NFL · 1 hour ago

Ranking The Top 12 NFL QBs Going Into 2026

Patrick Kelleher

Host · Writer

12) Dak Prescott: Dallas Cowboys
For all the Cowboys' deficiencies over the past couple of seasons, the offense has seen plenty of success, led by Dak Prescott. Despite his lack of postseason success to this point, Prescott has consistently put up productive numbers and is absolutely a top-12 QB entering 2026. He finished last season with 4,552 yards and 30 TD passes, good for 3rd and 4th in the league.
1) Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Chiefs
Last season was uncharted territory for the Kansas City Chiefs in the Patrick Mahomes era, as the team missed the postseason for the first time in his career. Despite the struggles, fans would be hard-pressed to find a better QB to start a team with and lead a franchise. After all, Mahomes currently has more Super Bowl losses than missed playoff appearances. The 3x Super Bowl champion is set to be ready for Week 1, coming off an ACL injury. With added motivation, we could see a version of Mahomes we have not seen in years. Until proven otherwise, Mahomes remains the top QB in the NFL entering 2026.
2) Josh Allen: Buffalo Bills
Last year seemed like the prime chance. With no Kansas City, Baltimore, or Cincinnati to worry about, the path was clear for the Buffalo Bills, but they still fell short. In terms of talent and ability at the QB position, you can make a clear case that Josh Allen tops everyone. Like Lamar Jackson, Allen will also have a new head coach for the first time. Also like Lamar Jackson, Allen has little left to prove in the regular season, combining for 299 total TDs over the course of his career. After last season, the motivation has never been higher in Buffalo, and it starts by taking back the AFC East to secure home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
3) Lamar Jackson: Baltimore Ravens
2026 will mark the first time in Lamar Jackson's career that he has a head coach other than John Harbaugh. Much like the player who is No. 2 on this list, Lamar has little, if anything, left to prove when it comes to the regular season, with his two MVPs and three All-Pro selections speaking for themselves. He is now strictly judged on what happens in the postseason. An injury derailed part of his season last year, but when healthy, Lamar is almost guaranteed to be in the MVP conversation. He remains No. 3, but a postseason run this year could move him up the list. At 29 years old, the time is now for Lamar to strike.
4) Matthew Stafford: Los Angeles Rams
The defending league MVP lands #4 on our QB rankings heading into 2026. Like Cincinnati, the Rams are all in and have assembled the Avengers around Matthew Stafford. LA landed last year's defensive player of the year in Myles Garrett and is also expecting a possible return from future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald. Stafford led the league last season in both yards and TD passes, and LA will enter this season as the betting favorite to win it all. It feels inevitable that Stafford will ride off into the sunset with one last MVP-level campaign in 2026.
5) Joe Burrow: Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are all-in on this season. We don't know what the future holds for head coach Zac Taylor beyond this season. They also made a blockbuster trade, sending All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for the No. 10 overall pick in this past year's draft. The time is now for Joe Burrow to make it happen. When healthy, he is undoubtedly a top QB in the sport. This season will go a long way in determining Burrow's future with the Bengals.
6) Sam Darnold: Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold officially completed his career redemption arc last season, as he commanded Seattle's offense to their first Super Bowl victory since 2013, where they blew out the Broncos 43-8. Darnold followed up a one-year stint in Minnesota by signing a three-year contract in Seattle before last season. After questions about whether you could win postseason games with Darnold at the helm, he put all those questions to bed and helped bring Seattle its second-ever Super Bowl victory. Darnold is now a no-question top-10 QB and a Super Bowl Champion.
7) Drake Maye: New England Patriots
Another QB from the 2024 draft class who took a giant leap with a new coaching staff in year two was Drake Maye. Maye finished second in the final MVP voting behind the Rams' Matthew Stafford, and helped lead New England back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2018 season. Maye finished last season ahead of everyone in total QBR and top-4 in both yards and TD passes. With A.J. Brown now added to the fold, there is no reason why Maye can't see even more success in 2026.
8) Caleb Williams: Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams showed his true capabilities in Ben Johnson's offense and reminded fans why he was the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Last season feels like just an appetizer for what Williams can become, as he led the Bears to their first NFC North title since 2018 and their first playoff victory since 2010. Williams enters 2026 as a clear top-10 QB with even more potential upside.
9) Baker Mayfield: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
For the first half of last season, Baker Mayfield had a legitimate case to be named league MVP. He finished 10th in yards and tied for seventh in TD passes by season's end. Even with the departure of future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans, Mayfield will still have plenty of weapons to spread the ball to and see repeated success, especially in a weak NFC South.
10) Jalen Hurts: Philadelphia Eagles
It would feel disingenuous to leave off the QB who just won Super Bowl MVP 17 months ago, outside of the top-10. However, this is an extremely important year for Jalen Hurts. With Saquon Barkley one year older, A.J. Brown officially on the New England Patriots, and Nick Sirianni's seat getting warmer, the time is now for Hurts to remind fans why he is a former Super Bowl MVP.
11) Justin Herbert: Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is still looking to break through in the postseason, but when healthy and on the field, he always gives the Chargers a chance to win the game. His stats over the past couple of seasons do not jump off the page, especially compared to his first few seasons. However, this is now Year 3 with Jim Harbaugh's system. The familiarity, combined with improved weapons, will require results.
12) Dak Prescott: Dallas Cowboys
For all the Cowboys' deficiencies over the past couple of seasons, the offense has seen plenty of success, led by Dak Prescott. Despite his lack of postseason success to this point, Prescott has consistently put up productive numbers and is absolutely a top-12 QB entering 2026. He finished last season with 4,552 yards and 30 TD passes, good for 3rd and 4th in the league.
1) Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Chiefs
Last season was uncharted territory for the Kansas City Chiefs in the Patrick Mahomes era, as the team missed the postseason for the first time in his career. Despite the struggles, fans would be hard-pressed to find a better QB to start a team with and lead a franchise. After all, Mahomes currently has more Super Bowl losses than missed playoff appearances. The 3x Super Bowl champion is set to be ready for Week 1, coming off an ACL injury. With added motivation, we could see a version of Mahomes we have not seen in years. Until proven otherwise, Mahomes remains the top QB in the NFL entering 2026.

Ranking The Top 12 NFL QBs Going Into 2026

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