{"id":7350,"date":"2026-08-28T06:25:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T06:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/?p=7350"},"modified":"2026-08-28T06:25:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T06:25:34","slug":"the-daily-briefing-wednesday-august-5-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/the-daily-briefing-wednesday-august-5-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Briefing Wednesday, August 5, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AROUND THE NFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Mike Sando\u2019s 2026 version of QB Tiers is out \u2013 and you can see how a panel of 50 experts line up 35 QBs down below.- – -Seth Walder of ESPN.com<\/a> give us five trades that he is convinced should happen. Let’s dive in. Here are five trades that should happen before Week 1.<\/em> <\/em>49ers get a defensive boost with Bates<\/em><\/strong>49ers receive: S Jessie Bates III, 2028 sixth-round pick<\/em><\/strong>Falcons receive: 2027 third-round pick<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>The Falcons’ 2023 signing of Bates was an example of free agency gone right. The Falcons paid sticker price — four years and $64 million — to sign Bates, who was very effective in Cincinnati and continued that quality play in Atlanta. That was particularly true in 2023, when Bates delivered six interceptions and three forced fumbles while earning second-team All-Pro honors.<\/em> <\/em>He was good again in 2024, but he wasn’t quite on the same level last season. Still, the 29-year-old Bates remains one of the best safeties in the league. (He ranked fifth in this year’s survey of coaches and executives conducted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.)<\/em> <\/em>If the Falcons were expected to contend, it would make sense to keep Bates and see the original contract through. But they aren’t, and with a ton of 2027 cap space even after the Bijan Robinson extension, the Falcons will likely be spenders next offseason. They would risk losing Bates without getting a compensatory pick in return if he walks in free agency. So it’s better for Atlanta to deal him now. And while that would mean finding a replacement for Bates, the Falcons wouldn’t be lacking in safety talent thanks to emerging second-year player Xavier Watts.<\/em> <\/em>It just so happens that former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who coached Bates the past two seasons, is now the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. And he could use an upgrade at safety alongside Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha. The timing works, as the 49ers are contenders who could use defensive help after ranking 25th in EPA allowed per dropback last season.<\/em> <\/em>San Francisco would be giving up real draft capital for a rental player, but that’s an indicator of Bates’ skill and the fact that his contract would cost the 49ers only $13 million in 2026 — a below-market price to sign a player of his caliber.<\/em> <\/em>Patriots satisfy the edge-rush need with Thibodeaux<\/em><\/strong>Patriots receive: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, 2027 fifth-round pick<\/em><\/strong>Giants receive: 2027 third-round pick<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>I included a Thibodeaux trade in this same story last year. One year and another first-round edge rusher later, he’s now an even more obvious candidate to be dealt.<\/em> <\/em>Thibodeaux is playing on his $14.75 million fifth-year option and is set to be a free agent at the end of this season. While there was an argument for having him as a third edge rusher behind Brian Burns and Abdul Carter in the past, New York now also has first-round pick Arvell Reese, who plays linebacker and edge. To keep Thibodeaux around at this price to potentially be the team’s No. 4 edge rusher isn’t ideal.<\/em> <\/em>So the Giants need to find a trade partner who:<\/em> <\/em>Has a need at edge<\/em> <\/em>Has the cap room to take on Thibodeaux’s 2026 contract<\/em> <\/em>Is an immediate contender given his pending free agent status<\/em> <\/em>The Patriots fit the bill and then some, because Thibodeaux offers long-term upside if New England decides to re-sign him. The Patriots’ current edge rushers are Harold Landry III and Dre’Mont Jones. At this stage of their careers (Landry is 30, Jones 29), they’re better fits as No. 2 and No. 3 edge rushers, respectively, on a contending team. Thibodeaux hasn’t been good enough yet to be New England’s unquestioned top edge rusher, but he possesses the promise to develop into that.<\/em> <\/em>Thibodeaux’s 9.9% pass rush win rate at edge last season — below average for the position — was similar to what Landry (10.8%) and Jones (8.6%) posted. Thibodeaux had only 2.5 sacks last season in 10 games but has shown more in the past. In 2024, he recorded a 16.8% pass rush win rate at edge (16th best), and he recorded 11.5 sacks as a rookie in 2022. Thibodeaux is also solid in the run game, and his 27.9% run stop win rate at edge last season was above average for the position.<\/em> <\/em>Giants fans will likely feel like the team should get more in this deal. But it’s all about the contract, as Thibodeaux has only one year left on his deal and is getting paid pretty close to what he would probably make on the open market.<\/em> <\/em>Colts give Coleman a fresh start<\/em><\/strong>Colts receive: WR Keon Coleman, 2028 sixth-round pick<\/em><\/strong>Bills receive: 2027 fourth-round pick<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Coleman was already a potential trade candidate before Bills owner Terry Pegula blamed the team’s former coaching staff — as opposed to the current front office — for pushing to draft the wide receiver with the No. 33 pick in 2024. Coleman has struggled in two NFL seasons, but it was a fairly shocking insult toward a player still on the roster.<\/em> <\/em>Buffalo doesn’t have to trade him, but between his on-field struggles and the negative vibes stemming from ownership’s comments, it certainly could. And the Colts would be a logical candidate to bet on Coleman at a reduced cost.<\/em> <\/em>Coleman has recorded 1.65 yards per route run over 583 career routes, along with a 48-51-49 triple-slash of open, catch and YAC scores from ESPN’s player-tracking based receiver scores. Those numbers aren’t great and aren’t what the Bills hoped for when they drafted him, but they’re not terrible either. He could still definitely be a contributing player to a winning team with some growth.<\/em> <\/em>Indianapolis needs receiver help. After being re-signed to a $28.5 million-per-year deal, Alec Pierce underwent ankle surgery and is not yet back on the practice field. The Colts have the promising Josh Downs in the slot, but the depth chart on the outside behind Pierce is rough, with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Ashton Dulin the likely next options. The Colts could use another receiver regardless of Pierce’s status, so taking a chance on Coleman’s upside makes sense.<\/em> <\/em>The Jahan Dotson trade in 2024, in which the Eagles sent a third-round pick and two seventh-rounders to the Commanders for Dotson and a fifth-rounder, is a useful comp. Like Coleman, Dotson was entering his third year after an uneven first two seasons. But Dotson was a higher draft pick (No. 16 vs. No. 33) and was better regarded than Coleman is now, which is why I think the latter would cost less to acquire.<\/em> <\/em>Cardinals get offensive line help with Little<\/em><\/strong>Cardinals receive: OT Walker Little, 2027 seventh-round pick<\/em><\/strong>Jaguars receive: 2027 sixth-round pick<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Little was Wally Pipped last year by Cole Van Lanen, who ascended into the starting lineup at left tackle after Little missed two games with a concussion. The Jaguars kept Van Lanen at left tackle even after Little returned, then extended him in the offseason. That makes Little an expensive third tackle, due an almost fully guaranteed $11.5 million this season.<\/em> <\/em>Little had his best season in terms of pass block win rate in 2025 but was still only in the 27th percentile among tackles. While tackle depth is important, my guess is that the cap-strapped Jaguars would cut Little if his money weren’t guaranteed. But it is. Dealing Little would be a cost-saving maneuver, so the compensation on any deal ought to be barely above — maybe even below! — zero. And Chuma Edoga is more than capable of functioning as the third tackle.<\/em> <\/em>The Cardinals do not fit the profile of a team expected to acquire at this point in the offseason, but this would make sense due to the limited draft capital cost. Arizona is a noncontender that needs its draft capital but has plenty of money to work with. Little would have to switch to the right side, but he would likely be a better option than current projected starter Elijah Wilkinson (ninth percentile pass block win rate last season along with 12 penalties, which tied for seventh most among all players).<\/em> <\/em>While there’s barely any hope for the 2026 Cardinals, having a functioning offensive line is important as they evaluate Jacoby Brissett — and especially rookie Carson Beck — to determine their long-term direction at quarterback.<\/em> <\/em>Boutte gets more opportunity in Washington<\/em><\/strong>Commanders receive: WR Kayshon Boutte<\/em><\/strong>Patriots receive: 2027 fifth-round pick<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Boutte is entering the final year of his rookie contract and became a natural trade candidate once the Patriots signed Romeo Doubs in free agency and traded for A.J. Brown. Those transactions bumped Boutte down the depth chart in a wide receiver room that also features Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams.<\/em> <\/em>Boutte is coming off a mini-breakout season in which he had 33 receptions for 551 receiving yards and six touchdowns on a career-best 1.65 yards per route run. He has the most vertical route profile in the NFL, as 31% of his routes last season were either go routes or deep fades, miles ahead of the next-highest wide receiver (min. 300 routes), Quentin Johnston at 24%.<\/em> <\/em>That profile might not be appealing for every team, but it could work for Washington. The Commanders badly need another reliable wide receiver behind No. 1 wideout Terry McLaurin. The Commanders currently have rookie third-round pick Antonio Williams (likely a slot), Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane and Treylon Burks. It really is a glaring need. Boutte might not be perfect but would likely be their No. 2 right away. His ability to take the top off the defense could be ideal in opening up intermediate space for McLaurin to work.<\/em> <\/em>That said, if I were New England I would be inclined to keep Boutte (especially after his hot start to training camp). But considering the situation, it’s very plausible the Patriots deal him, and this trade would make sense if they did.<\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
NFC NORTH<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 CHICAGO<\/strong><\/strong>The Bears have inked a four-year extension with OT DARNELL WRIGHT.  Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>: The Bears have locked up one of their key offensive players.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Offensive tackle Darnell Wright has agreed to a four-year deal with Chicago, according to a joint report from ESPN and NFL Network.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The contract is reportedly worth $116 million with $93 million guaranteed, making him one of the league\u2019s highest-paid offensive linemen.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Wright, a first-round pick in 2023, was an AP second-team All-Pro in 2025. He\u2019s started 49 games over his first three seasons.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Bears had exercised Wright\u2019s fifth-year option in the spring, which had put him under contract through 2027.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Now the team has a key pillar locked in for several years to come.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 DETROIT<\/strong><\/strong>With RB BIJAN ROBINSON setting the market with his deal with the Falcons, all eyes are on RB JAMIYR GIBBS and the Lions.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>: With the Falcons and running back Bijan Robinson working out a new contract, many assume that the Lions and running back Jahmyr Gibbs will go next \u2014 and quickly.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>And while it\u2019s possible that having Robinson\u2019s terms in place will make it easier for Gibbs, there\u2019s an even better chance (as we understand it) that the Robinson contract will become an impediment.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Yes, Robinson reset the market at the position, bumping the new-money APY from $20.6 million to $22.25 million. It\u2019s hard to find much fault with a new record deal.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>But the market for running backs continues to languish. Sure, it\u2019s gotten somewhat better in recent years. It\u2019s still far behind where it should be. If Gibbs is determined to take it where it should go, the Robinson contract becomes a ball and chain to that effort.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Lions will say, \u201cThe market is the market.\u201d They\u2019ll assume it\u2019s good enough to pay Gibbs $23 million per year in new money or maybe even $22.5 million or perhaps as little as $22.26 million.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Gibbs can counter by pointing to his impact on the offense. In 2025, he had 1,929 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns. Last year, he had 1,839 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns. He finished third on the team in receiving yards, with 616.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Then there\u2019s the fact that the Lions have moved on from David Montgomery. They\u2019ll rely even more on Gibbs in 2026. It gives Gibbs leverage.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The team\u2019s current posture fuels his case, too. They finished fourth in the NFC North last year. The offense, despite the presence of a weapon like Gibbs, sputtered relative to the Ben Johnson era. The Lions need the offense, and the team overall, to perform better this year. Another failure to make the playoffs will make key seats hot in 2027. That gives Gibbs even more leverage.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>From the franchise\u2019s perspective, the Lions won\u2019t want to blow up the running back market. Beyond the realities of the salary cap, other teams will frown upon a contract that makes it more expensive for them to sign their own running backs to new deals, since those players will say, \u201cThe market is the market.\u201d<\/em><\/em> <\/em>It\u2019s an example of the sometimes subtle, sometimes not, collusion that absolutely exists in the NFL. Teams that do unconventional things aren\u2019t simply ridiculed by other clubs. They\u2019re resented. An outlier deal makes it harder for the result of the league to do business on their terms.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Through it all, the clock is ticking. The regular season is coming. The Lions need Gibbs on the practice field. They\u2019ll need him to be playing in games.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>For Gibbs, who is 24 and has had three Pro Bowl seasons, this is his one chance to truly break the bank. He should hold firm for what he has earned, and what he has earned is objectively more than $22.56 million or $22.5 million or $23 million per year.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>On Tuesday, the Ravens gave receiver Zay Flowers a new deal worth $35 million per year in new money. And while it\u2019s apples and oranges on the surface, all of the fruit ends up in the same basket. At this point in time, Gibbs is a much more valuable piece than Flowers. Why should the bright lines of the by-position market change that?<\/em><\/em> <\/em>It all comes down to Gibbs\u2019s resolve. At some point, the Lions will have no choice but to blink. The question is whether he\u2019ll hold firm until that happens.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The predicament is one of the basic realities of the draft system. If a team turns its lottery ticket into a big winner (which the Lions did with Gibbs), the team ultimately pays the jackpot to the player.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The better the player, the bigger the jackpot. And Gibbs is in line for a very big jackpot.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
