Josh Allen has been ranked as the top quarterback in the NFL according to ESPN's annual rankings for the 2026 season [1].
This shift marks a significant change in the perceived hierarchy of the league's elite passers. For the first time in several years, the consensus on the game's best player has shifted away from the Kansas City Chiefs.
Allen took the No. 1 spot, moving Patrick Mahomes to No. 2 [1]. This result ends a three-year period from 2023 to 2025 during which Mahomes held the top position [3]. The rankings were discussed on the ESPN show "First Take," where analyst Stephen A. Smith said the decision to name Allen the top stud in the league was backed [1].
ESPN has conducted this annual quarterback survey since 2020 [2]. The current shift in ranking follows a period of intense scrutiny regarding the performance and trajectory of the league's premier talent.
NFL coaches pointed to a surprising change in the Buffalo Bills' offense as a primary driver for Allen's rise [3]. These coaches said that Allen's overall performance, and the evolving nature of the Bills' offensive system, justified his ascent over Mahomes.
While Mahomes has long been the benchmark for quarterback excellence, the 2026 poll suggests a new era of competition. The move reflects a broader trend of analysts and coaches weighing recent offensive efficiency and individual impact more heavily than historical dominance.
“Josh Allen took the No. 1 spot, moving Patrick Mahomes to No. 2”
The displacement of Patrick Mahomes indicates a shift in how NFL analysts and coaches value quarterback success. By prioritizing the recent offensive evolution in Buffalo over Mahomes' established track record, the industry is signaling that the gap between the league's top two players has closed, potentially altering the leverage and expectations for the 2026 season.
