We’re quickly approaching the midway point to the 2025 NFL season and it’s anyone’s guess which teams are going to be there at the end. A wildly unpredictable season has given way to a fascinating awards race with everyone we thought would be in the MVP picture either hurt or underperforming, while unexpected guys are breaking out.
One of those guys is Drake Maye, who has ascended from a great rookie campaign a year ago to legitimately cementing himself in the MVP race. Knowing that MVP is synonymous was “best quaterback” let’s dive into the players who are making a case for themselves in 2025.
Jared Goff — Detroit Lions
It was fair to wonder prior to season if 2025 would be the year that Jared Goff collapsed. Much of his ethos since arriving in Detroit has been based off Ben Johnson that there was a widespread assumption that Goff wouldn’t be anything without the offensive coordinator by his side.
Not only if Goff as effective as he’s been in the past, he might be even better — and has put this entire Lions offense on his back. The Lions’ QB leads the NFL in passer rating (min 100 attempts) with 120.6, and completion percentage (75.9). Not only is he getting the job done, but throwing with some depth to it too, which hasn’t always been his strong suit. This is a quarterback in total command of his game and nobody has been able to stop him.
Projected final stats: 3,938 yards, 40 TD, 6 INT
Sam Darnold — Seattle Seahawks
There was a lot of concern about the Seahawks’ move to sign Darnold to a massive contract and ship off Geno Smith, even amongst Seattle die-hards. Six weeks into the season and this team is laughing, while the rest of us own our mistakes.
Proving his breakout year in Minnesota wasn’t a one-hit wonder, Darnold is playing absolutely phenomenal football and is the reason the Seahawks are one of the best teams in the NFC right now. Completely in the zone, not only is he completing over 70% of his passes with a lot of mistake-free football, but he leads the NFL in aDOT. Darnold isn’t just playing efficiently, he’s throwing deep at the same time, making the tough throws look easy.
The quick rapport Darnold has built with Jaxon Smith-Njigba has put the third year receiver on pace for almost 2,000 receiving yards this year. Most importantly the ‘Hawks have found their guy, and Darnold looks like another perfect reclamation project like Baker Mayfield was.
Projected final stats: 4,366 yards, 31 TD, 9 INT
Drake Maye — New England Patriots
We’re going to be litigating the 2024 NFL Draft for years when it comes to the QBs, and it’s far from a settled argument, but in 2025 this is Drake Maye’s world and we’re living in it.
The MVP case for Maye as opposed to Goff or Darnold is really interesting. He won’t finish with statistical numbers that are as impressive as either, but it’s impossible to talk about Maye’s body of work without appreciating the team around him. Stefon Diggs is a very average receiver at this point in his career, and outside of him there isn’t really a single marquee weapon on offense.
Maye isn’t just having a statistically great season, he’s cemented himself as one of the best young leaders in the NFL. It’s clear this entire Patriots offense is buying into the young quarterback. Maye has total command at the line of scrimmage, he’s the player the team looks to, and he’s responding in a huge way. If Maye is able to get the Patriots into the playoffs then there’s a very real chance he could have a shot at the award.
Projected final stats: 4,312 yards, 28 TD, 6 INT
Baker Mayfield — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This one is a bit of a dark horse pick that really depends on whether or not the Bucs can continue to play like one of the best teams in the NFL. Baker Mayfield has been phenomenal from the second he arrived in Tampa, after seeming like he was on his way out of the league. It’s been a testament to the power of landing in the right spot being so much more important that individual talent.
This is the year Baker and Bucs look like they have the capability to put it all together. Mayfield is making huge plays all over the field and he’s somehow done it without Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, both of whom have missed games. It’s a testament to Mayfield’s leadership and the Bucs’ foresight in drafting Emeka Egbuka, who has stepped in and become an absolute force with Baker.
Mayfield should not be slept on for a second. There’s a strong case that he’s playing better than any QB in the NFL right now and marries the high statistics required to be noticed, with the less-than-stellar supporting cast to make him an intriguing prospect.
Projected final stats: 4,361 yards, 42 TD, 3 INT
