Matthew Stafford’s name sits at the top of Bleacher Report’s NFL 1000 quarterback rankings, and that means two of the league’s biggest stars are left trailing him.
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback was rated No. 1 ahead of Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, a placement that is sure to stir plenty of conversation. Stafford is heading into his 18th NFL season while managing a lingering back injury, but neither issue kept him from landing the highest spot in the ranking.
Bleacher Report’s scouting staff graded every non-rookie quarterback across six categories. Accuracy carried 25 points, processing 20, and arm talent, decision-making and pocket presence were each worth 15. Leadership made up the final 10.
Stafford finished with a 93, the best mark among the 55 quarterbacks evaluated. He earned a perfect 20 for processing, along with 23 for accuracy, 14 for arm talent, 13 for decision-making, 10 for leadership and 13 for pocket presence.
That grade was driven in large part by Stafford’s 2025 season, when he threw for more than 4,700 yards and 46 touchdowns against only eight interceptions and won NFL MVP.
The evaluation also pointed to the details that make him so hard to defend: his control at the line, his ability to read coverage, and his willingness to attack every part of the field.
There is still a clear caution flag here. Stafford is 38, he’s dealing with that back issue, and his mobility doesn’t compare with more dynamic quarterbacks like Allen and Lamar Jackson.
Even so, the numbers and the production gave Stafford the edge. Allen came in second at 92, while Herbert and Mahomes were both at 91, with Herbert taking the tiebreaker for third. Joe Burrow rounded out the top five.
Stafford might not be the quarterback most teams would choose for the long haul, but for one season and one championship push, Bleacher Report’s scouts put him at the front of the line. If his back holds up, he’ll get a chance to show that ranking wasn’t a shock at all.
In Other News...
Rams Camp Injuries Are Raising A Bigger Early Concern
The early days of Rams camp have been less about pushing through and more about backing off when needed, with the coaching staff taking a measured approach to keep players fresh for September. Tight end Davis Allen has been working back from a soft-tissue injury, linebacker Ernest Jones has been sidelined with soreness, offensive lineman Justin Dedich remains on the NFI list because of a hand injury, and edge rusher Byron Young is also being monitored as he manages a knee issue.
For a team trying to build momentum without overtaxing anyone, the emphasis on health is understandable, but it does leave a few important spots in a holding pattern. Allens absence in particular has thinned out a position group that benefits from every rep in camp, and the Rams are clearly trying to balance development with caution as they sort through a cluster of minor setbacks before the real work begins. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rams Cornerback Suddenly Walks Away From The NFL
A familiar name from the Rams recent past is out of the league for good, at least for now. The Washington Commanders announced that cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is retiring from the NFL and has been placed on the reserve/retired list, ending a nine-year run that included stops with the 49ers, Steelers and Rams before he landed in Washington on a one-year deal.
For the Rams, it adds another reminder of how quickly the defensive backfield can turn over from one season to the next. Washington moved to fill the vacancy by signing veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau to its offseason roster, a straightforward roster fix that keeps Witherspoons departure from leaving a larger hole behind. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Donald Return Talk Just Changed The Stakes For Rams Camp
Aaron Donalds future has hovered over Rams camp for months, and Les Sneads latest update gave the situation a little more shape without clearing anything up. Donald retired after the 2023 season, but the Rams still sound willing to leave the door open, especially with a player whose standard is so high that any comeback would have to feel worth it on the field, not just sentimental on the sideline.
Snead said Donald is pushing his training harder as he gauges whether he can still perform at the level that made him one of the franchises defining players. The timing matters, too, because the Rams have already reshaped the roster this offseason with major additions, including Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie. If Donald is seriously weighing a return, it would add another layer to a camp that already feels very different from the one the Rams expected when the offseason began. [Read more 🡒]