The quarterback is the backbone of the team in football, and the quality of your quarterback can determine where your program stands. EA Sports just released its official rankings for Madden 26, which means we can now see where all the QBs stand. Fortunately, we have some star-studded quarterbacks on the roster this time around, so there will be some intense, quick-flip plays.
Best Quarterbacks In Madden 26
Josh Allen – 99 OVR
- Team: Buffalo Bills
The No.1 QB in Madden 26 will be Josh Allen — the 6’5, right-handed QB for the Bills. Allen has enjoyed the top spot for a few seasons now, consistently outperforming other athletes in the same capacity. His archetype is Improviser, and he has an unparalleled stat spread. Since Allen functions as the playmaker for the Bills, his General, Passing, and Ball Carrier stats are of more interest.
Most of his stats in these categories surpass 90, with his INJ touching 99. His STM, TGH, Throw Power, and Throw on the Run closely follow at 98. There aren’t many gaps in Allen’s stat spread, except one: Carrying. Carrying is by far Allen’s weakest stat amongst the 3 attribute groups at 61, so if you’re going up against him, you know what to prioritize. What makes him an absolute powerhouse is his passing capabilities. With 95+ in almost all his passing attributes, intercepting his throws will require a miracle.
Lamar Jackson – 99 OVR
- Team: Baltimore Ravens
Sharing the No.1 spot with Josh Allen is 28-year-old QB Lamar Jackson. Jackson will be playing for the Baltimore Ravens this season, confusing the defense at every turn with his innovative calls. While his overall stat spread isn’t as consistent as Allen’s, Jackson has his niches where he remains untouchable. His Throw on the Run is at 99, followed by quite a few stats at 98. What he lacks in STR is made up for by his immense speed and passing ability.
One of his most notable stats is probably his AWR, which is at 97. A 97 AWR stat is exceptional for any QB, as it allows them to make quicker decisions and reduces their likelihood of getting sacked. It also makes him a prime candidate to use RPO plays with, since you’ll have more passing options open. All-in-all, Lamar Jackson will be a very solid pick in Madden 26. His Immersive archetype, combined with solid attributes, makes him a threat that can’t be ignored.
Joe Burrow – 97 OVR
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Coming down to 3rd place, we have Joe Burrow. Burrow will be playing as the QB for the Cincinnati Bengals, so you know their season looks promising. The right-handed QB weighs in at 216lbs, on the lighter side of the spectrum. However, he uses this to his advantage to increase agility and avoid potential sacks. At 97 OVR, he has a pretty good stat spread. Not comparable to the likes of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, but still one of the best in the game.
One attribute that makes him stand out amongst the entire Madden 26 roster (including all roles) is his AWR. Burrow has 99 AWR, the highest in the game. While he’s slightly slower compared to his 99 OVR counterparts (SPD 84 and ACC 86), he’ll be amazing in situations with immense stadium pressure. Nothing’s going to escape his field of vision post-snap, making going for risky plays a bit easier. He also has a 99 in Throw Accuracy Short and 97 in STM, so look towards more triple-option plays to make him shine.
Patrick Mahomes – 95 OVR
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is 4th on our list for the best QBs in Madden 26. He’s also the last QB to have an above 90 rating, making him one of the most valuable players in the game. Mahomes is 6’2, 224lbs, and has the Improviser archetype. The QB excels in both STM and TGH, which are at 98 and 99, respectively. 99 TGH means it won’t be easy sacking him, but take too long and he’ll get outmanned. His ball carrier stats aren’t the best, but his passing stats are near maxed out, so pass plays should definitely be preferred.
His Throw Power, Throw Under Pressure, and Throw On the Run are all at 97, while his Throw Accuracy Short is at 98, so the chances of an interception are pretty low. He’s got 92 AWR, however, which is lower than other QBs with similar OVRs. Mahomes will definitely be a force to be reckoned with on the field if played right. He has certain situations that benefit him more than others, so play into his niches to excel with him.