NFC EAST<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>NEW YORK<\/strong> GIANTS<\/strong>This report on QB JAXSON DART at Giants camp in the wilds of West Virginia.  Jordan Ranaan of ESPN.com<\/a>: – New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is known to play with a bit of feistiness and flair, but that might have gotten him in trouble Tuesday.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>After rushing for a touchdown during a red zone period at training camp, Dart tossed the ball at the helmet of the closest defender, cornerback Greg Newsome. The ball hit Newsome in the helmet before ricocheting to the ground. All of which prompted several defensive players to jump in and have words with Dart as he walked back to the huddle.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The defense wasn’t amused by Dart’s actions. Neither was his coach.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“I think it’s a 15-yard penalty for taunting, so we backed up the extra point and had them do it again,” Harbaugh said.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Kicker Ben Sauls made the 48-yard attempt after the penalty.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Did Harbaugh, who generally is relatively quiet during practice, say anything to Dart on the field while this was all unfolding?<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“I think he understands that we don’t want it for the game-winning extra point, we don’t want it to be a 50-yard extra point or so,” Harbaugh said.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“Do you think I need to say anything in that case? It’s pretty clear-cut.”<\/em><\/em> <\/em>That was the last play the Giants’ first-team offense would run in the practice.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 PHILADELPHIA<\/strong><\/strong>DE AJ ESPENSA is glad his time in Cleveland is behind him.  Tim McManus of ESPN.com<\/a>: Eagles defensive end AJ Epenesa expressed gratitude for being with his new team after what he described as a “weird situation” with the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“I don’t necessarily want to go back and talk on that,” he said. “I’ll just leave that in the past and just be happy that I’m not a Brown and that I’m an Eagle.”<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Epenesa reached free agency after spending the first six years of his career with the Buffalo Bills. He and the Browns agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million in March. But Cleveland was uncomfortable finalizing the contract after a subsequent physical, a source told ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>He remained a free agent until signing a one-year deal with the Eagles in June.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“Very healthy, feeling good, and happy to be here,” Epenesa said following Tuesday’s training camp practice.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Epenesa, 27, appeared in 91 games over six seasons in Buffalo, including 19 starts. He has 24 career sacks to go with 53 quarterback hits and four interceptions.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>A former second-round pick out of Iowa, Epenesa joins an edge group in Philadelphia that includes Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
NFC SOUTH<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 ATLANTA<\/strong><\/strong>EDGE JALON WALKER seems to have torn his ACL on Tuesday.  Nick Shook ofNFL.com<\/a>: One half of Atlanta’s young edge duo might be done for 2026.<\/em> <\/em>Jalon Walker is feared to have suffered a torn ACL during the Falcons’ practice on Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reported. Walker will undergo an MRI to confirm the injury, Rapoport added.<\/em> <\/em>Walker went down with the injury during the training camp session and was carted off, with teammates surrounding him prior to his exit from the non-padded practice, per Wyche.<\/em> <\/em>The No. 15 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Walker was one of two edge rushers selected by Atlanta in the first round, preceding eventual teammate James Pearce Jr. The Georgia product appeared in 15 games (nine starts) as a rookie, recording 36 tackles (five for loss), 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.<\/em> <\/em>While Pearce outpaced Walker in total sacks in 2025, Walker was the more consistent difference-maker of the two and was considered Atlanta’s best defensive breakout candidate entering 2026. Unfortunately, he’ll likely have to wait until 2027 to fulfill those projections.<\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
AFC NORTH<\/strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>BALTIMORE<\/strong><\/strong>Does this seem like a lot of money for WR ZAY FLOWERS?  Bobby Kownack of NFL.com<\/a>: Lamar Jackson’s favorite target scored a new deal.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Baltimore Ravens are signing wide receiver Zay Flowers to a four-year, $140 million contract extension that includes $108 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Ravens later officially announced Flowers had agreed to a multiyear contract extension.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Flowers’ contract takes the place of his 2027 fifth-year rookie option, which Baltimore picked up in April, and ties him as the fourth-highest-paid wideout in terms of annual average salary at $35 million with Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>“Great day for the Ravens. Shout out to Zay Flowers,” Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said on Tuesday. “When your best players are the right type of people and they bring the right mentality and everything marries together, those are the type of guys, it’s such a great thing when stuff like that happens for them. Nothing better as a coach than to see those guys get what they deserve. So, really happy for Zay and excited for him. I can’t wait to see him thrive in our offense.”<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Flowers, a Pro Bowler in each of the past two seasons, has been the Ravens’ WR1 since the moment he arrived in Baltimore as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2023 draft.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>He’s led the team in receptions and receiving yards in every year of his career, and in 2025 set career highs with 86 catches and 1,211 yards. Flowers, who occasionally works in on gadget plays, has found the end zone 16 times for the Ravens, with two scores coming on the ground.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>His elevated performance last season coincided with the Ravens leaning on Flowers more than they ever have, shedding any notion of an ensemble approach. The 25-year-old collected 38 more catches than the team’s second-leading pass catcher, tight end Mark Andrews. DeAndre Hopkins (no longer on the team) was the only other wide receiver to eclipse 20 receptions.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Ravens have thusly rewarded Flowers with a big-money contract commensurate with his role as the standalone leader of a wide receiver group in 2026 that includes Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, third-round rookie Ja’Kobi Lane and fourth-round rookie Elijah Sarratt.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>His deal comes not that long after general manager Eric DeCosta communicated an interest in extending Flowers and said he was optimistic the sides could get a deal done.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>With a completed extension now out of the way, Flowers and the Ravens can shift that optimism toward finding results in the upcoming regular season, during which they hope to return to the playoffs in Minter’s first year as HC.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
AFC SOUTH<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>HOUSTON<\/strong><\/strong>Good to see WR TANK DELL back on the practice field.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>: Wide receiver Tank Dell took another step back toward the Texans lineup on Wednesday.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Reporters at Texans training camp shared photos and videos of Dell taking part in practice while wearing full pads. It\u2019s the first time that Dell has practiced in pads since he suffered a severe knee injury in December 2024.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Dell was not placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of camp, but the team has brought him along deliberately given how long he has been out of action.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>The Texans have not shared their plan for Dell in their preseason games, but game action will be the next big hurdle for Dell to clear as he tries to return to the form he showed in his first two NFL seasons. Dell had 98 catches for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 games to establish himself as a key offensive piece in Houston and the team\u2019s offensive profile will improve if he can return to that kind of production.<\/em><\/em>  <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>TENNESSEE<\/strong>DT JEFFREY SIMMONS punched his way out of practice on Tuesday.  Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>: Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons made an early exit from Titans practice on Tuesday, but it wasn\u2019t because of an injury.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Simmons was sent off by head coach Robert Saleh for throwing a punch at right tackle JC Latham. Simmons was wrapped up with center Austin Schlottman before throwing the punch and he was taken out of the fracas by assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart.<\/em><\/em> <\/em>\u201cOur policy is if you throw a punch you\u2019re ejected in the game, same thing with practice,\u201d Saleh said, via Teresa Walker of the Associated Press. \u201cIf you throw punch, you\u2019re out of practice. But rather than going to the locker room, he went to the other field. He still got his work in. So the projected reps and the work that he would have gotten, he got in off to the side.\u201d<\/em><\/em> <\/em>Saleh said that he wants the Titans to \u201ctoe a line of being aggressive and call it instigating if you want.\u201d Simmons crossed that line on Tuesday and the Titans were down a key player on their defense for the rest of the workout.<\/em><\/em> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>THIS AND THAT<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/strong>QB TIERS<\/strong>Mike Sando of The Athletic<\/em> hits with his 12th<\/sup> edition of QB Tiers \u2013 placing the NFL\u2019s starting QBs in five tiers after a poll of an anonymous panel of NFL insiders. The 2026 QB Tiers results are complete with commentary from the panel of 50 voters, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share candid evaluations.<\/em> <\/em>The panel this year consisted of eight general managers, five assistant GMs, five former GMs and three other executives, plus nine head coaches, 10 defensive coordinators, five offensive coordinators, two offensive assistants, one defensive assistant and two coaches specializing in analytics\/game management. That\u2019s 21 execs and 29 coaches overall.<\/em> <\/em>Each voter placed 35 veteran quarterbacks into five tiers, from best (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5). Quarterbacks were then ranked by average vote and placed into tiers. The survey excludes rookies because voters have not seen them play in the NFL.<\/em> Quarterback Tiers results for 2026 are here, and there’s clarity at the top, with four overwhelming Tier 1 selections and nobody else coming close.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow commanded 191 of a possible 200 top-tier votes from the panel of 50 coaches and executives.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Lamar Jackson dropped into Tier 2 with a dozen others, including upstarts Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, making this the largest second tier in the 13-year history of the survey.<\/em><\/strong> <\/u><\/em>Moved up a tier<\/u><\/em><\/strong>Drake Maye<\/em><\/strong>Caleb Williams<\/em><\/strong>Sam Darnold<\/em><\/strong>Trevor Lawrence<\/em><\/strong>Daniel Jones<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Moved down a tier<\/u><\/em><\/strong>Lamar Jackson<\/em><\/strong>C.J. Stroud<\/em><\/strong>Geno Smith<\/em><\/strong>Deshaun Watson (Watson did not play in 2025; he was rated as a Tier 3 quarterback in 2024)<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>New to \u2018Tiers\u2019<\/u><\/em><\/strong>Jaxson Dart<\/em><\/strong>Cam Ward<\/em><\/strong>Tyler Shough<\/em><\/strong>Malik Willis<\/em><\/strong>Shedeur Sanders<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>While the Seattle Seahawks\u2019 latest Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Sam Darnold, climbed into that expansive Tier 2, the team\u2019s previous one, Russell Wilson, dropped from the survey altogether. That left Stafford and Aaron Rodgers as the only players to appear in every QB Tiers since the survey\u2019s 2014 inception.