8. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
It seems ridiculous, based on how bad Darnold played early in his career and how quickly he became a journeyman, to have him up ahead of the likes of Joe Burrow, but it's time to put a little respect on his name.
Darnold was phenomenal for the Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. He followed that up with another 4,000-yard season in 2025 with the Seahawks, leading Seattle to another Super Bowl victory.
Say what you want about Darnold, but it feels like he's created a new "floor" for himself as a player while so many (myself included at times) have been waiting for the clock to strike midnight and the carriage to turn back into a pumpkin. It feels like he's really taken that next step in his game, and he's playing with a level of confidence he never had with the Jets, where he was seeing ghosts on the field (or whatever).
7. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Nobody needs to be making excuses for Patrick Mahomes, but I think this guy has some legitimate gripes over the past couple of years with the play of Kansas City's offensive line, as well as the collection of "playmakers" they've assembled around him.
The Chiefs were able to win the Super Bowl in the immediate aftermath of trading Tyreek Hill, but the offense has declined significantly in recent years. Mahomes is still one of the best all-around quarterbacks in the NFL, but there's only so much he can do on his own. He and Travis Kelce can no longer single-handedly beat NFL teams.
When it comes to situational football, there are few quarterbacks in the NFL you'd still take over Mahomes. He's got such a good feel for when to take off and run, how to direct traffic when the play breaks down, and it still takes all 60 minutes to beat this guy.
Even if his numbers -- especially on downfield throws -- have taken a nosedive in the last couple of seasons, a "human" version of Patrick Mahomes is still great.
6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
This one fits into the "personal conviction" category. Jared Goff might be criminally underrated, at least in terms of what I see when it comes to the discussions about the best quarterbacks in the league.
Goff seems to get plenty of credit for statistical production, but the decline of the Lions' offense without Ben Johnson last year might have created more skeptics than anything. Still, Goff has been a mortal lock for 4,500 passing yards per season over the last four years, and he's got three straight seasons with at least 30 passing touchdowns.
Somewhat under the radar, Goff was 5th in MVP voting back in the 2024 season. He's one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the game, he's extremely smart, and he's become more of a difference-maker than just a point guard with great pieces around him.
5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
When Dak Prescott is fully healthy, he's a legitimate MVP candidate. Chargers fans are probably wondering why Dak Prescott is so high on this list and Justin Herbert isn't. Aren't they essentially the AFC and NFC counterparts of each other?
There are arguments to be made, for sure. Prescott's biggest critique at this point is his inability to step up in the postseason, but unlike Herbert, Prescott has led his team to multiple division titles and multiple playoff wins.
But this isn't about Justin Herbert. Prescott is capable of absolutely lighting up even the best defenses in the NFL, and he does such a great job of involving every piece in that Dallas offense. He can handle the 600-attempt seasons and still complete 67 percent of his throws. Prescott is definitely one of those players who is capable of a 40-plus touchdown season, and while he's no longer the dual threat he was early in his career, he's still a threat with his legs as well.
The way Prescott played last season, I wouldn't be shocked if he's in the MVP conversation in 2026.
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