PFF's 2026 NFL quarterback rankings are out, and it's a tightly contested top tier. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes lead the way, with Matthew Stafford rounding out the elite group. The next tier features Jordan Love and Justin Herbert, with both players projected to rebound from difficult 2025 campaigns. The rankings are built around three seasons of performance, with PFF passing grade, Wins Above Replacement (WAR), and EPA per dropback forming the foundation. The 2026 PFF QB Annual provided additional context through advanced passing splits, accuracy metrics, clutch performance, and other proprietary data.
Allen has been on a heater since his first two years of his career, earning a 90.0-plus PFF grade in six straight seasons. He has recorded 141 big-time throws over the past four years, 23 more than the next-closest quarterback. The 2024 MVP has also surpassed Cam Newton's record with 79 career rushing touchdowns. However, he is still missing a Lombardi Trophy.
Burrow's health has been a concern, with a severe turf toe injury limiting him to just eight games and 259 dropbacks in 2025. Despite this, his play never slipped, earning a 91.3 PFF passing grade that ranked second among qualifying quarterbacks. He also posted the lowest turnover-worthy play rate by any quarterback with at least 250 dropbacks in the PFF era.
Jackson's PFF passing grade fell from a league-best 93.3 in 2024 to 69.0 in 2025, but his traits remain intact. He continued to punish defenses that brought pressure, earning a 91.9 PFF passing grade against the blitz. As a runner, he remained one of the NFL's most dynamic quarterbacks, posting a 78.6 rushing grade that ranked seventh among his peers.
Mahomes' 2025 season was the worst of his career, with a career-low 76.0 PFF grade and the Chiefs failing to make the playoffs. However, he still ranks second among NFL quarterbacks since becoming the starter in 2018, with three Super Bowl titles to his name. If these rankings were based solely on 2025 output, Stafford would have a legitimate case for the No. 1 spot, but his 2025 season was spectacular.
Love took a big step forward in 2025, combining efficiency with consistency. He led all qualified quarterbacks in EPA per dropback (0.222), while his 88.7 PFF passing grade and 2.97 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) both ranked among the league's top three. Herbert posted a career-low 73.0 PFF passing grade in 2025, but his 91.2 PFF grade over the past three years ranks fifth among NFL quarterbacks.
Prescott quietly put together one of the NFL's most complete passing seasons in 2025, with an 85.4 PFF passing grade that ranked fourth among qualified quarterbacks. He also led all qualified quarterbacks in passing grade in clutch situations (87.8) across 145 high-leverage dropbacks.
Maye led one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history, guiding New England to its first Super Bowl since 2018. He was the biggest reason for that turnaround, finishing second in NFL MVP voting and third among qualifying quarterbacks in PFF passing grade at the end of the regular season.
The 49ers were hit by the injury bug harder than almost any other team in 2025, and their franchise quarterback didn't escape that misfortune. Purdy missed eight games with a turf toe injury but was highly effective when he was on the field, with a 65.8 passing grade under pressure ranking third. He has now ranked among the NFL's 10 highest-graded quarterbacks in each of the past three seasons.
Lawrence took some time to adjust to Liam Coen’s offense last season, but once he did, he vaulted himself into the MVP conversation. He ranked 21st in the NFL in PFF passing grade (71.5) while producing 14 big-time throws and 20 turnover-worthy plays. From Weeks 14 through 18, he ranked second in the NFL in PFF passing grade (93.7) while recording 15 big-time throws and just two turnover-worthy plays.
Daniels struggled in his sophomore NFL season, playing in just seven games and earning a 74.9 PFF passing grade, ranking 18th among qualifying quarterbacks. One of the biggest reasons for his struggles was his difficulty handling pressure, with his PFF passing grade against the blitz dropping by more than 30 points.
Williams made the sophomore leap many hoped for after the Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach. He led Chicago to its first Divisional Round appearance in 15 years and recorded 37 big-time throws, second among NFL quarterbacks behind league MVP Matthew Stafford. However, his negatively graded throw rate ranked 38th at the position.
Darnold turned in a second consecutive excellent season, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. He set career highs with a 79.9 PFF passing grade and 8.3 yards per attempt. Darnold has excelled in play-action passing and deep passing, ranking among the top five quarterbacks in PFF play-action passing grade in each of the past two seasons.
Hurts posted a top-12 PFF passing grade for the fourth consecutive season, with just six interceptions all season. However, he has struggled to throw over the middle of the field, with his 135 attempts between the numbers ranking 23rd in the NFL. He also averaged just 4.0 yards per carry while earning a 71.6 PFF rushing grade.
