Teams around the league made a plethora of moves at the NFL trade deadline to better their chances at winning the Super Bowl. For example, Josh Downs went to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jacksonville Jaguars operated as big-time buyers and added three defensive players, and the Minnesota Vikings traded for a new quarterback by the name of Kirk Cousins.
Everybody knows that the quarterback position is the most important in football, and regardless of the moves teams made at the deadline, it is hard to win the championship without an elite player under center. Some teams have long had great QBs, while others have had to shuffle at the position all season long because of injuries. The 32 quarterbacks who are set to start the back half of the 2026 season certainly aren't the same ones who entered the season starting. So, how do each of the 32 NFL teams rank in terms of their starting quarterback going forward?
32. Kyle McCord, Miami Dolphins
Readers of this article will be quick to find out that the injury bug hasn't been friendly to the quarterback position, particularly in recent weeks. The Miami Dolphins are one of many teams that have had to thrust their backup into action. With Malik Willis now headed to the injured reserve, Kyle McCord is set to see his first NFL action.
Unfortunately, hopes aren't all that high. McCord was a sixth-round pick in 2025 who is already on his third team. Plus, he will be taking snaps for a Dolphins team that is stripped of talent. The team is in the midst of a rebuild, and they have little talent for McCord to throw to. After all, they traded Jaylen Waddle and released Tyreek Hill in the offseason.
Perhaps McCord will be a pleasant surprise, but the Dolphins seem most likely to embrace the tank this year, and either look for a quarterback in the draft or give Willis another chance next season.
31. Carson Beck, Arizona Cardinals
Just two weeks ago, Jacoby Brissett was starting at quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. Midway through a Week 8 matchup, Brissett was replaced by Gardner Minshew, who led the team to a high-scoring victory in overtime. Minshew Mania is always fun, but it didn't last. During his first start of the season, the mustached man under center suffered a UCL injury that could sideline him for the rest of the year.
That means it is Carson Beck's time to shine. The rookie third-rounder was a two-time national champion at Georgia. However, those wins had more to do with the players around him than they did because he is the next big thing in the NFL. In fact, Beck was a backup on those Georgia championship teams. Beck did show some flashes during the preseason, but coming off the trade deadline, he ranks as the second-worst starting QB in the NFL because he has zero regular season throws and many experts don't peg him as a starting-caliber player.
30. Joe Milton, Philadelphia Eagles
Like the Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles are on their third starting quarterback, too. The difference is that the Eagles' initial starter, Jalen Hurts, would have ranked much higher on this list than anyone who has suited up for Arizona. A blood clot scare has the former Super Bowl MVP shut down for the year.
Tanner McKee was the next man up, but poor play led to the Eagles giving Joe Milton a chance. Milton isn't known for having great accuracy or the best anticipation, but man does he have a cannon for an arm. The 6-foot-5, 236 pounder is a physical specimen who famously can throw a football around 70 yards from his knees.
This elite arm strength alone gives Milton immense potential. There is obviously a lot more to football than throwing bullets, though. In his first career start, Milton went 18-for-34 for 169 yards and no touchdowns, proving that he is not the complete quarterback package. If Milton remains under center for the rest of the season, he is sure to have a couple of highlight deep balls, but as an overall starting quarterback, he is one of the worst in the league.
29. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons had Cooper Rush, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jack Strand keep the quarterback seat warm in Atlanta until Michael Penix Jr. was able to return to action. Quarterback play certainly has been better with the Washington product, but Penix's streakiness keeps him low in these QB rankings.
While Penix did have back-to-back three-touchdown performances in Weeks 6 and 7, he followed that up with a four-interception game in which he went eight-for-24. That nightmare of a game, which came in bad weather, doesn't define Penix's season, but he has a relatively weak arm and has been unwilling to make plays down the field. Penix ranks as the 29th quarterback the rest of the season.
28. J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants
J.J. McCarthy had to exit the New York Giants' Week 9 game, and he went viral for the severe pain he appeared to be in. However, McCarthy is seemingly set to return to action for New York's Week 10 game that will occur during Thursday Night Football. Despite being a bust who only lasted 10 starts with the team that drafted him in the first-round, McCarthy has surprisingly done a fair amount of winning in his career.
