Strong offensive line play is important. A dynamic trio of wide receivers is great to have. An excellent defense can push teams closer to contention. But there is no position more important than quarterback.
In the modern NFL, teams can essentially be split into groups of the haves and have-nots. Those that have their franchise quarterback also have a cornerstone of their roster’s foundation. They are most often the ones in position to seriously contend for a Super Bowl title.
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Teams still searching for their franchise quarterback – or teams stuck in a limbo of uncertainty at the game’s most important position – are the same teams usually stuck outside the bubble of contention. It’s no coincidence that the teams that have failed to identify a franchise quarterback are perennial owners of a top-10 pick in each year’s draft rather than playoff teams.
NFL QUARTERBACKS: Ranking all 32 starters from worst to best entering 2026
With free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s already possible to start grouping teams by quarterback status for the upcoming season. At the top of the “quarterback situation” leaderboard are exactly the teams one would expect: the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. The teams near and at the bottom are also no surprise.
Here’s a look at the landscape of NFL franchises, ranked by quarterback situation headed into the 2026 season:
NFL QB situation rankings: These teams have their franchise cornerstone
1. Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes (30 years old)
There’s not much to be said. Mahomes is Mahomes, even after an injury to his knee required repairs to his ACL and LCL and shortened his 2025 season. In the offseason, the Chiefs’ quarterback restructured his contract and added two more years to his deal. A guy under contract through 2033 qualifies as absolute certainty in Kansas City that they’ve got their guy.
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2. Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen (30)
The Bills’ situation is just about the same as the Chiefs’ with Mahomes. Josh Allen is Josh Allen. He won the NFL MVP award after a stellar 2024 season, then signed a six-year, $330 million deal to stay in Buffalo through the 2030 season. There’s no doubt that the Bills have their franchise quarterback in the man that helped lead them to their first AFC title in 25 years back in 2020 – then led them to four more in a row after that.
MORE: New Highmark Stadium is open. Look inside Josh Allen’s new Bills’ home
3. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson (29)
Jackson is one of three active quarterbacks with multiple NFL MVP awards – and he’s the only one still in his 20s. The only reason the Ravens rank as low as third in terms of their quarterback situation is that there’s still a small bit of uncertainty about Jackson’s future over the next few years. The dual-threat dynamo is only under contract through 2027 as of the time of writing, but all signs point to a long-term extension on the horizon. After eight seasons in the NFL, Jackson is clearly among franchise cornerstones.
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4. Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford (38)
The reigning MVP is in the building, and the Rams drafted his heir apparent in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Stafford put up video game numbers in his age-37 season to earn his first career MVP award: 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns, both of which led the NFL. The Rams certainly have their current quarterback situation figured out, and Stafford is technically under contract through 2028, when he’ll be 40. Los Angeles is clearly planning for the future, as indicated by drafting Ty Simpson in the first round. It remains to be seen how Simpson will perform at the pro level, and that leaves some uncertainty in the Rams’ long-term future at QB.
5. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow (29)
Burrow led the Bengals to back-to-back AFC championship games in 2021 and 2022. In 2024, he had his most prolific season yet as he led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns. But the 2020, 2023 and 2025 seasons were marred by injuries, and Burrow has consistently been among the most sacked quarterbacks in the league throughout his career. The Bengals’ quarterback has also been let down by poor defensive play in recent seasons that kept him and his team out of the playoffs. Burrow has all of the talent to be among top quarterbacks in the NFL, but his mounting injury history has left some wondering if he’s walking a similar path to Andrew Luck.
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MORE: Joe Burrow confident Bengals have ‘everything we need’ after big offseason
6. New England Patriots: Drake Maye (23)
The MVP runner-up just led the Patriots to a Super Bowl in his first full season as a starter. Maye looked surgical during his second season in the NFL, leading the league with his 72% completion rate and 8.9 yards per pass attempt. As he remains within offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ system, the only question is whether Maye can sustain that success long-term. More immediately, he’ll have to prove his mettle against a schedule that won’t be quite as easy as last season’s.
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert (28)
The Chargers’ situation with Herbert is similar to the Bengals’ situation with Burrow. Herbert has established that he possesses all of the requisite talent to be a franchise quarterback, but Los Angeles has so far been unable to put everything together with him behind center. Last year, Herbert took 54 sacks as the Chargers dealt with injuries to both top offensive tackles. His first season with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel could reveal how high Herbert’s ceiling can be.
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Probably have their guy
8. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts (27)
The Eagles have been to the Super Bowl twice and won it once with Hurts starting behind center. So why are the Eagles not in a higher spot in these rankings? Hurts, though he’s among the most talented dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, has a limited ceiling.
His arm strength pales in comparison to throwers like Stafford, Allen and even Aaron Rodgers. His processing speed is slower, and Philadelphia has tried to protect Hurts from the negative effects of that by avoiding play-action – thereby avoiding having Hurts face away from defenses, but also making the Eagles’ offense more predictable. New offensive coordinator Sean Mannion has already started to implement more play-action in spring workouts. How Hurts manages this new twist in the offensive playbook could determine his long-term future with the Eagles.
