Last week, our PODcast crew debated the best quarterback, wide receiver, and running back rooms in the NFC North
. Some of those discussions were straightforward. Some were not.The discussion around the division quarterbacks was interesting, but we all agreed that Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was the best of the North right now. It turns out NFL employees agree.
On Monday, ESPN continued their series ranking the top players at every position, as voted on by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts.
They kicked off this week with the top-10 quarterbacks of 2026, and Goff came in at ninth—down one spot from last year. In 2024, he was also ninth. The eight quarterbacks ahead of him were as follows, from top to bottom:
- Josh Allen
- Patrick Mahomes
- Matthew Stafford
- Joe Burrow
- Lamar Jackson
- Dak Prescott
- Justin Herbert
- Drake Maye
Personally speaking, that top five looks good. They are on a different tier, and the rest are certainly debatable.
Pertaining to Goff, executives apparently praised him for good mechanics, toughness, and decision-making.
“The guy wins,” an anonymous NFL coordinator told ESPN. “He’s going to find a completion if not under pressure. Mature pocket passer with a plus arm who can layer the ball at all levels.”
Goff’s highest ranking in a single ballot was fifth. According to the article, around 60% of ballots had Goff in a top-10 spot, meaning just over 40% believe he’s not a top-10 quarterback.
As for the rest of the NFC North, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams snuck into the top-10 for the first time, finishing in the final slot.
For the second straight year, Jordan Love only received an honorable mention in this poll. Obviously, the Vikings quarterbacks did not receive votes last year after major struggles at the position.
For comparison’s sake, here are the statistics for each NFC North quarterback from 2025:
Jared Goff:
- 393-of-578 (68.0%) for 4,564 yards (7.9 Y/A), 34 TDS, 8 INTS, 105.5 passer rating — 19 rushes, 45 yards
Jordan Love
- 291-of-439 (66.3%) for 3,381 yards (7.7 Y/A), 23 TDS, 6 INTS, 101.2 passer rating — 47 rushes, 199 yards
Caleb Williams
- 330-of-568 (58.1%) for 3,942 yards (6.9 Y/A), 27 TDs, 7 INTs, 90.1 passer rating — 77 rushes, 388 yards, 3 TDs
J.J. McCarthy
- 140-of-243 (57.6%) for 1,632 yards (6.7 Y/A), 11 TDs, 12 INTs, 72.6 passer rating — 37 rushes, 181 yards, 4 TDs