He has an 8-4 record, which includes wins in each of his past six starts. Of course, McCarthy won a national championship in college while at Michigan, too. Still, the production has left a lot to be desired, but with Jaxson Dart out for the year and Jameis Winston proving too streaky, McCarthy will likely have the rest of the season to demonstrate that he is a winner.
27. Jacoby Brissett, Baltimore Ravens
Jacoby Brissett ranked as the 29th-best quarterback coming into the season. He is up two spots now, despite having already been benched and traded to a new team. The improvement mainly comes because of injuries elsewhere around the league. With the Baltimore Ravens, Brissett will likely do what he always does, and that is nothing special, but nothing necessarily bad, either.
Of course, quickly learning a new play book is never easy, but Brissett is a high-IQ player who will definitely upgrade the Ravens' offense right away with Lamar Jackson hurt.
26. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts underwent a complete rebuild ahead of the NFL traded deadline, but they actually opted against moving Daniel Jones. The former number six pick was labeled a bust after stints with the Giants and Minnesota Vikings. Then, he reestablished himself in Indianapolis last season.
The Colts were even one of the top offenses in the league last year until Jones tore his achilles tendon. The back half of last season, and the first half of this one, have not been so pretty, though, and Jones has reminded fans of his old self. He has just six touchdowns to 10 interceptions on the year and should probably again be remembered as a draft bust.
25. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Geno Smith was once viewed as the future of the New York Jets. He ended up becoming a long-term backup and a journeyman of sorts, but he also earned two Pro Bowl nods late in his career. Now in his 14th season, Smith is back in New York and actually putting up solid numbers. Smith's 2,078 passing yards rank 10th in the NFL, and he only has three interceptions.
Turnovers are something he has struggled with in the past, but not as much this year. While Smith is on pace for one of the best quarterbacking seasons in recent Jets' memory, it still feels like he is a stopgap option.
24. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns entered the season with a quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Watson was once a Pro Bowl level player, but he had become more known these days for off-the-field controversies and being a part of one of the worst trades and one of the worst contracts in NFL history.
To make matters worse, Watson got on the Dawg Pound's bad side before the start of the season. Cleveland fans have had no choice but to embrace the quarterback ever since, though. The Browns keep winning games with Watson under center, something that most assumed would be infrequent after the Myles Garrett trade.
Now, Watson hasn't been great, but he has been clutch. He missed the last game with an injury, which allowed Sanders a chance to prove himself, but the team fell short, and Watson will be back under center going forward.
23. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward's stock is up slightly after a 304-yard, two-touchdown game in which the Tennessee Titans scored 36 points in an overtime loss. The Titans were desperate for a flash of superstardom like this from their 2025 first overall pick, but overall, Ward hasn't looked the part of the megastar the Titans needed when they drafted 1-1.
Week 9 was just his first of the season with multiple touchdown passes, and Ward has already attained a loser label. Tennessee's offense has been stagnant much more often than not. Still, there is loads of potential with Ward. In college, he was capable of throwing darts all over the field from different arm angles. Ward heated up during the back half of his rookie season. Perhaps that will be the case again this year. For now, though, fans have to worry that he is entering bust territory.
22. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold is fresh off a Super Bowl victory. That ensured that them bust talk that plagued him early in his career became a thing of the past, as he'd instead been immortalized as an NFL legend. That doesn't mean Darnold is some elite NFL quarterback, though. The Seattle Seahawks QB ranks just 24th with 1,478 passing yards. His nine interceptions are the third most in the NFL, too.
Interceptions have long been Darnold's weak point. While he can whip the football all around the field, it far too often ends up in the hands of opposing defensive backs.
21. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has gone crashing down the starting quarterback rankings. Herbert came into the NFL red hot. He has records for passing yards through two, three, four, and five seasons. However, seven seasons into his career and Herbert as zero playoff wins and just two Pro Bowls as his lone accolades to show for it.
This season has been particularly disastrous for Herbert. His Los Angeles Chargers are 0-8, and Herbert has just six touchdowns to a league-leading 11 interceptions. The 6-foot-6 quarterback has the potential to turn things around, and the Chargers certainly still view him as their franchise guy for now.
However, it appears that Herbert has lost all confidence, and this season has already been lost. Hopefully Herbert will show flashes of his old self during the back-half of the season. If not, there are going to be some tough questions to be had in Los Angeles.
20. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Four MVPs, 10 Pro Bowls, and two seasons leading the NFL in passing touchdowns, and Aaron Rodgers ranks as just the 20th best quarterback in the NFL? That is right, as the 42-year-old just isn't the player he once was. Rodgers' long and successful career means he knows where the football needs to go, but his body is letting him down and prevents him from making the highlight plays that he became known for.
Rodgers isn't completely washed up. His Pittsburgh Steelers have won four straight games and lead the AFC North. There is no arguing that the future Hall of Famer is pretty mediocre at this point and most definitely a shell of his former self.
19. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints turned a lot of heads when they drafted Tyler Shough 40th overall in 2025. He was slated to be a 26-year-old rookie; he had a lot of lowlight clips from college that went viral, and he was taken before the big-name that was Shedeur Sanders. The Saints have proven they made the right decision, though, as Shough has flashed franchise-level talent.
Shough has prototypical size and impressive arm strength. He needs to continue proving himself to make the jump into the top 16 on this list, though.
18. Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders
The number one pick will officially have his chance to shine. The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza first overall after he won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to the first 16-0 FBS season since the 1800s. The Raiders had Kirk Cousins on their roster to begin the year, but many projected the rookie would quickly take over. Instead, Cousins played too well.
The veteran was traded at the trade deadline, though, opening up the door for Mendoza to prove he can be a superstar. Of course, there will likely be rookie struggles, but Mendoza's poise and accuracy make it likely that he will be better off than most first-year signal-callers. With a lot of struggling quarterbacks league-wide, Mendoza slots in as QB18 before his first official NFL start.
17. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a messy contract negotiation in the offseason, the expectation was that Baker Mayfield would be at his best in 2026. After all, he is a fiery quarterback who plays with a chip on his shoulder, and his best seasons have come with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Injuries have limited Mayfield to six games, though, and he has been pretty bad when he has been on the field.
The two-time Pro Bowler has just 922 yards for three touchdowns. That includes a zero completion game that actually ended up in a Tampa Bay win, a feat that hadn't been accomplished since 1974. Mayfield hates when he doesn't live up to his standards, and improvement over the back half of the season can be expected, especially with the NFC South so up for grabs.
16. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
The Las Vegas Raiders brought Kirk Cousins in to serve as the bridge quarterback and mentor for Fernando Mendoza until the number one pick was ready to go. Nearly everyone assumed that the rookie would have been handed the reins earlier now, but Cousins had played too well to be demoted.
In fact, Cousins is second in touchdowns (23) and fifth in passing yards (2,340). This is nothing new for Kirko Chains. When he has someone coming for his job, he tends to play lights out, but when he is comfortable, his play slips. Mendoza, fresh off one of the best collegiate seasons ever, is still the future of the franchise, and Cousins' excellent play garnered him plenty of trade value, so the Minnesota Vikings traded for the veteran at the trade deadline in hopes that he can fix their biggest issue.
The team's defense has been elite, but Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz have held them back. If Cousins continues the level of play he had in Las Vegas, Minnesota just may be legitimate contenders.
15. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young was handed the bust label quickly into his career, but he has dropped that label to become, at the bare minimum, a league-average quarterback, if not better. The former number one overall pick was benched early into his second season. Now, he ranks eighth in passing yards (2,197), even above players like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.
Now, Young's numbers were even better to start the season. His production has taken a major hit in recent weeks as he has had to withstand a beaten-up offensive line. His small stature is still a major concern for some, too. The Panthers can at least breathe a sigh of relief that they did, in fact, draft a franchise signal caller 1-1 back in 2023.
14. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels has remained steady throughout his career. He was able to earn Rookie of the Year honors a couple of years ago by throwing with accuracy and not making mistakes in the air. His big plays would come in the form of runs more so than passes. That remains the case to this day. Daniels is accurate and rarely has turnover-worthy throws, but he doesn't take a lot of chances.
Luckily, he is arguably the best rushing quarterback in the league outside of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, the latter of whom is currently out with an injury and, therefore, not on this list. The concern with that is that injuries have plagued Daniels throughout the last two seasons. He was limited to seven games last season because of hamstring and elbow injuries. Daniels again hurt his elbow this year and was forced to miss time.
