The field of starting quarterbacks in the NFL is going to be one of the best we've seen in recent memory. Football fans are in for a treat.
And while the NFC was considered the "lesser" of the two conferences going into last season, the teams and quarterbacks in this conference proved a lot of people wrong.
Matthew Stafford is now the reigning NFL MVP. Caleb Williams is one of the top breakout stars in the league. And there are plenty of young quarterbacks on the rise throughout the conference.
Our latest NFL Power Rankings will be taking a look at all 16 of the projected starting quarterbacks for NFL teams, and ranking them worst to best. The rankings will be based on what each player has done in his career up to this point, how we project them for 2026, their overall supporting cast, and what kind of numbers they put up last year.
NFL Power Rankings: Caleb Williams skyrocketing in NFC QB rankings for 2026
16. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
In two NFL seasons, Michael Penix Jr. has played just 14 games total, and what we've seen hasn't really been enough to convince anyone that he's truly the franchse quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons beyond this season.
There is a reason the Falcons brought in Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, and it wasn't just because they were worried about Penix's availability -- they don't know if he can truly be the starter.
This is a Falcons team that will have some playoff aspirations after the way things ended last season. It wouldn't be a shock, even in the slightest, if Penix was entering this season with a relatively short leash. The Falcons have a new GM and a new head coach, which usually doesn't mean good things for a holdover at quarterback.
15. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Make no mistake -- I'm a huge fan of Tyler Shough entering his second season with the New Orleans Saints. This ranking is merely a reflection of how much Shough has to prove as opposed to the idea that he's a terrible quarterback, or that he didn't play well last season.
You have to look even beyond the numbers to see how well Shough played last season, how many big-time throws he made, and how awesome he was using both his arm and his legs to help the Saints in the second half of the season. I think there's definitely something here.
But there is plenty to prove. Just like many others, I was very skeptical that the Saints were making the right decision taking Shough in the first place, but he really made a lot of believers last season. I wouldn't be surprised to see him shooting up this list early in the 2026 season.
14. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Although he doesn't have a high ceiling, Jacoby Brissett has proven -- on a number of occasions at this point in his NFL career -- that he has a rather high floor.
Brissett quietly threw 23 touchdown passes last season for the Cardinals, compared to just 8 interceptions. Considering he wasn't even the starter for the whole season, those are pretty good numbers overall, even if the Cardinals were terrible as a team last season.
There's a new head coach in town with Mike LaFleur coming over from the Rams, and he's got a lot of weapons to work with. An upgraded offensive scheme, a revamped running game, and progression from the receivers could help Brissett have a much better year than anyone is anticipating right now.
13. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart proved last season that he was worth the 1st-round investment the Giants made in him, but he also proved that he's one of the most reckless quarterbacks in the NFL.
There's an element of trustworthiness missing from Dart's overall game that makes it tough to rank him on a list like this. You would be lying if you said the flashes Dart showed last season weren't impressive -- they were.
And what makes Dart even more intriguing is that he looks like he could be one of the more dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the entire NFC. But that reckless style of play, leading to possible concussions and lack of availability, is something the Giants are going to have to coach out of him. He had 15 passing touchdowns and 9 rushing touchdowns in just 14 games last season.
12. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers desperately needed to see Bryce Young make some strides last season, and he delivered. It wasn't perfect or pretty all season, but Young's total body of work in 2025 was really solid with 23 touchdown passes and the highest completion rate (63.6 percent).
He also had a whopping six game-winning drives last year, showing the ability to step up in the clutch for the Panthers. We saw him play at his best in a couple of games against the Los Angeles Rams that really breathed some life into his long-term projection, at least from the outside looking in.
And the Panthers will be asking even more out of Young this coming season. He will be getting graded on last year as a curve, and the expectation will be to prove he's a franchise player now that he's up for a new contract very soon.
11. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
The Arizona Cardinals moved on from the former #1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner, only to have the Minnesota Vikings scoop him up almost immediately. And there are reasons to believe we're going to see the best version of Kyler Murray we've seen since he was drafted back in 2019.
Murray thrived early in his career under Kliff Kingsbury. Talent has never been a question, but scheme fit and health have been.
If Murray can stay healthy with the Vikings, he will easily be a contender for Comeback Player of the Year. And not only that, but if Murray can prove himself as the starter for the Vikings, he's going to get a huge pay day from them. The Vikings are probably going to be willing to pay whatever it takes to keep Murray if he plays well, considering they let Sam Darnold leave and he won the Super Bowl the following season.
10. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Everyone has to have some honest conversations about Jalen Hurts right now. Yes, he's proven himself in big moments for the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, he's capable of helping the Eagles win a lot of games.
But as a standalone quarterback, it's fair to wonder if he would thrive outside of the environment that he's been in. His completion rate of 64.8 percent last season wasn't the lowest of his career (or bad by league metrics), but was the lowest he's had since 2021. His yards per attempt -- 7.1 -- was the lowest of his NFL career. His 145 1st down throws were the fewest he's had in a full season.
The Eagles' offense didn't look right last season with way too many 3-and-outs. On top of it all, his 8 rushing touchdowns were the fewest he's had since his rookie season. Hurts has to bounce back this coming season. He was not good enough last year, no matter what way you want to slice it.
9. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Entering a contract year, the pressure is on Baker Mayfield, who is going to have to find a way to prove to the Buccaneers' organization that he's capable of being their franchise QB beyond 2026 without Mike Evans.
