Ranking the NFL's 7 Best Rookie Quarterback Seasons Since 2015

When an NFL team leans on a rookie quarterback, the hope of a brighter future accompanies that debut.

In most situations, immediate success is not expected. After all, a franchise in stable condition likely isn't looking for a new QB.

But a first-year player can become that spark.

Since 2015, nearly every season has included a standout rookie signal-caller. After the 2023 campaign featured CJ Stroud's breakout, 2024 already has several candidates with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix locked into starting jobs—and Drake Maye still in play.

The list is subjective but considers a player's individual production and impact on team success.

Good thing the Baltimore Ravens didn't believe Lamar Jackson should be a running back or wide receiver, huh?

As a rookie, he initially sat behind Joe Flacco. But as the Ravens entered their bye week at 4-5, coach John Harbaugh made the uncomfortable decision to bench the long-time starter in favor of the rookie.

Uncomfortable, but smart.

Jackson ignited an offense that had mustered 3.6 yards per carry and 92.7 rushing yards per game. In his seven starts, the Ravens improved those numbers to 5.1 and 229.6, respectively, while notching a 6-1 record and climbing the standings to secure an AFC North title.

Yes, the offense struggled in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. But without Jackson's impact, it's hard to imagine Baltimore would have reached the postseason anyway.

Injuries are the worst.

Also, setbacks for Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo led to the emergence of Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.

The final pick of that offseason's draft, "Mr. Irrelevant" replaced an injured Garoppolo early in Week 13. Purdy guided the Niners to six straight wins, tossing multiple touchdowns in each of those contests. He closed the season with 1,374 yards and 13 scores to four interceptions.

And he wasn't finished.

Purdy totaled four touchdowns in a Wild Card Round victory over the Seattle Seahawks, and the NFC West-champion 49ers toppled the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round.

Unfortunately for the Niners, an elbow injury removed Purdy in the NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It wasn't a storybook ending, but Purdy established himself as the team's QB of the future.

Strictly looking at the team's record, you probably would not classify Baker Mayfield's debut as a terrific year. He went 6-7 in 13 starts as the Cleveland Browns managed a 7-8-1 mark.

Consider, however, that the 2017 Browns finished 0-16.

Mayfield played the most important role in Cleveland rising from the NFL's worst offense to a league-average unit. Again, that may not sound amazing, but it was a huge accomplishment.

Along the way, Mayfield set a rookie record with 27 touchdown passes while throwing for 3,725 yards. He ended second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Giants running back Saquon Barkley, and the franchise snapped a seven-year streak of last-place finishes in the AFC North.

Reality had a cruel twist of fate in store for Mac Jones, but he enjoyed a promising debut with the New England Patriots.

Jones collected 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, helping the Pats make the playoffs at 10-7. He finished second to Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase in AP Offensive ROY voting and landed a Pro Bowl invite.

Although the Buffalo Bills smacked New England in the postseason, it was a successful year for Jones and the Patriots.

After the season, offensive coordinator Josh Daniels left to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. New England deciding not to hire a legitimate play-caller—instead going with long-time defensive coach Matt Patricia—certainly didn't help Jones' career trajectory.

Similar to Mayfield, the challenge with Justin Herbert is weighing his production against the team's results.

Los Angeles posted a 7-9 record and missed the playoffs. However, the Chargers saw Herbert's arm talent regularly shine on downfield throws, and he quieted predraft concerns about his accuracy.

Herbert set rookie records for completions (396) and touchdowns (31), nearly setting the yardage (4,336) mark, too.

Named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Herbert set the stage for an impressive 5,000-yard campaign in the 2021 season.

Who saw that coming?

In 2022, the Houston Texans trudged to a 3-13-1 record. They hired DeMeco Ryans—a well-regarded defensive mind—but needed to improve an offense that had mustered only 17.0 points per game.

Houston landed on CJ Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and the decision paid off immediately.

Stroud threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns to five interceptions, adding three scores on the ground. He rapidly elevated the Texans, who defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the regular-season finale to claim the AFC South crown with a 10-7 record.

Houston steamrolled Cleveland behind a three-touchdown showing from Stroud in the Wild Card Round before Baltimore eliminated the Texans.

Not only did he secure a near-unanimous AP Offensive ROY honor, but Stroud even garnered a few votes in the MVP race.

Yes, he inherited a favorable situation from an injured Tony Romo. But if Dak Prescott hadn't played so well, the Dallas Cowboys would've promptly turned back to their veteran QB.

Instead, it became Prescott's show.

Dallas lost the opener but rattled off 13 consecutive victories behind the rookie duo of Dak and running back Ezekiel Elliott. Prescott tallied 3,667 passing yards and 23 touchdowns to four interceptions, chipping in 282 yards and six more scores as a runner.

Though the Green Bay Packers knocked the Cowboys out of the playoffs in the Divisional Round, Prescott cemented himself as QB1 and ended Romo's tenure in Dallas.

In addition to a Pro Bowl nod, Prescott earned AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and ended sixth in MVP voting.