on his already limited turnovers, Hurts will finish the season in the middle of the MVP conversation. 

While Burrow, Allen and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson (fourth) have earned their ratings, don't be surprised if Hurts is rated higher than any of them at the end of the year. 

Dak Bounce-Back?

As always, there will be many eyes on Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. 

Prescott had his most disappointing campaign as the leader of America's Team in 2022. Despite playing just 12 games thanks to a hand injury suffered in Week 1, he finished the campaign tied with the Texans' Davis Mills for the most interceptions in the NFL. 

Prescott discussed those concerns, as well as those of head coach Mike McCarthy taking a greater role in the passing game, when addressing media at his youth camp. 

"They know where the hell to be, why to be and when they're getting looked at," he said per Todd Archer. "We won't have those tipped interceptions this year."

Statistics do support the claim that some of Prescott's picks weren't on him. Per Pro Football Focus and the Dallas Morning News, just seven of his picks came on "turnover-worthy plays." In other words, about half of his interceptions we're just unlucky or simply drops from receivers. 

With the offseason addition of Brandin Cooks, Prescott now has a second Pro Bowl receiver alongside CeeDee Lamb who can create true separation from defensive backs. Cowboys fans will hope wider windows will lead to fewer turnovers and a return to the Super Bowl for the first time since the mid-1990s.