Has C.J. Stroud emerged as one of the top five quarterbacks in the league?

There is no question who is number one after Patrick Mahomes won his third Super Bowl. But after Mahomes, that’s where things get interesting.

Brock Purdy rises to the second position after a close loss to Mahomes followed by Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. But then in just his second year, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin ranks C.J. Stroud fifth overall.

Benjamin writes, “The feel-good story of the 2023 quarterback class, Stroud was lights out as both a level-headed leader and downfield attacker in his pro debut. Now he's got Stefon Diggs added to a growing skill group, and a feistier defense on his side. Preseason MVP hype incoming.”

How far could Stroud rise in these rankings in 2024? It will all depend on the team’s success. The number six ranked quarterback, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens defeated Houston in the second round of the NFL playoffs. For Stroud to ascend to the top of the rankings, it’s going to require Houston to have success in January against some of the league’s best teams. We’ll see what happens. Check out the full rankings here.