I came up with this list based on prior experience, stats, and receiver group. No Wonderlic or S2 on this list, but I do take into account running backs and offensive line at times as well.  

1. Jerod Evans (Enthroners)– probably a surprise to most, but Evans has done it at a top level before and has shown he could play overseas (X-League rookie of the year 2021). He has been in QB rooms with some of the best to ever play the game, notably Aaron Rodgers, and knows how to play the game right. He was explosive in his only year starting at Virginia Tech, and maybe should have stayed another year, but then he might not be playing in Hungary in 2023. Evans has a talented receiver bunch including 6’3 French receiver Benjamin Plu and former track star Jay Griffin. I imagine Evans throwing bombs to Griffin and fades to Benjamin Plu while also using his legs when he needs to.  

2. Zach Edwards (Musketeers) – Don’t have to say a whole lot about Zach Edwards. He led the league in passing yards and touchdowns last year and can also run. He gets his favorite target back in Kyle Sweet and he should have another monster season for a different team in Paris. 

3. Jadrian Clark (Fire) – Clark was statistically the best QB in the ELF last year with a passer rating of 130.05 (Edwards was 101.02 and Sullivan was 110.24). He threw for a whopping 23 touchdowns in just 6 games. He’s efficient (5 interceptions to those 23 TD’s) and his wide receiver group has loaded up. He has two top 20 receivers in Robitaille and Kowfin from last year, and now the team adds Anthony Mahongou, a former CFL receiver who brings a lot of talent to the team. Not to mention the Fire have Glen Toonga, who should take some pressure off Clark starting in week 5. It would not surprise me if he ends up number 1 at the end of the year.

4. Preston Haire (Sea Devils) – This was a tough one for me to decide. Haire is the all-time leading passer at D-II Oklahoma Baptist. He’s young and has a top receiver from last year Malik Stanley on his side this year. He should put up huge numbers. 

5. Jakeb Sullivan (Galaxy) – Sullivan was great last year (31 TD/7 int, QB rating 110.2) and has experience playing at the highest level in this league. He has one of the best weapons in the league in Reece Horn (former NFL, CFL player) and is poised for a huge year. Look for Lorenz Reglar to have a breakout season with Sullivan under center. 

6. Chris Helbig (Vikings) – Helbig was the leading passer for the German Football League last year (36 TD/5 INT). He is coming off injury, but man has he fallen into a good situation. The Vikings are coming off a championship and have only loaded up with more weapons. SKOL!! (Does that play in Austria? Big thing in the states for the Minnesota variety of Vikings). He has Jordan Bouah coming back (second team all-star), along with Weston Carr (Penn State product), and Adrian Botello Moreno (All-star TE). Their O-line is stacked, and they have a good RB, meaning the tides are in Helbig’s favor, but will he be able to direct this longship to shore? 

7. Reilly Hennessey (Surge) – So I must admit I was sleeping hard on Reilly coming into making this list. He is super-efficient, completing 73% of his passes last year and is a winner. I mean the guy hasn’t lost a game in 2 years. He won the Italian league going undefeated, then decided to run it back in Germany, going undefeated with the Unicorns. This is a step up in competition, but he has great receivers (Nunnelly and Geyer), and the same coach as last year. He knows the playbook and should put a surge into Stuttgart. 

8. Donavon Isom (Thunder) – Originally recruited to Utah, this guy is a load. He’s the biggest QB in the league, actually. I expect him to do a lot of the Jalen Hurts QB sneak to run up his rushing touchdowns. He has a very powerful arm, and great receivers to throw to. Wilzeck, Zimmerman, and Aaron Jackson (led GFL in receiving) should be hauling in balls all day for Isom. 

9. Conor Miller (Dragons) – I know some might say this is too early for Miller, but my counterpoint is Austin Duke. Duke is probably the most talented receiver in the whole league, playing with the Panthers and the XFL before coming over to Europe. Miller has practiced with some great NFL receivers (Antonio Brown and Travis Fulgham – go birds) and even has ELF experience from last year with the Kings. I expect huge numbers from him this year. 

10. Collin Hill (Guards) – Hill has an impressive college resume: he played major D-I ball at both Colorado State and South Carolina. Playing at an SEC school like South Carolina is all I need to hear. If you can play against the SEC, you can play against anyone. The problem for Hill is receivers, the Guards don’t have many notable names. Anton Jallai will really have to take some big strides for Hill to have a great year. He does get Norm Chow, a QB guru to be his coach, so that should help tremendously. 

11. Shazzon Mumphrey (Lions) – Bringing the PiShazz to Prague for another year. The Czech MVP from last year absolutely dominated the CAAF, throwing for 43 touchdowns. He is fast, as he was a wide receiver as well as a QB in college. He has an explosive receiver in Vic Wharton who played his college ball at University of California, and he also has the leading receiver all-time in Czech football, Marek Suchy. I don’t expect this team to be that good this year on defense, so they will probably have to throw the ball a lot, but this isn’t the Czech league and I’m not sure if Mumphrey is ready for this jump. 

12. Christian Strong (Raiders) – Tough to replace the MVP in a league, but that’s what Strong will try to do this year replacing Sean Shelton. He’s a good QB who reunites with his teammate at Seton Hill, Jarvis McClam. Although these two have a great connection, I think this team keeps it on the ground a lot with Sandro Platzgummer lowering the stats of Strong. He still has a solid year. 

13. Luke Zahradka (Seaman) – Zahradka – Constant, Constant – Zahradka. Those are two names you will hear a lot of in Milan this year. Luke has won 3 championships in Italy in five years and now joins the ELF. He doesn’t have much of a running game or O-Line, and I think opposing teams try their hardest to take away Constant, making Zahradka’s stats drop-off.  

14. Chad Jeffries (Ravens) – The Austrian Football League MVP makes the jump to the ELF this year. He was super-efficient last year (33 TD/ 4 INT) and even ran for over 500 yards. Markell Castle is a good target for him, but I don’t know if Jeffries’ game will convert over to the ELF. The Austrian league is a bit slower and the ELF may take away his running game which may lead to worse passing numbers. I see a bad year on the horizon. 

15. Kenyatte Allen (Kings) – Last year in the GFL, Allen threw for 43 TD’s to only 4 INTs, but I don’t think the Kings are very good this year. Their wide receivers are mediocre, and I don’t think they control the ball for long periods of time. They should use RB Steve McShane a lot, leading to a fall in the numbers for this QB. 

16. Nik Rango (Wroclaw Panthers) – Not much on Rango. He’s worked at the HUB for QB’s with Norm Chow but hasn’t played meaningful football since before COVID. He’s a former boxer though, so that means he’s tough if that counts for everything. 

17. Dylan Jacobs (Centurions) – This QB played well enough at Western Colorado to move over to the big school at University of Colorado. Living in Colorado the last two years I saw just how bad Colorado was. Seeing how he wasn’t even able to play on those teams, I don’t see him being much better in the ELF. Being a late signing for Daniel Smith shouldn’t help him either. Lot to learn in a little time. 

I can see some real shifting happening from 13 to 7 and from 6 to 1, but within those groups, I think the quarterbacks stay the same. Should be a fun year either way, as this QB class is absolutely stacked.