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9. Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold (29)
Darnold just won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in his first season in Seattle, so why aren’t the Seahawks higher up? The eight-year veteran may be among the first to acknowledge that he was helped significantly by an elite defense in Seattle, as well as the great offensive mind of former Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak. Heading into 2026, Kubiak is now the head coach of the Raiders, and Darnold and the Seahawks have a target on their backs as Super Bowl champions. Can the 29-year-old quarterback make it three straight years of 4,000-plus passing yards and 25-plus passing touchdowns while limiting interceptions? That will be key for determining his long-term outlook with Seattle.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy (26)
The former Mr. Irrelevant who went from third-stringer to NFC championship game starter in his rookie season has since made a Super Bowl and earned a five-year, $265 million extension. Purdy’s last two seasons have been affected by 49ers injuries – including a few he suffered himself – but he still helped lead San Francisco to the playoffs last year. The 49ers are in good hands with Purdy starting and a stellar backup in Mac Jones behind him. However, Purdy could face some tests ahead with its uber-talented offensive roster aging around him. How will he play once tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey start slowing down?
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11. Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott (32)
Prescott slings the ball with the Cowboys, pushing 400 completions annually. But year after year, Dallas falls short in the playoffs while owner/general manager Jerry Jones brings in young quarterbacks as potential developmental projects. Sure, Prescott just signed a four-year, $240 million deal ahead of the 2024 season, but Dallas has a potential out after 2027. With a stellar group of quarterback prospects in next year’s draft class, how long of a leash does Prescott have if he and the Cowboys continue to struggle in the playoffs – or fail to make them at all?
12. Detroit Lions: Jared Goff (31)
For as much as the Rams appear to be the clear winners of the Stafford-for-Goff trade ahead of the 2021 season, the Lions have to be thrilled with their return. The draft picks were nice, but Goff has been outstanding for the Lions over the last four years – he’s compiled a 68.1% cumulative completion rate in that span and averaging over 4,500 yards per season. It’s part of why he earned a four-year, $212 million extension before the 2024 season.
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But he’s not a generational talent of the Mahomes/Allen/Jackson caliber. Goff was shut down in his first Super Bowl appearance with the Rams in 2018. And after a 15-win season in 2024, Goff’s three interceptions against the Commanders in the playoffs doomed the Lions to an early exit. He’s not a long-term franchise guy for Detroit, but he’s certainly their guy for now.
13. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love (27)
Love has steadily improved in every season since taking the Packers’ starting job in 2023. His interception rate hit a three-year low in 2025 (1.4%) while his completion rate hit a three-year high (66.3%). But he’s never put together the same level of success under head coach/offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur that former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did. Love signed a four-year, $220 million deal before the 2024 season, but he’s still seeking his first season with double-digit wins.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence (26)
To say Lawrence’s first four years in the NFL were turbulent is an understatement. One of the most highly touted quarterback prospects of the generation had to deal with the tumultuous Urban Meyer tenure in his first season, succeeded by three years of uneven head coaching from Doug Pederson. In his first year under rookie head coach Liam Coen, Lawrence finally started to look every bit the quarterback that was promised before he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2021. The five-year, $275 million extension Lawrence signed in 2024 kicks in with the start of the 2026 season, and if he continues to play like he did in 2025, the Jaguars will move up this list quickly.
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15. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams (24)
Much like Lawrence, Williams benefited significantly from a head coaching shake-up before the 2025 season. As Coen did with his own former No. 1 pick, rookie head coach Ben Johnson helped Williams play more like himself in his second year. The Bears’ quarterback went from taking 68 sacks while trying to do too much as a rookie to the “Iceman” – the NFL’s leader in fourth-quarter comebacks. He helped lead the Bears to their first division title since 2018 and their first playoff win since 2010. More sustained success is needed, but signs are pointing to Chicago having found their guy.
16. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (25)
Had Daniels avoided injury in his second season to put together an excellent follow up to his Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning campaign in 2024, the Commanders would firmly be a top-10 team on this list. But the slim-framed, dual-threat’s 10 missed games in his sophomore campaign leaves more questions than answers. Is the LSU product’s 2024 outing indicative of the quarterback he’ll be long-term? Or is an injury-riddled year like 2025 the more accurate projection for his future?
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17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield (31)
The Buccaneers hardly could have asked for a better successor to the legendary Tom Brady than Mayfield, who has compiled three straight solid seasons despite the level of offensive coordinator turnover he’s had to deal with. Mayfield’s first two seasons with Tampa featured back-to-back 4,000-yard efforts and a couple of Pro Bowl nods. Last year, despite injuries to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, he still threw for 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Mayfield is on an expiring contract entering 2026, and head coach Todd Bowles’ future is also uncertain. Might the Buccaneers choose to allow a new head coach to pick his guy in a 2027 draft class expected to be loaded with quarterback talent?
More data needed
18. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix (26)
Nix helped guide the Broncos to 14 wins and an AFC No. 1 seed while leading the NFL with his seven game-winning drives. He’s also coming off of an ankle injury that knocked him out of playing in the AFC championship game last year, and head coach Sean Payton announced he’s giving up play-calling duties. How will Nix perform while returning from injury and under offensive coordinator Davis Webb‘s vision in 2026?
