Full Breakdown
Josh Allen Tops 2026 NFL Quarterback Poll, Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Slip to No. 2
7/16/2026, 2:39:48 AM
Core Event: 2026 Quarterback Rankings Released
Coaches, executives and scouts participating in ESPN’s annual quarterback poll placed Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen at No. 1 and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at No. 2 for the 2026 season. Allen, the 2024 MVP, earned the top spot with an average ranking of 2.10, while Mahomes posted a 2.19 average. Despite Mahomes receiving a higher share of first-place votes (41.5 % vs. Allen’s 34.1 %), Allen’s consistency across ballots secured the lead. The top ten also featured Matthew Stafford (3rd), Joe Burrow (4th), Lamar Jackson (5th), Drake Maye (8th) and Caleb Williams (10th).
Background & Context: Recent Seasons and Injuries
Mahomes entered the 2025 season after a torn ACL and LCL suffered in Week 15, limiting him to a personal-low 23.7 % completion rate, 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The Chiefs won only one of their final nine games and missed the playoffs. Allen, by contrast, posted a career-high 69.3 % completion rate, 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, guiding Buffalo to a 12-5 record and a Wild Card victory. The poll follows three consecutive seasons in which Mahomes topped the list before Allen’s 2026 leapfrog.
Data & Statistics: Poll Numbers and Player Performance
- First-place votes: Mahomes 41.5 %, Allen 34.1 % (per poll release).
- Average ranking: Allen 2.10, Mahomes 2.19.
- Allen’s 2025 stats: 69.3 % completions, 3,668 yards, 25 TD, 10 INT.
- Mahomes’ 2025 stats: 23.7 % completions, 3,587 yards, 22 TD, 11 INT.
- Veteran presence: Matthew Stafford, age 38, secured third place after winning the 2025 MVP.
Official Statements & Responses
Patrick Mahomes addressed the ranking in an interview with Yahoo Sports Daily. He acknowledged the impact of his recent injury and the team’s sub-par performance, saying, “You understand it, I mean, coming off injury, we didn’t play as well as we wanted to the last few years. You’re going to drop in the rankings of some sort… at the same time, there’s a lot of good quarterbacks on that list, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.” Mahomes added that his goal is to be cleared for Week 1 of the 2026 season against the Denver Broncos.
Criticism & Opposition: Voices Questioning the Poll
Former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz tweeted, “The range of votes always interesting. Someone had Mahomes at 9, Lamar unranked and more. Those people shouldn’t be allowed to evaluate NFL QBs.” Journalist Jeremy Betz echoed frustration, writing, “I need to know who… and that person needs to be fired lol.”
Why It Matters / Impact
The ranking underscores how injuries and recent team performance can quickly reshape quarterback hierarchies, even for a three-time Super Bowl champion. Allen’s top-spot bolsters his marketability and may influence contract negotiations, while Mahomes’ public acknowledgment of the dip adds pressure to return at full strength for the Chiefs’ 2026 campaign.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact methodology behind the poll’s weighting of first-place votes versus average ranking, leaving unclear how the two metrics produced opposite leaders. Additionally, no official comment from the NFL or the poll’s organizing body clarifies whether the results will affect any league-wide recognitions beyond media perception.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You understand it,” Mahomes said. “Coming off injury, and we didn’t play as well as we wanted to the last few years, you’re gonna drop in the rankings of some sort.” — Patrick Mahomes, Yahoo Sports Daily interview
- “Drake Maye edges out Lamar Jackson. Listen, he was the first quarterback in league history to ever have a 70% completion percentage and 4,000 passing yards before turning 25. It feels like he's in his prime and he's a kid and he did it last year with a bad offensive line and an average running game. No one thought they would get to the Super Bowl. He was the most accurate quarterback in the NFL last season, for a kid! He reminds me a little bit of Herbert with a little bit of accuracy.” — Colin Cowherd, Fox Sports commentary
- “But I think his size, his arm, he's healthy, he's in his prime, Josh Allen is the best quarterback in this sport.” — Colin Cowherd, Fox Sports commentary
- “The range of votes always interesting. Someone had Mahomes at 9, Lamar unranked and more. Those people shouldn’t be allowed to evaluate NFL QBs.” — Geoff Schwartz, Twitter
- “I need to know who… and that person needs to be fired lol,” — Jeremy Betz, Twitter