The Washington Commanders' offense has weirdly made some massive mistakes this season. Daniels is also without his top receiving target. He and his team haven't been able to put it all together since an incredible rookie season, but the potential is still there with the former Heisman winner from LSU.
13. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix is perhaps the hardest player on this list to rank. For three quarters, he looks like a below-average quarterback. His Denver Broncos tend to go into that fourth quarter trailing, despite how great the defense is. Then, Nix and the rest of his team pick up their play. Nix, in particular, becomes elite in crunch time and is clearly one of the most clutch players in the NFL.
The Broncos' style shouldn't be sustainable, but it has worked for two straight seasons now. The Broncos have now won a record 16 straight one-score games. Nix also has career statistics that trump his draft class peers, despite being the sixth QB taken in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
If the single-season record holder for collegiate completion percentage could put it all together for entire games, he'd be elite. Instead, he ranks as just above average. The good news is that Nix has started to look better in recent weeks, and at the end of the day, winning is winning, no matter how ugly it is.
12. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is starting to look like his old self again. In 2023, the Houston Texans drafted Stroud second overall, and he gave them one of the best rookie seasons ever. During that year, he led the league in passing yards per game and touchdown-to-interception ratio, something that only Tom Brady and Joe Montana had done before him.
Fans assumed MVPs would come in the years to follow, but Stroud has been mediocre ever since, and the Texans have had to rely on dominant defense to win games. The winning stopped after that, too, as Houston started the season 0-4. The Texans have gone 3-1 since, and Stroud has found a way to move the ball down the field and score at a high level again.
Stroud has 10 touchdown passes over his last three games, most recently putting up a 384-yard, five-touchdown performance that was arguably the best of his career. The quarterback's confidence has seemingly increased ever since Houston traded for his old college buddy, Marvin Harrison Jr. Hopefully, this version of Stroud is here to stay.
11. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions' offense has remained explosive with Jared Goff leading the way. The pioneer of the fifth highest-scoring offense has been able to be aggressive without making mistakes. Goff has just two interceptions on the year. Goff was above 4,400 yards in each of the past four seasons as well.
He was a touchdown away in 2020 from being above the 30-touchdown mark in each of those years. In Los Angeles, Goff was a game-manager, despite his number one overall pick status. In Detroit, he has been truly one of the game's best quarterbacks.
10. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence entered the NFL as the number one pick and one of the most highly touted prospects in NFL history. All he'd done as an amateur was win, but that didn't happen right away with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lawrence was good but not great, and therefore a letdown in the eyes of many.
That isn't the case anymore. The Jaguars are clearly one of the best teams in football, and T-Law is clearly one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Lawrence has 1,932 yards for 18 touchdowns, and his 8.6 yards per attempt are the most in the NFL for QBs who have played the entire season.
Lawrence has a prototypical build, and he has used it to deliver strikes in the end zone and orchestrate a high-octane offense all season long.
9. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams is fresh off a four-interception game. He also missed three weeks because of a hamstring injury, one that he caught a lot of flak for because some fans thought he reacted as though he'd suffered a season-ending injury. Even so, Williams is clearly a stud, and MVPs seem likely to be in his future.
Williams entered the NFL as one of the most highly touted prospects ever. His arm strength and ability to fit the ball into tight windows is incredible, and he regularly makes highlight plays that look like they would never be attempted outside of backyard football games.
With a young core around him and a play-calling genius in Ben Johnson as his head coach, Williams should only continue to get better. His potential is that of the best quarterback in the NFL. For now, though, he just narrowly makes the top 10.
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
With CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens to throw to, Dak Prescott is again putting up huge numbers. It helps that the Dallas Cowboys' offense has found more balance with Javonte Williams thriving out of the backfield, too. Prescott ranks third with 2,381 passing yards. That is exactly where he finished last year and in 2023.
The numbers are undeniable, but with a career 2-5 postseason record, Prescott needs to prove himself just a little bit more when the games matter the most.
7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy entered the NFL as Mr. Irrelevant and the low man on the totem pole of the San Francisco 49ers depth chart. When he was eventually given a chance to play, Purdy started a trend of winning a whole lot of games, and that trend hasn't stopped over the years. However, he was given the game-manager label.
