Five scariest quarterbacks entering 2022 NFL season

Do not let a sub-par 2021 campaign — by his incredibly high standards — overshadow the fear factor created by former regular season and Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes has the capacity to shred defenses with a variety of laser-like tosses from inside and outside of the pocket. The sixth-year pro has dazzled the football world with his ability to throw the ball down the field, but 2022 could give him a chance to showcase a more disciplined and patient approach. With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, Mahomes might play more small ball and pick apart opponents with a barrage of passes thrown at short and intermediate range. If he continues to refine his approach while maintaining the fearlessness and efficiency (66.1% completion rate, 105.8 passer rating, 151:37 TD-INT ratio) that has made him so hard to stop, the Chiefs’ QB1 could go down as the scariest quarterback in NFL history.

Allen is a freak show at the position, possessing super-sized dimensions with A-plus arm talent and athleticism. It’s hard to find 6-foot-5, 237-pound quarterbacks with the capacity to throw the ball over the top of the defense or run through a defense on designed QB runs and impromptu scrambles. Allen has put up MVP-like numbers over the past couple years while emerging as one of the premier offensive weapons in the game. As a modern-day single-wing quarterback with a unique set of skills, opposing coaches must craft game plans that account for a dynamic runner and thrower at the position. With few defenses housing enough athletes, particularly at the second level, with the size, length and strength to get Allen to the ground, the stuff the box or fall back into coverage dilemma created by Allen’s skills make it hard for defensive coordinators to rest easy when prepping for the Bills.

The four-time MVP is no longer the athlete he once was, but that does not make him a lesser threat at the position. Rodgers continues to torment opponents with a beautiful mind and mythical arm that enables him to pick apart defenses with exceptional pre-snap reads and post-snap throws. He routinely throws receivers open against tight coverage with pinpoint tosses while also showing the ability to toss rainbows over the top of the defense when defenders make a mistake in coverage. Rodgers always cashes the lottery ticket when the defense messes up, and his ability to identify the misplaced defender keeps defensive coordinators on edge. Despite the loss of an All-Pro receiver who made life easier for Rodgers in the pocket, the remarkable skills and efficiency of the veteran passer will enable the Packers’ offense to continue to thrive with No. 12 in the huddle.

The so-called slump from the former NFL MVP in 2021 has led some observers to have amnesia when recalling Jackson’s impact as a playmaker on the perimeter. After tallying a pair of 1,000-yard seasons as a rusher, defensive coordinators are well aware of his ability to take over the game on the ground. No. 8 is an explosive runner with superb ball-handling skills as an option quarterback executing a variety of power-read and counter-read plays. He has shown the ability to take it the distance as a runner from anywhere on the field and that forces opponents to pay extra attention to him in the box. With the fifth-year pro displaying enough proficiency as a passer down the middle of the field to punish opponents for overplaying the run, defensive coordinators have to pick and choose when to ratchet up the pressure against a quarterback who possesses the athleticism and arm talent to counter aggressive tactics.

It’s easy to see why Brandon Staley has so much confidence in his quarterback. Herbert has compiled gaudy numbers in his first two NFL seasons while displaying the IQ, athleticism, arm talent and swagger to develop into an all-timer at the position. Measuring 6-foot-6, 236 pounds with the ability to throw the ball out of the stadium or hit a bullseye on the dartboard, the third-year pro is the prototype at the position as a passer. Herbert can throw with touch, timing and anticipation or fire the ball through tight windows between the hashes. As a former three-sport star in high school with light feet, the big-bodied QB can make plays outside of the pocket, too. That underrated dimension to Herbert’s game makes him a weapon on the perimeter on zone reads and designed quarterback runs. Although the Chargers want to limit his exposure to big hits, the franchise quarterback possesses an array of skills that challenge the minds of defensive coordinators and the athleticism of defenders.