We’re two games into the 2026 NFL season, and we already have fireworks. It’s shaping up to be a wild and wonderful season of football, and quarterback play is, as always, at the center of the conversation.

Today, I’m ranking all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. I pulled a lot of data for this piece, and you’ll see references to a variety of advanced stats throughout. These metrics helped build the rankings, as did traditional stats and good old-fashioned film study. For the purposes of this article, I only included the Week 1 starting quarterbacks for each team. As a result, there were a few omissions, perhaps most notably the Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. and the Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza. Perhaps they’ll appear in these rankings next year.

One last note: I pulled the data and ranked the quarterbacks before any 2026 games were played. The two games we’ve seen so far this season did not impact these rankings.

Let’s dive right in.

1 — Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen is a model of consistency. In two of the last three years, his adjusted completion rate was above 76 percent. His big-time throw rate went from 6.1 percent in 2023 to 7.0 percent in 2024 to 5.1 percent in 2025, all while keeping his turnover-worthy play rate below three percent. In that same span, his yards per attempt were above seven each year, and he hovered at an average depth of target between eight and nine yards.

Explosive playmaking while being smart with the football. That defines Allen’s game, and that’s not even factoring in how dangerous he can be on the ground. Ranking Allen first might be the least controversial part of this whole article.

2 — Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

The best individual season for a quarterback among all the seasons of data I studied for this piece was Jackson’s 2024 campaign. Just look at the numbers: a 95.3 PFF grade, a big-time throw rate of 6.3 percent, a minuscule 1.6-percent turnover-worthy play rate, 8.6 yards per attempt, a 75.9 adjusted completion percentage, all coming on an average depth of target of 9.3 yards. Jackson added nearly a thousand rushing yards to those passing stats, too.

Jackson is a cheat code, a human highlight reel, whatever accolade you want to throw his way. Without voter fatigue, he’d have three MVP awards in his trophy case. A comparatively poor (and injured) 2025 season is the only reason he’s not No. 1 on this list…and even then, it’s a hairsbreadth margin.

3 — Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

No, Mahomes didn’t have a great season last year, even before he suffered a knee injury that ended it. But you don’t have to go back far to find a season that ranks among the best I charted. In 2023, he had over 4,000 yards passing, an adjusted completion percentage over 78, and a PFF grade of 90.3. His big-time throw and turnover-worthy play rates stay remarkably consistent: over the last three years, they’ve hovered around four and 2.5 percent, respectively.

That said, Mahomes’ 2024 and 2025 seasons are closer to good than great. His PFF grade dropped from that 90.3 in 2023 to an 83.4 in 2024 and a 76.3 in 2025. His passing totals and adjusted completion percentages dropped similarly. Once standing in a tier of his own at the top of the league, Mahomes could find himself in muddier waters without a bounce-back season.

4 — Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

2024 was an incredible year for quarterbacks. Burrow’s advanced metrics that year are the best among all Week 1 starting quarterbacks over the last three seasons. He threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns with an adjusted completion rate of 76.5 percent, had a 5.4-percent big-time throw rate to just a 1.9-percent turnover-worthy play rate, and had an eye-popping 94.1 PFF grade.

By comparison, Burrow’s injury-shortened 2023 and 2025 seasons weren’t nearly as impressive. But they were still solid, all things considered. His playstyle never changed, getting the ball out quickly and on time, pushing it downfield without creating turnovers. Though his sack rate trends high, it’s a relatively small thing for one of the league’s best quarterbacks.

5 — Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

The reigning MVP, Stafford’s 2025 season is worth going over in detail. He’s coming off one of the best individual seasons in recent years, yet public opinion would suggest it was a “down” year for the MVP race. Stafford threw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns to eight interceptions, with a 71.0 adjusted completion percentage. He averaged 7.8 yards per attempt, had an utterly ridiculous 7.7-percent big-time throw rate compared to a turnover-worthy play rate of just 3.3 percent, and had a 10.1-yard average depth of target.

