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How good is Trevor Lawrence?
When he was drafted first overall out of Clemson in 2021, he had expectations that matched those of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.
Yet, after his first four years in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it was hard to tell how good Lawrence was. He had two very good seasons and two mediocre seasons.
However, Lawrence broke out in 2025, throwing for 4,007 yards with 29 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns. He finished fifth in the MVP voting.
It leaves fans and pundits alike wondering which version of Lawrence will we see in 2026?
Another MVP-type season might have most believing he's reaching the high expectations put on him entering the league.
A mediocre season will have many wondering if his five-year, $275 million contract was a mistake.
Are you a believer? Or do you think he'll disappoint? Here's where I see Lawrence when ranking all 32 quarterback situations.
Despite a sub-par receiving corps, Allen led the Bills into the Divisional Round in 2025 (on an ankle that required surgery) and threw for 25 touchdowns while rushing for 14 more. Perhaps adding DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears will help him get over the hump, but now he will once again have to contend with a returning Patrick Mahomes, as well as several other teams on the rise.
The 2025 MVP was an eyelash away from being in the Super Bowl last year, and even though this may be his last year in the league (it may not be), he should have continued success with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, a trio of solid tight ends and two good running backs. It doesn’t hurt that the defense features Myles Garrett and potentially Aaron Donald.
The main word with Burrow is “IF.” "IF" he stays healthy, he could be the top QB on this list. He just hasn’t been durable for a good portion of his NFL career, playing 10 or fewer games in three of his six seasons. Yet, his arm and accuracy are undeniable. With receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, "‘"IF” Burrow stays healthy, and “IF” the defense can stop anyone, this is a team that could go far.
It’s difficult to rank Mahomes, who is expected to be fully cleared less than eight months after tearing his left ACL. Yet, his arm, smarts and ability make one believe he can come back and re-take his place among the best QBs in the NFL. The addition of running back Kenneth Walker should help take some pressure off him.
What will it take for this guy to get respect? He’s been to a Super Bowl with the Rams. He’s resurrected a hapless Detroit franchise. He had 4,564 yards passing in 2025 along with 34 TDs. He’s started all 68 games over the past four years, has 18,206 passing yards and 130 touchdowns. Why many rankings leave him outside the top 10 QBs in the league is beyond me.
Jackson took a big step backward in 2025, fighting through injuries to play in 13 games with 21 passing touchdowns. He had the lowest rushing output of his career (349 yards), a dropoff from 915 yards in the previous season. In 2024 he also had 41 passing TDs and probably should have been the league MVP. He finished second in voting to the Bills' Allen. The prior year, he won his second MVP. As he gets older and loses a step (he’s 29), can he continue his NFL career as an accomplished passer? Given the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list has Jackson behind QBs lower on my list (like Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix and Jalen Hurts), many are losing faith in his ability. I’m not quite there yet, or I wouldn’t have him No. 6 on this list.
Here’s a QB that was left on the bargain bin but resurrected his career over the past two years and is now a Super Bowl champion. Over the past two seasons, he’s 28-6 as a starter with 8,407 yards and 60 touchdowns. If he has a third remarkable year, will others finally give him the respect he deserves?
Prescott had an excellent 2025 numbers-wise, but the Cowboys still finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. His 4,552 passing yards was good for third in the league, while his 30 touchdowns was fourth. Prescott’s ability to be a top tier quarterback has never been in question. His ability to win in the postseason is (2-5 record).
Is this too high for Lawrence? He had his best season as a pro in 2025, throwing for 4,007 yards with 29 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns. During the second half of last season, the game seemed to slow down for Lawrence and he looked as good as he has in his career. He heads into his second season in Liam Coen’s system and he has the right weapons in place to have another prosperous season.
Nix’s ankle injury and subsequent absence from the AFC Championship game was a shame. Had Nix been there, the Broncos would have been favored to defeat the Patriots and make it to the Super Bowl. It wasn’t meant to be. Nix showed a flair for exciting comebacks last season and proved he has the intangibles a QB needs to be a winner in the league. His ankle, which required two surgeries, is healed and he is full go heading into the season.
