These are the Best NFL Quarterbacks Right Now (2026-27)

Once again, the fate of any NFL team will depend heavily on the success of its quarterbacks. Wondering which teams have a distinct advantage in this department, with a true superstar set to step under center in the 2026 season?

Here are the quarterbacks who stand head and shoulders above the rest in 2026.

Don’t forget: You can watch all of the NFL action from Opening Weekend to Super Bowl Sunday on the gridiron with DIRECTV.

Top 10 Best NFL Quarterbacks 2026-27

The pressure on the quarterback position is nearly unmatched in sports. It’s not enough to win. You need Super Bowl rings to be considered among the league’s greats. And if your team loses? You’re likely to shoulder much of the blame.

Let’s take a look at the current cream of the quarterback crop to find out. Right now, Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs), Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) are considered the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Here’s our full top 10 picks for best signal caller in 2026.

1. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

Key stats: 1,196 passing yards; 13 passing touchdowns; two interceptions; 119.3 passer rating.

Purdy has earned the top spot on our list. San Francisco is flying high undefeated, and their starting QB is a big part of that.

With a league-high 85.7 QBR, Purdy is generating loads of touchdowns through the air and keeping mistakes to a minimum. His accuracy and anticipation allow him to see openings before they become obvious to others and connect with his receiving corps.

Through the first five weeks, Purdy has deftly balanced creating offense with preserving possessions better than nearly any other signal caller in the league.

2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Key stats: 1,249 passing yards; seven passing touchdowns; 239 rushing yards; eight rushing touchdowns.

Josh Allen has been near the top of the QB ranking practically since the day he first stepped under center in Buffalo. He’s a perpetual threat in nearly every way for opposing defenses, with the uncanny ability to turn a shaky passing performance into a miserable night for the opposing defense anyway.

His rushing production gives Buffalo an answer when receivers aren’t separating or the offense loses its rhythm, and eight touchdowns on the ground illustrate how much of the scoring burden he still carries. Allen also recovers from his own mistakes in ways most quarterbacks don’t, and his dynamic, dual threat nature means defenses have to account for the entire play, every time.

3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Key stats: 1,037 passing yards; nine passing touchdowns; two interceptions; 106.2 passer rating.

Season-ending knee surgery? Just sprinkle a little Mahomes Magic on it, and he’s right back in the lineup.

Mahomes has returned from injury with his extraordinary ability to work outside the pocket seemingly completely intact, and that continues to keep Kansas City dangerous long after the play has changed. He’s still slinging the ball and throwing touchdowns without surrendering possessions and looks every bit the Patrick Mahomes who brought the Lombardi back to Arrowhead three times, despite a few bumpy seasons, and defenses still have to cover far longer than they would like.

4. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

Key stats: 1,485 passing yards; 12 passing touchdowns; zero interceptions; 111.3 passer rating.

Twelve touchdown passes and no interceptions ought to end any discussion about whether Goff belongs near the top. Detroit is getting substantial production without paying for it in giveaways, and Goff’s timing and accuracy remain central to that success. He doesn’t need to leave the pocket to make a defense defend the whole field. When he gets time, he can pick apart coverage and keep the offense moving in chunks. He’s a big part of Detroit’s ascendancy in the NFL over the last few seasons, and one of the best QBs in the league.

5. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Key stats: 1,361 passing yards; 11 passing touchdowns; three interceptions; 71.4% completion rate.

Joe Burrow is one of the league’s best passers with one of the highest career passer ratings among active NFL QBs. His ball placement allows Cincinnati to challenge coverage in difficult situations, and his completion rate reflects how consistently he is delivering catchable passes. He’s also got a pair of solid receivers to sling it to in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Thanks to Burrow, the Bengals are receiving the touchdown production they need from a quarterback expected to carry a substantial offensive load. Burrow’s presence means Cincinnati can threaten a defense on any possession.

6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Key stats: 1,174 passing yards; 10 passing touchdowns; three interceptions; 8.2 yards per attempt.

The much-hyped Trevor Lawrence finally appears to have grown into the starting QB that Jacksonville believed he could be and needed him to become. The Jaguars are racking up touchdowns, worthwhile gains through the air and managing mistakes well, with Lawrence continuing to benefit from Liam Coen’s arrival as head coach. Lawrence’s potential has never been difficult to see, but Coen’s presence is helping him translate it into a more dynamic offense than the Jags have seen in a while.

7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Key stats: 967 passing yards; six passing touchdowns; one interception; 10.1 yards per attempt.

Jackson’s absence due to an ankle injury has interrupted the Ravens’ season yet again, but he was delivering exceptional passing efficiency, creating big plays and forcing defenses to respect his power on the ground. Perennial concerns around his availability keep him below some of the other top quarterbacks on our ranking, but when healthy his ability to dominate a game is never in question.

8. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Key stats: 1,408 passing yards; 10 passing touchdowns; three interceptions; 7.6 yards per attempt.

Love’s downfield passing prowess gives Green Bay a chance even when the rest of the offense isn’t exactly making his job easy. His Week 5 performance against Chicago showed how quickly the Packers can take control when those throws start connecting. Love is carrying enough of the offense that he could easily rank higher on this list with a bit more support and efficiency and some better protection.

9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Key stats: 1,381 passing yards; nine passing touchdowns; three interceptions; 67.2% completion rate.

Prescott is doing plenty to keep Dallas competitive. He has handled a substantial passing workload with solid accuracy and decision-making, giving the Cowboys a productive offense to lean on even when other parts of the team struggle. Even if the Cowboys’ broader issues leave him little margin for error, he’s got a strong receiver corps and is more than capable of carrying the team’s fortunes on his shoulders.

10. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Key stats: 1,228 passing yards; eight passing touchdowns; seven interceptions; 8.1 yards per attempt.

Drake Maye struggled early in the season, but he’s starting to look like the quarterback who had a big hand in his team’s improbable Super Bowl run last season. His mobility is creating plenty of opportunities, he’s throwing downfield bombs again and New England’s offense has become considerably harder to defend. The mistakes that led to a 8-7 TD to turnover ratio still happened, and that’s knocked him a bit further down our rankings than expected. The Patriots have seen the version of Maye who can drive an explosive offense. Now they just need that quarterback to show up every week again.

Top Quarterbacks by QBR in 2026-27

Quarterback rating (QBR) is an advanced football statistic that can offer a more holistic view of a quarterback’s impact on a team than passer rating alone. This metric from ESPN takes into account clutch performance, average yards per attempt and even the context of a play. Let’s take a look at QBs ranked by QBR from last season.

Of course, if you ask the players, there are only two metrics that truly matter: wins and Super Bowl rings.

Top Quarterbacks by Passer Rating 2026-27

QBR takes into account a lot more than passing, but throwing the ball is a big part of any quarterback’s job. That’s where passer rating comes into play.

Watch NFL Football on DIRECTV

Ready to see which of these top tier quarterbacks will lead their team to glory, and maybe even a Lombardi Trophy, in 2026-27? Sign up for DIRECTV today and get ready for kickoff!