As I said, it’s one of the best individual seasons we’ve seen at the position in some time. And it’s not a one-off, either. 2025 may have been the best season of Stafford’s career, but he’s been one of the most explosive and efficient quarterbacks in the league for some time. Now he’s just getting the recognition he deserves.

6 — Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Fans of opposing teams might question why Herbert is so hyped in NFL media despite never winning a playoff game. A quick look at his advanced stats more than answers that question. In 2024, Herbert posted a 91.2 PFF grade, a big-time throw rate of 5.8 percent (and a turnover-worthy play rate of 2.4 percent), averaged 7.4 yards per attempt at an average depth of target of 9.4 yards, and had a 74.7 adjusted completion percentage.

Those numbers weren’t quite as pretty in 2025, as Herbert lost both of his starting tackles early in the season, then even the backups and interior offensive linemen started getting hurt. His best seasons are among the best of any quarterback in the league, and his down years are still good. Not many quarterbacks have Herbert’s resume, and he could go nuclear this year in Chargers OC Mike McDaniel’s offense.

7 — Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

I am once again begging people to stop underrating Dak. He’s proven himself time and again one of the best passers in the league. Though Prescott’s 2024 campaign was a down year by his standards, his 2023 and 2025 seasons put him in elite company. In 2023, he had a 90.3 PFF grade, a 5.9-percent big-time throw rate, a 2.2-percent turnover-worthy play rate, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, had a 74.1 adjusted completion percentage, and had over 4,500 passing yards.

Prescott’s 2025 season was nearly identical. Last year, he had an 86.9 PFF grade, a 4.8-percent big-time throw rate, a 2.7-percent turnover-worthy play rate, averaged 7.3 yards per attempt, had a 73.8 adjusted completion percentage, and had over 4,500 passing yards. Prescott is a model of consistency at the highest level — and is poised to do it all again.

8 — Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Despite his reputation in big moments, Love quietly has some of the best advanced metrics in the game. After sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for three seasons, he exploded onto the scene in 2023, posting 4,159 passing yards with a 70.5 adjusted completion percentage, an 84.5 PFF grade, a 5.4-percent big-time throw rate, a 2.4-percent turnover-worthy play rate and an aggressive 9.4 average depth of target.

Love’s raw numbers have been in steady decline ever since, but his efficiency’s gone up. He set a new career-high with an 89.1 PFF grade in 2025, continues to be aggressive attacking downfield while avoiding turnovers, consistently makes big-time throws, and his adjusted completion percentage went up each season. Looking at the numbers, it’s hard to argue Love isn’t a top-10 quarterback in the league.

9 — Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

Darnold’s career resurgence will continue to trick franchises into signing talented reclamation projects in the hopes they are half as good as he turned out to be. In Minnesota in 2024, Darnold was a big-play machine, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns with a 73.2 adjusted completion percentage. His 82.0 PFF grade and 5.3 big-time throw rate underscore just how good he was for the Vikings.

The only blemishes on his record that year? A 3.7 turnover-worthy play rate, which is pretty high, and a bad 61 sacks taken. In Seattle, though, he cleaned those areas up. Darnold’s turnover-worthy play rate dropped to 3.2 percent and he only took 34 sacks on the season. He also bumped his big-time throw rate up to 5.6 percent. I don’t think Darnold is getting enough credit for the great play he’s put on tape in this two-year stretch.

10 — Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

At this point, it’s pretty much accepted that Lawrence won’t ever reach the “generational” heights he was hyped up to have as a prospect. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a very, very good quarterback. Over the last three seasons, Lawrence quietly became one of the most consistent and electric passers in the league.

