Honestly, if you took a nap during the 2025 season and just woke up, the NFL quarterback landscape probably looks like a fever dream. Patrick Mahomes is out with an ACL tear. Aaron Rodgers is wearing a Steelers jersey (and actually winning). And the New England Patriots have a guy named Drake Maye playing like he’s the second coming of Tom Brady. It’s wild.
Basically, the "old guard" isn't just changing; it’s being evicted. We’ve moved past the era where you could just pencil in the same five names for the Pro Bowl. If you're trying to keep track of every NFL starting QB right now, you have to look at a mix of grizzled vets having career renaissances and a rookie class that actually lived up to the hype for once.
The AFC Power Vacuum
With Mahomes sidelined and the Chiefs turning to Chris Oladokun late in the year, the AFC is basically the Wild West. For years, everyone said Josh Allen was the only one who could challenge the throne. Well, he’s doing it. Allen finished the 2025 regular season with 25 passing touchdowns and a massive 14 rushing scores. He’s the engine in Buffalo, even if the roster around him feels a little thinner than it used to be.
But the real shocker? Drake Maye. Nobody expected the Patriots to be this good this fast. Maye put up over 4,200 yards and 30 touchdowns in his second year. He’s not just a "game manager." He’s a vertical threat who somehow convinced the world that the post-Belichick era in Foxborough might actually be fun.
Then you’ve got the Rodgers situation in Pittsburgh. It sounds like something out of a Madden franchise mode, but it worked. Rodgers threw 24 touchdowns to only 7 interceptions. He’s 42 years old and playing "old man ball"—quick releases, zero risks, and letting that Mike Tomlin defense do the heavy lifting. It’s effective, even if it isn't flashy.
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Current AFC Starters and Their Vibe
- Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen. Still the most dangerous dual-threat in the league.
- Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson. He struggled with a hamstring injury late in '25, and missing the playoffs was a huge blow to his "postseason legacy" narrative.
- Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow. Turf toe ruined his season. When he's healthy, he's T1, but he only managed 7 starts this year.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence. He finally look like the "Generational Talent" we were promised, thanks to Liam Coen's scheme.
- New York Jets: Brady Cook. Talk about a curveball. The Jets' QB room has been a revolving door, but Cook finished the year as the guy.
The NFC’s Veteran Revival
While the AFC is getting younger, the NFC is being dominated by a 37-year-old Matthew Stafford. The guy just won’t quit. He led the league in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46). It’s kind of absurd. He’s got the Rams back in the Super Bowl conversation while everyone else is trying to find the "next big thing."
Speaking of the next big thing, Caleb Williams in Chicago is... complicated. He had 27 touchdowns, which is great for a second-year guy. But he also struggled with consistency in the first half of games. Bears fans are happy, but they're also holding their breath every time he holds the ball for more than three seconds.
In Detroit, Jared Goff is basically a human metronome. 68% completion rate. 34 touchdowns. He’s the most underrated "elite" QB in the game. People still treat him like a bridge quarterback, but he’s the one winning the NFC North while everyone else is rebuilding.
The 2025 Rookie Class: Who Actually Survived?
Most rookie quarterbacks fail. That’s just the stats. But this last group—the 2025 class—actually had some legs.
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Tyler Shough in New Orleans is the name you’ll hear the most. He’s 26, which makes him "old" for a rookie, but the Saints didn't care. He stepped in for Week 9 and went 5-4 as a starter. He’s got that "gritty" factor. He won a rain-soaked game against Tampa Bay by just running the ball himself when the passing game died.
Cam Ward in Tennessee had a rougher go of it. He fumbled 11 times. Eleven! You can't do that in the league and expect to keep your job. But he’s got the arm talent that makes coaches think, "I can fix him." Tennessee is sticking with him for 2026, but the leash is getting short.
Quick Look at the Rookie Performers
| Player | Team | Key Stat | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough | Saints | 2,256 Yards | High floor, might be the next Kirk Cousins. |
| Jaxson Dart | Giants | 9 Rushing TDs | Electric but needs to stop taking hits. |
| Cam Ward | Titans | 11 Fumbles | The talent is there; the ball security isn't. |
| Shedeur Sanders | Browns | 7 TDs / 10 INTs | It's been a rough transition to the Cleveland circus. |
What Most People Get Wrong About the Rankings
The biggest mistake fans make is looking at "Total Yards" and thinking that tells the whole story. If you look at every NFL starting QB, the guys winning games aren't necessarily the ones throwing for 350 a night.
Look at Bo Nix in Denver. His yards per attempt (6.4) is actually pretty low. It’s almost "check-down king" territory. But Sean Payton has him playing mistake-free football. The Broncos won 14 games. 14! Nix isn't going to win you a fantasy championship, but he’s winning real games because he doesn't turn the ball over.
On the flip side, you have guys like Justin Herbert. Every year we say it’s his year. He has the arm, the stats, and the "look." But the Chargers keep hovering around .500 because of injuries and a revolving door at receiver.
Moving Into the 2026 Offseason
The "QB Carousel" is about to start spinning again. We’re already hearing rumors about Kyler Murray potentially leaving Arizona and Geno Smith looking for a new home after the Raiders experiment.
If you're a fan, you need to stop watching the highlight reels and start watching the "Success Rate" and "EPA per dropback." That’s where the real truth stays.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the Injury Reports: The 2025 season was defined by who stayed on the field. Burrow and Mahomes' absences changed the entire playoff seeding.
- Don't Box-Score Watch: A guy like Bo Nix is more valuable to his team than a high-volume passer like Dak Prescott was this year, simply due to turnover margin.
- Keep an Eye on the Saints: Tyler Shough is the "sleeper" pick for a massive Year 2 jump. The system in New Orleans finally fits the talent.
- Evaluate the O-Line: Before you blame your QB, look at the sack numbers. Justin Herbert was sacked 54 times. No one wins under that kind of pressure.
The league is currently in a transition phase. We are seeing the end of the "Pocket Passer" era and the rise of the "Processor." It doesn't matter how far you can throw it if you can't get the ball out in 2.4 seconds. As we head into the 2026 season, the gap between the elite and the average is closing, and it’s all about who can handle the pressure—literally and figuratively.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the 2026 NFL Draft prospect rankings. The cycle is starting all over again, and with several veteran contracts set to expire, we could see another massive shift in the starting lineups by this time next year. Focus on teams with high cap space and struggling incumbents, like the Raiders and Giants, as they are the primary candidates to shake up the quarterback market this spring.