At this point, there is no denying Purdy as an uber-talented player who would find success regardless of the system he is in and the personnel that he is surrounded by. Purdy's 81.4 QBR leads the entire NFL, and he has built himself a nice MVP case. The 49ers' 7-1 record is tied for the best in the NFL.
6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Like Purdy, Love has skyrocketed up this list ranking the starting quarterbacks across the league due to his play in 2026. First in passing yards (2,618) and third in passing touchdowns (19), the Green Bay Packers quarterback has looked like a superstar. Love just edges out Purdy here because he has shown a little more willingness to take and execute on shots down the field.
Matthew Golden and Christian Watson have been the beneficiaries, and they are starting to join conversations about being elite as well. The Packers rank 31st in rushing offense, but it hasn't mattered because Love has taken multiple steps forward.
5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The reigning NFL MVP, Matthew Stafford, is past his prime and now down his elite receiver duo of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. Even so, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams trust him with the football in his hands. Despite being 38 years old, Stafford ranks first in attempts (346) and completions (230).
He had a 5,000-yard season dating all the way back to 2011, and he threw for a league-leading 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns as recently as last year. The gunslinger is a lot safer with the football than he was earlier in his career. Hopefully the Rams will finally be able to get healthy before the start of the postseason.
4. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye was ClutchPoints' preseason pick for MVP. He'd just finished second in MVP voting the year prior and led the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance, so it was easy to predict him as the next Tom Brady in New England. Of course, though, fans were quickly reminded that the G.O.A.T. is the greatest of all time for a reason.
Maye struggled to start the season, making uncharacteristically poor throws and bad decisions. He had two losses and six interceptions through the Patriots' first three games of the season. Maye has since gotten back on track. He has 17 touchdown passes over the last six weeks and has played at an MVP level during that time.
Now, the disastrous start will likely prevent Maye from actually earning that hardware, but it is clear that he will be a very good quarterback for a very long time.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is certainly the best player of a generation. He has three Super Bowl MVPs to his name to go along with five total appearances in the big dance. His resume is enhanced by two regular season MVPs and some of the best statistical performances ever, including a 50-touchdown season and two 5,000-yard seasons.
Last year, Mahomes suffered a knee injury that altered his future outlook, and his numbers haven't been as lofty in recent years as they were earlier on in his career. Still, Mahomes was ranked as the best quarterback coming into the year because he is a proven winner and a player that nobody should ever doubt.
Yet again, though, Mahomes has been more game manager who just does what it takes to win than a highlight-waiting-to-happen gunslinger. He is still one of the best players in the NFL, he still does some crazy things with the football in his hands, and he is still a threat to win the Super Bowl. He also just proved his toughness yet again after returning to play after suffering an elbow injury that looked nasty at first glance. For now, though, Mahomes has to be docked a couple of spots.
2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is building himself another MVP case. Of course, Allen is one of the best rushing quarterbacks ever. In fact, his 88 rushing touchdowns are by far the most ever and well over double that of a legend like Michael Vick. Allen has a rocket launcher for an arm that allows for plenty of big plays through the air, too.
The Buffalo Bills are tied for the best record in the NFL. A lot of regular seasons wins is nothing new for Allen and company. Will this be the year he finally breaks out in the playoffs?
1. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
When Joe Burrow is healthy and on the football field, he is an MVP candidate and arguably the best quarterback in the world. Unfortunately, about half of Burrow's seasons have been riddled by injuries, including last year, when he was limited to just eight games. Before that, the Cincinnati Bengals star suffered a torn ACL as a rookie that limited him to 10 games, and he again played just 10 games in 2023 because of a wrist injury.
Luckily, 2026 is one of those seasons where Burrow is staying healthy, and fans have been rewarded with video game-like numbers. The QB responsible for one of the greatest Heisman Trophy-winning seasons ever leads the NFL with 23 touchdowns, and he is second with 2,386 passing yards.
Those numbers have Burrow tied as the MVP favorite and earn the quarterback the title of the best quarterback in the NFL right now. Burrow has so much touch on his passes, and it helps that the receiver duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is arguably the best in the league. Burrow's record-breaking streak of four straight games with four total touchdowns and a completion percentage over 70% just came to a close.