In 2023, Lawrence had an 81.1 PFF grade, a 5.8-percent big-time throw rate, a 3.9-percent turnover-worthy play rate, and a 72.3 adjusted completion percentage. Those numbers were virtually identical across the board in 2025, down to a total difference of nine passing yards between the two seasons, and he cleared 4,000 in both. The exception to that would be his big-time throw and turnover-worthy play rates, which dropped to 4.6 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively. Lawrence is one of the most aggressive downfield passers in the league, and with that comes batches of turnovers and questionable decisions. But the big plays more than make up for it.

11 — Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

There might not be a more polarizing player in the entire league, regardless of position. To start, let’s stick with the numbers: Hurts is a big-play machine but takes exceptional care of the football. His big-time throw rate bounced between 4.6 and 4.8 over the last few years, while his turnover-worthy play rate hovered around two (it did get up to 3.2 in 2024). His adjusted completion percentage was up to 79.3 in 2024, as well. Back in 2023, his PFF grade sat at an 87.2.

Hurts had a down year production-wise in 2025, as did the entire Eagles offense. His play in 2023 and 2024 was much better. He takes too many sacks and holds onto the ball too long, but also attacks downfield at an above-average rate while keeping up good efficiency. We’ll see what he does with a retooled unit in 2026.

12 — Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Is Purdy a product of 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan’s system, or does he elevate it? After digging into it, I can confidently say it’s probably a mixture of both. Purdy is put in a lot of advantageous situations, true, but San Francisco’s offense always looks better when he’s at the center of it.

What stands out with Purdy is his remarkable consistency. Over the last three years, his PFF grades are an 88.1, an 82.9 and an 86.1. His adjusted completion rate hovers around 75 percent, and his average depth of target is close to nine yards. Purdy is a bit more turnover-prone than you’d like, with turnover-worthy play rates above three percent in each of the last three seasons, but he makes up for it with a collected playstyle that still pushes the ball aggressively down the field.

13 — Drake Maye, New England Patriots

The runner-up to both the MVP and a Super Bowl title in just his second season, Maye is revitalizing a Patriots franchise that didn’t have to wait long for Tom Brady’s successor. The stats are impressive enough on their own: 4,394 passing yards and 31 touchdowns to just eight interceptions at a 75.1-percent adjusted completion percentage. But what set Maye apart last year was his downfield efficiency. He threw at a whopping 10.0 average depth of target with a big-time throw rate of 4.8 percent. His ability to attack downfield without sacrificing efficiency led to an incredibly dangerous New England offense.

Maye is dragged down in this ranking for two reasons. First, the advanced metrics for his 2025 season are pretty pedestrian relative to the best seasons of his competition. Second, he took 72 sacks — an astronomical number. Yes, that tally is partially inflated by the playoffs and a leaky Patriots offensive line, but the fact remains that Maye held on to the ball too long (a 3.12-second average time to throw) and it cost his team in big moments. With some continued growth, Maye could rank higher on this list next year.

14 — Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

After being selected No. 1 overall in 2024, Williams had a poor rookie season. He showed flashes of the quarterback he could be, but they were few and far between relative to the rest of his play. Then the Bears hired former Lions OC Ben Johnson, and all that flipped overnight. Williams had a major breakout season in 2025, and while he was far from perfect, he looked like someone well on his way to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

A 77.5 PFF grade won’t jump off the page, but Williams’ 5.3-percent big-time throw rate does, and he pairs that with a respectable 3.1-percent turnover-worthy play rate. He averaged 6.8 yards per attempt and cut his sacks down to 30 from 73. His adjusted completion percentage of 68.8 is lower than you’d like, and that’s the next step for Williams: he does the seemingly impossible every week. If he gets a bit more efficient, he’ll be unstoppable.

15 — Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

The archetypal pocket passer, Goff’s numbers from a clean pocket are kind of silly. Efficiency is the name of his game: he had an adjusted completion percentage of 78.5 in 2024 and 78.9 in 2025. His average time to throw usually hovers around 2.6 seconds, and he has four straight seasons throwing for over 4,500 yards. That’s just a ridiculous level of consistent, high-end production.

