Drew Brees’ favorite quarterbacks to watch this NFL season — and a team he wants to see more from

Super Bowl winner Drew Brees told B-17 about his favorite quarterbacks to watch this season.

Quarterback is one of the most visible — and valuable — positions in football.

In September, CNBC reported that NFL team valuations range from $5.25 billion to $11 billion and, as the leaders of these franchises, it’s not surprising that all 10 of the highest-paid players in the league are quarterbacks, with Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys taking the top spot with a four-year, $240 million deal.

As the 2024 season approaches the halfway point, B-17 spoke with NFL great and 2010 Super Bowl champion Drew Brees through his partnership with digital automotive platform CarGurus to learn who he’s watching closely this year.

“It’s an exciting season, and I’d say the fact that you got six quarterbacks going in the top 12 picks, most of which were going to start, is pretty unprecedented,” he said.

Brees spent 20 seasons in the NFL and retired in 2021, finishing his career with more than 80,000 passing yards — the second most of all-time — and 571 touchdowns.

From promising rookies to trusted veterans, here are the standout quarterbacks this season, according to Drew Brees.

Jayden Daniels — Washington Commanders

Brees told B-17 that rookie Jayden Daniels has been “playing at a very high level.”

“The guy who’s probably jumped out the most is Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders,” Brees told B-17. “He’s playing at a very high level, very, very efficient, finding completions, making big plays, both with his legs running and just buying time and extending plays.”

Daniels was the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and he’s been a breakout star of the season, leading the Commanders to a 6-2 record for the first time since 2008.

In his first eight games, Daniels has thrown for 1,736 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed 424 yards and four touchdowns. That, combined with just two interceptions, gives him a passer rating of 104.3, the highest of any rookie so far this season.

Bo Nix — Denver Broncos

Bo Nix is the Denver Broncos rookie quarterback.

“Obviously, I watch the Denver Broncos a lot because that’s my old coach, Sean Payton. So, it’s fun to watch Bo Nix continue to progress,” Brees said.

After starting the season 0-2, Nix and the Broncos have rallied to win the last five out of six games.

In Denver’s most recent game against the Carolina Panthers on October 27, Nix posted a career-high three touchdown passes and completed 28 of 37 passes for a rate of 75.7%.

In total, Nix has thrown for 1,530 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed 259 yards for four touchdowns.

Caleb Williams — Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams is the rookie quarterback for the Chicago Bears. 

Brees told B-17 that Williams’ October 13 performance against the Jaguars was “definitely his best game of the year thus far.”

Williams completed 23 out of 29 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns in the Bears’ 35-16 win.

“I think Chicago’s got a good defense, so I think they’re kind of building this team around him, and it’s allowing him to, I think, not be rushed along,” Brees said.

The Bears are 4-3 this season, and Williams (the No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft) has thrown for 1,448 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 216 yards.

Meanwhile, the Bears have the No. 1 red-zone defense in the league with a red-zone touchdown rate of just 36.8%, Fox Sports reported.

Jared Goff — Detroit Lions

Brees told B-17 that the Detroit Lions are a team he’d like to see “go and win it all.”

“A team I love to watch is the Detroit Lions,” Brees said, adding that he loves head coach Dan Campbell.

“I played with him in 2009 with the New Orleans Saints, and then he was part of our coaching staff in New Orleans for a long time,” he said. “Just a great human being, great leader of men. He’s built an incredible culture there; you can just feel it amongst that team.”

Brees also said he loves quarterback Jared Goff’s journey — “I think he’s playing great football right now” — and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn: “I love kind of that fire and passion that he brings to the defensive side.”

“I know they’re starting to get more and more attention, obviously, because shoot, they’re winning a lot of football games here, but man, to me, they’re the team I’d like to see go and win it all,” Brees said.

In seven games, Goff has thrown for 1,695 yards and 13 touchdowns for a passer rating of 115.3, helping the Lions reach a 6-1 record.

But Brees wants to see more from the Bengals.

Brees told B-17, “You’re just waiting to see a level of consistency” from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Brees told B-17, “I think we’re kind of waiting to see the Bengals come back and be really in the mix here.”

“You’re kind of just waiting to see a level of consistency with them,” he added. “It seems like they lose some games that they shouldn’t lose, and yet, then they win some games against some teams that maybe are more talented, so I don’t know.”

The Bengals are 3-5, with close losses against the Chiefs, Commanders, and Ravens with fifth-year quarterback Joe Burrow.

“They’re a team that with a guy like Joe Burrow, man, there’s no reason why week in, week out, they shouldn’t be like the Chiefs where they’re finding ways to win,” Brees added.

Burrow has thrown for 1,993 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He’s also run for 106 yards and one touchdown.

The Bengals did not respond to B-17’s request for comment.