​In today’s NFL, you simply can’t be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender without standout quarterback play. That reality helps explain why quarterbacks remain the league’s highest-paid players and why the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed Aaron Rodgers and doubled his 2025 salary. Yet the truth is Rodgers’ 2025 season fell short of elite, and he has a single chance to turn things around before he rides off into the sunset. We’ve assembled our ranking of the 10 best quarterbacks for the 2026 season to see where Rodgers stands, if he makes the cut at all.
If not for a turf toe injury, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow might have been the league MVP in 2025. Assuming he returns to full health, he figures to be a frontrunner for the honor again in 2026. Some would argue for placing Josh Allen at No. 1 over Burrow, and we wouldn’t push back too hard. Allen is the best all-around quarterback in the league, and his rushing ability often makes up for any gaps in the passing game.
Lamar Jackson’s performance dipped in 2025 after a dazzling 2024 season, and his success came in more limited scenarios that didn’t translate into a playoff berth. His rushing prowess remains unmatched, but he must prove he can operate across a full-field passing attack in 2026 to reclaim MVP-level form.
Stafford continues to defy aging trends as a pocket passer who keeps producing. A big part of his MVP-like competence is his decision‑making and his seamless command of the Lions’ offense, along with the wealth of experience he brings against NFL defenses.
Jordan Love took a substantial leap forward last season and clearly belongs in this group. He averaged 225 passing yards per game and finished with a 101.2 rating, establishing himself as the top young quarterback in this cohort and signaling that the group as a whole is exceedingly impressive.
Patrick Mahomes is coming off his worst season and is navigating recovery from torn knee ligaments, yet we still slot him at No. 6 based on his potential, reputation, and the Chiefs’ coaching. He’s the one name on this list most likely to tumble, given the injury and the surrounding uncertainty.
Some considered placing Bryce Young at No. 6 because of his extraordinary talent and his perfect fit for the Patriots’ offense, but that spot ultimately went to other quarterbacks. We briefly toyed with the idea of omitting Jared Goff from the list, yet his consistency behind a fluctuating Lions offense—coupled with ranking No. 2 in the NFL in passing yards last season—made him impossible to ignore as a true field general.
We’ve long felt that Justin Herbert’s immense skill set has been squandered by the Chargers due to a lack of supporting talent around him. That reality may persist into 2026, but Herbert remains the quarterback on this list who does the most with the least. Caleb Williams showed dramatic improvement in 2025 and finally seems to relish playing football at a high level, and his development helps anchor the future of the quarterback position. This ranking emphasizes not only current performance but also the trajectory and the surrounding support that can elevate these offenses.