Goff’s metrics have waned slightly over the last two seasons as the Lions offensive line took a step back. His PFF grade dropped from an 86.4 in 2023 to a 79.0 in 2024 and a 77.9 in 2025. He posted identical 3.2-percent big-time throw and turnover-worthy play rates in 2024, and his sack rate is up a tick as well. Goff isn’t the quarterback to elevate your offense, but he’ll take what you have around him and run it to the maximum. That’s extremely valuable.

16 — Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In Week 2 of the 2025 season, Mayfield sprained his MCL and PCL. Later in that same season, he bruised a bicep and had a general “shoulder injury” he battled through as the year progressed. That clearly hampered him and he wasn’t the same player down the stretch of the season.

If we look at the two years before that, however, Mayfield’s advanced metrics put him in rarer company than you might expect. Let’s take a look at his 2024 campaign: he had an 86.1 PFF grade, a 77.1-percent adjusted completion rate and threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. In two of the last three seasons, his big-time throw rate was above 4.5 percent. It’s not hard to see why the Bucs were motivated to hand him a fat extension earlier this week.

17 — C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud hasn’t quite matched the highs of his rookie season. But his 2024 campaign was also pretty good — his production just dipped behind a shaky Texans offensive line in 2025 and he imploded in the playoffs. His big-time throw rate went from 4.3 percent in both 2023 and 2024 to 3.3 percent in 2025, while his turnover-worthy play rate jumped from 2.8 percent in both his first two years to 3.8 percent in 2025.

Stroud cut his sacks nearly in half last season, going from 63 in 2024 down to just 37. But that came at the cost of his efficiency: his adjusted completion rate fell to 68.4 percent, his time to throw was the fastest of his career and he barely crossed 3,000 yards passing. With more faith in his offensive line, I think Stroud’s efficiency should jump back up.

18 — Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

In his magical rookie season, Daniels took the NFL by storm. He posted 3,568 passing yards and added 891 yards on the ground, with a 3.6-percent big-time throw rate against just a 1.5-percent turnover-worthy play rate. His 90.6 PFF grade showed his impact in both the pass and run games, and he was fairly aggressive pushing the ball downfield.

Now, there were several asterisks on that impressive rookie season. Daniels’ 67.7 adjusted completion percentage is lower than you’d like, and he took 57 sacks. That showed areas for potential growth — but Daniels’ numbers plummeted across the board in 2025. Even when he was healthy, he wasn’t the same player, and the Commanders crumbled around him. So far, it’s a tale of two seasons for Daniels’ professional career. What will Year 3 hold?

19 — Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

After a solid rookie season, Nix took a step forward in every way in 2025. His big-time throw rate went up to 5.1 percent, and he kept his turnover-worthy play rate down to 2.9 percent. His average depth of target was nearly identical both seasons, going from 7.9 yards to 8.1, a point against his reputation as a check-down and short-throw connoisseur. Nix’s sack avoidance might be his best trait: through two seasons, he’s taken a total of 52 sacks.

But there are still aspects of his game that need a lot of work. He averaged just 6.2 yards per attempt last season and he has yet to reach a PFF grade above an 80. Last season the Broncos had one of the highest three-and-out rates in the league, speaking to the hot-and-cold nature of Nix’s game. Nix is a good quarterback — we’ll see if he can ascend to the levels of the great.

20 — Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

Jones is one of the harder players to rank in this exercise. He was not good with the Giants, and while his career got a second life in Indy, it’s easy to argue he was a product of his environment. With Jones at the helm and Shane Steichen calling plays, the Colts had the league’s most efficient offense in 2025. But he had more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws and a PFF grade of just a 72.0.