<\/strong><\/em> <\/em>Tier 1<\/em><\/strong>Carries his team each week<\/em><\/strong>The team wins because of him<\/em><\/strong>Expertly handles pure-passing situations<\/em><\/strong>Has no real holes in his game<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>1. Patrick Mahomes Chiefs <\/em><\/strong>\u201cI still think he\u2019s a 1, but this year will show.\u201d  \u2014 Defensive coach<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Mahomes sits alone in the top spot, but for the first time since 2022, one of the voters, a GM, placed him in the second tier.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cI know no one sees this list, but no one wants to be the one that takes the 1 off,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cHe has earned that.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Almost no one wants to take off the 1.<\/em> <\/em>Mahomes turns 31 in September. His scramble rate climbed to a career-high 9 percent last season, an indication he was doing more with his legs to prop up an offense short on dynamic receiving threats. Is that sustainable with Mahomes coming off a torn ACL?<\/em> <\/em>\u201cPat had no run game last year \u2014 none,\u201d another exec said. \u201cHe\u2019s in a really bad spot when he doesn\u2019t have any run game. On top of that, they were missing Rashee Rice for the first six games. Once Rashee came back, Pat was actually pretty darn good, and then the wheels fell off against Houston and he got hurt.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The exec paused.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019ll bet he gets some 2 votes this year,\u201d he added.<\/em> <\/em>Not some. Just one, equaling the total he received from 2019 to 2025.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s not carrying them every week anymore,\u201d the GM placing Mahomes in Tier 2 said. \u201cThey had the season (2024) when they were historically, you could say, lucky in the one-possession games and then got trounced in the Super Bowl. They were not as impressive in the one-possession games (in 2025). Now, he\u2019s coming off an injury. Is he gonna deteriorate physically?”<\/em> <\/em>Mahomes is already back on the field for Chiefs training camp. One veteran coach laughed off suggestions Mahomes was in decline, noting that Joe Montana faced similar questions after three successive one-and-done playoff exits in the 1980s. Montana then won two MVPs and two Super Bowls over the next three seasons.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI don\u2019t think he is going to look any different than what he was mobility-wise,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cHe has never been the fastest. He just has unbelievable core strength and quickness and agility and vision and feel to create. I wouldn\u2019t expect drop-off there.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Kenneth Walker III\u2019s addition in free agency could restore the ground game for Mahomes.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI still think he\u2019s a 1, but this year will show,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cYou watch him warm up \u2014 his legs are strong, but he\u2019s got a belly. He\u2019s not pretty like Josh Allen. His upper body is kind of just there. If his legs go, he might fall off quicker than other people think. What I\u2019m saying is, getting in the best possible shape could be important for him over the second half of his career.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>2 (tie).   Josh Allen, Bills<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 1.04      Improved by 0.02 (1.06)  48 Tier 1, 2 Tier 2<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe is the reason they remain competitive. He\u2019s so physically talented.\u201d \u2014 GM<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Allen moved one vote closer toward unanimous Tier 1 status and could be the most feared quarterback in the league.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cJosh Allen is unreal,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cHe and Stafford are the two guys I would not want to play the most. Allen\u2019s ability to make plays, be hard to tackle, put the team on his shoulders \u2014 when it\u2019s fourth down, he is going to win.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>One veteran coach said Allen still has much to learn.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cJosh Allen, with under 30 seconds left in the half, runs for a meaningless 12-yard gain and fumbles and gives up a field goal in a playoff game to go behind two scores against Denver,\u201d this coach said. \u201cUntil he quits doing that, you can\u2019t rank him as the top quarterback. That is one of the worst plays I\u2019ve ever seen. Cost them the game.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Others saw the positives.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe thing that jumped out to me about the playoffs last year was the physicality and the plays the quarterbacks make with their toughness, their size and their strength, particularly as they advance on,\u201d an exec said. \u201cJosh has got that. Obviously, it\u2019s TBD with (new coach) Joe Brady, but one thing that those guys in the top tier do is, when you get off the bus on the road, the other 52 guys think they got a chance.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Allen led all quarterbacks in rushing yards (579) and rushing touchdowns (14) in 2025.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s the real deal because he can do it as a dropback quarterback, and they do some run game with him,\u201d another defensive coordinator said. \u201cThe way they use him is the way Baltimore has to use Lamar (Jackson) to get the most out of him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>A GM noted that the Bills have given Allen a strong defense and a strong run game, but not at the same time.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cJosh is a 1 because he is the reason they remain competitive,\u201d this GM said. \u201cHe\u2019s so physically talented. But I\u2019m ready to say he\u2019s never gonna win a Super Bowl because their team\u2019s getting worse around him, and I think his style of football is going to start breaking him down physically.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>2 (tie).   Matthew Stafford, Rams<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHis football intelligence matches his football talent.\u201d – \u2014 Former head coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 1.04      Improved by 0.46 (1.50)  48 Tier 1, 2 Tier 2<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Elite physical talent plus experience plus fast processing plus top-flight scheme has equaled Tier 1 status and MVP honors for Stafford.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cHe wins at the line of scrimmage, and then he\u2019s got this elite arm talent, and they\u2019re well-schemed,\u201d a GM said. \u201cEverything they put on him at the line of scrimmage, he makes it come to life. Best in the league at that.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>After making his Tier 1 debut by a narrow margin last year, Stafford surged into the elite ranks on the strength of his MVP season.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s scary,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cWhen I first got in the league, there were more guys you had to worry about. You knew if you played Peyton (Manning), you played (Brett) Favre, (Tom) Brady, (Drew) Brees, it was, \u2018Oh my God!\u2019 Stafford has still got that, and he\u2019s operating in a difficult-to-defend offense.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Stafford\u2019s 46 touchdown passes last season were 12 more than any other QB\u2019s total.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHis arm talent is special, for sure, but he\u2019s a very intelligent quarterback in terms of picking up things and understanding how to attack what you do on defense,\u201d a former head coach said. \u201cThat is not always the case with talented guys. His football intelligence matches his football talent.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Stafford\u2019s age (38) and durability were the only strikes against him among voters.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe runs the show, and there are only a few quarterbacks left who can do that,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cHe can rip it from any arm angle. His look-off throws are a freak show. If you cut up all his throws where he looks somewhere and rips it to the other side, it\u2019s nuts.\u201d<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>4. Joe Burrow, Bengals<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe\u2019s so talented at throwing the ball, and he sees it so well.\u201d \u2014 Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 1.08      Declined by 0.08 (1.00)     46 Tier 1, 4 Tier 2<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Missing nine games to injury last season wasn\u2019t enough to knock Burrow from the Tier 1 ranks.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cStafford, Allen, Burrow and Mahomes are all different, but at the end of the day, they can single-handedly win games,\u201d a defensive coordinator said.<\/em> <\/em>Burrow has had a harder time winning over the past three seasons because the Bengals have ranked 29th in defensive EPA per play over that span.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s so talented at throwing the ball, and he sees it so well,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cEveryone would want to have him, 10 times out of 10, no matter how much money he asked for.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Burrow is 10-5 over the past three seasons when his team scores 30 or more points. That win rate (.667) ranks last among 14 quarterbacks with at least 10 such starts over that span. The other 13 QBs are 199-23-2 (.893) in those starts.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019m going to say 2 even though I want to say 1,\u201d a former GM said. \u201cI love the accuracy and anticipation. It\u2019s just that he has been a little up and down due to injuries.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Though the Bengals\u2019 offensive line is a key variable in the durability equation, voters also think Cincinnati takes risks with its franchise QB.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cAs much as I respect the head coach (Zac Taylor) as a play caller, and I like him a lot, it is insane how they do not protect (Burrow),\u201d one voter said. \u201cIt\u2019s third-and-10 from the plus-45. They are playing Cleveland. That situation, you are trying to get in range of the field goal. They come out with open edges. They are spread out. This is either a screen or the ball is coming out quick, right? They did dropback pass. Bang! What do you think happened? Sack!”<\/em> <\/em>Some voters said Burrow prefers it that way (not the sacks, but the wide-open offense).<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThey know he\u2019s going to get hit, and they know they are going to have some issues and take some sacks, and they think the risk is worth the reward because he\u2019s an unbelievable passer, they have unbelievable skill talent and that is how they score points and win games,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cThey prefer he doesn\u2019t get hurt, but I\u2019d also argue the injuries he\u2019s had have been weird.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Tier 2<\/em><\/strong>Carries his team sometimes<\/em><\/strong>Handles pure-passing situations in doses<\/em><\/strong>Or has other dimensions that elevate him above Tier 3<\/em><\/strong>Has a hole or two in his game<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens<\/em><\/strong>\u201cIf he doesn\u2019t play well, they don\u2019t win games.\u201d  Offensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 1.56      Declined by 0.48 (1.08)  22 Tier 1, 28 Tier 2<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Jackson made his Tier 1 debut last year but slipped back to the top of Tier 2 after failing to threaten defenses as much with his legs in 2025.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019m not sure how much he wants to run and take hits anymore,\u201d an opposing coach said. \u201cHe can\u2019t be special without the threat of a run. I think he needs to be more active when he does run. It used to be he would go and outrun you. Now, he kind of goes, but he is not always moving with purpose.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Jackson\u2019s rushing yards per game fell by about 50 percent year over year. So did his total of Tier 1 votes.<\/em> <\/em>Early in a November game at Cleveland, the Ravens called a zone-read for Jackson. Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger strung out Jackson near the sideline, tackling him for a 1-yard loss. Baltimore called no more designed QB rushes that day.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHaving gone against him a lot, when they changed OCs to (Todd) Monken from (Greg) Roman, he became a quarterback who is going to run it a little bit,\u201d another coach said.<\/em> <\/em>Jackson won MVP honors with both coordinators. It wasn\u2019t until last season that Jackson\u2019s rate of designed rushes plummeted, reaching 7.1 percent, less than half his career average.<\/em> <\/em>Back and hamstring injuries surely played a role.<\/em> <\/em>New coordinator Declan Doyle plans to put Jackson under center more, but the team hasn\u2019t been specific about its plans for Jackson as a runner.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe arrow is probably down,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cI\u2019m just not ready to give him a 2 yet. If he doesn\u2019t play well, they don\u2019t win games. He has been able to carry that roster no matter what the rest of it looked like, even last year.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cNow, if he stops running, I do think he drops into the 2 category. I think he can win games and be an elite quarterback without running, but I don\u2019t think he\u2019s a 1 without running.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Jackson still commanded 22 votes in Tier 1, one off his career high before last season.