In today's NFL, most of what matters is centered around the quarterback. When teams find their franchise quarterback, the next two most important things are being able to protect the quarterback with a strong offensive line, and finding a way to get to the quarterback on defense.
When a team has all three of these things satisfied, a Super Bowl run becomes much more likely. For a good bit of squads in the AFC right now, they can say for sure that they indeed have a franchise quarterback, and some have the makings of a Super Bowl roster.
Now that training camp is rapidly approaching, let's power-rank the starting quarterbacks in the AFC for the 2026 season. We'll base our rankings on the most recent play we saw from each player. Essentially, we're ranking them based on how they played in 2025.
Power-ranking the 16 AFC starting quarterbacks with training camps looming
16. Deshaun Watson/Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
It feels like no matter who is starting for the Cleveland Browns this year, the results aren't going to be great. Deshaun Watson hasn't been good for what feels like five years now, and Shedeur Sanders was a struggling rookie. If nothing else, the Browns do have some extra draft capital to perhaps land a franchise quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.
But for now, this team is trending toward having one of the worst quarterback rooms we've seen in quite some time. I guess it's always possible for Watson to win the job and look somewhat like his Houston Texans' self, but that feels like the ceiling, and it still doesn't feel likely.
15. Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
After some very solid fill-ins for Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers, Malik Willis landed a multi-year deal from the Miami Dolphins this offseason and is slated to start for the team. It does feel like Willis is a simple short-term option until the Dolphins figure something out more long-term.
Wilis has not been a full-time starter in this league and is just about as unknown as a quarterback can get. He's No. 15 in our power rankings for the time being. If his efficient in spot-starting duty with the Packers can carry across a full season with the Dolphins, Miami might actually have something special on their hands.
But not many would be shocked if the Dolphins ended up with a totally different quarterback within three seasons.
14. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Geno Smith began his career with the New York Jets, and he honestly might end it with them, too. The issue here is that Smith has been rather horrendous the past two seasons, throwing 32 interceptions since the start of 2024.
Smith is now on his third team in as many seasons for a reason, but as I have said for months now, Smith's arrival may actually give the Jets an upgrade over who they had under center in 2025. He's a declining quarterback who might be able to hover in the mid-80s with his passer rating if all goes well. The Jets do have a solid, young offensive line and youthful weapons, so that should help.
13. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins is in the same tier as Smith, but Cousins hasn't been quite as reckless. Now with the Las Vegas Raiders, the veteran quarterback is surely just a stopgap option until the coaches feel like rookie Fernando Mendoza is ready to roll. We could be watching Cousins' last starting stretch of his career.
He won't be anything special but should be good enough to keep the Raiders in most games that aren't against juggernauts. At this point of his career, though, there really isn't much to love. He's a backup-caliber quarterback at this stage.
12. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward is definitely someone I am keeping an eye out to breakout in the 2026 season. He did begin to put things together nicely near the end of the 2025 season and now has Brian Daboll calling the plays on offense.
Ward also possesses all the necessary tools to be a top quarterback in this league, and while this isn't going to happen overnight, there is a chance that near the end of 2026, we're looking at Ward as the league's next great passer.
11. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts were 7-1 through the first eight games of the 2025 season before chaos happened. Jones suffered a torn Achilles and was unfortunately seeing a regression in play before that.
At this point, the Colts are left having to prove themselves again despite the red-hot start in 2025. Jones is also coming off a major injury, so there are now new concerns with that, and Jones has been a below-average quarterback for a majority of his NFL career.
He's No. 11 in our power rankings.
10. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers' counting statistics were fine in 2025, but nothing special. Rodgers is set to turn 43 years old during the regular season and is obviously a regressing player. If nothing else, he never throws a ton of interceptions and should be able to keep the ball out of harm's way, but this is more of a bridge quarterback at this stage of his career, as the Pittsburgh Steelers won't win much of anything with him under center.
9. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud has been rather average the past two seasons after his breakout campaign as a rookie back in 2023. As of now, Stroud does need to re-prove himself again, and if not, the Texans should not feel pressured to give him a long-term extension.
Stroud doess have the potential, but with some of the other rising quarterbacks in the AFC, he's getting buried as each year passes.
8. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
I do believe Trevor Lawrence is a special quarterback, but he didn't sustain his great level of play in 2025 for more than a month and a half's time. I do belileve Lawrence has more to prove - he has to be truly great for an entire season.
Yes, every quarterback has bad games, but being able to put an entire season together is really something he's not consistently done. The 2025 season was a great step in the right direction, though, and we could see some fireworks in 2026.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has been the most "B+" quarterback in the NFL since entering the league back in 2020. Herbert is good in the regular season just about evey season, but then blows up in the playoffs. He's 0-3 in the postseason and just has not offered much more than some nice looking regular season statistics.
We'll need to see Herbert channel some sort of new level of play to rank him higher.
6. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix does seem to be the full package for the Denver Broncos. He's mobile, has a strong enough arm, can make most every throw on the field, is a winner, and is also clutch. Sure, the raw passing production just hasn't really panned out the way Broncos fans have hoped thus far, but adding Jaylen Waddle to the mix is largely seen as the solution to that problem.
Nix is No. 6 in our quarterback rankings for now but does have the ability to rise.
5. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
I've actually bumped Drake Maye down from where I would usually have him, as he really only has one season of proving himself at the position. The New England Patriots also had an easier schedule last year, so this could have been an instance of Maye being dealt the perfect hand.
It would be nice if Maye could sustain some sort of decently high level of play for another year so we can see that he is actually one of the best in the NFL. I bet Maye is every bit of the player we saw in 2025, but doing it for more than one year is needed here.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes' 2025 season was cut short due to the torn ACL he suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers, and his counting stats just haven't been special the past few seasons. Mahomes isn't declining or anything, but this three-year stretch hasn't been the Mahomes of old.
Yes, he won a Super Bowl in 2023, but 2024 and 2025 have been forgettable seasons. Mahomes should still be looked at as one of the best in the NFL, though. He's proven that for years.
3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow simply needs to stay on the field. That's really the one thing that has gone against him in his career thus far. The Cincinnati Bengals, though, hadn't really done Burrow many favors with offseason moves, or lack thereof, but this offseason felt different.
Burrow is simply an elite, high-end passer when healthy, and now that this Bengals team does feel a bit balanced, we could see Burrow playing out of his mind, staying on the field, and perhaps leading the team into another deep playoff run.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The best dual-threat quarterback of all-time, Lamar Jackson's style of play has made him more vulnerable to injuries, and 2025 was another one of those years where he was banged up. However, he's a two-time MVP, should have won a third MVP in 2024, and has been among the best players in the league for the majority of his career. Let's not overthink this.
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen's passing touchdown totals have actually decreased each year since 2020, which I find interesting, but Allen continues to be the best of the best. Sure, his passing stats didn't jump off the page in 2025, but his elite production as a runner puts him in the same class as Jackson - one of one players and perhaps future Hall of Famers.