2026 NFL QB Rankings: Mid-Season

Welcome to The Grueling Truth’s 2026 NFL QB Rankings: Mid-Season! First, I want to lay out a few things. I am ranking the 32 current starting quarterbacks. Players with season ending injuries, or that were benched are not listed. This isn’t a “who would I start a franchise with” exercise. Career accomplishments, accolades, and awards are irrelevant here. A player’s “potential” and long term outlook do not play a factor at all. Age ain’t a thing on this list. Guys with an injury history won’t have their ranking negatively affected by that. All that matters is what these quarterbacks have done so far THIS SEASON. Nine weeks – that’s all we’re focused on right now. With all that in mind, let’s get to it!

“The Top 5”

1. Joe Burrow, CIN (Pre-Season Rank: 3)

2. Brock Purdy, SF (Pre-Season Rank: 11)

3. Josh Allen, BUF (Pre-Season Rank: 1)

4. Trevor Lawrence, JAX (Pre-Season Rank: 17)

5. Jordan Love, GB (Pre-Season Rank: 9)

“Good, Not Great”

6. Jared Goff, DET (Pre-Season Rank: 6)

7. Patrick Mahomes, KC (Pre-Season Rank: 5)

8. Dak Prescott, DAL (Pre-Season Rank: 7)

9. C.J. Stroud, HOU (Pre-Season Rank: 19)

10. Matthew Stafford, LAR (Pre-Season Rank: 2)

11. Drake Maye, NE (Pre-Season Rank: 8)

12. Caleb Williams, CHI (Pre-Season Rank: 13)

13. Kirk Cousins, MIN (Pre-Season Rank: 28)

14. Bryce Young, CAR (Pre-Season Rank: 25)

15. Bo Nix, DEN (Pre-Season Rank: 16)

“Average Starters”

16. Jayden Daniels, WSH (Pre-Season Rank: 12)

17. Geno Smith, NYJ (Pre-Season Rank: 29)

18. Tyler Shough, NO (Pre-Season Rank: 24)

19. Aaron Rodgers, PIT (Pre-Season Rank: 21)

20. Sam Darnold, SEA (Pre-Season Rank: 14)

21. Michael Penix, ATL    (Pre-Season Rank: Not Ranked)

“Replacement Level”

22. Deshaun Watson, CLE (Pre-Season Rank: 31)

23. Cam Ward, TEN (Pre-Season Rank: 26)

24. Baker Mayfield, TB (Pre-Season Rank: 18)

25. J.J. McCarthy, NYG (Pre-Season Rank: Not Ranked)

26. Jacoby Brissett, BAL (Pre-Season Rank: 30)

27. Justin Herbert, LAC (Pre-Season Rank: 10)

28. Daniel Jones, IND (Pre-Season Rank: 23)

29. Malik Willis, MIA    (Pre-Season Rank: 32)

“To Be Determined”

30. Fernando Mendoza, LV (Pre-Season Rank: Not Ranked)

31. Joe Milton, PHI (Pre-Season Rank: Not Ranked)

32. Carson Beck, ARZ (Pre-Season Rank: Not Ranked)

Notes

• Joe Burrow is the current MVP favorite, and he is my top quarterback in the first half of this season. Josh Allen is right on his heels, but Brock Purdy deserves some MVP love. With all the injuries San Francisco has had to deal with offensively, the fact that he’s playing so well is impressive.
• There are three QB’s that are out for the year, but would’ve been ranked: Lamar Jackson, Jaxson Dart, and Jalen Hurts. Of the three, Jackson would’ve been ranked the highest. He was once again having an excellent season until he got hurt.
• I expect Fernando Mendoza to rise steadily up these rankings by the end of the season. The Raiders felt good enough about his development to trade starter Kirk Cousins to Minnesota. Las Vegas is still very much in the hunt for a wild card spot, and Mendoza has a chance to make his mark early.
• People are starting to wonder if the Bucs made a mistake extending Baker Mayfield. I’m not a part of that group, but he has not played well at all this season. Baker might still be hurt. Hopefully he can turn it around in the second half, because Tampa Bay currently has a legit shot at the division crown.
• I almost put JJ McCarthy higher on this list, but I resisted the urge. I still don’t trust him, but he has played well for the Giants after coming over in a trade from Minnesota.
• Biggest Riser: Trevor Lawrence. He has been one of the best quarterbacks all season, and finally seems to be comfortable in the NFL. Of the 27 quarterbacks with over 200 dropbacks this season, he ranks 2nd in EPA per dropback. Jacksonville is top five in scoring, and is two drives away from possibly being undefeated. If he keeps playing at this level, and the Jaguars keep winning, Lawrence will be on the shortlist for MVP.
• Biggest faller: Justin Herbert. This could go down as one of the biggest cases of the “Yips” that we have ever seen in the NFL. For you youngsters, Google “Yips”. Herbert was widely considered to be one of the top ten QB’s in the league coming into the year. Fresh off of back to back 11 win seasons, no one could’ve seen this fall off coming. Herbert has thrown at least one interception in every game so far, and has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL so far.
• I was this close to putting Patrick Mahomes in the top five. He hasn’t put up gaudy numbers, but the offense keeps humming along. Kansas City ranks 10th in passing, 2nd in total yards, and 10th in scoring. Despite the offense having issues along the offensive line and at receiver, Mahomes is still one of the most efficient QBs in the league.