FOX Sports published an article titled "2026 NFL Quarterback Tiers: Which Starters Are Elite And Who Should Be A Backup?" on August 27, 2026. The rankings place Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson in the “Elite” tier based on past performance rather than projections for the 2026 season.

NFL writer Steven Ruiz authored the piece, which categorizes 32 starting quarterbacks and the loser of the Atlanta quarterback competition into seven distinct tiers. The tiers are named “Elite,” “Franchise Carrier,” “On The Doorstep,” “Supporting-Cast Dependent,” “Good Enough To Start,” “Erratic But Talented Sophomores,” and “Backups On Any Other Team.” This classification system evaluates players on their historical output instead of forecasting their upcoming campaign results. Josh Allen secured a spot in the Elite tier following an MVP-caliber season in 2025.

Patrick Mahomes also earned a position in the Elite tier despite missing the playoffs in the previous season. Mahomes has been active throughout training camp and is trending toward starting Week 1 for the Chiefs. In 2022, he became the youngest player in NFL history to win both a league MVP and a Super Bowl title, achieving this feat at age 24. His 2025 season marked his first career playoff absence and featured a career-low 76.0 PFF grade, which was attributed to a lack of reliable receiving options and offensive line struggles.

Lamar Jackson joined Allen and Mahomes in the “Elite” tier as a two-time MVP. Jackson missed the playoffs in the previous season. In 2024, he led the NFL in touchdown rate, yards per attempt, and passer rating while posting a league-best 93.3 PFF passing grade that season.

Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott were placed in the “Franchise Carrier” tier. Herbert does not have a playoff win in his career despite playing 98 regular-season games. The Chargers won 11 games in the previous season.

Prescott recorded an 85.4 PFF passing grade in 2025, ranking fourth among qualified quarterbacks and earning an 86.5 grade in clean-pocket situations. According to Next Gen Stats, Prescott and Jalen Hurts both average 0.07 expected points added per dropback in the postseason. Prescott’s postseason success rate is nearly 8 percentage points higher than Hurts’, according to Next Gen Stats.

C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love were assigned to the “On The Doorstep” tier. Stroud was the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year but missed one month of the previous season due to a concussion. Love enters this tier as he continues to develop his consistency as a starter.

Why It Matters

The tiered ranking system provides a structured evaluation of quarterback value across the league by focusing on verified past performance. By separating players into categories such as “Elite” and “Franchise Carrier,” the analysis shows the disparity between top-tier producers and those who rely more heavily on surrounding talent. This approach allows for a comparison of players like Mahomes and Jackson, who have achieved individual accolades, against others who have maintained high efficiency metrics without comparable team success.

The inclusion of specific statistical benchmarks, such as PFF grades and postseason success rates, offers concrete data points for assessing player contributions. For instance, the contrast between Jackson's 93.3 PFF grade in 2024 and Mahomes' 76.0 grade in 2025 illustrates the volatility that can occur even among elite performers. Similarly, the distinction between Herbert's regular-season volume and his lack of playoff wins reflects the different metrics used to define franchise stability versus championship capability.

What's New

Additional reporting shows that Patrick Mahomes' 2025 season marked his first career playoff absence and a career-low 76.0 PFF grade, attributed to a lack of reliable receiving options and offensive line struggles. Historical context notes that Patrick Mahomes is the youngest player in NFL history to win both a league MVP and a Super Bowl title, achieving this feat at age 24 in 2022.

Data indicates that Dak Prescott recorded an 85.4 PFF passing grade in 2025, ranking fourth among qualified quarterbacks and earning an 86.5 grade in clean-pocket situations. Performance records show that Lamar Jackson led the NFL in touchdown rate, yards per attempt, and passer rating in 2024, posting a league-best 93.3 PFF passing grade that season. Career statistics reveal that Justin Herbert has never won a playoff game despite 98 regular-season starts, with the Chargers failing to reach the postseason in 11 of those seasons. Team metrics indicate that the Cowboys ranked third in success rate in the previous season.