You can argue the order of quarterback rankings all you want. But if you look at this summer’s lists, the biggest takeaway isn’t the order... it’s the depth of quarterback talent. More than two-thirds of the starting quarterbacks possess enough talent to win a Super Bowl.
Using interviews from NFL executives and coaches, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler ranks the last two Super Bowl winners, Sam Darnold and Jalen Hurts, at No. 11 and No. 17 respectively. Those are fair spots considering their production. Pro Football Focus places Darnold and Hurts at No. 14 and 15. If the quarterback ranked 17th has already proven he can win a ring, then the rankings suggest the league has far more championship-caliber QBs than most fans assume.
The list of quarterbacks with the talent to win it all goes even further than Hurts at No. 17. Consider how many could have taken last season’s Seattle Seahawks or the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles all the way. Teams no longer need a top 10 QB to win the championship. They might not need one in the top 20.
Years of emphasis on quarterback development are paying off. The QBs coming into the league are more ready to play than the ones from previous generations. They just need the opportunity to show what they can do in the postseason (and sufficient talent around them). Any worries that the league would fall off after Tom Brady and Peyton Manning retired have been put to rest. Guys come in with high levels of arm talent and mobility. They do things Brady and Manning could never have pulled off physically. Not that they’re going to challenge the GOATs on any all-time lists. But in a parity-driven league, they can get hot in the postseason and win a trophy.
Let’s take a look at the current crop of NFL quarterbacks:
Already won a Super Bowl:
- Darnold
- Hurts
- Patrick Mahomes
- Matthew Stafford
- Aaron Rodgers
Already reached a Super Bowl:
- Drake Maye
- Brock Purdy
- Joe Burrow
- Jared Goff
MVP winners:
- Josh Allen
- Lamar Jackson
MVP contenders:
- Justin Herbert
- Dak Prescott
- Caleb Williams
- Jayden Daniels
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jordan Love
The next five candidates to be Super Bowl quarterbacks might not be obvious. But in today’s NFL, these five have enough talent to win with the right combination of coaching and roster talent.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Nix came in at No. 18 on ESPN’s list. But if he hadn’t gotten injured at the end of the Broncos’ divisional playoff win over the Bills, Nix might have already won a championship. While the rankings indicate he’s a middle-of-the-pack QB, Nix has a knack for pulling out close wins. He has already displayed that he can stay cool in the postseason. Nix had a 102.4 passer rating when Denver was trailing last season. With an impressive collection of talent surrounding him, Nix could prove he belongs higher in everyone’s rankings with a deep playoff run.
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mayfield was an MVP candidate last season before his No. 1 receiver, Mike Evans, got hurt in Week 7. Nevertheless, he has consistently displayed top-level talent since he got to Tampa Bay in 2023. Two seasons ago, he threw 41 touchdowns. Last season he ran for a career-high 382 yards — most often using his legs to get key first downs. Mayfield turned 31 in April and still could have better football in his future.
Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
The quarterback that led the Indianapolis Colts to an 8-2 start in 2025 is good enough to win at a high level. He might even have made an MVP run if he had stayed healthy. Turns out, Jones was playing with a fractured fibula when Indy dropped three games in a row mid-season. Then he tore his Achilles and any hope of a turnaround was dashed. The only reason so many people are skeptical of Jones is his time with the New York Giants. At the time Jones was there, the franchise was too unstable to support a top-tier quarterback. Jones compares well with Darnold, who had a similar rough start in New York.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud struggled last season and really fell off during the playoffs. But he belongs on this list because he might actually win the Super Bowl this season. As a rookie, Stroud finished eighth in MVP voting and seemed poised to become one of the faces of the league. It can still happen. Like the Seahawks, the Texans’ defense can carry its team. Houston has improved its O-line and that could give Stroud the confidence to lead a unit that doesn’t have to do too much.
Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Ward was 3-14 as a rookie, with 15 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Nothing about his rookie season read Super Bowl. But the No. 1 pick in the ’25 NFL Draft will be elite when he gets a real team around him. He already makes off-platform throws no one other than Mahomes could pull off. As soon as the Titans figure out the rest of their roster, Ward will be a star.
In total, that’s 22 quarterbacks arguably capable of winning a championship. That doesn’t include young players like Fernando Mendoza and Jaxson Dart. Or the influx of players coming in next year’s QB-rich draft. While lists don’t prove anything, they do point to a golden age of quarterbacking and a wide-open race for the Super Bowl.
