Over the past six weeks of the NFL season, The Athletic’s NFL beat writers polled defensive players to get answers to our most pressing quarterback questions. We received responses from 85 defensive players across 25 teams. The players have been granted anonymity to allow for candid responses.



The survey was revealing. It showed the league’s defensive players still have plenty of respect for the old guard — Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in particular — but the young quarterbacks have the league buzzing as well. Patrick Mahomes could win the NFL’s MVP award when it is announced on the eve of the Super Bowl, and after reviewing this survey, we doubt many defensive players would disagree.



And there is one quarterback the defensive players surveyed were nearly unanimous on: Colin Kaepernick. Of the 85 players polled, 81 said they believed Kaepernick deserved to be on an NFL roster, while 15 percent of those players said...