The NFL is being reshaped by the play of a group of young dynamic quarterbacks who feature pinpoint accuracy as drop back passers, an innate ability to scramble when the pocket collapses, the speed and strength to lead their team in designed rushes, and a hyper competitive spirit.  

These quarterbacks are now some of the biggest stars in the league, even though they have only been in the pros for no more than a few years.  They include Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Deshaun Watson, each of whom possesses skills resembling those of Michael Vick, a unique player who revolutionized the position back in the mid-2000s.

For fans, this season was one of the most enjoyable seasons to watch in NFL history, in no small part due to the exciting play of league MVP, Lamar Jackson.  Jackson threw for 36 touchdowns, the most in the NFL this season, and ran for 1,206 rushing yards, the most in NFL history by a quarterback, beating the record previously held by Vick.  Jackson led the Ravens to a 14-2 record (best in the NFL) and the number one seed in the AFC.  

“Lamar Jackson seems to be revolutionizing the game of football because of his legs.  He was able to run the ball very effectively with tight defense.  I believe he was one of the best quarterbacks of last season,” said sophomore Davis Choi. 

Josh Allen, the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, was drafted in 2018.  He led his team to the playoffs this season as only a second year player.  Even though the Bills ended up losing to the Texans, he still played a great game and was arguably the Bills best offensive player this season.  He threw for 3,089 yards and 20 touchdowns. While those statistics alone are impressive, he also ran for 510 yards and nine touchdowns.  Coming into the season, not many people believed that the Bills would be a playoff team.  Allen’s passing and running success changed their fortune.

Patrick Mahomes is already considered by some to be the greatest quarterback of all time, even though this is only his third year in the league.  Last season, only his first season as a starter, Mahomes won the regular season MVP and led the Chiefs to the AFC championship game.  

This season, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a Super Bowl win and was named Super Bowl MVP.  He put up 4,031 passing yards and 26 touchdowns during the year, supported by a core of fast and sure handed receivers.  In the Super Bowl, he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another one during a 10 point comeback in the fourth quarter.  There’s not much more for Mahomes to accomplish after the start of his career.  

“I believe that Mahomes has a bright future ahead of him because he is a mobile, young quarterback with a talent.  Not only does he have a good running game, he also has great receivers like Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins,” said freshman Ryan Epstein.

The team that Allen lost to in the playoffs, the Houston Texans, are led by Deshaun Watson.  Watson was drafted out of Clemson in 2017, after leading the Tigers to a National Championship, and has led the Texans to two playoff appearances already.  Watson has been able to routinely get out of the pocket and gain yardage when his team needs it most, even without a good offensive line.  The Texans offensive line allowed pressure on one in every ten passes, which was the worst in the NFL.  Even with challenged protection, Watson still managed to throw for 3,852 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.  He also ran for 413 yards and seven touchdowns.  His mobility is something that is envied by just about every other team in the NFL.

 Perhaps the consensus greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, has publicly acknowledged these young quarterbacks for their athleticism and overall great play.  During this upcoming draft, many people are expecting teams to pick athletic, young quarterbacks in the mold of Jackson, Allen, Mahomes, and Watson.  

“Football nowadays requires a lot of physicality even for the quarterback position so every team should have a mobile quarterback.  Quarterbacks need to be able to compete with linebackers on the edge so they need to be able to escape the pocket,” said freshman Ethan Rotko.  

Even after one of the most exciting seasons in league history, there is reason to think the league will get even more exciting as additional young athletic quarterbacks enter the NFL next season.