There is no more important position in all of sports than quarterback. The best and worst quarterback rankings for 2026 provide a closer look at the leaders of NFL teams. Ranking the starting quarterbacks is not an easy task, but one worth examining before the 2026 season begins.
Best and Worst Quarterback Rankings for 2026
Best and Worst Quarterback Rankings for 2026: Overrated
- Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles – Hurts has played with a great supporting cast. Looks like he may already be past his peak.
THIS IS WILD…#Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has a better release and throwing motion than his own quarterback Jalen Hurts.
😳😳😳
If Philadelphia ever needs a new starting quarterback… Sirianni is the man. pic.twitter.com/T4ZeIlhddx
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) June 13, 2026
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers – Even though Young had a decent year last season, it was a rebound from a horrible start to his career. Young is destined to be average at best.
- Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers – Rodgers has the mental characteristics to excel at 43, but the physical tools just aren’t there anymore.
- Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins – Willis was a draft bust in Tennessee before landing a backup job in Green Bay. He threw for three touchdowns last season and received a 3-year, $67.5 million contract in free agency. That is perhaps the ultimate example of overrated.
- Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals – Brissett is the definition of an NFL journeyman. Nothing fancy here. He is a placeholder.
- Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders – Cousins signed in Vegas to be the starting quarterback, a placeholder while top overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza learns. Cousins may be good for five or six wins this season, but that’s it.
- Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings – Murray has not proven he can lead a team yet. Doesn’t seem like he has much more than journeyman ability, however.
Best and Worst Quarterback Rankings for 2026: Underrated
- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions – All he does is win, baby.
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers – Purdy wins games. Some call him a game manager, but if the definition of a game manager is being instrumental to your team’s success, then so be it.
- Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mayfield slipped a bit last season, but there is no doubting his leadership. Even with Chris Godwin injured most of last season, Mayfield still performed.
- Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans – Even though he was the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ward didn’t have much to work with last season. Make no mistake about it, Ward is a stud in the making.
I am so tired of the Cam Ward excuse making:
-Brian Callahan
-Bad roster
-Bad PFF grade
-Worst QBR
-It's June
-He's learning a new offense
-He has new WRsAt some point, didn't they draft Cam number 1 to elevate the franchise? pic.twitter.com/1idvqKlmTT
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) June 9, 2026
- Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns – Sanders has had some success with the Browns, albeit with a shaky supporting cast on offense. If he ever gets a fair chance to prove himself, Sanders has a lot to prove.
TRENDING: This video of #Browns Pro Bowl quarterback Shedeur Sanders has gone viral after he posted it heading to the team's media day.
What do you notice about this…?
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) June 8, 2026
- Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals – Beck has loads of potential and could be a big surprise if Arizona actually allows him to start this season.
- Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts – Jones had the Colts off to a great start last season before he was sidelined by injury. He could become a top ten quarterback if he can stay healthy.
- Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders – 2025 was a wasted season due to injury issues. If he can stay on the field, he is easily a top-ten quarterback.
- Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks – Darnold has found himself, and he is a winner.
A full year of “just make Sam Darnold beat you” just for it to end with this video 😭 pic.twitter.com/G6tjZY7hXn
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) June 12, 2026
Best and Worst Quarterback Rankings for 2026: The Studs
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals – Burrow has his injury troubles, but he is a bona fide stud.
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers – Herbert has all the physical tools, and despite not bringing playoff success to the Chargers, the guy has been a stud in the regular season.
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars – Lawrence continues to improve, and Head Coach Liam Coen and Lawrence have clicked. Lawrence will get nothing but better.
- Drake Maye, New England Patriots – Maye is now a bona fide star.
DRAKE MAYE THROWING DIMES TO AJ BROWN AND ROMEO DOUBS.
Maye, Brown, and Doubs are expected to be the best trio in the league this season.
Drake is the most physically gifted quarterback in the league & for the first time, he has two legitimate weapons. pic.twitter.com/LnIAfLAQhM
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) June 9, 2026
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys – The numbers don’t lie. Prescott could be looking at a Hall of Fame career when it’s all said and done.
- Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears – Williams has some Brett Favre in him, some John Elway as well. He has arrived.
WOW: #Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was asked about #Packers star Micah Parsons calling him the best quarterback in football.
Williams said he views it as a rivalry and said that he would not vote for any Green Bay player in the #NFL Top 100 list. pic.twitter.com/fD6zHb7Ix9
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) June 11, 2026
- Bo Nix, Denver Broncos – Nix has proven he has what it takes to succeed.
Best and Worst Quarterback Rankings for 2026: HOF Awaits
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens – Already a lock for the Hall of Fame. Jackson shows no signs of slowing down.
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs – First ballot Hall of Famer. He will cement his lore as one of the best all-time when he comes back with a vengeance in 2026.
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills – The alien is coming off another out-of-this-world season. Could 2026 finally be the season Allen leads Buffalo to the Super Bowl?
"I want to be known as a good football player, but that's a great human being right there. This allows me to show that off in a way that's authentic to me."@MartySmithESPN sat down with Josh Allen and talked about the custom-designed hats he has worn, designed by the children… pic.twitter.com/iPhW0VvEIe
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 11, 2026
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams – Stafford doesn’t show many signs of slowing down. Could he play another two or three years? Indeed.
Best and Worst Quarterback Rankings for 2026: Time Will Tell
- Jaxson Dart, New York Giants – Dart shared flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. Will he show continued growth in 2026?
Isaiah Likely on Jaxson Dart:
"He's swaggy, always has a smile, he's always being competitive…whether he makes a play or misses a play he's going to give the next play all he's got.. he's really what you look for in a starting quarterback" pic.twitter.com/OizLjlgkpq
— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) June 8, 2026
- Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints – Shough was 4-1 in the final five games last season, his rookie season. Can the Saints build around Shough, though?
- Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns – Watson was a phenomenal quarterback with the Texans before the Browns traded for the budding star. The cost? Seven draft picks. Years later, here is Watson in the final year of his contract, and there is a sliver of hope he can be an adequate quarterback.
🚨🚨THIS IS INSANE🚨🚨#Browns Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson took this video of his wife lying in the bed of their private jet.
Watson only flies Private — including internationally, across the world.
This video has gone viral on social media: pic.twitter.com/0kr3Cp4zwv https://t.co/MNUy6TEh5J
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) June 10, 2026
- Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders – It didn’t make sense to label Mendoza as underrated after he was selected first overall in the draft. Had it not been for projections that the 2027 draft is loaded at quarterback, multiple teams may have made more serious efforts to trade for Mendoza.
- Geno Smith, New York Jets – Smith is an average NFL quarterback, at his best. He was successful in Seattle before flopping with the Raiders last season. The Jets traded for Smith in the offseason, returning Smith to the team that drafted him. The expectations for Smith are low.
- Michael Penix, Atlanta Falcons – Penix might already have achieved budding star status had he been drafted into a system that knew how to utilize his talents. He has struggled in Atlanta, and now the Falcons have added Tua Tagovailoa to compete for the starting job.
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans – Stroud began his career like gangbusters, only to see the former Ohio State standout play at an average level the last two seasons. Stroud either plays like a stud or the Texans should cast him aside after the season.
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers – Love has played MVP caliber football at times, and at other times, is more like Jordan ‘Like’ not Love. Has he already peaked?
- J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings – Injuries have kept McCarthy from establishing himself as an NFL quarterback.
