NFL Starting Quarterbacks 2026 Tier List, Ranked
Every team has one, but not every team is lucky. We took all 32 current starting quarterbacks across the league and sorted them from "build a statue" to "please bench him." This is based on what actually shows up on film, in box scores and in the never-ending group chat arguments about who's really elite versus who's just riding a good offensive line.
Some of these were easy. Some sparked real debate in our own office, especially in the murky middle tiers where "game manager" and "franchise guy" blur together. Think we got one wrong? That's what the comments are for. Rank your own list and see how it stacks up against ours.
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SS Tier: The MVP conversation
Josh Allen
Matthew Stafford won the 2025 NFL MVP, not the current reigning MVP referenced in this draft. Josh Allen was the 2024 MVP. and still the best combination of arm talent and improvisation in the league. He'll throw one that makes you wince and then run through three defenders for a score on the next snap. Buffalo's offense goes exactly as far as he carries it.
About Josh Allen
Starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills since 2018, known for his huge arm and frequent highlight-reel runs. Drafted out of Wyoming, he's become one of the faces of the league.
- Team
- Buffalo Bills
- College
- Wyoming
Patrick Mahomes
Even in a down year by his own ridiculous standard, he's still the guy defensive coordinators lose sleep over. The no-look passes and the sidearm darts aren't tricks, they're just what he does. Multiple rings before 30 says the rest.
About Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and multiple-time Super Bowl champion, widely regarded as one of the most creative passers in NFL history. Drafted out of Texas Tech.
- Team
- Kansas City Chiefs
- College
- Texas Tech
Lamar Jackson
Two MVPs and a running style that still looks illegal in real time. The passing has gotten genuinely sharp, not just a changeup to the legs, and Baltimore's offense is terrifying when he's healthy.
About Lamar Jackson
Baltimore Ravens quarterback and two-time NFL MVP, famous for combining elite rushing ability with a steadily improving passing game. Won the Heisman Trophy at Louisville.
- Team
- Baltimore Ravens
- College
- Louisville
Joe Burrow
Ice in his veins and a no-huddle operation that torches defenses in the fourth quarter. Injuries have cost him time, but when he's on the field, Cincinnati has a top-five quarterback and everybody knows it.
About Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback who led LSU to a national championship before becoming the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
- Team
- Cincinnati Bengals
- College
- LSU
AA Tier: Build your team around them
Jalen Hurts
A Super Bowl ring and the most unstoppable short-yardage play in football with the tush push. He doesn't always wow you with the arm, but he wins, and that counts for a lot in Philly.
About Jalen Hurts
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl champion, known for his rushing ability near the goal line, including the signature 'tush push' play.
- Team
- Philadelphia Eagles
- College
- Oklahoma
Jayden Daniels
The Offensive Rookie of the Year turned instant franchise cornerstone in Washington. Poised beyond his years, with the legs to escape trouble and the arm to make you pay for blitzing.
About Jayden Daniels
Washington Commanders quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU, who made an immediate impact as a rookie starter.
- Team
- Washington Commanders
- College
- LSU
Justin Herbert
Arguably the purest thrower of the deep ball in the league, and the Chargers finally seem to be building a team worthy of him. The stats have always been there; now the wins are catching up.
About Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback known for his strong arm and clean mechanics, drafted out of Oregon.
- Team
- Los Angeles Chargers
- College
- Oregon
Jordan Love
Took over for an all-timer in Green Bay and didn't blink. He's got the gunslinger streak Packers fans love, occasionally to his own detriment, but the ceiling is clearly high.
About Jordan Love
Green Bay Packers quarterback who took over as starter after Aaron Rodgers' departure, drafted out of Utah State.
- Team
- Green Bay Packers
- College
- Utah State
C. J. Stroud
A ridiculously smooth rookie year followed by real growing pains, which tells you defenses caught up fast. Still, the arm talent and anticipation are undeniable when Houston's offensive line gives him time.
About C. J. Stroud
Houston Texans quarterback who had one of the best rookie seasons for a passer in recent memory, out of Ohio State.
- Team
- Houston Texans
- College
- Ohio State
Baker Mayfield
The journeyman arc nobody saw coming. Tampa Bay unlocked something in him, and the chip-on-the-shoulder energy that used to get him in trouble now just makes him play angrier and better.
About Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and former first overall pick who has revived his career after stints with Cleveland, Carolina and Los Angeles.
- Team
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- College
- Oklahoma
BB Tier: Good enough to win with
Dak Prescott
Reliable, productive, and perpetually the subject of 'is he actually elite' debates in Dallas. The numbers say yes more often than critics admit, even if the playoff résumé has holes.
About Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys quarterback since 2016, known for durability and consistent passing production.
- Team
- Dallas Cowboys
- College
- Mississippi State
Matthew Stafford
Still slinging it at an age when most quarterbacks have hung it up, and still doing it with real zip. The Rams got a ring out of him, and he hasn't fallen off a cliff since.
