ESPN dropped its annual list of the NFL's top quarterbacks for 2026 on Monday, and let's just say the internet isn't exactly sending thank-you cards. The rankings, compiled from votes by league executives, coaches, and scouts, have Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills sitting pretty at No. 1, bumping Patrick Mahomes down to No. 2. But the real fireworks? They're coming from fans of two quarterbacks who feel their guys got shortchanged: New England Patriots signal-caller Drake Maye and Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts.
Maye, who just led his team to a Super Bowl appearance, landed at No. 8 on the list. Hurts, a Super Bowl champion himself, didn't even crack the top 10. Cue the outrage.
“The issue isn’t Maye,” one fired-up fan posted. “The real issue is who they keep putting at the top. Based simply on recent production as a QB, Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow have no business being on anyone’s top 10 list let alone all 3 being top 4. The machine is going to prop them up again knowing good and damn well their best is behind them.”
Another fan took aim at Justin Herbert, who ranked ahead of Maye at No. 7: “Herbert is not better than Maye under any circumstances whatsoever. Neither is Stat Padford.” That's a reference to Matthew Stafford, who snagged the No. 3 spot.
Hurts' supporters were just as vocal. One fan wrote, “So, what’s new? They always take shots at JHurts since he’s been in the league! But, that hasn’t stopped Jalen Hurts from reaching the Super Bowl! Jalen’s record speaks for itself! Jalen has absolutely nothing to prove! He’s wearing his Super Bowl ring, and he’s stinking rich!”
Another fan offered a more measured take: “He had a bad year he’ll be back.”
The full top 10, as ranked by ESPN, includes Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, Jared Goff, and Caleb Williams. It's a list that, according to one NFL head coach quoted by ESPN, reflects a league that's getting deeper at the position: “Rankings 10-20 is getting harder to decide on — that means we’re getting to a good place with QBs.”
For Patriots fans, the snub of Maye might feel like déjà vu. There's been plenty of chatter about Tom Brady potentially sabotaging Maye's rise, but this time the frustration is squarely on the panel of voters. And while Hurts might not be in the top 10, his supporters are quick to point to his hardware as all the validation he needs.
Whether you agree with the rankings or not, one thing is clear: the debate over who deserves to be called an elite quarterback isn't going away anytime soon. And with the season approaching, these snubs might just provide a little extra motivation for Maye and Hurts to prove the doubters wrong.