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19. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud (24)
Texans general manager Nick Caserio gave Stroud a vote of confidence after the quarterback’s four-interception performance in a divisional round loss. Caserio did not give Stroud an extension in his first offseason eligible.
20. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough (26)
In 11 games (nine starts), Shough showed a lot of promise with the Saints. He got Chris Olave involved in a way that Spencer Rattler was unable to and thrived in head coach Kellen Moore’s offense. Now, he’s joined in the backfield by Travis Etienne. The future could be very bright in New Orleans if Shough keeps it up.
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21. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart (23)
Dart helped the Giants look more competitive on offense during the 2025 season and was failed by bad defensive performance. A midseason head coach firing didn’t help either. In 2026, he’ll need to prove himself under much maligned OC Matt Nagy. Having WR1 Malik Nabers back healthy (eventually) should help.
22. Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones (29)
Jones played remarkably well for the first eight weeks of his first season with the Colts and head coach Shane Steichen. His turnover issues started to surface in Week 9 and beyond before an Achilles injury ended his season early. How will Jones play in 2026 coming off of the injury?
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23. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young (24)
Young had the best season of his career in 2025 after he got paired up with elite rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. He threw for more than 3,000 yards for the first time and led four fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives to help lead the Panthers to the playoffs. Young will have to prove his 2025 wasn’t a flash in the plan.
24. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward (24)
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft took a league-leading 55 sacks and lost 410 yards on them in his rookie year. Heading into 2026, the Titans have overhauled just about everything with a new head coach and staff, plus 20 new free agents. Ward will also get to throw to 2026 No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate this year and beyond. He’ll need to prove he can be more successful under offensive coordinator Brian Daboll after former head coach Brian Callahan’s mismanagement during Ward’s rookie year.
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25. Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis (27)
Willis’ occasional appearances in two seasons as the Packers’ backup were enough to earn him another starting job after struggling through his two years in Tennessee. How will the former Titans third-rounder perform in 2026 while playing with a Miami roster stripped to its bare bones in the offseason?
Is the franchise quarterback in the room with us?
26. Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Murray (28)/J.J. McCarthy (23)
McCarthy’s de facto rookie season in 2025 was shaky at best, so the Vikings brought in veteran Kyler Murray to compete for the job after the Cardinals released the former No. 1 overall pick.
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27. Las Vegas Raiders: Kirk Cousins (38)/Fernando Mendoza (22)
Cousins is certainly not a long-term answer for the Raiders heading into his age-38 season, but it’s also unclear where Mendoza, 2026’s No. 1 overall pick, will stand in his first year in the pros. A pairing with former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is promising, though.
28. Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa (28)/Michael Penix Jr. (26)
As with the Vikings, Atlanta was unimpressed with what it saw from Penix in his first year as a starter. Then he tore his ACL, marking a third time he had suffered the knee injury in eight years. The Falcons brought in Tagovailoa, a former Dolphins first-rounder, to compete with Penix for the starting job. Whichever quarterback to win the job will be surrounded by outstanding offensive talent, but the question will be whether either of them is able to put it all together to win games.
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Firmly in the ‘figuring things out’ stage
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers (42)/Will Howard (24)/Drew Allar (22)
Rodgers has already declared the coming season will be his last. Who will be his successor? Veteran Mason Rudolph struggled in his lone game filling in for Rodgers last year. Howard has yet to make his pro debut. And Allar is having his mechanics rebuilt from the ground up.
BELL: It’s now or never for Aaron Rodgers to win big in his ‘last dance’ | Opinion
30. Arizona Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett (33)/Gardner Minshew (30)/Carson Beck (24)
Brissett was sneaky good for Arizona last year filling in for Murray, completing 65.1% of passes for 3,366 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. But the Cardinals have refused to bend to his demands of a longer-term extension that pays him starting quarterback money. They signed Minshew in the offseason and drafted Beck in the third round. Arizona will have Brissett to begin this year, but after that, who knows?
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31. Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders (24)/Deshaun Watson (30)/Dillon Gabriel (25)
The Browns’ 2026 quarterback battle appears to largely be a two-horse race between Sanders and Watson, but neither has done enough to prove worthy of the “franchise quarterback” label. Gabriel, who was drafted earlier than Sanders last year, hasn’t done much in that regard either.
32. New York Jets: Geno Smith (35)/Brady Cook (24)/Cade Klubnik (22)
Smith’s reunion with the Jets after nine years bouncing around with four other teams does not inspire anything besides a response of “That’s neat” and confidence from some fans that they have their tank commander. New York traded for Smith after he led the NFL with 17 interceptions last season and helped the Raiders earn their No. 1 overall pick. With a stacked-on-paper quarterback class on the horizon for 2027, the Jets are hoping Smith can do them the same favor. If Cook or Klubnik wind up proving they’re developing well, that’s just gravy for Gang Green, who are clearly focused on next year’s draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From the Chiefs to the Jets, ranking every team’s quarterback situation
