Late on June 24, NFL insider Pete Prisco unveiled his annual ranking of the league’s top 100 players, and in a move that has already sparked conversations among fans and pundits alike, he placed Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes firmly at the very top—again. This marks the third straight year Mahomes has claimed the No. 1 overall slot on Prisco’s list, a testament to both his continued excellence and the high regard in which he is held. According to Prisco, “Mahomes is still the best player in the NFL,” and regardless of fluctuations in his statistics, he would undeniably go first in any hypothetical draft of current players. Despite some quiet whispers that Mahomes may have lost a step, Prisco’s ranking affirms that his place atop the mountain remains unshakable.
Behind Mahomes sits a familiar defensive powerhouse: Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns at No. 2. Offensively, the spotlight follows Patrick with Saquon Barkley of the Eagles at No. 3, Josh Allen of the Bills at No. 4, and the dynamic Lamar Jackson at No. 6. Among quarterbacks alone, Prisco highlights Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, and Joe Burrow (ranked No. 7 overall) as a distinct “top 10” class, underscoring their dominance and setting them apart from the rest of the league’s signal callers.
What’s compelling about this ranking is the lens through which Prisco views Mahomes. He acknowledges that Mahomes’ raw numbers the past two seasons haven’t been his most gaudy, but stresses that the quarterback’s impact transcends stats. With the improved offensive line and receiving corps Kansas City has forged this offseason, the potential for Mahomes to reclaim even higher efficiency and production is real. Prisco believes this could vault Mahomes back to unprecedented statistical heights, buttressing his qualitative evaluation with tangible potential.
Mahomes’ legacy is well-documented: he’s the architect of a Kansas City dynasty, a three-time Super Bowl champion and MVP, a two-time NFL MVP, and a perennial All‑Pro. Since becoming the Chiefs’ solo starter in 2018, he has led them to seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances—an era of sustained dominance few quarterbacks in history have matched. His career totals are staggering, including over 32,000 passing yards and 245 touchdowns, and his NFL records—such as fastest to milestones and postseason output—reinforce an enduring greatness.
Yet, even living legends experience dips. In 2024, Mahomes didn’t put up the eye-popping numbers of previous seasons. Critics were quick to label the performance as a sign of regression. But Prisco’s take? Not so fast. He sees the veteran quarterback’s recent drop as contextually driven—offensive changes, scheme adjustments, and external factors—not reflective of waning skill. His ranking pushes back, emphasizing that Mahomes’ true value lies in leadership, situational mastery, and the hard-to-quantify impact he brings in clutch moments.
This nuance matters because it shapes how the NFL views its elite quarterbacks. To critics like Chris Simms, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow outshined Mahomes statistically in 2024—Burrow posted nearly 4,900 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, earning MVP-level talk. But Prisco counters, and history supports him: on any given day, a healthy Mahomes remains the most dangerous quarterback in the league. And with the surrounding pieces clicking into place—upgraded pass protection, more reliable receivers—this season could see a version of Mahomes that marries efficiency with dominance.
Another layer to consider is the broader QB field. Allen, Jackson and Burrow anchor the upper tier behind him, with Allen coming off his first MVP season and a trip to the AFC Championship Game. Jackson’s dual-threat ability keeps defenses on edge, while Burrow’s statistical explosion in 2024 solidified his place among the best. But the gulf between those quarterbacks and Mahomes, in Prisco’s view, is the difference between great and transcendent. Prisco emphasized that quarterback value depends on more than yardage and touchdowns—it’s about decision-making under pressure, always reckoning with a defense, and leading a team to victories in March. And on that front, Mahomes remains peerless.
For Kansas City fans, this ranking is affirmation. Their star quarterback is being recognized by one of the league’s most vocal and respected analysts, and it’s not just nostalgia speaking—it’s performance-driven respect. It signals confidence in the front office’s offseason moves and sends a warning to the rest of the NFL: the Chiefs intend to contend again. Offensively, bolstering the line and adding receiver talent means defenses everywhere must still game-plan specifically for Mahomes’ dynamic style.
Any time a player tops a league-wide ranking, pushback is inevitable. But Prisco’s methodology is rooted in a blend of measurable performance and leader-level impact. Football may be a game of box scores, but championships are decided on the intangible. And Mahomes continues to build, year after year, a legacy that combines both.
Now the question turns to this upcoming 2025 season: what does a fully healthy, fully supported Mahomes look like? With the Chiefs returning a veteran-laden core, without major injury questions on the horizon, and coming off consecutive Super Bowl trips, many anticipate Mahomes to challenge his own records for passing efficiency, touchdowns, and fourth-quarter comebacks. Even the doubters can’t ignore that in March, Mahomes embodies the kinds of plays that define the playoffs—unfazed by pressure, creative in execution, and capable of rewriting the script in real time.
Even statistical platforms like Pro Football Focus echo this sentiment, ranking Mahomes as the best QB heading into 2025. That alignment between traditional analysts like Prisco and data-driven evaluations underscores how thoroughly Mahomes is viewed as the top-tier elite—someone whose greatness resists the limitations of any single metric.
Ultimately, Prisco’s list is more than a ranking—it’s a narrative. It says that despite any recent dips, despite expectations and the weight of legacy, Patrick Mahomes remains the most dangerous, most impactful, most valuable player in the NFL. For the Chiefs organization, it brings validation. For fantasy GM’s and bettors, it’s a signpost: bet on Mahomes to bounce back. And for the rest of the league, it’s a challenge: to unseat him, you must beat the best. Prisco, the voters, the data, the ring ceremonies—they all say: Patrick Mahomes is at the summit, and the mountain still belongs to him.
