As the NFL prepares for the highly anticipated 2026 season, the debate surrounding the league’s quarterback hierarchy has reached a fever pitch, highlighted by prominent sports media personality Colin Cowherd crowning Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen as the new No. 1 over a recovering Patrick Mahomes. Speaking on his national sports talk show “The Herd” this week, Cowherd shook up traditional rankings by placing the reigning 2024 MVP Allen at the pinnacle of the sport, while positioning Chicago Bears phenom Caleb Williams at a stunning No. 3 spot. This dramatic reshuffling reflects a massive shift in how the league’s signal-callers are valued following a highly turbulent 2025 campaign that redefined the league’s competitive landscape.
The Shifting Landscape of NFL Quarterbacks
The quarterback landscape underwent significant disruption over the course of the 2025 season, paving the way for this intense offseason debate. Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, long considered the consensus best player in football, struggled to find his rhythm early in 2025 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL, leaving his immediate future and recovery timeline under intense scrutiny. Meanwhile, veteran Matthew Stafford captured his first career MVP award in 2025 at age 37, proving that the old guard still holds immense sway, even as a rapid youth movement led by sophomore sensations like Drake Maye and Caleb Williams begins to dominate league headlines.
Josh Allen Claims the Crown
Cowherd’s decision to rank Josh Allen at No. 1 rests heavily on the Bills quarterback’s durability, physical dominance, and consistent postseason presence. Allen enters the 2026 campaign in his physical prime, boasting an impressive streak of six consecutive seasons with at least one playoff victory. According to Cowherd, Allen has carried Buffalo to elite status despite organizational instability and a defensive-minded head coach who was recently let go. The argument posits that Allen has achieved historic individual success without the elite offensive infrastructure enjoyed by Mahomes in Kansas City, making his raw talent and durability the gold standard heading into the new season.
The Mahomes Recovery and the Rise of Caleb Williams
Despite his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, Patrick Mahomes remains firmly at No. 2, with analysts expecting a major bounce-back once he returns to a reinforced Chiefs offense. Mahomes’ legendary status is backed by historic resilience; data shows he has won exactly half of the games in his career (20-20) when trailing by double digits, cementing his reputation as the ultimate comeback threat. However, the most polarizing placement on the list is Chicago’s Caleb Williams at No. 3. Williams drew comparisons to “early Mahomes” after a spectacular playoff run featuring physics-defying throws against Green Bay and the Rams, alongside recording the lowest interception percentage in NFL history for a quarterback with over 1,100 career attempts.
Veterans and Rising Stars Fill the Top Ten
The remainder of the top ten highlights a mix of high-floor veterans and high-ceiling youngsters. Matthew Stafford slots in at No. 4, praised for his elite pre- and post-snap processing and pure throwing ability despite his advancing age and back concerns. Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers takes the No. 5 spot, now paired with big-time offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel—a massive upgrade for a player who previously dragged a 30th-ranked offensive line to the postseason. Joe Burrow lands at No. 6, hindered only by durability concerns after playing just eight games last season, though he remains the league’s all-time leader in completion percentage.
Further down the rankings, Jared Goff occupies the No. 8 spot, supported by offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and a resume that includes leading the NFL in passing yards, touchdowns, and wins over the last three seasons. Green Bay’s Jordan Love ranks No. 9 as a highly talented but erratic starter who struggles in September but possesses elite arm talent. Rounding out the top ten is New England’s Drake Maye, who edged out former MVP Lamar Jackson by becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to register a 70% completion percentage and 4,000 passing yards before the age of 25.
Implications for the 2026 Season
This dramatic reshuffling of the quarterback hierarchy sets the stage for highly anticipated storylines when the 2026 season kicks off. Defensive coordinators will face the immense challenge of game-planning against a new generation of dual-threat quarterbacks who are rewriting the rules of pocket movement and off-platform throwing. Additionally, the pressure will be on coaching staffs in Chicago and Los Angeles to maximize the elite traits of Williams and Herbert under their updated offensive schemes.
As training camps approach, all eyes will remain on Patrick Mahomes’ physical rehabilitation and whether he can reclaim his throne from Josh Allen. The performance of young stars like Drake Maye and Caleb Williams in their sophomore campaigns will determine if this generational shift is permanent, or if veteran pocket passers like Stafford and Goff can leverage their experience to maintain control over a rapidly evolving league.