The Bucs still have plenty of weapons, including both Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka, but this entire team dropped off a cliff down the stretch last season -- Mayfield included. Injuries at the skill positions were part of that, but it also felt like Mayfield lost his mojo in a way.
There's a lot at stake this coming season with Mayfield, and pretty much the entire brain trust of this Bucs operation. But Mayfield wants to get paid like an elite QB, so he's going to be counted on to perform like one. His completion rate going down by 8 percent (which it did from 2024 to 2025) simply won't cut it.
8. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
We saw MVP-caliber play from Jayden Daniels during his rookie season with the Commanders in 2024, and then injuries robbed him of any sort of repeat in 2025, or even any true signs of progression. Even though he only appeared in 7 games last season, everything was down for Daniels from completion rate to touchdown percentage, QBR, rushing efficiency -- everything.
With that being said, it feels like there's only one way to go from here.
Daniels is going to have a new offensive coordinator in 2026 with David Blough calling the plays, so that relationship will be worth watching. But it's fair to say that the Commanders don't exactly have the league's best receiver group right now, so Daniels is going to be expected to carry the load.
7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Injuries limited Brock Purdy to just 9 games played last season, but he was quietly playing near the same level we saw from him during his 2023 season where he finished 4th in the league in MVP voting.
There is a lot to like about Purdy's game, but the way he operates Kyle Shanahan's offense is part of what makes him such a dangerous player week in and week out. Purdy is capable of making all of the tough throws you don't see typical "system" quarterbacks make, and he's also much more athletic and elusive in the pocket than he's given credit for.
Purdy is, at this point, probably one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. If he's healthy, that 49ers team is going to be a Super Bowl contender again.
6. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
After spending a year with the 49ers, Sam Darnold went to the Minnesota Vikings, won a starting job, and led Minnesota to a 14-win season. But it was just an audition for other teams as the Vikings already had their minds made up that they were going to pivot to JJ McCarthy when they had the chance.
That turned out to be a massive mistake, because Darnold became the franchise QB of the Seahawks and led them to a Super Bowl win in his first year with the team. The way Darnold has rebounded since his time with the Jets and Panthers -- which feels like a lifetime ago -- is extremely impressive.
He's now made back-to-back Pro Bowls with 60 touchdown passes in his last 34 regular season games, and he's proving that the clock isn't going to strike midnight on this Cinderella story anytime soon.
5. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
One of the weirdest phenomena you will see in professional football right now is the way Jordan Love plays in the second half of the season compared to how the Packers play in the second half of the season.
Love's numbers in November and December are outstanding. He's got a career TD/INT ratio of 41-10 in the months of November and December combined. Packers fans even have a running joke about how locked in this guy is during "Toyotathon" every year. His completion rate is hovering around 65 percent. His QB rating in the month of December alone is 101.6.
Yet over the course of Love's career, the Packers are a combined 15-13 in November and December. They haven't been able to finish strong. Something's got to give there, because Love is obviously a special player. He could even be in that MVP conversation.
4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
If there's one quarterback around the entire NFL that I would say deserves the distinction of being the most underrated passer in the league, it would have to be Jared Goff.
Goff has four straight season with over 4,400 passing yards and at least 29 touchdowns. He's got over 30 passing touchdowns in three straight seasons, including 71 total touchdown passes over the last two years with just 20 interceptions.
The Lions won 15 regular season games just two years ago, but were one of the league's biggest disappointments in 2025. I have no doubt that Goff can lead them back to the promised land and get them back into Super Bowl contention. He's another one of those quarterbacks who has simply gotten better with age and time.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams is one of the top rising stars in the entire NFL entering the 2026 season. The league recognized it, and Williams was put on the cover of the new Madden 27 video game.
What we saw last season for Caleb Williams in his first year working with new head coach Ben Johnson was nothing short of franchise-altering for the Bears. He was better in every possible way, whether we're talking about his overall accuracy, taking fewer sacks, making better decisions with the football, or coming through in the clutch.
They're calling Williams "Ice Man" because of the way he played late in games for Chicago last season, and it's hard to say that nickname wasn't earned. He has all of the qualities you look for at the quarterback position, but what makes him so special is the way he can make plays and throws even some of the best athletes at the position cannot make. He's got those "cheat code" qualities.
2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
The real shame about the 2025 season for the Dallas Cowboys was the way they wasted one of Dak Prescott's prime years.
You can understand, in principle, the proverbial line the team drew in the sand with Micah Parsons, but the name of the game is winning. That Dallas offense was simply too good last season, and Dak Prescott was simply too dialed in, for them to have just flushed that season down the toilet.
Although the play of the defense overshadowed it, Dak Prescott was playing some of the best ball we've seen from him last season. And that was his first season coming back from injury. I'm anticipating he's going to be just as locked in -- if not more -- in 2026.
1. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The reigning NFL MVP is more living proof that quarterbacks can get even better with age. Matthew Stafford is 38 years old and is coming off on a season in which he threw 46 touchdown passes compared to just 8 interceptions.
We've seen Stafford put up good numbers in the past, but we've never seen him play at that level before. It was like Stafford graduated to a different level of football last season, and it took every team's best effort to even have a chance of beating the Rams.
And there is really no reason to think anything is going to change in 2026. Even if Stafford's interception numbers regress to the average of his NFL career, he's still one of the few quarterbacks in the NFL you don't want to bet against in any given week.