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI feel good about him,\u201d said an offensive coach who placed Jackson in Tier 1. \u201cHe has a really good coach (Doyle) who has a lot to prove. Lamar took part in more of the offseason program. I think they will do the contract with him, and he will have a big year.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>6.  Justin Herbert, Chargers<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe should have had more accolades at this point.\u201d \u2014 Defensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 1.68      Improved by 0.12 (1.80)   19 Tier 1, 28 Tier 2, 3 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Herbert has had either poor defense\/special teams support, a weak offensive line or underwhelming weaponry throughout his Chargers career.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s taken so many hits where it\u2019s impacting his reads,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s playing with quick feet at times when he gets hit early, which he wasn\u2019t doing as a younger guy. I get it. The guy has been hit every year.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Some voters are tired of hearing about it.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHow long has he been in the league now?\u201d a defensive coordinator asked. \u201cThey\u2019ve never won a playoff game. I get it, but, like, if you\u2019re the guy, at some point, I feel like they\u2019ve been sniffing around enough. He should have had more accolades at this point.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Six of the eight GMs polled placed Herbert in the top tier. Only 13 of the other 42 voters had Herbert that high. Among coaches, those with offensive backgrounds liked Herbert more than coaches with defensive backgrounds did.<\/em> <\/em>It all points to the gap between Herbert\u2019s obvious physical talent and his disappointing on-field results. GMs and offensive coaches would love to have him.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cLosing both starting tackles last year was a huge issue,\u201d an exec said. \u201cIt\u2019ll be really interesting to see how he plays with the coordinator change (from Greg Roman to Mike McDaniel), a completely different energy and offensive philosophy.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>With the line hurting, Herbert rushed for a career-high 498 yards last season, second to Allen among quarterbacks.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe looks exactly where he is supposed to look, he does exactly what he is supposed to do, but when it breaks down, he is big and strong enough to run your ass over,\u201d an opposing coach said.<\/em> <\/em>7.  Dak Prescott, Cowboys<\/em><\/strong>\u201cCould you win the whole thing with (him)? Yes. But would he be the reason?\u201d \u2014 Ex-Cowboys assistant<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 1.80      Improved by 0.56 (2.36)  12 Tier 1, 36 Tier 2, 2 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Prescott got nearly as many Tier 1 votes this year (12) as he\u2019d gotten across nine previous QB Tiers appearances (14). He made the fifth-largest year-over-year jump in average tier vote, despite already ranking solidly in Tier 2.<\/em> <\/em>What changed?<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe guy I might be higher on than I ever have is Dak,\u201d said an exec who thought Prescott belonged in Tier 3 a few seasons ago. \u201cHe was so impressive last year.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Five of the 10 defensive coordinators polled placed Prescott in the top tier, as did a defensive-minded head coach. His average tier vote from defensive coaches (1.54) was much better than his average from offensive coaches (2.0). That was the second-largest gap in that direction, behind only the gap for Tua Tagovailoa.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cMaybe it\u2019s the tools around him, maybe it\u2019s the maturity,\u201d a defensive coordinator said of Prescott. \u201cHe carved us up. Brian (Schottenheimer) has been good for him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Prescott missed most of the 2024 season to injury, but across 2023 and 2025, he ranks No. 1 in EPA per pass play among a dozen QBs with at least 30 starts in those seasons.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI don\u2019t know what the hole is in Dak\u2019s game,\u201d a former head coach said.<\/em> <\/em>The two voters placing Prescott in Tier 3 found faults.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cDak is at his best when he can pick and stick, and throw outside the numbers to guys that are elite,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cWhile that is impressive to me, I don\u2019t think that ever allows you to be a 2, because 2s anticipate, can throw guys open, can sit in there when the pocket is dirty and just make unbelievable plays. Dak hasn\u2019t done that consistently. He can\u2019t raise the level of the people around him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Most voters see Prescott as a high-end 2.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe runs the show, he operates really well,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cThere is just something that doesn\u2019t lump you in with Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, but he\u2019s right there. He is fun to watch play quarterback if you appreciate the scheme, how he masters the cadence. He does all those little things that are cool to watch.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Another coach called Prescott \u201cthe cockroach of the NFL\u201d for his ability to keep playing at a high level no matter what.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s really good, he\u2019s a good leader, everybody loves him,\u201d a former Cowboys assistant said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to make most throws. Could you win the whole thing with Dak Prescott? Yes. But would he be the reason? He\u2019s going to help.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Dallas ranked last by a wide margin in defensive EPA per play last season. The Cowboys were fifth on the offensive side, finishing 7-9-1.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s a 2 until he can do it when it matters,\u201d another defensive coordinator said. \u201cIf he was out there (on the market), everybody would want him, but can he get you over the hump? He will have a great season, they will be really good offensively, then they will get to the playoffs, and he will s— the bed. It\u2019s been consistent over his career.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>8 (tie), Drake Maye, Patriots<\/em><\/strong>\u201cA high 2 on his way to a 1.\u201d –  \u2014 Personnel exec<\/em><\/strong>Rank    #8 (tie) Improved by 14 (#22)<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.06      Improved by 1.06 (3.12)  5 Tier 1, 37 Tier 2, 8 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>Finishing second in MVP voting for a team that reached the Super Bowl pushed Maye from the middle of Tier 3 after his rookie season toward the top of Tier 2.<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>\u201cI see him as a high 2 on his way to a 1,\u201d an exec said. \u201cYou just have to see it against a harder schedule. And then I think he did get hurt in the AFC Championship Game, he was playing hurt in the Super Bowl. But to me, he\u2019d be right at that Tier 1 border.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Five of the 21 personnel executives polled placed Maye in Tier 1. None of the 29 coaches did. The gap between Maye\u2019s average vote from personnel execs to coaches was the largest in that direction this year.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe kid throws a really good go-ball, which will pair well with A.J. Brown,\u201d said a defensive coach whose team faced Maye early in the season. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s his youth, but I think Josh McDaniels does a phenomenal job of packaging things within a game plan to take some of the pressure off of Drake. He can do what they want him to do offensively, but at the same time, how much are they really asking him to do?”<\/em> <\/em>Maye\u2019s elevated sack rate (8.7 percent) is one concern.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI think most good quarterbacks know how to get rid of the football,\u201d a GM said.<\/em> <\/em>Voters whose teams faced Maye later in the 2025 season were higher on him than those who faced him earlier. Most thought a shoulder injury influenced a conservative game plan in the Super Bowl.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s going to be a 1 very soon,\u201d a personnel exec said. \u201cYou know what? Yeah, he\u2019s a 1. Resilient kid, makes plays, underwhelming receiving corps, smart, athletic. Another year with this coordinator, get some big-play guys, I think he\u2019ll be a 1. His makeup and all his football stuff makes me believe he is going to be a good player.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>8 (tie).  Jared Goff, Lions<\/em><\/strong>\u201cWhen he is rolling, he\u2019s a 1. He can change the game.\u201d – \u2014 Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.06      No change (2.06)      4 Tier 1, 39 Tier 2 , 7 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Goff finished with the same average tier vote (2.06) and ranking (eighth) as last year, proving he would not implode after acclaimed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become coach of the Bears.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI have newfound respect for him, watching him operate without Ben,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cThere is a ceiling to some of it, but I was like, \u2018Man, even transitioning to a new offense, he is very in command of all the other stuff.\u2019 He was tempoing us a lot. The cadence, movement, motion timing \u2014 operationally, he was very on it.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Goff is more respected than feared.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI was more nervous because of the receivers and the tailback, but he is good enough where I go, ‘OK, he can throw it,\u2019\u201d another defensive coordinator said. \u201cIt\u2019s just that the pieces around him really help him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Goff leads the NFL in touchdown passes over the past three seasons with 101.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cWatching their cutups, it\u2019s unbelievable,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cHe has the tendency, as Stafford did for a long time, where there are small stretches in seasons where he is not even a 2. But when he is rolling, he\u2019s a 1. He can change the game.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Voters suggested the Lions\u2019 window could be closing.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe infrastructure has a lot to do with it, and I actually don\u2019t necessarily mean that negatively,\u201d a GM said. \u201cLow-end 2, high-end 3, can win with him and everything like that, but I think probably the last two years, \u201924 and \u201923, I think he got a little bit overvalued, getting a little too much credit.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>10. Jordan Love, Packers<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe\u2019s always getting away with (it), so at some point, I just have to tip my cap.\u201d –  Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.18      Improved by 0.26 (2.44)  2 Tier 1, 37 Tier 2, 11 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Love has climbed in QB Tiers every season, cracking the top 10 for the first time.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s good \u2014 I was surprised,\u201d an opposing defensive coordinator said. \u201cReally solid, mobile, threw with better accuracy than I thought. I\u2019d give him a 2.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Love ranked second to Maye in EPA per pass play last season.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cSmart, can do things at the line, has the arm talent, the mobility when he needs it, but knows how to sit in and deliver,\u201d another defensive coordinator said. \u201cNot a consistent killer yet, but if he plays good ball, you can win a Super Bowl with him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>As for that No. 2 ranking in EPA per pass play: Stafford, Brock Purdy, Goff, Prescott, Allen and Daniel Jones were next, followed by Mahomes, Mac Jones and Bo Nix. The varied composition of that list shows why statistics are only part of the equation. Systems and supporting casts matter.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThere are years where I could have pushed Love up to the bottom of Tier 1, top of Tier 2,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cHe needs more consistency, week-in and week-out. He has some WTF plays and throws, like, \u2018Why are you doing this?\u2019”<\/em> <\/em>Finding greater consistency was a recurring theme for Love.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe is still coming into his own as a player,\u201d another defensive coordinator said. \u201cEarly on, he was trying to be Aaron Rodgers. You could tell from his mannerisms: too cool for school. I think he is starting to settle into who he really is. He has the size, the length, all the tools.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Comparisons to Rodgers and even Brett Favre were inevitable. Are they fair?<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIf you can create pressure on him and make him move around, it ain\u2019t the same,\u201d an exec placing Love in Tier 3 said. \u201cIt took Aaron Rodgers three years to learn how to manipulate the pocket. Brett just did it. The question is, can Love learn it?\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The inconsistency made Love one of the tougher QBs for voters to evaluate. Improved play from the offensive line could help steady him.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI used to think Josh Allen was a 2 because he just does too much where I go, \u2018OK, it\u2019s not by the book, it doesn\u2019t always look the way it is supposed to, but God, is it productive,\u2019\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cJordan Love is the Tier 2 version of that. He is at times careless and overly aggressive. It looks like it shouldn\u2019t be working, and he\u2019s getting away with things.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cBut he\u2019s always getting away with them, so at some point, I just have to tip my cap and be impressed.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>11 (tie).  Brock Purdy  49ers<\/em><\/strong>\u201cStronger than you think. Faster than you think. Better than you think.