Of everything that sparks debates within NFL circles, quarterback talk is up there as one of the hottest topics.
It's a conversation that gets the blood boiling, makes smoke come out of ears and turns faces tomato-red.
So, let's rank them!
Included are all 32 starters, some notable backups and a handful of rookies. The first-years are in the last tier because, well, they haven't played a regular-season snap yet, so it seems unfair to put them ahead of or behind some established NFL arms.
Here's a list of the top QBs heading into the 2026 campaign:
Tier 1: Elite
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Basically a lock for 40 total TDs through the air and on the ground, the gunslinger keeps the Bills in every game and in the hunt for a Super Bowl. His peers agree, too, ranking Allen as the league's second-best player.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson immediately became one of the game's best QBs since taking over full-time duties in Baltimore. The best dual-threat QB the NFL's seen since Michael Vick has two MVPs to show for it, and a few more aren't out of the question.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
His numbers have been on a decline since 2022, but don't let that fool you — Mahomes is still a top QB in the league. Despite him coming back from a late-season knee injury, expect the three-time Super Bowl champ to be back in the MVP conversation.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow is one of the game's elite QBs. In 2024 — his last full season — Burrow led the league with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns. He still tossed 17 TDs and averaged seven yards per attempt in eight games last year.
5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The top pick in the 2009 draft has aged like fine wine. At 37 years old last season, Stafford won his first MVP award after leading the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46).
Tier 2: Great starters
6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
When healthy, Prescott is good for around 4,500 yards and 30 scores. More team success would give him some better PR.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Blessed with all-world arm talent, Herbert has led the Chargers to three post-season appearances in his six seasons. For a guy as talented as him, though, a 50 per cent playoff clip needs to improve — and he needs to win once he gets there.
8. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
In his first full season as a starter, all Maye did was complete 72 per cent of his passes for 4,394 yards and 31 TDs, finish second in MVP voting and lead the Patriots to the Super Bowl. The sky's the limit for the signal caller in Foxborough.
9. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Year two as a starter went to plan for Williams, coming oh-so-close to becoming the first Bears QB to toss for 4,000 yards in a season. He constantly flashed his immense talent, and always showed up when it mattered most.
10. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
All Jared Goff has done since becoming a full-time starter is produce. Especially with Detroit, where he's put together four straight seasons of 4,400-plus yards and 29-plus TDs.
Tier 3: High-quality starters
11. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
When healthy, Daniels is a true difference maker. Based on his two-year resume, that's a big if.
12. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence didn't know what losing was until he got to the league. Now that's over and done with, and he's coming off a 14-win campaign where he looked like his dominant collegiate self over the final two months of the season.
13. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Since becoming the starter in Green Bay, Love has tossed at least 25 TDs every season. He's got tons of arm talent, and often shows what he learned sitting behind one of the all-time greats in Aaron Rodgers for a few seasons.
14. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Nix's rankings through a QB's first two seasons: Tied first in wins (24), second in passing TDs (54), third in passing yards (7,706) and third in total TDs (64). The guy is good.
15. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts, the Super Bowl LIX MVP, knows how to win and how to find the end zone. His eight rushing TDs last season were his lowest total since his four-start rookie campaign.
16. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy tossed 20 TDs in just nine games last season, while winning seven of them. The former Mr. Irrelevant has become very relevant in the NFL.
17. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Back-to-back 14-win seasons and a Super Bowl ring. Darnold has finally become a quality starting QB in the league.
18. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It appears Mayfield has finally found a home in Tampa Bay — although his contract situation does not reflect that. He's put together three straight solid campaigns and has become the Bucs' heart and soul.
Tier 4: Solid starters
19. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
It's been an up-and-down couple of seasons for Stroud after being named the league's top offensive rookie in 2023. He needs to find that form again to join the top QBs conversation. That being said, three post-season wins in as many seasons ain't too shabby.
20. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
The man nicknamed 'Danny Dimes' was in the midst of his best pro season before suffering a torn Achilles. If he can get back to the level of play he was at pre-injury, Jones and the Colts can make some noise.
21. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rodgers is no longer the superstar he once was, but the 42-year-old can still sling the rock. He's coming off a 10-win campaign with 24 TD passes, and with added weapons in the fold, Pittsburgh is a real post-season threat.
22. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Young finally flashed what made him the top pick of the draft just a few years ago, helping the Panthers reach the playoffs last season for the first time since 2017. If he maintains that trajectory, Young can vault up a tier in the rankings.
Tier 5: Promising sophomores with more to prove
23. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
His rookie-year stats weren't eye-popping by any means, but Ward has all the makings of a franchise QB. He was the first-overall pick last season for a reason.
24. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
In 14 games (12 starts) last season, the 2025 first-rounder totalled 2,759 yards and 24 TDs through the air and on the ground. If he can stay on the field (sliding is a good start!), Dart looks to be the franchise QB for the G-Men.
25. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
The 26-year-old Shough is looking to ride the momentum gained at the tail end of last season, when he went 5-4 as a starter. He looks like a quality NFL QB, but lacks the upside of both Ward and Dart to surpass them on this list.
Tier 6: The rest of the starters
26. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
After a hot start to his NFL career that saw a Rookie of the Year honour and two Pro Bowl nods in his first three seasons, Murray has failed to continue the upward trajectory. He now gets the chance to prove his worth and has the privilege of throwing to Justin Jefferson to boost his chances.
27. Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
A third-round pick in one of the weakest QB classes of recent memory, Willis is finally the unquestioned starter. He filled in admirably for Love in Green Bay the past few seasons, and is reunited with some Packers coaches and executives in Miami.
28. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Team No. 6 appears to be the spot for Brissett. Despite winning just one of his 12 starts with the Cardinals last season, Brissett threw for 3,366 yards and 23 scores.
29. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
The four-time Pro Bowler hasn't been the same after an Achilles injury that ended his 2023 season early. If Cousins returns to his old standard, the Raiders will finally have competent QB play. If not, it becomes Fernando Mendoza's team.
30. Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons
Tagovailoa enjoyed a solid run as the QB in Miami, but now finds himself in Atlanta. He's proved to be a quality QB at times over his career, but looked abysmal during the pre-season.
31. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Smith is coming off a horrific stint with the Raiders and now finds himself back where it all started in New York. At 35, he'll look to hold down the fort until the Jets have a future solution under centre.
32. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Not too long ago, Watson found himself in the upper echelon of QBs in the league. Five years and $230 million later, he's a shell of his former self and the worst starting QB in the league to start 2026.
Tier 7: Backups who started/could start
33. Michael Penix, Atlanta Falcons
Gifted a boatload of weapons in Atlanta, Penix doesn't have much of an excuse. He's looked good when on the field and showed flashes of why he was the eighth pick in '24 — it's just a matter of staying healthy.
34. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Richardson's tenure with the Colts has been nothing short of a disaster. The 2023 fourth-overall pick has struggled to produce and stay healthy, but there's still plenty of untapped potential at just 24 years old.
35. J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
At this time just one year ago, the Vikings believed McCarthy — the 10th overall pick in 2024 — was their future at the QB position. Fast forward to the beginning of the 2026 campaign, and it looks like McCarthy may be in need of a fresh start at 23 years old.
36. Jameis Winston, New York Giants
One of the most entertaining players in all of football, both on and off the field, Winston now serves as the backup with the Giants. He's deserving of another starting shot somewhere, but he inked a two-year extension on Sunday to remain a support for Dart.
37. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
An inconsistent rookie season somehow saw Sanders earn a Pro Bowl nod. Now entering Year 2, he'll don a headset come game day for the worst QB room in the league.
Tier 8: Rookies who may start
38. Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
Mendoza enjoyed a solid pro debut, but struggled in the final two pre-season games. He'll get his opportunity soon enough to show everyone why he was worthy of being the top pick.
39. Ty Simpson, Los Angeles Rams
Simpson impressed throughout the pre-season and has the benefit of learning from Stafford. His time will just have to wait until the reigning MVP calls it a career.
40. Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals
After six seasons and two programs at the collegiate level, Beck looked like he belonged early in the pre-season. Could he get the nod over Gardner Minshew should Arizona make a change?
41. Drew Allar, Pittsburgh Steelers
Although buried in a crowded QB room, Allar possesses the most upside and intrigue among the Steelers' backup QBs. He has a real shot at becoming the future starter for Mike McCarthy.
42. Cade Klubnik, New York Jets
The Jets love what they've seen out of Klubnik so far, and if things go south quickly in New York, we could see the Clemson University product under centre.
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