As the 2026 NFL season approaches, quarterback play remains the biggest factor in determining which teams can contend for a Super Bowl. From established MVPs to rising young stars, every division features intriguing battles under center.
Here’s a breakdown of the top NFL quarterbacks by division along with the overall quarterback rankings heading into the 2026 season.
2026 NFL Quarterback Rankings (Overall)
Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks
| Rank | Quarterback | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2 | Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills |
| 3 | Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams |
| 4 | Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens |
| 5 | Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 | Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 7 | Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 8 | Jared Goff | Detroit Lions |
| 9 | Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 10 | Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears |
Mahomes continues to hold the top spot after another dominant campaign, while Allen, Stafford, and Jackson remain among the NFL’s elite. Dak Prescott rounds out the top five after another productive season in Dallas.
Complete 2026 NFL Quarterback Rankings
| Rank | Quarterback | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2 | Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills |
| 3 | Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams |
| 4 | Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens |
| 5 | Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys |
| 6 | Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 7 | Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 8 | Jared Goff | Detroit Lions |
| 9 | Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 10 | Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears |
| 11 | Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 12 | Drake Maye | New England Patriots |
| 13 | Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers |
| 14 | Bo Nix | Denver Broncos |
| 15 | Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 16 | Aaron Rodgers | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 17 | Sam Darnold | Seattle Seahawks |
| 18 | Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers |
| 19 | Daniel Jones | Indianapolis Colts |
| 20 | C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans |
| 21 | Geno Smith | New York Jets |
| 22 | Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders |
| 23 | Tyler Shough | New Orleans Saints |
| 24 | Malik Willis | Miami Dolphins |
| 25 | Cam Ward | Tennessee Titans |
| 26 | Jaxson Dart | New York Giants |
| 27 | Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers |
| 28 | Kirk Cousins | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 29 | Tua Tagovailoa | Atlanta Falcons |
| 30 | Deshaun Watson | Cleveland Browns |
| 31 | Kyler Murray | Minnesota Vikings |
| 32 | Jacoby Brissett / Gardner Minshew | Arizona Cardinals |
NFC East Quarterback Rankings
- Dak Prescott — Dallas Cowboys
- Jalen Hurts — Philadelphia Eagles
- Jayden Daniels — Washington Commanders
- Jaxson Dart — New York Giants
The NFC East features one of the league’s strongest quarterback groups, led by Prescott and Hurts, while Daniels continues to develop into one of the NFL’s most exciting young dual-threat quarterbacks.
NFC North Quarterback Rankings
- Jared Goff — Detroit Lions
- Caleb Williams — Chicago Bears
- Jordan Love — Green Bay Packers
- Kyler Murray / J.J. McCarthy — Minnesota Vikings
Detroit retains the division’s top quarterback, while Caleb Williams continues climbing the league-wide rankings entering another pivotal season.
NFC South Quarterback Rankings
- Baker Mayfield — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Bryce Young — Carolina Panthers
- Tua Tagovailoa / Michael Penix Jr. — Atlanta Falcons
- Tyler Shough — New Orleans Saints
The NFC South has experienced significant turnover, but Mayfield enters 2026 as the division’s highest-rated signal caller.
NFC West Quarterback Rankings
- Matthew Stafford — Los Angeles Rams
- Brock Purdy — San Francisco 49ers
- Sam Darnold — Seattle Seahawks
- Jacoby Brissett / Gardner Minshew / Carson Beck — Arizona Cardinals
Stafford remains among the NFL’s elite after another outstanding campaign, giving the Rams one of the strongest quarterback advantages in the conference.
AFC East Quarterback Rankings
- Josh Allen — Buffalo Bills
- Drake Maye — New England Patriots
- Geno Smith — New York Jets
- Malik Willis — Miami Dolphins
Allen continues to dominate the AFC East, while Drake Maye enters 2026 as one of the league’s fastest-rising young quarterbacks.
AFC North Quarterback Rankings
- Lamar Jackson — Baltimore Ravens
- Joe Burrow — Cincinnati Bengals
- Aaron Rodgers — Pittsburgh Steelers
- Deshaun Watson / Shedeur Sanders — Cleveland Browns
The AFC North arguably boasts the NFL’s toughest quarterback competition, with two former MVP-caliber players leading the division.
AFC South Quarterback Rankings
- Trevor Lawrence — Jacksonville Jaguars
- C.J. Stroud — Houston Texans
- Daniel Jones — Indianapolis Colts
- Cam Ward — Tennessee Titans
Lawrence narrowly earns the top spot over Stroud, while rookie Cam Ward begins his NFL career in Tennessee.
AFC West Quarterback Rankings
- Patrick Mahomes — Kansas City Chiefs
- Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers
- Bo Nix — Denver Broncos
- Kirk Cousins / Fernando Mendoza — Las Vegas Raiders
The AFC West remains Patrick Mahomes’ division until proven otherwise, with Herbert and Bo Nix looking to challenge Kansas City’s dominance.
Biggest Storylines for the 2026 NFL Season
Several quarterback storylines will shape the upcoming season:
- Patrick Mahomes looks to maintain his position as the NFL’s top quarterback.
- Josh Allen continues chasing his first Super Bowl title.
- Caleb Williams enters the season as one of the league’s fastest-rising stars.
- Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels aim to establish themselves among the NFL’s elite young quarterbacks.
- Veterans Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Baker Mayfield continue to prove they can compete at a high level.
- Rookie quarterbacks such as Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart will be closely watched as they begin their NFL careers.
Final Thoughts
Quarterback talent across the NFL has never been deeper. While established stars like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Matthew Stafford continue to headline the league, the next generation—led by Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and Cam Ward—adds even more excitement heading into the 2026 season.
With every division featuring a mix of proven veterans and emerging talent, the race for the playoffs and ultimately the Super Bowl promises to be driven by elite quarterback play once again.