\u201d – Defensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.28      Improved by 0.18 (2.46)   1 Tier 1, 34 Tier 2, 15 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Purdy regained all the ground lost after his 2024 season, and then some, among voters. His average tier vote (2.28) and ranking (T-11th) are career bests.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI think he is better than given credit for,\u201d a head coach said. \u201cKyle (Shanahan) is great, but I think Brock Purdy, he can see it so fast, and he makes quick decisions, and he\u2019s more athletic than you think. Really good player.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The 49ers rank third in offensive EPA per play since 2023, Purdy\u2019s first full season as their starter. Purdy is No. 1 in EPA per pass play over that span.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cPurdy is so impressive to watch in terms of how he creates,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cThe scramble game is awesome. He\u2019s really hard to sack. He\u2019s in a great system with great players around him. It\u2019s just a good fit.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>It\u2019s tough finding voters who don\u2019t mention Shanahan\u2019s system when discussing Purdy.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cSolid 2,\u201d an exec said. \u201cDeceptive athletically, deceptive strength. He is the one guy who plays bigger than he is, and then obviously he\u2019s a good fit with Kyle.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>There\u2019s that system talk again.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cJust because of what he has done, you have to give him a 2, but he\u2019s like bottom-end Tier 2,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cIt is the system and everything around it that is going to help him. In that system, Jimmy Garoppolo took them to the Super Bowl, but when he went anywhere else, you struggled to say he was a 3.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Yet, all agree Purdy surpassed Garoppolo long ago.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIf he can\u2019t flip his hips, he can\u2019t make throws, because all his power is in his lower body,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cBut the dude is special. He sees things before they happen. And like (George) Kittle said, he runs like a water dragon. Stronger than you think. Faster than you think. Better than you think. Talks more s— than you think. Solid 2.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>11 (tie).   Caleb Williams    Bears<\/em><\/strong>\u201cIt doesn\u2019t look like the moment is too big for him.\u201d \u2014 Defensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.28      Improved by 0.92 (3.20)  36 Tier 2, 14 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Only Daniel Jones and Maye improved their year-over-year standing more than Williams, who overtook Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix to rank second among quarterbacks from the 2024 draft class (only Maye remains higher).<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019ve got all these cutups on him, and I\u2019m going, \u2018This guy is special,\u2019\u201d a head coach said. \u201cHe makes unbelievable throws, and he\u2019s fearless.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Every player ranked higher than Williams this year commanded at least one Tier 1 vote. Williams had none. Some think that will change.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI think Caleb\u2019s going from a 2 to a possible 1,\u201d an exec said. \u201cA couple of plays he made late in the year and then in the playoffs, not many people can make those plays. You saw it get better and better as they progressed.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Williams took a league-high 68 sacks as a rookie in 2024. That total plummeted to 24 last season, even though Williams held the ball a league-high 3.09 seconds on average before throwing or taking sacks, per TruMedia. That was up from 2.84 seconds as a rookie.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cChicago probably holds the ball longer than most teams just with the stuff they do,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cThen you add on Caleb\u2019s escapability. He gets out of so many that should be sacks for 90 percent of the league.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Inconsistency is typically a byproduct of the off-schedule quarterback. That might always be the trade-off for Williams.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThere are games where you are like, \u2018Oh my God, that\u2019s not good,\u2019 and then there is the Rams game in the playoffs last year where it\u2019s, \u2018Jesus, God, he kept them alive.\u2019 Then he tries to trademark \u2018Iceman,\u2019 and you\u2019re thinking, \u2018Get outta here.\u2019”<\/em> <\/em>Execs generally liked Williams more than coaches did. All eight GMs placed him in Tier 2, while coaches supplied 11 of his 14 votes in Tier 3. That is likely because coaches are more apt to want quarterbacks to play on time.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe is a high 3 or low 2 with the ability to go either way, kind of like Josh Allen at (the same) point in his career,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cHe is an exciting player, definitely athletic. The good thing for him, just like Lamar (Jackson) and Josh (Allen) at this stage: It doesn\u2019t look like the moment is too big for him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>13.  Jayden Daniels, Commanders<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe\u2019s got to reprove it.\u201d \u2014 Defensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.32      Declined by 0.60 (1.72)  32 Tier 2, 17 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Daniels proved as a rookie he can be one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the game. His second season amplified durability questions that followed him into the league.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s got to reprove it,\u201d a defensive coach said.<\/em> <\/em>Daniels missed 10 games to injury in his second season and wasn\u2019t nearly as dynamic while Washington posted a 2-5 record in the games he did start.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI think he is a legitimate ascending 2 assuming (his health) is right,\u201d an offensive coach said.<\/em> <\/em>Daniels suffered the third-largest year-over-year drop after Geno Smith and Tua Tagovailoa.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI think he was a little quick to take off and run last year,\u201d an exec said. \u201cThey spent a lot of money on that offensive line and drafted some guys, so I think he has to just settle into that position. He has all the talent.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Calibrating the dual-threat factor in a manner that threatens defenses without threatening Daniels\u2019 physical well-being is the key.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cJayden is similar to Lamar (Jackson) in that when he can\u2019t run, he\u2019s a 3,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cMy issue with him is he takes too many hits, and he gets away with missing plays because his feet can bail him out.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Daniels will have a new first-time coordinator in David Blough, who replaced Kliff Kingsbury.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cDo they get under center, do they slow down, do they do some other things?\u201d an exec asked. \u201cJayden was really, really good in terms of his authority to make plays both on and off schedule. It\u2019s extremely difficult to defend guys who can do both, so I think they\u2019ve got a chance for a real bounceback.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>14 (tie). Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers <\/em><\/strong>\u201cThe streakiest player of all time.\u201d  \u2014 Offensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.36      Declined by 0.06 (2.30)    30 Tier 2, 19 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>It\u2019s fitting for Mayfield and Sam Darnold to tie in this ranking as 2018 draft classmates and veteran success stories; Mayfield salvaged his career one year before Darnold salvaged his. This year, Mayfield basically held his ground, slipping just slightly in average vote while falling three spots.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe probably fluctuates from a 3 to a 2, with some (Tier) 1 games in there,\u201d an exec said. \u201cA little bit of a reckless play style, a little smaller guy. You saw some wear and tear catch up to him last season. I lean towards a 3.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThis is the discussion they are having in Tampa as they ask, \u2018What are we going to pay him?\u2019”<\/em> <\/em>Mayfield is scheduled to become a free agent after the season. His $33.3 million average salary ranks 16th.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI don\u2019t want to be unfair to Brock Purdy, but I feel more threatened by Baker,\u201d a former head coach said. \u201cI think Baker does more outside of the system. I don\u2019t think he has been as protected in a system like Brock has, and he\u2019s a winner, he\u2019s got that edge to him. So does Brock. Baker is a 2 to me.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Losing receiver Mike Evans could affect Mayfield, although one voter pointed out that Mayfield shined early in his career at Cleveland without a top wideout.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe is just the streakiest player of all time,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cHe can play like a 2 and play like a 5. He misses throws, he loses vision, but then he makes some unbelievable plays with his feet. He is one of those guys that frustrates you as a coordinator, but when things around him are pretty good, he can make impressive plays and win some games, too.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>14 (tie).  Sam Darnold, Seahawks<\/em><\/strong>\u201cThe guy has always had the talent.\u201d \u2014 Former GM Sam Darnold<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.36      Improved by 0.64 (3.00)<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Darnold\u2019s climb over the past three seasons is rare for an established starter in the 13-year history of QB Tiers.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cSam played his ass off the last two years,\u201d a head coach said.<\/em> <\/em>Darnold\u2019s improvement from 4.00 to 2.36 is a full tier better than runner-up Daniel Jones among the 19 quarterbacks who appeared in all three surveys and had debuted before 2024.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThere are so many factors that determine a quarterback\u2019s success, and Darnold\u2019s the best example of it,\u201d an exec said. \u201cTo get him into the right system, with the right coaches, and you have a game-breaking receiver, and a good defense. It\u2019s a lot easier.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Drafted by the Jets in 2018, Darnold spent two years in Tier 3 with New York, mostly on the strength of his pedigree. He dropped into Tier 4 with Carolina and stayed there entering his first season with Minnesota.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cPeople are too quick to quit on guys because it\u2019s easier to quit on them than take the heat and the bullets to stay with them when you\u2019re not winning and they are turning the ball over,\u201d a former GM said of Darnold\u2019s path. \u201cThe guy has always had the talent. They did not miss on the person. He was just young and had not evolved as a quarterback.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>No qualifying quarterback has gotten more support from his defense and special teams than Darnold has from Minnesota and Seattle over the past two seasons (8.0 EPA per start, according to TruMedia). That\u2019s a leading reason why he ranks first among those 33 quarterbacks in regular-season win rate with a 28-6 starting record (.824).<\/em> <\/em>\u201cSam is at his best when you run the ball, play defense and then he\u2019s not in position to turn the ball over,\u201d an exec said, \u201cbut when his number is called, he can make big plays. If they don\u2019t start running the football, they probably don\u2019t win the Super Bowl.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>16.  Trevor Lawrence,  Jaguars<\/em><\/strong>\u201c(He\u2019ll) flash for windows where you go, \u2018Oh, I think he is becoming the guy.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Off coord<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.44      Improved by 0.38 (2.82)  26 Tier 2, 23 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Lawrence climbed back into Tier 2 after two years in the third tier, making him the highest-rated quarterback in the AFC South. Current GMs and offensive coaches were higher on him than the other voters.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cMan, if there\u2019s anybody that\u2019s between a 2 and a 3, I would say him right now,\u201d a former head coach said. \u201cIf he does it again this year, I could see putting him as a standing 2.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Will that be good enough for second-year coach Liam Coen?<\/em> <\/em>\u201cTrevor took a huge jump last year,\u201d an exec said. \u201cI\u2019d say he was a 2 going to a 1 at the end of the year. You saw some things that you kind of thought you saw in the draft.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Voters thought Lawrence appeared much more confident last season.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cLiam is a fiery guy, and it allows that to come out of Trevor, who has never been that,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cDoug Pederson was a different style guy, so you were not going to get that out of Trevor.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>It\u2019s not the first time Lawrence has flashed promise.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe is going to flash for windows where you go, \u2018Oh, I think he is becoming the guy,\u2019 but you are not in Year 2 anymore,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cThis is just kind of who you are \u2014 streaky, up and down.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIf everyone around him does their job at a high level, he has a chance, but he is never going to be able to carry anything for extended periods of time.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>17. Jalen Hurts, Eagles <\/em><\/strong>\u201cHis best plays are off schedule. It will become less sustainable as he gets older.