Goff's average time to throw of 2.57 seconds was tied for second-fastest in the league in 2025, and his EPA on zero-graded throws ranked second overall at 0.090 per attempt. He has done nothing but stuff the stat sheet since being traded to the Lions, leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns since 2022.
Stroud regressed significantly in 2025, dealing with poor pass protection and injuries. His 62.0 PFF passing grade ranked 34th among 43 qualifying quarterbacks, and he committed a career-high 23 turnover-worthy plays. Maye endured a roller-coaster 2025 season, recording 28 big-time throws and 28 turnover-worthy plays, with the latter leading the NFL and being a major reason the Buccaneers missed the postseason.
Nix has developed into a quality starting quarterback, leading the Broncos to the AFC championship game but missing it after suffering a fractured ankle. His 89.3 PFF passing grade from a clean pocket ranked seventh among qualifying quarterbacks last season, while his 77.6 career PFF passing grade ranks 14th among qualifiers.
Young is perhaps the biggest enigma among the NFL’s current starting quarterbacks. He has produced PFF passing grades above 78.0 in five games while earning grades below 52.0 in five others. Young’s ability to find consistency will be the key to Carolina’s success in 2026.
Murray flashed his immense talent in 2025 before injuries once again cut his season short. He fell out of favor in Arizona and is now competing with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job in Minnesota. Murray has shown he can play at a top-eight level, and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has had success with less talented quarterbacks.
Rodgers has confirmed that the 2026 season will be the final one of his Hall of Fame career after signing a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh. He earned just a 68.0 PFF overall grade last year, the worst mark of his career. His 38.1 PFF passing grade under pressure ranked sixth-worst among qualifying quarterbacks.
Jones was a legitimate MVP candidate through the first eight weeks of the 2025 season, but things quickly unraveled for him. He earned just a 53.2 PFF passing grade over his final five appearances before tearing his Achilles in Week 14. Jones signed a new two-year deal as the Colts pinned their hopes on his recovery.
Shough nearly won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after leading the Saints to five victories in his nine starts to close the season. He displayed the same ball security in the NFL that he showed during his lone season at Louisville. From Week 8 through the end of the regular season, Shough ranked 10th among qualifying quarterbacks in PFF passing grade (77.9).
Dart’s rookie season had plenty of positives, with his 487 rushing yards ranking third among all quarterbacks, while his nine rushing touchdowns tied for second. However, his biggest area for improvement is protecting himself, as he often lowered his shoulder as a runner and missed two games with a concussion.
Smith returns to the team that drafted him in 2013, looking to bounce back in 2026. He certainly felt the effects of Las Vegas’ decimated offensive line, and the negative plays quickly piled up. He led the NFL with 17 interceptions and 55 sacks taken during the 2025 regular season.
Cousins entered 2025 as Atlanta’s backup but was forced into action in 10 games because of Penix’s injuries. He performed admirably, earning a 75.0 PFF passing grade, ranking 14th among 43 qualifying quarterbacks. Cousins’ ability to protect the football remains paramount to his success.
Tagovailoa is currently embroiled in a quarterback battle with fellow left-hander Michael Penix Jr. Penix is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November, so we’ll pencil in Tagovailoa as Atlanta’s starter for now. Tagovailoa has been on a downward trajectory over the past two years, ranking 31st among 33 qualifying quarterbacks in PFF overall grade (67.9).
Ward’s rookie season didn’t go as planned, with his head coach being fired early in the season and his top wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, playing just seven games. He persevered to make every start while throwing 15 touchdowns against seven interceptions, but Ward and the Titans will need to develop together to make a postseason push.
Willis turned a second chance in Green Bay into a starting opportunity in Miami. He is flanked by what appears to be a weak receiving corps this season, but his rushing ability should be a major factor in the Dolphins’ offense. Willis averaged 6.2 yards per carry during his two seasons in Green Bay while generating 12 explosive runs on just 42 rushing attempts.
Brissett is in the middle of a contract dispute with the Cardinals, as his $1.5 million guaranteed for 2026 is less than what his backup, Gardner Minshew II, is set to make. At 33 years old, Brissett is the definition of a bridge quarterback. He can provide solid play at the position, but he won’t win enough games to prevent his team from landing a top draft pick.
Watson has struggled during his time in Cleveland, with two torn Achilles tendons preventing him from taking a single snap in 2025. While he has a chance to win the starting job under new head coach Todd Monken, Watson has recorded a 60.7 PFF passing grade while averaging just 6.0 yards per attempt from 2022 to 2024.