That’s not to say it was all bad. His 9.0-yard average depth of target showcased his willingness to attack downfield, and he had a solid 74.6 adjusted completion percentage. But while he was efficient, he didn’t exactly elevate the Colts offense. That said, after he tore his Achilles, the Colts offense cratered, losing their final seven games and missing the playoffs after starting 8-2 with Jones. Part of that was due to backup Anthony Richardson also being out and the Colts turning to Philip Rivers five years post-retirement, but the fact remains that Jones is an important part of this offense.

21 — Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings

Murray’s 2024 season — the only of the last three he’s come even close to playing 17 games — was a lot better than people remember. His 82.7 PFF grade and 74.5 adjusted completion percentage compare favorably with a much higher tier of quarterback. He made big plays (4.6-percent big-time throw rate) without putting the ball in harm’s way (2.4-percent turnover-worthy play rate) and had a respectable 7.0 yards per attempt.

The problem for Murray is simply that his 2024 season is an outlier in recent memory, both in performance and health. His 2023 season didn’t look nearly that good and the Cardinals offense was undeniably better with Jacoby Brissett in the lineup last year. Still, I came away from this exercise more encouraged by Murray’s recent play than I expected. You don’t have to go back far to find a good season for him, and under HC Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, he could get back to the player he once was.

22 — Geno Smith, New York Jets

Seattle Geno was a different beast. In 2024, he had 4,320 passing yards, a 75.2 adjusted completion percentage, a 4.6-percent big-time throw rate (down from a monster 5.9 percent in 2023), a turnover-worthy play rate of just 2.5 percent and an 83.8 PFF grade. Contrast that to his 2025 season in Las Vegas, when Smith was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league. He was nearly unplayable with a 60.9 PFF grade and 61 sacks taken.

I expect Smith to land somewhere between those two extremes in New York this year. He’ll have more to work with in the passing game and should be behind a better offensive line. I doubt anyone will be rushing to give him big money in the offseason, but there’s no doubt he can thrive in the right environment.

23 — Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Young’s career couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start. His 2023 season ranked among the worst ever for a rookie quarterback, with lowlights including a 57.1 PFF grade and 72 sacks taken. He looked even worse to start 2024 and was benched after two games, but when veteran Andy Dalton got hurt, Young was forced back into the lineup.

Since that bait-and-switch with the starting job, Young is on his way to being a decent quarterback. He topped 3,000 passing yards for the first time in 2025, cut his sacks down to 33, upped his big-time throw rate to 4.6 percent (it was 6.5 percent in 2024) and kept the turnovers to a minimum. Young isn’t exactly a standout, but he’s a competent starting quarterback and an underrated playmaker with room to continue growing. Given how his career started, that’s a win for the Panthers.

24 — Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

Shough took over for Spencer Rattler about halfway through his rookie season. Some of these stats should be taken with a grain of salt given the smaller sample size, but even so, Shough had a pretty good rookie performance. His 76.2 adjusted completion percentage, 3.8-percent big-time throw rate, 2.72-second average time to throw, 8.4 average depth of target and 74.6 PFF grade are all respectable numbers for a rookie.

Now the test for Shough will be to elevate his game over the course of a full season. Expectations are higher for the Saints this year, and Shough’s development will be under the spotlight.

25 — Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Somehow, the Steelers went from late-career Ben Roethlisberger to late-career Rodgers just a few years later, and they’re essentially the same player. Rodgers still makes big plays on the regular, with a 4.8-percent big-time throw rate in 2025, but Pittsburgh’s offense under him is very horizontal. He averaged just a 2.60-second time to throw, 6.3 yards per attempt and his average depth of target was under seven yards.

To put a pin in this, Rodgers’ 68.8 PFF grade is a career low for him (over a full season, at least). While there are worse starting quarterbacks in this league, there aren’t very many at this point.

26 — Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Dart’s rookie season was explosive in every sense of the word. He plays a reckless brand of football that’s equal parts endearing and dangerous. Dart’s frequent trips to the blue medical tent for concussion checks made as many highlights as his circus throws and scrambling ability.