\u201d – <\/em><\/strong>D coach<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.50      Declined by 0.32 (2.18) 25 Tier 2, 25 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Hurts makes his fourth consecutive appearance in Tier 2, landing on the Tier 2-3 border after falling to his lowest average since 2022.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cPhilly just won it all not too long ago, but I think of all the bulls— he had to deal with,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cThey are not on the same page, going through different coordinators, and all the s— he had to deal with regarding A.J. Brown.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Trading away Brown removed a headache. It also took away the type of target voters saw as ideally suited for Hurts.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHurts can throw slants and go-balls,\u201d a GM said. \u201cIs there anybody better at running slants and go-balls than A.J. Brown?”<\/em> <\/em>About those go-balls \u2026<\/em> <\/em>\u201cYou don\u2019t want to count on (Hurts) to win a game unless it\u2019s a go-ball, which is a 50-50 ball, except he\u2019s had A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who can go catch it,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cHis best plays are off schedule. It will become less sustainable as he gets older. And you can\u2019t keep cycling through coordinators.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Sean Mannion is the Eagles\u2019 fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons. He spent the previous two seasons as a Green Bay assistant after retiring as a quarterback. This will be his first season calling plays.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cWhat I appreciate about Matt LaFleur was how he met Aaron Rodgers halfway when implementing a new offense (in Green Bay),\u201d an exec said. \u201cI\u2019ll be curious to see if Mannion has the feel to marry what he wants to do with what Jalen does well, or do they say, \u2018Jalen, you have to do this\u2019?”<\/em> <\/em>Tier 3<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>Legit starter but needs better running game or defense to win<\/em><\/strong>Lower-volume dropback passing offense suits him best<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>18. Bo Nix, Broncos<\/em><\/strong>\u201cJust as easily as he can win games for you, he can lose games for you.\u201d \u2014 Exec<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.54      Improved by 0.46 (3.00)   1 Tier 1, 21 Tier 2, 28 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Nix jumped from the middle of Tier 3, where he debuted last year, to the verge of Tier 2 after leading the league in game-winning drives with seven.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cGood player, dynamic, can run a little bit,\u201d an exec said. \u201cHe plays big in big moments. But just as easily as he can win games for you, he can lose games for you. They are as good as they are largely because their defense is as good as it is, and Sean Payton does a nice job helping him make plays within his skill set.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Nix led the league in pass attempts last season without being considered a dynamic passer.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe one thing we were worried about was his legs,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cThere is nothing where you are like, \u2018This guy is going to single-handedly put it on his shoulders and beat you.\u2019 He manages, picks his spots, gets a scramble, makes enough plays to win.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>That is a common view.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe passing game is not him operating from the pocket necessarily,\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cThere are a bunch of RPO throws, screens, bubbles and then the movement throws. It seems like they are worried about him, too, consistently winning from the pocket.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cNow, he makes up for a lot of it with the way he runs.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>One voter, a head coach, placed Nix in Tier 1.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI like his command, his confidence,\u201d this coach said. \u201cYeah, the scheme helps him, but still, you just can\u2019t plug anybody in there to make that scheme go.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>There are some parallels between Nix and former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. Carr jumped from a 3.11 voting average in his QB Tiers debut to 2.62 in his second appearance, ranking 16th, much the way Nix has risen. Carr then jumped to seventh (1.90) before regressing.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cNix is a 2 for sure,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cHe can make all the off-balance throws. He is perfect for Sean (Payton) because he can handle Sean ripping his ass. That has always been the key; Drew (Brees) going, \u2018Eff you, Sean, just call the play.\u2019 Nix is in that mindset.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Nix, who is participating fully at training camp after having ankle surgery in January, will have a new play caller in his third season after Payton passed those duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb.<\/em> <\/em>19.  Aaron Rodgers, Steelers<\/em><\/strong>\u201cNot able to make that magic like he used to.\u201d – \u2014 Defensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.66      Improved by 0.10 (2.76)  1 Tier 1, 19 Tier 2, 26 Tier 3, 4 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Rodgers\u2019 first season in Pittsburgh ended in the wild-card round with Houston scoring two touchdowns on Rodgers\u2019 turnovers and sacking him four times.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s a 3 at best,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cHe can still throw it. I love Aaron. He\u2019s a tough motherf—er, but he holds the ball too long and lacks the same mobility. They come out against Buffalo, one-score game, turnover for a touchdown. He did not get rid of the ball on time. He is not able to make that magic like he used to.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Rodgers made 10 consecutive appearances in Tier 1, spent one year in Tier 2 and now is in his second season in Tier 3. Maye, Williams, Darnold, Lawrence and Nix passed him this year even though Rodgers\u2019 average tier vote improved slightly (Rodgers passed C.J. Stroud and Kyler Murray, leaving him three spots lower in the rankings).<\/em> <\/em>One voter, a defensive coordinator, kept Rodgers in Tier 1, citing his intelligence and throwing ability. Another scoffed at seeing Rodgers so low.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cWho would you rather have running your offense, Jalen Hurts or Aaron Rodgers?\u201d this second voter asked rhetorically.<\/em> <\/em>Rodgers\u2019 familiarity with new coach Mike McCarthy\u2019s offense from their days together in Green Bay should help.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe offensive scheme was limiting last year,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cHis mobility is not great, but as a dropback passer and one of those guys you do not want to face in two-minute, if he has pieces around him, he can still go win.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Coaches were higher on Rodgers than executives by the largest margin in that direction (0.34 average vote). All eight current GMs polled had Rodgers in Tier 3 or 4.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s a 3 that can go to a 2,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t want to get hit. He\u2019s got a little soccer flop in him. But he can still beat you.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>20. C.J. Stroud, Texans<\/em><\/strong>\u201cThis is a big year for him. He has it in him.\u201d – \u2014 Defensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.74      Declined by 0.56 (2.18)  13 Tier 2, 37 Tier 3<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Coaches and executives saw Stroud similarly. Thirty-seven of them placed Stroud in Tier 3, nearly triple his total over the previous two seasons combined (13).<\/em> <\/em>\u201cPrior to last year, I would have thought he\u2019s going to be on the fringe of being in that upper echelon right now,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cI want to say he\u2019s a 3 based on the last couple years, but he\u2019s a 2 if I\u2019m being fair.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Ambivalence was a theme with Stroud.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s starting to fall into that category of a quarterback who\u2019s hard to protect,\u201d an exec said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t beat you at the line and get the ball out. He holds the football, and then when he holds the football, he makes mistakes.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Is that Stroud\u2019s fault, or the fault of an offensive line constantly in flux?<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThey\u2019ve signed some pro offensive linemen this offseason,\u201d a coach said. \u201cHe plays hurried sometimes because he thinks he\u2019s going to get rushed. Then it looks s—-y when he\u2019s not rushed. But he thinks he is, and then people are like, \u2018What is this kid doing, making bad decisions when he\u2019s not under duress?\u2019”<\/em> <\/em>This will be Stroud\u2019s second season under offensive coordinator Nick Caley after the team fired Bobby Slowik.<\/em> <\/em>“Slowik got fired because their offensive line sucked, not because the quarterback really played poorly,\u201d another coach said. \u201cThe old system is a little friendlier to quarterbacks who are not as fast processing. Last year, it looked like C.J. might be one of those guys. Hopefully it was just first year in the system, but I do wonder, do you have to make it easier for this kid so he can play fast?”<\/em> <\/em>Stroud has declined each season in QB Tiers.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThis is a big year for him,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cHe has it in him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>21. Daniel Jones, Colts <\/em><\/strong>\u201cIndy was perfect for him.\u201d \u2014 Defensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 2.92      Improved by 1.10 (4.02)   8 Tier 2, 38 Tier 3, 4 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Jones made the largest year-over-year jump in average vote (+1.1) while climbing eight spots in the rankings. He set career bests in yards per attempt, passer rating and EPA per pass play before suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in December.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI thought he looked broken in New York (with the Giants),\u201d an offensive coordinator said. \u201cI thought he looked functional in Indy. He looked like a 3.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Jones, who is practicing without limitations at training camp, received more Tier 2 votes (eight) than the rest of his career combined (six). Quite a few voters, including defensive coordinators who faced Indianapolis, credited Colts coach Shane Steichen for outstanding game plans.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cDaniel Jones is interesting,\u201d one defensive coordinator said. \u201cI think he showed that when you are not protected and you do not have all the answers given to you, it is hard to operate at this level of football.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The implication was that Indy protected Jones, and Steichen gave him answers.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIndy was perfect for him,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cThe best thing he ever could have done was get with Shane. Steichen has the best mix of tempo versus non-tempo, versus huddle calls, versus \u2018Hey, listen, this one\u2019s on two, this one\u2019s on three.\u2019 He tells his quarterback how to change the pace of a game, and he does it as well as anybody right now.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Jones proved he could execute that offense at a high level, although his production tapered later in the season, after defenses had more video to study. One exec thought Jones\u2019 history of lower-body injuries could threaten his mobility longer term.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cWhat Steichen wanted to do scheme-wise, he was not able to do with the guys he had before Daniel Jones,\u201d said another defensive coordinator whose team faced the Colts. \u201cFrom an intelligence standpoint, getting them in the right plays, going through the right key progressions, that is where Daniel Jones showed he got it.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>22. Bryce Young, Panthers<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe\u2019s a 3 who is growing on me.\u201d – \u2014 Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.08      Improved by 0.34 (3.42)  5 Tier 2, 36 Tier 3, 9 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Young has improved each year in Tiers voting since making his debut in 2024.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe made a huge jump in 2026,\u201d said a coach whose team faced Carolina in the second half of the season. \u201cHis command, his confidence, his accuracy, the movement \u2014 he just seemed so much more confident as a player. It was an eye-opener for all of us to watch him perform. It reflected in their team.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>It didn\u2019t reflect as much in the numbers. Young ranked 28th out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per pass play last season. That jumped to eighth from Week 11 forward, the second consecutive season Young finished stronger than he started.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s a 3 who is growing on me,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cHis vision down the field allows him to throw it later in the down and create a little. He moves around just enough to get the ball out. He sees passing lanes well. He can throw with anticipation.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cBut he is what he is physically. He looks like a high school kid out there.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Young stands a fraction over 5 feet 10.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe needs the athletes around him, and they\u2019ve done a good job surrounding him,\u201d a former GM said. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t necessarily elevate them, but he puts them in a position to be successful. His anticipation is off the charts. And he is a better runner and athlete than people give him credit for.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Young became eligible for a contract extension this offseason. Carolina picked up his $25.9 million option for 2027, but an extension does not appear imminent.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI don\u2019t know what they will pay him, but I think they will pay him, and I can\u2019t wait,\u201d a rival exec said. \u201cIf they are married to that, no problem.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>A defensive coordinator saw some parallels to Tua Tagovailoa.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe got better at the overall managing of the game,\u201d an exec said. \u201cThe coach (Dave Canales) has been good for him. He has become more consistent. His talent level will never change. He will never get bigger. But I think he can play at a 3 level.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Young will have a new play caller in 2026 after Canales delegated the responsibility to offensive coordinator Brad Idzik this offseason.<\/em> <\/em>23. Kyler Murray, Vikings<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe will have better players around him than he ever had in Arizona.\u201d – \u2014 Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.10      Declined by 0.42 (2.68)  4 Tier 2, 37 Tier 3, 9 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>This is Murray\u2019s fourth consecutive year in Tier 3 and the first time he has fallen outside the top 17 in the rankings.<\/em> <\/em>But there is hope.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe person I think who will change a lot is Kyler Murray, just because he\u2019s around a quarterback coach, he will have weapons, he probably has something to prove and his ability to escape the pocket, when he is on, is no joke,\u201d a defensive coordinator said.<\/em> <\/em>Murray has never been able to dispel questions about his leadership, relatability to teammates and work habits.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI love the signing,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cHe will respect the head coach (Kevin O\u2019Connell) because he is legitimate, and he needs to shine up what people think about him. He will be on his best behavior because it\u2019s like being in a contract year. He will have better players around him than he ever had in Arizona.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>An exec suggested Murray could thrive if the Vikings continue to play good defense while putting Murray under center, giving him a solid rushing attack and featuring him in a quarterback keeper game that regulates his exposure to injury.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThey were doing a good job on offense (in Arizona), but losing the line coach (Klayton Adams, who left for Dallas in 2025) was a big loss, because their run game totally changed,\u201d an exec said.<\/em> <\/em>Murray is going from one of the toughest places for a quarterback to win to one of the easiest. Last season, the Vikings were the only team to finish with a winning record (9-8) while ranking outside the top 25 in offensive EPA per play. They did it on the strength of their defense and special teams, which ranks third in combined EPA over the past three seasons (Arizona ranks 31st).<\/em> <\/em>When Arizona started 7-0 with Murray in 2021, the Cardinals ranked second in combined EPA on defense and special teams.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHow will Kevin use him?\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cKevin has never messed around with a quarterback run game. Is he willing to commit to that? Because that is what made Arizona pretty dynamic a couple years ago (No. 9 in offensive EPA per play in 2024).\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Another question: How does Murray\u2019s skill set fit the receivers in Minnesota? One offensive coach said Murray has thrived with run-after-catch receivers, and that his biggest weakness is pushing the ball down the field. This coach suggested receivers Justin Jefferson and Jauan Jennings were more \u201cdown-the-field\u201d threats, even though Jefferson \u201cis very willing to be the shifty intermediate guy\u201d when needed.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThey are still waiting for the concrete to dry on J.J. McCarthy, but it\u2019s still being poured out of the truck,\u201d an exec said. \u201cTheir alternative is a run-around guy. How are they going to like Kyler\u2019s fundamentals in the pocket? What are they going to say when he keeps running for a first down, running for a <\/em> <\/em>24. Jaxson Dart, Giants <\/em><\/strong>\u201cMore athleticism, playmaking ability, splash plays than consistency.\u201d – \u2014 D coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.24      \u2014  2 Tier 2, 34 Tier 3, 14 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Dart was evaluated for a concussion four times in his first nine starts (and once in the preseason), then doubled down on his aggressive playing style.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cGood luck,\u201d an offensive coordinator said.<\/em> <\/em>There\u2019s an NFL old axiom: Young quarterbacks must learn that every time they put themselves or the football at risk, they are risking the livelihoods of the front office, coaching staff and even some teammates.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI do like Dart,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cHe can throw it. He\u2019s athletic, and he has a little moxie about him. I like that s—.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Dart ranks first among five QBs making their Tiers debuts. Defensive coaches rated him higher than offensive coaches did \u2014 no surprise, given offensive coaches typically want quarterbacks to play on time.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIt\u2019s more athleticism, playmaking ability, splash plays than consistency,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cThat is one where if (offensive coordinator) Matt (Nagy) does a good job, he can get back in the head-coaching mix.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Dart led 33 qualifying quarterbacks last season in percentage of plays that were designed rushes, scrambles, sacks or plays where he was hit but not sacked. He was at 33.7 percent, above the 22 percent average.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019m going to give Jaxson a nudge and give him a 3, arrow up,\u201d a GM said. \u201cBut he is not going to change his style of play, so that is where I\u2019m like, \u2018I don\u2019t know if this guy is going to last.\u2019”<\/em> <\/em>25.Cam Ward, Titans <\/em><\/strong>\u201cA young gunslinger, extremely confident.\u201d \u2014 Defensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.34      \u2014   4 Tier 2, 25 Tier 3, 21 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Ward, like Dart and other players with limited resumes, commanded a large number of Tier 4 votes simply because relatively little is known about him. Those \u201cnot enough information\u201d votes frequently suppress where young quarterbacks rank in their Tiers debuts.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe is a young gunslinger, extremely confident,\u201d said a defensive coach whose team faced Ward. \u201cI think they gotta tighten up how he plays the game, because he is really like a playground quarterback. I don\u2019t know how much he is doing it by the book or how it is designed to do, but he is going to make plays.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Voters gave Ward some grace for being in a difficult situation. That was especially true with executives, who were higher on Ward than coaches (only Maye had a more extreme split in this direction). Ward got all four of his Tier 2 votes from executives.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe does not give you confidence that he sees it well and can operate on time when it\u2019s not clean,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cThe mark of a quarterback in this league is, the pocket is collapsing, you have to anticipate, you have to know what you are looking at and why, and you have to be able to do it in that environment. I didn\u2019t see any signs of him being able to do that.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>A defensive coach placing Ward in Tier 3 suggested new coordinator Brian Daboll should design more plays on the perimeter, more play-action and a mix of QB runs\/bootlegs.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cCam Ward is going to be really, really good, but he\u2019s a 3 now,\u201d an exec said. \u201cHe has confidence. He can throw the ball. He\u2019s fearless in a sense, so he\u2019s not afraid to make mistakes \u2014 it doesn\u2019t carry over with him. He has to refine some of his touch and some of his decision-making, but that\u2019s all with experience and playing.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>26 (tie). Tyler Shough, Saints<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe\u2019s seen it, he\u2019s relaxed, he\u2019s poised.\u201d \u2014 Former GM<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.42      \u2014  4 Tier 2, 21 Tier 3, 25 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Executives and offensive coaches were highest on Shough, who far outpaced the other first-year quarterbacks in EPA per pass play after becoming the Saints\u2019 starter in Week 9 as a rookie. Shough ranked 14th among 34 qualifying quarterbacks over that span.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe combination of his toughness to hang in there and let the deeper routes develop, his ability to go through his reads and then his mobility was impressive,\u201d an opposing coach said. \u201cAnd it wasn’t like he had a Ben Roethlisberger rookie season where he’s able to just not screw it up. He was kind of carrying those guys.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Shough\u2019s Tier 4 votes were mostly from voters who had not faced him or had scarcely seen him across his nine starts.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI liked him when I watched him,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cI hope he\u2019s not a 2 by the time we play them. He\u2019s a 3 at least, already. He\u2019s a dude.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Voters who saw Shough generally liked what they saw.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cBecause of his age (27 in September), he\u2019s seen it, he\u2019s relaxed, he\u2019s poised,\u201d a former GM said. \u201cHe was already used to learning different offenses and new systems and battling back from injuries. Older, more mature, had his life skills in order. I think all that translated well.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>26 (tie). Tua Tagovailoa, Falcons <\/em><\/strong>\u201cSolid starter if you know what to do with (him).\u201d – \u2014 Defensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.42      Declined by 0.62 (2.80)  29 Tier 3, 21 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Only Geno Smith dropped further than Tagovailoa in average tier vote from 2025. For the first time since 2022, Tagovailoa got no votes higher than Tier 3.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI thought Tua was physically declining last year,\u201d a GM said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if there was some hidden injury. But Tua is perfect for Kevin Stefanski\u2019s offense. He\u2019ll make quick decisions.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe boot stuff, yes,\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cThe two-man, three-man stuff, I don\u2019t know if he\u2019s got the consistent arm strength to make it all the time, with his height. He has to see over the linemen with those max protections. You have to fire the ball in, and it may not be like one, two, three, four, five, back step hits and throw.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>This coach said he would not discount the possibility of Michael Penix Jr. winning the job.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIf it\u2019s a true competition there, and they can reel in Penix a little bit and use his arm strength, that would not surprise me,\u201d the coach said.<\/em> <\/em>Tagovailoa was limited with a back injury to open training camp, while Penix has yet to be fully cleared as he recovers from a torn ACL.<\/em> <\/em>Tagovailoa\u2019s No. 26 ranking is the same as it was entering 2022, his first season with Mike McDaniel as coach. He has since moved up twice and fallen twice.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cSolid starter if you know what to do with Tua,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cYou gotta make sure the ball\u2019s out of his hands. You gotta make sure when he drops back, if he takes one or a shuffle step out a gun, the ball\u2019s out. And if it\u2019s not, he\u2019s getting hit, \u2018cause he can\u2019t run.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>28.Kirk Cousins, Raiders <\/em><\/strong>\u201cThe lack of being able to move is a big concern.\u201d -\u2014 Offensive coordinator<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.44      Improved by 0.04 (3.48)  1 Tier 2, 26 Tier 3, 23 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Cousins has only one Tier 2 vote over the past two seasons after commanding a career-best 31 of them entering 2024, his first season with Atlanta.<\/em> <\/em>Now, he\u2019s a bridge to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThere were years he was a Tier 2, but the lack of being able to move is a big concern,\u201d an offensive coordinator said.<\/em> <\/em>The torn Achilles tendon Cousins suffered during the 2023 season has long since healed, but has he ever really recovered?<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThat\u2019s a hard injury to overcome at that age,\u201d a former GM said. \u201cHe never was a strong-armed quarterback. He never was a great mover. Those things have gotten less.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Cousins turns 38 before the season.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cSkill-wise, he is a 3, but I don\u2019t know if he will be able to hold up,\u201d a GM said. \u201cThat is why I put him in the 4 category. If they did not have Mendoza, would they be comfortable with Kirk lasting 17 games? My answer would be probably not.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Tier 4<\/em><\/strong>Unproven player; not enough information to classify<\/em><\/strong>Veteran who ideally would not be a full-season starter<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>29 Malik Willis, Dolphins <\/em><\/strong>\u201cShowed glimpses, but I don’t know what it’s going to look like in Miami.