July: The Debating Ground for NFL Quarterback Rankings

July marks a lull in the NFL, tucked between the draft and training camp. During this period, discussions about quarterbacks often resurface. A primary focus has been the debate over whether Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes or Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen ranks as the top player in the league.

In a recent survey conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, NFL coaches, executives, and scouts were polled to rank quarterbacks. Allen topped the list, with Mahomes landing second. This ranking reversed the positions from last year.

Mahomes is known for channeling perceived slights into motivation, akin to Michael Jordan. Despite this, the two-time NFL MVP, three-time Super Bowl champion, and three-time Super Bowl MVP expressed his acceptance of his current ranking publicly.

“I mean, you understand it, coming off injury,” Mahomes shared on “Yahoo! Sports Daily” on July 15. “We didn’t perform as well as we hoped the last few years. Naturally, you’ll drop in rankings, but there are many good quarterbacks on that list. I’m pleased to be included. It’s a yearly challenge to prove yourself, and this year I aim to reclaim the top spot.”

Mahomes faced a torn ACL and LCL last December, necessitating season-ending surgery. The Chiefs, having recently achieved three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, faltered with a 6-11 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

The downturn began in Week 9 when Kansas City traveled to Buffalo. At that time, the Chiefs held a 5-3 record, while the Bills were 5-2. In this match, Allen led the Bills to a 28-21 victory. Afterward, the Chiefs managed only one win out of nine games. Despite the Chiefs’ challenging season, Allen’s regular-season triumph against Mahomes was typical in their rivalry. Allen holds a 5-1 regular-season record against Mahomes, while Mahomes maintains a 4-0 playoff record against Allen.

In his Yahoo! Sports interview, Mahomes stated his recovery goal is to be ready for Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, aiming for full strength by the Chiefs’ Thanksgiving visit to Buffalo.