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CBS Sports ranks 21 NFL quarterbacks into three tiers ahead of 2026 season
The ranking places five quarterbacks in a top tier of transcendent talents, twelve in a middle tier of borderline stars, and four in a lower tier of promising prospects. It includes 2025 statistical data and notes on prior achievements for each player.
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CBS Sports published a three-tier ranking of 21 NFL starting quarterbacks ahead of the 2026 season. The top tier lists Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow. Stafford recorded a 65.0 completion percentage, 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 2025.
Mahomes finished with a 62.7 completion percentage, 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions before an injury ended his season.
Middle tier includes 12 quarterbacks The second tier contains Jalen Hurts, Sam Darnold, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Drake Maye, and Trevor Lawrence. Darnold posted a 67.7 completion percentage, 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 2025 while starting for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Maye completed 72.0 percent of his passes for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in his second season.
Four quarterbacks listed as promising prospects The third tier names four additional quarterbacks described as promising prospects. The article states that the NFL currently features more quarterback talent than at any prior point but maintains clear performance gaps between the listed groups.
