The quarterback room in 2026 looks nothing like the brochures predicted. If you haven't checked the depth charts lately, things are weird. Aaron Rodgers is wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform. Drake Maye is suddenly the most efficient passer in the league. And Patrick Mahomes spent a huge chunk of the season on Injured Reserve with an ACL tear.
It's chaotic.
Basically, if you’re looking for a simple list of NFL quarterbacks, you’re going to find a landscape that’s been hit by a tectonic shift. We’ve moved past the "old guard" dominance, and we're currently witnessing a bizarre mix of resurrected veterans and second-year players who are already playing like ten-year pros.
The Top Tier: Who Actually Runs the League in 2026?
Let's be real—the hierarchy has flipped. While we all expected Mahomes to stay at the summit forever, his injury opened a vacuum that was filled by some truly surprising names.
Drake Maye has been the biggest shocker. Honestly, the New England Patriots might have finally found the heir they’ve been chasing since Brady left. In 2025, Maye finished with a 72.0% completion rate, 31 touchdowns, and only 8 picks. He’s not just "good for a young guy"—he’s currently the top-rated quarterback in many Tier 1 rankings.
Then you have the ageless Matthew Stafford.
The guy is 37 and just threw for over 4,700 yards and 46 touchdowns. It’s insane. He’s carrying a Rams team that everyone thought would be rebuilding by now.
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The 2025-2026 Heavy Hitters
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills): Still the physical freak of nature. He logged 14 rushing touchdowns last season. 14! That’s more than most starting running backs.
- Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys): Consistent as ever, putting up 4,552 yards. But the narrative is still the same: can he do it in January?
- Justin Herbert (LA Chargers): He’s dealing with a revolving door of offensive linemen, but the talent is undeniable. 26 touchdowns and nearly 500 rushing yards last year.
- Jared Goff (Detroit Lions): He’s become the ultimate "system plus" quarterback. 34 touchdowns and a 105.5 passer rating. He’s making $50 million-plus look like a bargain.
The Backup Revolution and the "Bridge" Problem
The middle of the list of NFL quarterbacks is where things get messy. We’re seeing a lot of teams realize that a "decent" starter isn't enough anymore.
Take the Indianapolis Colts. They’ve been a graveyard for quarterbacks lately. They started the season with Anthony Richardson, but he’s on IR with an eye injury. They tried Daniel Jones (who came over from the Giants), but he blew his Achilles. Now, as we hit the 2026 offseason, they’re looking at Riley Leonard and even a 44-year-old Philip Rivers who briefly came out of retirement.
It’s a mess.
And don't get me started on the Las Vegas Raiders. They tried the Geno Smith experiment after he left Seattle, but it’s already fizzling. Geno is dealing with an ankle injury, and the Raiders are likely moving on to Kenny Pickett or looking toward the draft.
Why the QB Carousel is About to Spin Out of Control
If you think the current list is settled, wait until the 2026 trade window opens. There are three or four massive names that are almost guaranteed to change zip codes.
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Tua Tagovailoa is the headline. He got benched in Miami for a rookie named Quinn Ewers. Tua basically said in a recent interview that a fresh start would be "dope." He’s got a $54 million cap hit in 2026, which makes a trade almost impossible, but the Dolphins seem ready to eat the money just to move on.
Then there’s Joe Burrow.
The Bengals missed the playoffs for three straight years. Burrow is frustrated. While it sounds crazy to think Cincinnati would trade him, the "disappointed quarterback" trope is getting loud. If the offensive line doesn't get fixed, Burrow might force his way out.
The Emerging Sophomores (The Class of '24/25)
The 2024 draft class is finally showing its teeth. Caleb Williams didn't have the historic rookie year Jayden Daniels did, but he’s trending up under Ben Johnson in Chicago. He finished 2025 with 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Bo Nix in Denver is quietly becoming the most efficient game manager in the league. He doesn't have the "wow" throws, but 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions kept the Broncos in the hunt all year.
The 2026 Draft: Is Help on the Way?
Scouts are kind of split on the 2026 class. It’s not viewed as a "generational" group like 2024 was. However, there are a few names that will be at the top of every needy team's board come April.
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- Carson Beck (Miami FL): He moved from Georgia to "The U" and basically rebuilt his draft stock. He’s the classic 6'4" pocket passer that GMs still salivate over.
- Ty Simpson (Alabama): High upside, massive arm, but still a bit raw. He’s the "project" that some coach will think they can fix.
- Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): He’s got the size (6'5") and the patience. His lower-body mechanics are a bit shaky under pressure, but the touch is there.
Current NFL Starting Quarterbacks (As of January 2026)
To give you a snapshot of where the league stands right now, here is the primary list across the conferences. Note that many of these are "injury-fill-ins" that have become the de facto starters during the playoff run.
- Arizona Cardinals: Jacoby Brissett (Kyler Murray on IR)
- Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson (Dealing with back/hamstring issues)
- Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams
- Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders (The kid actually lived up to the hype)
- Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud
- Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Oladokun (Mahomes is out)
- New York Jets: Brady Cook (Aaron Rodgers is in Pittsburgh, remember?)
- Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts
- San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy
- Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold (The "Darnold-aissance" is real)
The Reality of the Position
Being a quarterback in 2026 is harder than it’s ever been. Defensive coordinators have finally figured out how to slow down the "explosive" offenses of the early 2020s. We’re seeing a return to middle-of-the-field passing and high-percentage throws.
This is why guys like Brock Purdy and Jared Goff are so valuable. They don't need to be superheroes; they just need to be processors.
The list of NFL quarterbacks is no longer about who has the strongest arm. It’s about who can survive a 17-game season without ending up on the "Questionable" list every Friday.
If you're a fan of a team like the Giants or the Titans, 2026 is going to be a year of high-stakes gambling. You're either going to bet on a veteran like Jameis Winston to keep the seat warm, or you're going to throw a rookie like Jaxson Dart into the fire.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
- Monitor the Tua Tagovailoa Situation: If he hits the open market, he’s the ultimate "buy low" candidate for a team with a strong offensive line.
- Watch the Pittsburgh Steelers: With Aaron Rodgers likely hitting his final season, the Steelers are the prime candidate to trade up in the draft.
- Don't Sleep on the Backups: Players like Malik Willis (Green Bay) and Tanner McKee (Philadelphia) showed enough in relief duty to warrant trade interest as potential starters elsewhere.
- Draft Strategy: If your team needs a QB, look for the "processors" over the "athletes" in the 2026 class. The league is trending back toward mental speed over foot speed.
The 2026 season has proven that the name on the back of the jersey matters less than the scheme they're playing in. Whether it's a veteran finding a second life or a rookie defying the "bust" labels, the quarterback landscape is more fluid than it’s ever been in NFL history.