FOX Sports Digital
This is an especially fun time to talk quarterbacks. We have yet to see teams take a single snap in training camp — let alone in a padded practice. And this year, there’s no real consensus on which QBs are among the elite. There’s even less consensus around the quarterbacks ranked from No. 9 to No. 19. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But that’s what makes the ranking — and ensuing conversation — so compelling. Patrick Mahomes no longer lays claim as king of the NFL … or does he? Josh Allen is obviously the best QB on the planet right now … or is he? And Drake Maye has established himself as the best QB from the vaunted 2024 NFL Draft class … or, wait, did Caleb Williams? … Or then again, is that still Jayden Daniels? Now that I think about it, don’t count out Bo Nix! There’s a lot to consider. For now, this ranking is an early look forward to Week 1. Who will be ready? Which QBs have been set up to succeed? And which QBs have a track record of success despite their surroundings? With those questions held at the fore, let’s rank the NFL QB1s as of today. Previous: QB Stock Market: One Burning Question for Every 2026 Starter If the quarterback competition between Shedeur Sanders and Watson is close — as it appears to be — will the Browns go with the beleaguered young guy who could be their future? Or will they favor the embattled veteran in a last-ditch effort to get some return on their investment (from the hundreds of millions of dollars and the traded draft picks)? I’m genuinely not sure. The sensible decision is to go with Sanders. The Browns could see what the second-year QB can do with first-team reps. They might as well see how Sanders fares alongside their first three draft picks from this past spring: offensive tackle Spencer Fano and wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, each of whom went in the top 40. But the longer this QB competition carries on, the more I begin to wonder if the organization is deadset on recouping some value from Watson amid what is universally considered the worst NFL trade of all time. And so maybe they’ll let him spin it. To further complicate matters, a deep 2027 QB class looms over this decision. For all the stress and scrutiny that’ll go into Watson versus Shedeur, the most likely outcome is that the Browns will select a QB in the top five picks of next year’s draft. And in that sense, it’s fair to wonder if any of the Browns’ current QBs will get a serious shake. There’s still so much to like about Mayfield, who is accurate, smart and a die-hard, dedicated winner. Maybe he’s a system quarterback, but he has staying power (and versatility to operate in multiple systems) because of his situational awareness and risk management. I think back,...