Herbert is no question a talented quarterback, but he’s another one that can’t figure out how to win in the postseason. In six years in the league, Herbert has three playoff appearances, losing in the wild card round each time, including last year to the Patriots. If his offensive line can keep him upright, it would be a good start to help him reach his goals.
Maye unquestionably had a brilliant 2025 with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, making it all the way to the Super Bowl. However, the Patriots had a favorable schedule and Maye struggled mightily in the championship game (two interceptions). Maye can move closer to being a league elite if he can put up a similar regular-season performance. Considering he has four AFC East games against the lowly Dolphins and Jets, there’s no reason the Patriots shouldn’t get into the postseason again.
I’m not ready to crown him the next big thing just yet. He had a nice season in 2025, with 3,942 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. He added 388 yards rushing and three touchdowns. The Bears have a difficult schedule in 2026, with games against the Eagles, Patriots, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Bills and Jaguars in addition to two against the Packers and Lions. Navigating that and making it to the playoffs will certainly help Williams move up the charts.
Love had a lackluster 2025 with 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns. However, he still led the Packers into the playoffs, making him 3-for-3 in getting to the postseason as the team’s starter. His 2024 numbers were similar, meaning Love is a good mid-level QB, but he hasn’t shown he can be elite.
Purdy was injured a good portion of 2025, but in the nine games in which he appeared, he was 7-2 with 2,167 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He joins Jared Goff and Sam Darnold as the trio of under-rated and under-appreciated QBs on this list.
If there’s two minutes left in a game and you’re down by six, would you want anyone in the league other than Mayfield to lead the final drive? Mayfield did it several times in 2025. He’s still one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league even if he doesn’t always make the best decisions.
Hurts doesn’t want to be called a game manager, but is that really a bad thing? Hurts seemingly always has the Eagles in the game, yet he only had one game in 2025 over 300 yards passing and his max rushing yards was 62. Good defense and good decisions are Hurts’ best friends.
Knee, hamstring and elbow injuries derailed Daniels’ sophomore season. He was electric in his rookie year, reaching the NFC Championship Game, and he showed a lot of promise prior to his injury. He’s undersized and has already lost half a season to injury. If he can find a way to be effective without getting hurt he’ll prove he belongs to be higher on this list.
Cousins is expected to be the Raiders’ starter, and I think he’s still got something left in the tank. If he doesn’t, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza may be seen sooner rather than later. The Raiders have a favorable schedule early (vs. Dolphins, at Chargers, at Saints), but then things get tough (vs. Chiefs, at Patriots, vs. Bills, vs. Rams). I’d expect Cousins will stick out that slate if healthy, but we might see Mendoza for the first time against the Jets in Week 8. However, if Cousins keeps the Raiders in contention, it will be hard to pull him. We shall see.
No one has seen a bigger fall in standing than Stroud. After his first two seasons, he looked destined to be a top-five quarterback in the league. However, in 2025, he struggled mightily after suffering a concussion in Week 9. His four-interception performance in a playoff loss to the Patriots had many wondering why he wasn’t benched during that game, or if he’d be the starter in 2026. The team has put its faith in him and now it’s up to Stroud to find his form again.
Dart showed some flash in 2025 and he could be a breakout star in 2026. He threw for 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions and rushed for nine more touchdowns. He suffered a concussion in 2025 and he needs to take fewer hits and stay upright. If he can do so, he could rocket up this chart.
He’s back for one final adventure. It’s hard to say what he’ll have left for his 22nd season — he was serviceable last year in a first-round playoff exit — but he just doesn’t have that next-level quality he once had. Hey, he’s 42 and still among the two dozen best QBs on the planet. That’s something.
Jones was on the path to career resurrection when a torn right Achilles against the Jaguars halted his path in 2025. The Colts must believe he can rebound considering they gave him a two-year, $88 million contract in March. He said he’s cleared to do everything heading into training camp, so let’s see if he is comfortable enough to be on the field Week 1.
Kudos to Young for getting the Panthers into the playoffs in 2025. He’s showed steady improvement through each of his first three seasons, and while he may never be an elite QB, he looks like a player that can have a nice career in the NFL.
