Sam Darnold went from seeing ghosts to lifting the Lombardi trophy in 2026. He has revived his career over the last two seasons and proved that 2024 was not a fluke season. Darnold helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship. He played with confidence and poise, complementing Seattle's elite defense. Darnold is a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback with the arm strength and accuracy to win games at times. He is best suited to be accompanied by a strong run game. Although he won a Super Bowl, that does not vault him to the top of the quarterback pyramid. Darnold has thrown 26 interceptions in two seasons. His decision-making under pressure and lack of ball protection are holding him back from leapfrogging his counterparts.

Jalen Hurts is one of the more maligned quarterbacks in the NFL. You either love him or hate him, but one thing's for certain: you have to respect him as a football player. Mentally, Hurts is built like an armored truck; it is difficult to get him off his game. Last season, he was great when facing the blitz, processing information quickly and getting the ball to his weapons. If his receivers are plastered, he'll activate his dual-threat quarterback card like in a Pokémon battle. Hurts is known for escaping pressure and becoming a dangerous runner in the open field. If he identifies one-on-one coverage on the outside, he will take the shot. Throwing in the middle of the field remains a concern in his game, but it's not a void in his skill set. Hurts will be without All-Pro and Pro Bowl-caliber WR AJ Brown; he can silence doubters with a strong 2026 season.

Caleb Williams is the ultimate gamer and playmaker at the quarterback position in the league. He took steps forward and improved in multiple areas in year one of Ben Johnson's offensive system. Williams possesses the rare combination of great physical tools and an innate ability to make something out of nothing. He displayed his creative off-script playmaking again this past season, but his timing within the offense's structure was noticeably better. Williams displayed quicker processing when facing the blitz this season, getting to his reads more quickly and efficiently to take advantage of fewer defenders in coverage. He is still trying to find that happy medium and consistency with his accuracy. Williams has precision passes on tape and more than a few bad misses. He completed 58% of his passes last season; that mark must rise above 60% going forward. The game is slowing down, but he still needs to work on his processing and decision-making. Williams is an ascending player who is on the brink of stardom if he can iron out the correctable wrinkles in his game.

2025 was a strong season for Trevor Lawrence, as he threw for over 4,000 yards for the third time in his career and a career-high 29 touchdowns. After a 5-4 start, he engineered an eight-game winning streak that won the division and clinched a home playoff game. Lawrence was very effective in the short-passing offense. His arm talent was on display whenever he had to drive the football in the intermediate areas of the defense. Lawrence's legs are equalizers if flushed out of the pocket, and he puts them to good use. His decision-making must improve when under pressure. He threw a career-high 12 interceptions last season, and some of them were head-scratching. Cut down on low-red-zone turnovers going forward. Overall, Lawrence took steps forward last season. Jaguar fans and the Trevor Lawrence fan club should be excited and optimistic going into the 2026 NFL season.