The 2026 NFL season is still three months away, but it’s never too early for some power rankings. Here are all 32 projected starting quarterbacks for Week 1 and where they stand as of right now.
32. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Geno Smith is coming off one of his worst years in the NFL, throwing a league-leading 17 interceptions. He’s returning to the team that drafted him in 2026. At 35 years old, a career resurgence on the Jets feels extremely unlikely.
31. Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders or Deshaun Watson, they’ll be low on this list. Sanders would be my pick for QB1, but he’s still extremely unproven. He started seven games his rookie year, and threw for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
30. Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons
Tua Tagovailoa has had great seasons in the NFL. Last year was not one of them. He threw for a career-high 15 interceptions and was unceremoniously released by the Miami Dolphins. 2026 is a prove-it year for him in Atlanta.
29. Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
Malik Willis earned himself a payday in Miami after a strong showing in 2025. He appeared in a relief role in three games, while starting one of his own. In his 35 pass attempts, he completed 30 for 422 yards and three touchdowns. The sample size is small, but it was enough to get a starting job.
28. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
2025 was a career year for 33-year-old Jacoby Brissett. He started 12 games and threw for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He’s going into Year 11 to prove he’s a starting-caliber QB. He won’t be the long-term option, but he’s Arizona’s guy in 2026.
27. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Just like Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray has had good seasons in the NFL. He only played five games last year before being released by the Arizona Cardinals. In that span, he threw for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. Now he’s vying for a starting job with a guru head coach in Kevin O’Connell.
26. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins is one of the NFL’s most intelligent QBs. He can dissect defenses in a way few others can. If he were the true QB1 in Vegas, he’d be higher on this list. It’s more likely that he plays the first few weeks until Fernando Mendoza is ready. To be fair, if the rookie out of Indiana were the projected starter, I’d have him around here anyways.
25. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young is finally coming into his own in the NFL. He had a career year in 2025, but he’s still not reaching his “first-overall pick” potential. He threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions last season. 2026 might be a make-or-break year for him.
24. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers is a future Hall of Famer, but at 42 years old, how much can he offer? This is his final year, and he played well enough last season. The four-time MVP is still a strong starter, and he has a new WR2 in Michael Pittman Jr.
23. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough impressed in his nine starts for the Saints. He threw for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Saints believe in him and have added Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson to the offense. It’s hard to see him not climbing the ranks by midseason.
22. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones went through a resurgence in his first season as a Colt. He started 13 games, throwing for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. A torn Achilles cut his season short, and it’s unclear what kind of QB he’ll be upon his return.
21. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
Call me crazy, but I still believe in CJ Stroud. The Texans’ QB had a stellar rookie season, and the offensive line has done him no favors over the past three years. His WR2 in Tank Dell is set to return this year, giving him another reliable target next to Nico Collins. His numbers and confidence need to improve in his upcoming contract year.
20. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
I’ve seen enough to know that Cam Ward is the Titans’ franchise QB. I haven’t seen enough to put him any higher than this. He has new weapons in Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson, along with a new coaching staff. He showed potential with 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It’s time to capitalize on that.
19. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix has been a good NFL QB, but not quite yet great. His first two years are eerily similar in terms of stats. In 2024, he threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He followed that with 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Nix is recovering from a fractured ankle suffered in the divisional round of the playoffs. While he’s still on track to make it for Week 1, he might take some time to settle back in.
18. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love has all the talent in the world, but he hasn’t grown into the elite QB he can be. 2023 was his first year as the Packers’ starter. He threw for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In 2024, he threw for 3,389 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Finally, in 2025, he logged 3,381 yards, 23 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
A quarterback as talented as Love should see a rise in production, not stagnation. He’s already earned a contract and plays for one of the smartest head coaches in the NFL. He needs to take a leap in 2026 if the Packers want to get over the hump.
17. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart was the bright spot on an otherwise abysmal Giants team. He showed potential as a true dual-threat QB, throwing for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also rushed for 487 yards and nine more scores.
Now, Dart has a Super Bowl-winning head coach in John Harbaugh and an all-around improved roster. On top of that, Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo returning to the lineup gives him an even better chance to break out.
16. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Going into his 11th season, it’s becoming harder to buy into Jared Goff as the Lions’ future. He tried his best to elevate a middling offense, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Regardless of my doubts, he’s one of the most efficient and smartest passers in the NFL. He’ll continue to play at a high level as usual.
15. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy had a down year in 2025, playing in only nine games. In that span, he led the team to a 7-2 record while the roster seemed to fall to injury around him. He recorded 2,167 pass yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
At his best, Purdy has already appeared in a Super Bowl. Now, he has Mike Evans in his offense, which should only improve production. If “Mr. Irrelevant” can stay healthy, he can play at an extremely high level. His 2023 stats are proof of that.
14. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold has proven over the last two years that he’s a great NFL QB. He has back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons and a Lombardi Trophy to prove it now. He’s a fringe top-10 quarterback, and one more great year will propel him into some serious conversations.
13. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
There is constant discourse around Jalen Hurts as an elite NFL quarterback. He has ups and downs, but who wouldn’t with a revolving door of offensive systems. Regardless of circumstance, when the Eagles need him, he can lock in and do exactly what needs to be done.
12. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield was hearing MVP chants from the Tampa crowd last October. He was playing lights-out football until a shoulder injury slowed him down. In 2024, he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. A healthy Mayfield is dangerous to the NFL.
11. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s incredible what a head coach like Liam Coen can do. In his first year in Jacksonville, he had Trevor Lawrence playing incredible football. The Clemson product finally has something to sink his teeth into, and he should be even higher on this list a year from now.
10. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm in 2024, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award as a result. An injury-riddled 2025 cut him down to only seven games, and he struggled mightily. His ability to stay healthy is in question, but when he’s on the field, he’s borderline elite.
9. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye led the NFL in completion percentage (72%) in 2025, along with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns. He’s the MVP runner-up, and his lackluster Super Bowl showing isn’t 100% his fault. He’s in the top 10; now he just needs to keep building on his success.
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is quietly one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. He’s coming off 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a league-leading 404 completions in 2025. He has arguably the best wide receiver duo in the league, and he knows exactly how to succeed with them.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
With practically no offensive line last year, Justin Herbert still threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was sacked 54 times, the third most in the league. Give him more than two seconds to drop back, and he can make some incredible plays.
6. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
I’ve bought into the hype of “The Iceman”. Caleb Williams is electrifying to watch, especially late in the game. His accuracy can still use some work, but with Ben Johnson as his head coach, that will only improve.
In 2025, he threw for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also led the NFL with six fourth-quarter comebacks. With second-year weapons like Luther Burden and Colston Loveland, along with Rome Odunze, “The Iceman” will thrive in 2026.
5. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes wasn’t exactly playing Superman before he tore his ACL and LCL in Week 15 last year. He threw for 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Now, Mahomes is coming off the worst injury of his career. He’s been in OTA’s and is throwing and jogging with a brace. A return in Week 1 isn’t entirely out of the question.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow played in only eight games last year, throwing for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He could be argued as the best quarterback in the NFL, but he simply needs to stay healthy.
3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were a messy team to watch in 2025. They struggled in many aspects of the game, and Lamar Jackson didn’t look like himself after a Week 4 hamstring injury.
Jackson is 29 years old now, and he isn’t running the way he once did. Despite that, he’s still one of the best passers in the NFL, and a bounce-back season would be extremely unsurprising.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
It would be hard to disagree that Josh Allen is the best QB in the NFL. He carries an offense like no one else can, and the Bills are simply not a playoff contender without him. His 2024 MVP season is proof of that fact.
If there’s any doubt about Allen’s Superman abilities, the Bills’ season opener against the Ravens will silence it. Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady is now the head coach, and DJ Moore brings a new dimension to the team. It’s time to get over the playoff hump.
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are the current favorites to win Super Bowl LXI for a plethora of reasons. The top of that list should be the reigning NFL MVP, Matthew Stafford. He led the league in pass yards (4,707), touchdowns (46), and yards per game (269.9).
Stafford still has Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Kyren Williams, and most of all, Sean McVay. At 38 years old, he could start to regress, but he started last season with a herniated disc and still lit up the league. It might be a hot take to put him here, but when the game is on the line, in the biggest moments, who can be trusted more than Stafford?
End Of My NFL Quarterback Rant
There is nothing more important in the NFL than having an elite quarterback. Some teams are still searching for that, and starters are still being decided. JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., Justin Fields, and Fernando Mendoza could still end up starting the season under center.
