The quarterback is the key position in Madden NFL 24 and the NFL. With all due respect to the other spots on the roster, some of which require just as much talent, the bulk of the team's success depends on quarterback success.
Trying to win with an average quarterback (or worse) is a tall order. When picking up Madden NFL 24, there will be a few teams that veterans tend to gravitate toward. If these quarterbacks are on the squad, that's no coincidence, they're the bigger game-changers in all of football.
10 Tua Tagovailoa - 83 OVR
In a make-or-break year, Tua Tagovailoa "made." With the first few years surrounded by a cast of largely underwhelming players, Miami decided to invest in some support for their quarterback and he rewarded them with the best play of his career, leading the entire NFL in passer rating.
Tagovailoa still missed some time due to concussions. If he can avoid getting banged around and his running backs can play like the best, Miami's offense could easily be the top-ranked in the season. It would be good to see Tagovailoa make his first Pro Bowl soon.
9 Kirk Cousins - 84 OVR
Always in Pro Bowl contention, Minnesota can depend on having good offensive seasons so long as Kirk Cousins plays like he has before. The Vikings are hoping the quarterback can show them a little something new to make for deeper playoff runs.
Still, what they have in Cousins is remarkable. The tight ends and receivers almost always seem to post huge statistical numbers when he's on the field and that's no accident. If Cousins can do what he does in the regular season during the playoffs, he could wind up with a title under his belt.
8 Aaron Rodgers - 86 OVR
With a staggering 4 MVP awards and 10 Pro Bowl selections, Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. The Jets have shifted from rebuilding into a win-now mentality, so they picked up Rodgers to make this dream come true.
Despite a rocky year last season, Green Bay showed sparks and that could easily continue in New York. The easy comparison is to Brett Favre but the Jets' faithful will be hoping for a much more productive outcome. There are many talented pieces in place and Rodgers has proven he knows how to use these pieces in the past.
7 Justin Herbert - 87 OVR
The Chargers do have some of the best wide receivers in the NFL but when the whole team is injured, it's hard to expect more out of Justin Herbert. With a fractured rib, he didn't miss a game and took Los Angeles to an unlikely playoff entrance.
Two years ago, Herbert had one of the best, if not the best, rookie seasons of any quarterback ever. He's only continued to get better. With some luck and a healthy team, Herbert could easily lead the squad to a deep playoff run next year.
6 Dak Prescott - 87 OVR
Dallas has been blessed by some of the best offensive linemen for the last several decades, leading to huge stats for both their quarterbacks and running backs. However, the last few seasons have not been kind to Prescott, who followed up a league-leading fumble number with a league-leading interceptions number, the latter of which only took 12 games for him to reach.
But everybody knows Prescott will improve on these things as he has done throughout his career that includes two Pro Bowls. The coaching and personnel changes should be more settled going into this year, which means Prescott's OVR has a high likelihood of getting better.
5 Jalen Hurts - 88 OVR
2022 was the breakthrough season for Jalen Hurts and there are no longer any doubts about if Hurts can perform at this level in the NFL. After a narrow Super Bowl defeat, the Eagles will be looking to Hurts again in 2023 to carry the team just a little bit further.
The scary thought about this is that his current OVR may be more of a floor than a ceiling. Hurts has made dramatic progress, earning his first Pro Bowl nod last season. When Madden NFL 24 was revealed, Philadelphia fans knew they were going to have fun using Hurts to run and throw all over defenses.
4 Lamar Jackson - 91 OVR
In his 2019 MVP season, Lamar Jackson set an NFL record in rushing yards for a quarterback. As with most quarterbacks of this type, Jackson has spent time on the injury list, playing only 12 games in each of the last two seasons.
Despite this, when he's on the field, Jackson is a force to be reckoned with, at times willing his team to victory against all odds. Like Jackson, Baltimore had had injury trouble. If the Ravens get one good year, prepare to see a deep playoff run for this team.
3 Josh Allen - 94 OVR
Of the many likely cover stars for the game, it was Josh Allen who eventually won the competition. For the bulk of last season, Josh Allen was referred to as QB1. Had the Bills realized their lofty expectations and won the Super Bowl, it could have been Allen topping the charts.
The two-time Pro Bowler will be looking to get Buffalo to a title this next season. With him at the helm, this team will certainly be in contention. If the rest of the squad stays healthy, it's easy to see why the gamblers love picking this organization to get their first championship.
2 Joe Burrow - 95 OVR
The Bengals' offensive line was atrocious two years ago when the Bengals made the Super Bowl. With a new squad this year, they took longer than expected to come together. Like if Madden skips a year, Cincinnati might have been better off skipping a year.
But Joe Burrow, for each of those years, was clearly one of the league's best quarterbacks. With some stability and time up front, he could easily find himself winning multiple championships in short order if he continues to progress as quickly as he has.
1 Patrick Mahomes - 99 OVR
No absolutely no one's surprise, after winning a second Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes lands at a 99 OVR. With two MVP awards, two Super Bowl MVPs, and five Pro Bowl appearances in a young career, he's the consensus best quarterback in the league.
When it comes to top-rated player predictions, anything less than a 99 OVR for Mahomes would be an insult. Gamers that use the Chiefs will know they're using the best quarterback in the game. The rest of the squad is impressive but Kansas City knows who is running the show.
Madden NFL 24 will be released on August 18th, 2023 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.