Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff snagged the ninth spot in the NFL's top-10 quarterback rankings for 2026, as voted on by league executives, coaches, and scouts. This ranking, a highlight from ESPN's ongoing series, cements his status as the NFC North's premier signal-caller, even if the vote was a bit split.
The Number Nine Man Has The Right Stuff
Goff landing at number nine means he’s holding steady, even dropping one spot from last year where he also came in ninth in the 2024 poll. You know he’s consistent. The guy is up there with some serious talent: Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and Drake Maye all ranked ahead of him. That top five? Yeah, those dudes are just on another planet, but the rest are absolutely debatable!
What do the pros say about Goff? NFL execs reportedly praised his good mechanics, his toughness on the field, and his solid decision-making. One anonymous NFL coordinator laid it out, saying, "The guy wins. 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." His highest individual ballot ranking was fifth, which tells you some people see him even higher. Look, about 60% of ballots put Goff in the top-10. That means over 40% actually thought he wasn't a top-10 quarterback. Forty percent! After the season he just had in 2025, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions with a 105.5 passer rating? That’s some wild math, if you ask me.
NFC North's QB Room Is A Whole Different Story
While Goff is holding down the top-10, the rest of the NFC North's quarterback situation is, well, a work in progress. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams did manage to sneak into the top-10 for the first time, hitting that final tenth spot. That's a step up for him. Jordan Love from the Packers? He's still stuck with just an honorable mention for the second year running. And let’s not even get started on the Vikings. After some major struggles at the position last year, their quarterbacks didn’t even receive votes in this poll. Ouch.
When you look at the 2025 stats, the gap is pretty clear. Goff was 393-of-578 for 4,564 yards, 34 TDs, and 8 INTs. Compare that to Love’s 3,381 yards and 23 TDs, or Williams’ 3,942 yards and 27 TDs. And for the Vikings? J.J. McCarthy only managed 1,632 yards, 11 TDs, and 12 INTs. Those numbers make Goff’s consistent, high-level play look even better. He’s clearly the class of the division, and it's not really close right now.
So, as we gear up for the upcoming 2026 season, all eyes will be on Goff to see if he can push past that ninth-place ceiling. Will the other NFC North QBs step up to close that statistical and ranking gap? Or will Goff continue to lead the way and prove that 60% should have been 100%? It’s going to be a fascinating season to watch unfold!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.