The NFL is loaded on star power at the quarterback position. But even Pro Bowl-caliber passers aren’t guaranteed to earn their way into the top 100 conversation.
Such was the case for Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions and new Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins, as PFN has unveiled its Top 100 players ahead of 2024.
Why Were Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins Snubbed From PFN’s NFL Top 100?
Goff and Cousins, who have a combined seven Pro Bowl nods between them, emerged as two notable big-name players who didn’t earn a ranking on PFN’s NFL Top 100 list.
This list in no way diminishes their past production, as both players have produced highly decorated résumés over the course of their careers. And in Goff’s case, he’s guided two different franchises to the NFC Championship Game, including one conference championship while with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
However, there are a multitude of reasons why both men were notably left off the list. Let’s begin with Cousins and how 2023 went for him.
Cousins unfortunately couldn’t finish out the year, tearing his right Achilles in Week 8 at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. That would be the last sight of him wearing the full shoulder pads and helmet for the Minnesota Vikings.
Cousins’ injury wiped away what was shaping up to potentially be a fifth Pro Bowl appearance. He looked efficient in completing 69.5% of his throws while also firing 18 touchdown passes. Cousins was only picked off five times and tallied 2,331 yards — having averaged 291.4 yards per game before the devastating injury.
But last season marked Cousins’ first time needing to go on injured reserve as a starting quarterback in the league. Since then, he’s signed his mega $180 million contract to lead the Falcons for the next four years.
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Most fans will closely watch how healthy Cousins’ ankle is ahead of the season. A comeback in 2024 could catapult him back into the Top 100.
Between Cousins and Goff, though, the latter is the more high-profile snub. Goff helped engineer one of the best seasons in three decades for the Lions — guiding them to the franchise’s first NFC Championship appearance since 1991.
Fourteen different quarterbacks landed on PFN’s Top 100 list, and nearly half present a stronger argument for why Goff isn’t above them.
Patrick Mahomes, the top player, owns three Super Bowl rings with the Kansas City Chiefs. Lamar Jackson trailed behind Mahomes at No. 3 after delivering his second MVP campaign. Then there’s Buffalo’s Josh Allen at No. 11, who has fewer career regular-season losses (30) compared to Goff (50).
Even despite missing most of 2023, Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow has produced consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances when healthy. He also took a dismal offensive line to the Super Bowl back in 2021, which ended the Bengals’ near three-decade dry spell of winning a playoff game.
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Two more notable quarterbacks ranked ahead of Goff are guys who put together MVP-caliber seasons in Dak Prescott and Tua Tagovailoa — both of whom either threw more touchdown passes (Prescott with 36 total) or tallied more passing yards (Tagovailoa at 4,624) than Goff in last season.
Still, Goff managed to improve his personal yards and touchdowns from 2022 in Detroit. With that said, he’s in a league flooded with immense QB talent. He’ll likely need to prove he can capitalize on the Lions’ 2023 run to ensure his place in PFN’s Top 100 for 2025.
