What It Takes to Be a Successful QB in Today's NFL

What It Takes to Be a Successful QB in Today's NFL originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

We're experiencing a golden age of quarterback play in the NFL right now, with a long list of superstar signal-callers throughout the league who are must-see TV on a weekly basis.

From the truly elite (Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen), to fast-rising stars (Jayden Daniels), to recently crowned Super Bowl champs (Jalen Hurts), the pro ranks are loaded with playmakers who continue to reset the bar at the game's most important position.

But what does it take for an incoming NFL prospect to put themselves in that category among the league's best?

From adjusting to the speed required from a young quarterback's mental processing when they make the jump to the NFL game, to the increased necessity for athleticism and mobility (both inside and outside of the pocket), it's never been more challenging for a young franchise passer to establish themselves as a quality starter in the pros.

On the latest episode of "Best Podcast Available," I sat down with ESPN's Dan Orlovsky to talk about what's required of quarterback prospects entering the league if they want to live up to expectations and bring long-term success to their new team.

It obviously starts with the individual talent the quarterback brings to the table, and Orlovsky says incoming prospects can fall into one of multiple tiers in how their abilities impact their team's chances of winning with them at the helm.

"If we have a sub-par or below average situation around you, more often than not, are you good enough to keep us in the conversation? To keep us competitive, giving us the opportunity on a week-by-week basis to win games," said Orlovsky, who spent 12 years in the NFL as a quarterback. "And if we are, as an organization, above average around you, can we actually win it with you?"

It's also about being honest with yourself about where you need to improve, and how much better your competition will be at the NFL level than it was in college, and committing to the process of constant self-evaluation and improvement.

Related: Building the Ideal Franchise QB for the Modern NFL

“For the young ones specifically…I think most of them fool themselves into believing that they don’t have flaws from the college game that will be exposed in the NFL world,” Orlovsky said. “That could be footwork, it could be handling information at the line of scrimmage, it could be understanding what the defense is presenting to you. You’ve gotta figure out the things that maybe weren’t exposed at the college level that would hold you back at the NFL level. There are a lot of things you can get away with at the college level, that don't hold you up when it comes to both individual and team success, that you can't in the NFL. Because in the NFL, we're talking about the best of the best...physically, emotionally, mechanically, technically."

There are still quarterbacks across the league who are trying to iron out those flaws that came with them from the college game to the NFL, too.

"Daniel Jones still hasn't fixed it," Orlovsky said. "Anthony Richardson still hasn't fixed it. Jordan Love, at times, still hasn't completely erased it."

One critical aspect of a quarterback controlling their own destiny, especially early in their NFL careers, is the focus and preparation that's tailored to their individual opponents on a weekly basis, and the work they put in with the coaching staff during the week to attack the opponents' weaknesses, and mitigate their own.

"One, who am I playing against? This is going to the week-by-week basis," Orlovsky said. "This is stuff that, when I was with Gary Kubiak, he hammered home so deeply. Who are we playing against? I'll always remember, we would play against Indy, and he would start off every single week with, 'The pass rush is your responsibility, especially early in the game.' That was when (the Colts) had (Robert) Mathis and (Dwight) Freeney. He would tell Matt Schaub, our starter, 'Early in this game, you can't let this pass rush take over.' So again, who are we playing against? What is their strength, as a football team? Do they have a dominant defense? Do they have an explosive offense? Is their running game who they are? Is their quarterback hot? Because that changes the way you play. That changes the way you quarterback that game."

"And then it's, who are we? Maybe our left tackle's out this week," Orlovsky continued. "My starting wide receiver's down this week. Our defense is down our top two corners. So, understanding on a week-by-week basis, what is needed by you, in that game, to actually give yourself a chance to win. I think that's within your control."

You don't have to look far in today's NFL for a prime example of what it looks like to navigate weekly challenges of all kinds, and still find ways to win, even if it doesn't look pretty most of the time.

"The great example of that would probably be Patrick (Mahomes)," Orlovsky said. "The (Chiefs) defense wasn't as strong as its been. The offense was a mess at times, with injuries, and health, and talent. He just figured out ways to play the position on a necessary basis.

In terms of individual traits and skills, Orlovsky points out that while in years past, athleticism and mobility might have been seen as a luxury item for NFL quarterbacks, the modern game requires it.

“Years ago, it was like an added (bonus), like ‘Man, this guy’s great in the pocket AND he’s a plus athlete.’ Now, I would tell you it’s a necessity, to be able to do that athletically,” Orlovsky said. “To get drafted in the first round, it’s hard to do it as just a pocket-passing quarterback with average athleticism. That doesn’t mean you can’t go have an impactful NFL career. It does mean that your situation will matter more than others. It just does. That athleticism covers up for a lot of flaws.”

Related: ESPN's Dan Orlovsky Talks NFL QB Traits, Development On 'Best Podcast Available'

Orlovsky does point out that there are still quarterbacks throughout the league that have found sustained success without the need for top-end athleticism, though.

"There are guys, still, who are thriving in the NFL, that you're not going to put their athleticism at the top of what they do," Orlovsky said. "Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith. They're athletic enough that they can go on third down, and go get a run, but it's not the strength of their game."

"I don't know that (athleticism) is a necessity to be a starting, winning quarterback in the NFL, but I think it's a necessity to probably go win a Super Bowl."

To check out the entire conversation, watch the full episode of BPA here:

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.