About Matthew Stafford
Veteran quarterback now with the Los Angeles Rams, who won a Super Bowl after years of standout play in Detroit.
- Team
- Los Angeles Rams
- College
- Georgia
Brock Purdy
The 'Mr. Irrelevant' story is fun, but at some point the tape has to answer the question of system versus talent. San Francisco's results with him have been good enough that it feels unfair to call him just a passenger.
About Brock Purdy
San Francisco 49ers quarterback famously drafted last overall, who became a full-time starter and surprised the league with efficient play.
- Team
- San Francisco 49ers
- College
- Iowa State
Kyler Murray
The playmaking is electric when it's on, dragging Arizona to wins that look impossible on paper. Consistency across a full season is still the thing holding him back from the tier above.
About Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma, known for his dynamic improvisational playmaking.
- Team
- Arizona Cardinals
- College
- Oklahoma
Bo Nix
A rookie year in Denver that quieted a lot of the pre-draft skepticism. Sean Payton clearly trusts him with more each week, and he's handled it without the turnovers people worried about.
About Bo Nix
Denver Broncos quarterback and rookie starter under head coach Sean Payton, after a long college career at Oregon and Auburn.
- Team
- Denver Broncos
- College
- Oregon
Drake Maye
New England's clear long-term answer, with the arm strength and toughness to survive behind a line that hasn't always protected him well. The flashes are real; now it's about stacking weeks.
About Drake Maye
New England Patriots quarterback drafted out of North Carolina, seen as the franchise's long-term building block at the position.
- Team
- New England Patriots
- College
- North Carolina
Caleb Williams
The number one pick's rookie season had Chicago fans both thrilled and frustrated in the same game sometimes. The improvisational talent jumps off the screen; the decision-making is still catching up.
About Caleb Williams
Chicago Bears quarterback and former first overall pick, who won the Heisman Trophy at USC.
- Team
- Chicago Bears
- College
- USC
CC Tier: Fine, with real questions
Trevor Lawrence
Once the unquestioned next big thing, now stuck answering questions about consistency in Jacksonville. The talent was never the issue; the surrounding chaos and uneven play-calling haven't helped him either.
About Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback and former top overall pick out of Clemson, once considered a generational prospect.
- Team
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- College
- Clemson
Michael Penix Jr.
Got his shot in Atlanta and flashed the deep-ball accuracy that made him a first-round pick. Still early days, and the book on him as a full-time starter is far from written.
About Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback drafted out of Washington, known in college for his deep-ball accuracy.
- Team
- Atlanta Falcons
- College
- Washington
Jared Goff
Detroit's offense around him is loaded, and he's made the most of it with efficient, mistake-free football. The debate over how much is him versus the scheme and weapons never really goes away.
About Jared Goff
Detroit Lions quarterback and former first overall pick, who found a career resurgence after being traded from the Los Angeles Rams.
- Team
- Detroit Lions
- College
- California
Geno Smith
The comeback story in Seattle was genuinely great, but he's settled into solid-not-spectacular territory since. Good enough to not be the problem, rarely the reason you win big games either.
About Geno Smith
Seattle Seahawks quarterback whose career was revived after years as a backup, leading to a Pro Bowl comeback season.
- Team
- Seattle Seahawks
- College
- West Virginia
Sam Darnold
Minnesota got a career year out of him that nobody quite expected after the Jets and Panthers chapters. Whether that was real growth or a perfect-storm season is still being argued.
About Sam Darnold
Minnesota Vikings quarterback and former Jets and Panthers starter, who had a career revival season with the Vikings.
- Team
- Minnesota Vikings
- College
- USC
Daniel Jones
Years of taking brutal hits behind shaky Giants lines finally led to a fresh start elsewhere. There's real mobility and arm talent in there; it's just been buried under bad situations for a long time.
About Daniel Jones
Veteran quarterback formerly of the New York Giants, now looking for a fresh start after years behind inconsistent offensive lines.
- College
- Duke
Aaron Rodgers
The future Hall of Famer is clearly not the player who won back-to-back MVPs anymore. Still has the mind and the occasional vintage throw, but the arm and the team around him have both faded.
About Aaron Rodgers
Veteran quarterback and future Hall of Famer, four-time NFL MVP known for his years leading the Green Bay Packers.
- College
- California
Kirk Cousins
Reliable volume passer for a decade, now navigating a new chapter after the Achilles injury slowed him down. The 'you kidding me' energy is still there in flashes, just less often than it used to be.
About Kirk Cousins
Veteran quarterback known for his durability and production across stops with Washington, Minnesota and beyond.
- College
- Michigan State
Jameis Winston
Winston gives the Giants a true gunslinger, capable of throwing for 400 yards and 4 picks in the same afternoon. He has enough arm talent to win you a game outright but the turnover habit never fully left him. A solid bridge option whose ceiling and floor are both wildly unpredictable week to week.
About Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston is an NFL quarterback who was the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State, where he won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship. He spent his early career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before moving on to other teams, including stints as a backup and starter for the New Orleans Saints and later the Cleveland Browns.
- Draft
- 1st overall, 2015, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- College
- Florida State
- Heisman Trophy
- 2013
- Known for
- Strong arm, high touchdown and interception totals
DD Tier: Problems on the depth chart
Bryce Young
The number one overall pick's early years in Carolina have been rough, with an offensive line that's given him no chance. There's been improvement, but the jury is still very much out.
About Bryce Young
Carolina Panthers quarterback and former first overall pick, who won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama.
- Team
- Carolina Panthers
- College
- Alabama
Deshaun Watson
The on-field Deshaun Watson who looked like a top-five quarterback in Houston feels like a distant memory at this point. Injuries and inconsistency have defined his time in Cleveland far more than any flashes of the old form.
About Deshaun Watson
Cleveland Browns quarterback who once starred for the Houston Texans, known earlier in his career for dynamic dual-threat play.
- Team
- Cleveland Browns
- College
- Clemson
Tyler Shough
A rookie thrown into the fire with limited experience and a learning curve that shows up on tape. There's physical tools to work with, but right now it's mostly growing pains.
About Tyler Shough
Rookie NFL quarterback with extensive college experience across multiple programs before entering the league.
- College
- Louisville
Jacoby Brissett
The definition of a steady bridge option who keeps the seat warm without doing much to lose or win games on his own. Dependable in the way a backup should be, which is exactly the problem when he's starting.
About Jacoby Brissett
Veteran journeyman quarterback known for serving as a reliable bridge starter and backup across several NFL teams.
- College
- North Carolina State
Cam Ward
The rookie learning curve in Tennessee has been bumpy, as expected for a first-year passer thrown into a tough spot. The tools that got him drafted highly are visible, just not consistently yet.
About Cam Ward
Rookie quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, drafted after a standout college career that included a transfer to Miami.
- Team
- Tennessee Titans
- College
- Miami
FF Tier: Rock bottom of the starting ranks
Malik Willis
Years into his career, he's still more projection than product, valued for his legs and raw arm more than any proven passing ability. At this point he reads more as a career backup than a starter anyone wants to rely on.
About Malik Willis
Veteran backup-caliber quarterback known for his athletic ability, who has bounced between a few NFL rosters since being drafted out of Liberty.
- College
- Liberty
How we ranked them
We weighed recent and career production, playoff and big-game results, how much a guy elevates (sorry, had to use a synonym) his supporting cast versus leans on it, and where the broader fan and media consensus already lands. Narrative matters less than tape, but we also factored in trajectory, since a 24 year old improving fast gets graded differently than a 34 year old declining. Where opinion is genuinely split, we say so and explain which side we land on.
Think we got it wrong?
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
Who is the best starting quarterback in the NFL right now?
Based on consensus and recent results, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow sit at the top, with Allen and Mahomes usually leading the MVP conversation.
Which current NFL starting quarterback is ranked lowest?
Malik Willis lands at the bottom of our list, still viewed around the league more as a backup than a proven starting option.
Are rookie quarterbacks ranked fairly on this list?
Rookies like Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough are graded on what they've shown so far, which naturally puts them lower than established veterans even though their ceilings could be much higher.
Is this list based on stats or team success?
Both. We weighed individual play and talent alongside team results and playoff history, since a quarterback's job is ultimately to win games, not just pad stats.
Does this ranking update during the season?
It reflects the current state of play and broad fan and critic consensus, so quarterbacks can move up or down as their performance and team situations change.
More rankings
Image credits
- Josh AllenPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Patrick MahomesPhoto: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Lamar JacksonPhoto: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Delano Scott, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Source
- Joe BurrowPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Jalen HurtsPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Jayden DanielsPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Justin HerbertPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Jordan LovePhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- C. J. StroudPhoto: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Baker MayfieldPhoto: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Dak PrescottPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Matthew StaffordPhoto: Sewageboy, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Brock PurdyPhoto: Wumpus 4life, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Kyler MurrayPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Bo NixPhoto: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Drake MayePhoto: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Caleb WilliamsPhoto: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Trevor LawrencePhoto: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Michael Penix Jr.Photo: Atlanta Falcons, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Jared GoffPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Geno SmithPhoto: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Sam DarnoldPhoto: AlexanderJonesi, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Daniel JonesPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Aaron RodgersPhoto: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Kirk CousinsPhoto: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Jameis WinstonPhoto: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Bryce YoungPhoto: Sgt. Andrew Skiver, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Source
- Deshaun WatsonPhoto: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Tyler ShoughPhoto: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 3.0 (via Openverse) · License · Source
- Jacoby BrissettPhoto: Rick Stanfield, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Source
- Cam WardPhoto: Jar-Lar, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Malik WillisPhoto: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source