\u201d – Former GM<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.66      17 Tier 3, 33 Tier 4<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Six starts and 155 career pass attempts aren\u2019t much to go on, but it was enough for 17 of the 50 voters to place Willis in Tier 3 as a legitimate starter.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s got some energy, some bounce to him as a passer and runner,\u201d an exec said. \u201cOut of this year\u2019s (veteran) QB class, he\u2019s the one guy where you said, \u2018OK, if we sign him, we give him a couple years, he could maybe ascend to that 2 level.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The \u201ccouple years\u201d part could be a key variable.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe showed glimpses, but I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s going to look like in Miami,\u201d a former GM said. \u201cHe could look like a 4 really quick behind that line.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Another former GM explained his Tier 4 vote for Willis by noting that a range of backup quarterbacks who fared well in relief struggled as long-term starters.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI love Malik Willis,\u201d a current GM said. \u201cThey are committing to him. I just feel like Year 1 has the potential to be rough just because they are building out the infrastructure around him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Willis is the lowest-ranked QB without a Tier 5 vote. No one is writing him off as a starter at this early stage, in other words.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cStrong arm and athleticism,\u201d a defensive coordinator said. \u201cI just need to see him play through a full season where he gets full defenses with people planning for him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>30.  Geno Smith, Jets <\/em><\/strong>\u201cLast year wasn\u2019t fair, and before that, he was a 3.\u201d – \u2014 Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.70      Declined by 0.80 (2.90) 18 Tier 3, 29 Tier 4, 3 Tier 5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Smith suffered the largest year-over-year decline of any quarterback, falling from a career-best 2.90 average to 3.70. His 11-spot drop in the rankings tied Stroud\u2019s for the largest.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe looked terrible on the film we saw,\u201d a defensive coordinator said.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe got sacked 10 times in a game (against Cleveland),\u201d a defensive coach said. \u201cOnce you get hit and keep getting hit and hit and hit, how good are you going to be? They had no identity on offense. Geno got a bad rap. He was getting murdered out there.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Seven current GMs placed Smith in Tier 4. The eighth had him in Tier 5. Coaches liked Smith more than execs did.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to tell because last year wasn\u2019t fair, and before that he was a 3,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cI\u2019m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he\u2019s a 3 till proven otherwise.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>31. Deshaun Watson, Browns<\/em><\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s been so long. It\u2019s almost like a no-grade.\u201d – \u2014 Former GM<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.76      \u2014         Declined by 0.98 (2.78)  1 Tier 2, 12 Tier 3, 35 Tier 4, 2 Tier 5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Watson is one of 60 quarterbacks to start at least 10 games since the Browns acquired him in 2022. He ranks 59th among them in EPA per pass play (Zach Wilson is 60th).<\/em> <\/em>\u201cYou\u2019re not projecting he is going to go the whole season and be a guy at this point, are you?\u201d a GM asked.<\/em> <\/em>Most assume Watson and Shedeur Sanders will both start at various points.<\/em> <\/em>\u201c(New coach Todd) Monken\u2019s offense is a little more look over here, read the whole field, as opposed to reading the coverages,\u201d a coach said. \u201cThat is better for Deshaun, and for Shedeur.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Watson has started only 19 games for Cleveland since being acquired from Houston. He was suspended 11 games in 2022 for violating the personal conduct policy, had shoulder surgery in 2023, then suffered a torn Achilles tendon in 2024 and re-tore it during rehab. He turns 31 in September and should be entering his prime as a quarterback.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI don\u2019t think he can come back,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cYou do not all of a sudden get drive and desire and processing skills. He showed he had none of that with what he put on film. He\u2019s a 5 at this point.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Only one other voter placed Watson in Tier 5. One holdout, a head coach, put Watson in Tier 2, betting on Monken\u2019s ability to bring out the best in what\u2019s left of him.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI don\u2019t even know what to do with him,\u201d a former GM said. \u201cIt\u2019s been so long. It\u2019s almost like a no-grade with him. He could be anything from a 3 to a 5.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>32.  Michael Penix Jr., Falcons <\/em><\/strong>\u201cI didn\u2019t see a lot of strides. Just physical talent.\u201d – \u2014 Offensive coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.88      Declined by 0.10 (3.78)  8 Tier 3, 40 Tier 4, 2 Tier 5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Penix, who tore his right ACL twice in college, suffered a partially torn ACL in his left knee in November. He\u2019s competing with Tagovailoa for the Falcons\u2019 starting job, though he has yet to be cleared for full-team drills.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIf he had played the whole year, I would have been leaning 3, but I think just to be fair, it has to be a 4 right now, based on the durability,\u201d a GM said.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s similar to when he came out of college,\u201d an offensive coach said. \u201cI didn\u2019t see a lot of strides. Just physical talent.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Twelve starts isn\u2019t much to assess.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s just so erratic and I think immature, not from a personal standpoint, but a playmaking and decision-making standpoint,\u201d an exec said.<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>33. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals<\/em><\/strong>\u201cHe\u2019s a classic 4. Great veteran presence.\u201d \u2014 Exec<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 3.92      \u2014         Improved by 0.12 (4.04)  6 Tier 3, 42 Tier 42, 2 Tier 5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Brissett has a 2-15 starting record over the past two seasons partly because his teams, New England and now Arizona, have been so bad on defense and\/or special teams. Of the 28 quarterbacks with at least 17 starts over the past two seasons, none has gotten worse defense\/special teams support than Brissett (-6.8 EPA per start).<\/em> <\/em>Not that Brissett himself has been a star.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe can read defenses and put the ball where it\u2019s supposed to go,\u201d a defensive coordinator who faced Brissett last season said. \u201cGets it out of his hands quick, can take shots, can challenge you down the field.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI\u2019m not saying this from a talent standpoint, but he operated as a quarterback as well as anyone we saw.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Defensive coaches rated Brissett higher than offensive ones did, producing the third-largest split in that direction behind Tagovailoa and Prescott.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s a classic 4,\u201d an exec said. \u201cGreat veteran presence, everything very positive, except, you know, when he has to play for long stints.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>Brissett, a veteran of seven stops with six teams, including two with New England, falls into the journeyman category at age 33.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe could help you win in a quick-dropback, rhythm passing game and make the short throws and take the occasional 7-cut shot or the occasional go-ball fade,\u201d another defensive coach said. \u201cBut he is not going to scramble for you, not going to create. I do think he is smart.\u201d<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>34. J.J. McCarthy, Vikings<\/em><\/strong>\u201cIs knocking down the expectation a little bit more fair to the player?\u201d –  Exec<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 4.18      Declined by 0.18 (4.00) 1 Tier 3, 39 Tier 4, 10 Tier 5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>McCarthy\u2019s 10 votes in Tier 5 are the second-most in QB Tiers history for a first-round quarterback entering his third NFL season. Anthony Richardson drew 11 last year. No other QB has had more than four (Tagovailoa in 2022).<\/em> <\/em>\u201cFootball looks hard for him,\u201d an offensive coach said.<\/em> <\/em>Of course, playing quarterback in the NFL is hard, but McCarthy walked into an enviable situation. The Vikings have arguably the league\u2019s best receiver in Jefferson and a highly regarded play-calling coach in O\u2019Connell.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cThe head coach and QB coach (Josh McCown) are quarterback snobs because they played the position,\u201d an exec said. \u201cBackup QBs love the fundamentals because it\u2019s their only chance to spend 3-4-5 years in the league. So, the question is, when is their patience going to run out when J.J. keeps doing those unnecessary climbs in the pocket and keeps overthrowing the ball?\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The GM responsible for selecting McCarthy, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, lost his job. Murray\u2019s relative success in the league makes him the favorite to start over McCarthy.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cPeople are curious to see how he handles this,\u201d another exec said. \u201cHis toughness was the thing that really jumped out to me watching him play. If you have that, you always have a chance.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>That toughness hasn\u2019t translated to durability.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe has tools,\u201d a former GM said, \u201cbut he was coming out of that Michigan offense, and as an NFL passer, he needed development even though he had arm strength, was athletic, could run. There was the body, too. He\u2019s not a big guy.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The Vikings didn\u2019t necessarily have time for development while fielding a roster packed with expensive veterans.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cGoing into Year 3, is knocking down the expectation a little bit more fair to the player?\u201d an exec asked.<\/em> <\/em>35. Shedeur Sanders, Browns<\/em><\/strong>\u201cIf Shedeur has really invested in himself \u2026 there might be some upside.\u201d \u2014 Off coach<\/em><\/strong>Voting average 4.22        1 Tier 3, 37 Tier 4, 12 Tier 5<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>Though Sanders lacks the obvious talent of Chicago\u2019s Caleb Williams, one voter saw parallels in that both entered their second seasons with fresh starts under blunt, offensive-minded head coaches.<\/em> <\/em>Williams took a big jump in 2025 under new Bears coach Ben Johnson.<\/em> <\/em>Sanders gets his shot under Monken, although without any guarantees he\u2019ll be the starter in Week 1 or anytime thereafter.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cTodd Monken is a great reset in the same way Ben Johnson was a great reset in Chicago,\u201d this voter, an offensive coach, said. \u201cShedeur gets a fresh start with a no-nonsense, offensive-oriented coach who did a really good job with Lamar Jackson.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>The key, this voter said, will be for Sanders to attack his second season with a mindset he didn\u2019t seem to possess as a rookie.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cIf Shedeur has really invested in himself to be a professional quarterback, studying the playbook and knowing his assignments and being able to get the offense in and out of the huddle at an efficient clip, which he could not do last year, then there might be some upside,\u201d the voter said.<\/em> <\/em>Sanders was one of 37 quarterbacks to start at least seven games last season. He ranked last among them in EPA per pass play, right behind McCarthy and Ward.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s inaccurate at all three levels,\u201d an exec said. \u201cI can\u2019t tell if he is going to get better, but there\u2019s a huge gap between him and competent QB play.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>A dozen voters placed Sanders in Tier 5.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI’d sleep like a baby if I got to play him every week,\u201d one defensive coordinator said.<\/em> <\/em>Another defensive coordinator offered more specifics.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cHe\u2019s not an on-time player, can\u2019t really read through the coverages, is a little bit heavy-footed,\u201d this coordinator said. \u201cHe is thicker and harder to tackle than expected, but you shouldn\u2019t lose to him.\u201d<\/em> <\/em>One head coach sounded relatively positive.<\/em> <\/em>\u201cI thought he was all right, better than expected,\u201d this coach said. \u201cThey did a good job with him of making the game simple. And I thought Shedeur played with a chip on his shoulder.\u201d<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AROUND THE NFL Mike Sando\u2019s 2026 version of QB Tiers is out \u2013 and you can see how a panel of 50 experts line up 35 QBs down below.- – -Seth Walder of ESPN.com give us five trades that he is convinced should happen. Let’s dive in. Here are five trades that should happen before Week 1. 49ers get…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6,7,11,8,13],"class_list":["post-7350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-daily-briefing","tag-chris-myers","tag-chris-myers-sports","tag-daily-briefing","tag-fox-sports","tag-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7350\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}