From a numbers standpoint, Dart made up for his lack of down-to-down efficiency with aggressive downfield production. He had a 9.1 average depth of target and a 5.6-percent big-time throw rate, but he also took 42 sacks and averaged over three seconds per pass. In his sophomore campaign, Dart needs to merge his big-play ability with a slightly more reasoned approach — as much to protect himself as it is to keep his starting job.

27 — Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders

At this point in his career, Cousins is a stable veteran bridge starter or high-quality backup. That’s exactly the role he’s playing for the Raiders this year, and it’s what he became in Atlanta before that. After an injury-shortened 2023 campaign in Minnesota, Cousins signed with the Falcons in free agency and played in 14 games. That year, he had 3,508 passing yards, a 75.1 adjusted completion percentage, a 2.7-percent big-time throw rate and a 4.6-percent turnover-worthy play rate.

Cousins is capable of leading a league-average offense, at least for a time. I don’t know that you can expect more from him at this point, but the Raiders aren’t asking him to be more than he is. Essentially, he’s keeping the seat warm for the No. 1 pick Mendoza.

28 — Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

We’re really just working with one year of data on Brissett, as he didn’t play much recently aside from last season. He took over for Murray early in the season and didn’t relinquish the job even when Murray was healthy again. The Cardinals had the highest called pass rate in the league with Brissett under center, and he rewarded them with solid production week in, week out.

Brissett’s metrics don’t jump off the page — he wasn’t exemplary, just solid. His 71.3 PFF grade, 3.4-percent big-time throw rate, and 73.8 adjusted completion percentage are good numbers, but he stills falls into bridge-starter territory.

29 — Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

Getting traded to the Packers in 2024 was the best thing that could’ve happened to Willis’ career. He was borderline unplayable in his first two seasons with the Titans, but he looked like a completely different player in Green Bay. He appeared in 11 games across two seasons with the Packers, and despite the small sample size, looked promising.

Those four games in 2025 were especially impressive. Willis threw a total of 35 passes, but even still, he looked good. A 92.3 PFF grade certainly does it. Miami brought him in to start, and we’ll see what he looks like in a larger role but with a far worse offensive environment.

30 — Tua Tagovailoa, Atlanta Falcons

Tagovailoa is technically the Falcons’ Week 1 starting quarterback, but reports came out this week that he could be cut as soon as Penix Jr. is healthy, so take that for what you will. As recently as 2023, Tagovailoa was one of the most productive and efficient quarterbacks in the league, with an 87.4 PFF grade and a 5.6-percent big-time throw rate. Since then, though, it’s been a slog, and the Dolphins incurred a ton of dead money just to get him out of Miami.

2025 was a low point in Tagovailoa’s career. He had a lowly 62.3 PFF grade, had more turnover-worthy plays than big-time throws, and threw nearly as many interceptions (15) as touchdowns (20). While he still had a 76.0 adjusted completion percentage and was reasonably efficient, it didn’t lead to good offense. Reports out of Falcons camp haven’t been flattering, either.

31 — Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

Bluntly speaking, it was not a good rookie season for Ward. His 58.9 PFF grade is among the lowest of any full season I charted and the numbers don’t get better from there. His big-time throw and turnover-worthy play rates were nearly identical (3.7 percent vs. 3.5 percent, respectively) and his adjusted completion percentage was below 70.

While Ward still has immense potential and should not be written off entering his second season, it’s worth pointing out he performed clearly worse than his 2025 classmates and those numbers put him in early-career Bryce Young territory. Young had a near-miraculous turnaround and still isn’t even league average. That’s the uphill climb Ward faces.

32 — Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

Much has been said about how disastrous Watson has been since arriving in Cleveland. I won’t waste your time listing every dreadful stat I could find. Instead, I’ll leave you with this: the last time we saw Watson on the field for the Browns, the advanced metrics rated him worse than rookie-season Young in Carolina. Pour one out for the Browns fan in your life.