From 2022-24, things went so well for Geno. He amassed a 27-22 record in Seattle, with two seasons over 4,000 passing yards. Then, he followed Pete Carroll to Las Vegas, and things came crashing down in 2025. He led the league in INTs (17) and finished with a 2-13 record as a starter. It’s hard to say if he’ll have a triumphant return to the Jets, but I still expect him to be more serviceable than anything the Jets have had over the past, let’s say, 15 seasons.
There was a lot to like about Ward during his rookie season. There was also a lot not to like. He has mobility and a strong arm, but the team around him was dreadful. With new head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Ward should have the right mentors in place to help him take a step forward. However, a quick perusal of the roster tells you he still isn’t surrounded by the talent to help this team take a big leap forward in 2026.
Shough performed better than expected during his rookie season in 2025. He started nine games and helped the Saints be competitive despite one of the league’s worst rosters. In 2026, he’ll have a good running back in Travis Etienne, a solid tight end in Juwan Johnson and Chris Olave is still a top-notch wide receiver. If Shough plays well enough, he could have the Saints contending in a weak NFC South.
Murray has had just one good season over the past four years, he comes in with a tarnished reputation and his backup JJ McCarthy is becoming an also-ran before he ever was anything. Things don’t look that great in Minnesota. Yet, because Murray has at least shown he can be an NFL quarterback, this situation is better than the final four on this list.
It’s hard to feel bad for a guy who has only started six NFL games in four seasons yet got a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million guaranteed. Yet, when you look at the Dolphins’ roster, it’s hard to envy Willis. He might have the talent to succeed, but he doesn’t have the talent around him to succeed.
In Cleveland, it’s either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. In Atlanta, it’s either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix. In Arizona, it’s Jacoby Brissett with Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck not far behind. You can rank them 30-32 if you like. I’d prefer save my time for other things.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Where does Trevor Lawrence rank among NFL QBs heading into 2026?
Continue reading...
When he was drafted first overall out of Clemson in 2021, he had expectations that matched those of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.
Yet, after his first four years in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars, it was hard to tell how good Lawrence was. He had two very good seasons and two mediocre seasons.
However, Lawrence broke out in 2025, throwing for 4,007 yards with 29 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns. He finished fifth in the MVP voting.
It leaves fans and pundits alike wondering which version of Lawrence will we see in 2026?
Another MVP-type season might have most believing he's reaching the high expectations put on him entering the league.
A mediocre season will have many wondering if his five-year, $275 million contract was a mistake.
Are you a believer? Or do you think he'll disappoint? Here's where I see Lawrence when ranking all 32 quarterback situations.
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Despite a sub-par receiving corps, Allen led the Bills into the Divisional Round in 2025 (on an ankle that required surgery) and threw for 25 touchdowns while rushing for 14 more. Perhaps adding DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears will help him get over the hump, but now he will once again have to contend with a returning Patrick Mahomes, as well as several other teams on the rise.
2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The 2025 MVP was an eyelash away from being in the Super Bowl last year, and even though this may be his last year in the league (it may not be), he should have continued success with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, a trio of solid tight ends and two good running backs. It doesn’t hurt that the defense features Myles Garrett and potentially Aaron Donald.
3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The main word with Burrow is “IF.” "IF" he stays healthy, he could be the top QB on this list. He just hasn’t been durable for a good portion of his NFL career, playing 10 or fewer games in three of his six seasons. Yet, his arm and accuracy are undeniable. With receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, "‘"IF” Burrow stays healthy, and “IF” the defense can stop anyone, this is a team that could go far.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s difficult to rank Mahomes, who is expected to be fully cleared less than eight months after tearing his left ACL. Yet, his arm, smarts and ability make one believe he can come back and re-take his place among the best QBs in the NFL. The addition of running back Kenneth Walker should help take some pressure off him.
5. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
What will it take for this guy to get respect? He’s been to a Super Bowl with the Rams. He’s resurrected a hapless Detroit franchise. He had 4,564 yards passing in 2025 along with 34 TDs. He’s started all 68 games over the past four years, has 18,206 passing yards and 130 touchdowns. Why many rankings leave him outside the top 10 QBs in the league is beyond me.
6. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson took a big step backward in 2025, fighting through injuries to play in 13 games with 21 passing touchdowns. He had the lowest rushing output of his career (349 yards), a dropoff from 915 yards in the previous season. In 2024 he also had 41 passing TDs and probably should have been the league MVP. He finished second in voting to the Bills' Allen. The prior year, he won his second MVP. As he gets older and loses a step (he’s 29), can he continue his NFL career as an accomplished passer? Given the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list has Jackson behind QBs lower on my list (like Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix and Jalen Hurts), many are losing faith in his ability. I’m not quite there yet, or I wouldn’t have him No. 6 on this list.
7. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Here’s a QB that was left on the bargain bin but resurrected his career over the past two years and is now a Super Bowl champion. Over the past two seasons, he’s 28-6 as a starter with 8,407 yards and 60 touchdowns. If he has a third remarkable year, will others finally give him the respect he deserves?
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott had an excellent 2025 numbers-wise, but the Cowboys still finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row. His 4,552 passing yards was good for third in the league, while his 30 touchdowns was fourth. Prescott’s ability to be a top tier quarterback has never been in question. His ability to win in the postseason is (2-5 record).
9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Is this too high for Lawrence? He had his best season as a pro in 2025, throwing for 4,007 yards with 29 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns. During the second half of last season, the game seemed to slow down for Lawrence and he looked as good as he has in his career. He heads into his second season in Liam Coen’s system and he has the right weapons in place to have another prosperous season.
10. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Nix’s ankle injury and subsequent absence from the AFC Championship game was a shame. Had Nix been there, the Broncos would have been favored to defeat the Patriots and make it to the Super Bowl. It wasn’t meant to be. Nix showed a flair for exciting comebacks last season and proved he has the intangibles a QB needs to be a winner in the league. His ankle, which required two surgeries, is healed and he is full go heading into the season.
11. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert is no question a talented quarterback, but he’s another one that can’t figure out how to win in the postseason. In six years in the league, Herbert has three playoff appearances, losing in the wild card round each time, including last year to the Patriots. If his offensive line can keep him upright, it would be a good start to help him reach his goals.
12. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye unquestionably had a brilliant 2025 with 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, making it all the way to the Super Bowl. However, the Patriots had a favorable schedule and Maye struggled mightily in the championship game (two interceptions). Maye can move closer to being a league elite if he can put up a similar regular-season performance. Considering he has four AFC East games against the lowly Dolphins and Jets, there’s no reason the Patriots shouldn’t get into the postseason again.
13. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
I’m not ready to crown him the next big thing just yet. He had a nice season in 2025, with 3,942 yards passing and 27 touchdowns. He added 388 yards rushing and three touchdowns. The Bears have a difficult schedule in 2026, with games against the Eagles, Patriots, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Bills and Jaguars in addition to two against the Packers and Lions. Navigating that and making it to the playoffs will certainly help Williams move up the charts.
14. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Love had a lackluster 2025 with 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns. However, he still led the Packers into the playoffs, making him 3-for-3 in getting to the postseason as the team’s starter. His 2024 numbers were similar, meaning Love is a good mid-level QB, but he hasn’t shown he can be elite.
15. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy was injured a good portion of 2025, but in the nine games in which he appeared, he was 7-2 with 2,167 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He joins Jared Goff and Sam Darnold as the trio of under-rated and under-appreciated QBs on this list.
16. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If there’s two minutes left in a game and you’re down by six, would you want anyone in the league other than Mayfield to lead the final drive? Mayfield did it several times in 2025. He’s still one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league even if he doesn’t always make the best decisions.
17. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts doesn’t want to be called a game manager, but is that really a bad thing? Hurts seemingly always has the Eagles in the game, yet he only had one game in 2025 over 300 yards passing and his max rushing yards was 62. Good defense and good decisions are Hurts’ best friends.
18. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Knee, hamstring and elbow injuries derailed Daniels’ sophomore season. He was electric in his rookie year, reaching the NFC Championship Game, and he showed a lot of promise prior to his injury. He’s undersized and has already lost half a season to injury. If he can find a way to be effective without getting hurt he’ll prove he belongs to be higher on this list.
19. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Cousins is expected to be the Raiders’ starter, and I think he’s still got something left in the tank. If he doesn’t, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza may be seen sooner rather than later. The Raiders have a favorable schedule early (vs. Dolphins, at Chargers, at Saints), but then things get tough (vs. Chiefs, at Patriots, vs. Bills, vs. Rams). I’d expect Cousins will stick out that slate if healthy, but we might see Mendoza for the first time against the Jets in Week 8. However, if Cousins keeps the Raiders in contention, it will be hard to pull him. We shall see.
20. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
No one has seen a bigger fall in standing than Stroud. After his first two seasons, he looked destined to be a top-five quarterback in the league. However, in 2025, he struggled mightily after suffering a concussion in Week 9. His four-interception performance in a playoff loss to the Patriots had many wondering why he wasn’t benched during that game, or if he’d be the starter in 2026. The team has put its faith in him and now it’s up to Stroud to find his form again.
21. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Dart showed some flash in 2025 and he could be a breakout star in 2026. He threw for 15 touchdowns to just five interceptions and rushed for nine more touchdowns. He suffered a concussion in 2025 and he needs to take fewer hits and stay upright. If he can do so, he could rocket up this chart.
22. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
He’s back for one final adventure. It’s hard to say what he’ll have left for his 22nd season — he was serviceable last year in a first-round playoff exit — but he just doesn’t have that next-level quality he once had. Hey, he’s 42 and still among the two dozen best QBs on the planet. That’s something.
23. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Jones was on the path to career resurrection when a torn right Achilles against the Jaguars halted his path in 2025. The Colts must believe he can rebound considering they gave him a two-year, $88 million contract in March. He said he’s cleared to do everything heading into training camp, so let’s see if he is comfortable enough to be on the field Week 1.
24. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Kudos to Young for getting the Panthers into the playoffs in 2025. He’s showed steady improvement through each of his first three seasons, and while he may never be an elite QB, he looks like a player that can have a nice career in the NFL.
25. Geno Smith, New York Jets
From 2022-24, things went so well for Geno. He amassed a 27-22 record in Seattle, with two seasons over 4,000 passing yards. Then, he followed Pete Carroll to Las Vegas, and things came crashing down in 2025. He led the league in INTs (17) and finished with a 2-13 record as a starter. It’s hard to say if he’ll have a triumphant return to the Jets, but I still expect him to be more serviceable than anything the Jets have had over the past, let’s say, 15 seasons.
26. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
There was a lot to like about Ward during his rookie season. There was also a lot not to like. He has mobility and a strong arm, but the team around him was dreadful. With new head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Ward should have the right mentors in place to help him take a step forward. However, a quick perusal of the roster tells you he still isn’t surrounded by the talent to help this team take a big leap forward in 2026.
27. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Shough performed better than expected during his rookie season in 2025. He started nine games and helped the Saints be competitive despite one of the league’s worst rosters. In 2026, he’ll have a good running back in Travis Etienne, a solid tight end in Juwan Johnson and Chris Olave is still a top-notch wide receiver. If Shough plays well enough, he could have the Saints contending in a weak NFC South.
28. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Murray has had just one good season over the past four years, he comes in with a tarnished reputation and his backup JJ McCarthy is becoming an also-ran before he ever was anything. Things don’t look that great in Minnesota. Yet, because Murray has at least shown he can be an NFL quarterback, this situation is better than the final four on this list.
29. Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
It’s hard to feel bad for a guy who has only started six NFL games in four seasons yet got a three-year, $67.5 million contract with $45 million guaranteed. Yet, when you look at the Dolphins’ roster, it’s hard to envy Willis. He might have the talent to succeed, but he doesn’t have the talent around him to succeed.
T-30. Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons
In Cleveland, it’s either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders. In Atlanta, it’s either Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix. In Arizona, it’s Jacoby Brissett with Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck not far behind. You can rank them 30-32 if you like. I’d prefer save my time for other things.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Where does Trevor Lawrence rank among NFL QBs heading into 2026?
Continue reading...