Matthew Stafford – 88 OVR
- Team: Los Angeles Rams
There’s a big gap between our No.4 and No.5 spots as Matthew Stafford comes in at No.5 with an 88 OVR. This is because game stats are based on real-life performance, and Matthew Stafford isn’t on the same level as Mahomes or Allen. That said, Matthew Stafford plays for the Rams with the Field General archetype. Since his OVR is lower compared to our top four candidates, the stat spread unfortunately falls into a lower tier.
Stafford won’t be the fastest QB on the field as he will have 78 SPD, 70 ACC, and 71 AGL. These stats are kind of concerning for a QB, so you’ll just need to avoid most running plays. Ball carrier attributes are also not impressive. His TGH is at 98, and his AWR, however, is on par with Mahomes’s. Playing into passing plays might be your best option since passing stats are mostly bordering on 90. Even though his stats are not ideal, Stafford is the 5th-best QB in Madden 26, so he’ll still outperform most other QBs in the game.
Jared Goff – 87 OVR
- Team: Detroit Lions
Jared Goff makes it onto our list with an 87 OVR and a Field General archetype to go with it. Goff is the QB for the Detroit Lions in Madden 26, coming in at 6’4, 222lbs. Unfortunately, similar to Stafford, Goff isn’t best equipped for speed. His SPD is at 74, ACC at 80, and AGL at 73, making him one of the slower QBs in the game. He does have high AWR, though, at 90, so making snap decisions won’t be difficult.
Jared Goff’s main area of expertise lies in his short passes and play actions. His Throw Accuracy Short is at 96, while his Play Action is at 95, making them good areas to play around. Running plays will not have the best outcomes with this QB, so try to avoid those as much as possible. Jared Goff will be a solid pick for Madden 26, excelling at particular plays. If you plan on choosing the Lions, the best course of action would be to learn the ins and outs of passing plays.
Jalen Hurts – 86 OVR
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
The QB for the Philadelphia Eagles, Jalen Hurts, takes the No.7 spot with an OVR of 86. Hurts is a right-handed QB with the Improviser archetype. He is also one of the faster QBs in Madden 26, with 89 SPD, 90 ACC, and 90 AGL. Unlike Goff and Stafford, running plays might suit him better than pass-heavy plays. Hurts’ AWR is at 86, slightly lower than other QBs, but still a solid stat.
Between his Ball Carrier and Passing attributes, both are equally balanced. His Break Sack, Throw On the Run, and Play Action are all at 93, making him a good candidate for both run-heavy and simple passing plays. You can also experiment a bit with RPO plays against weaker teams, but it’s not recommended due to the lower AWR. Better teams usually have bigger stadiums, and the Stadium Pulse mechanic can make things tricky. Most players are bound to try the Philadelphia Eagles at some point, so you’ll probably come across Hurts sooner or later.
Justin Herbert – 86 OVR
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert received an 86 OVR for Madden 26. The Los Angeles Chargers’ QB is one of the heavier QBs on the list, weighing in at 235lbs, 6’6. He has the Field General archetype, an archetype mostly seen in QBs who prefer pass-heavy plays over run-heavy plays. His general attributes are pretty good, though, with 86 SPD, 88 ACC, and 80 AGL, so he’s not slow by any means. His TGH is at 95 and STM 93.
The area where he lacks the most is his Ball Carrier attribute. His Passing stats are also good, but not great, with most of them falling in the high-80s. His Throw Power is at 96, making long throws much easier for high-yard gains. With 88 AWR, you also have some breathing room before handing off the ball. Overall, Justin Herbert is a very good candidate to play with. He has a versatile stat spread and is good at multiple types of plays.
Baker Mayfield – 85 OVR
- Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The second-to-last player on our list is Baker Mayfield at 85 OVR. The 6’1, 98kg QB will be playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Madden 26, with the Field General archetype. Mayfield has an above-average stat spread, with some notable stats in the General and Passing fields. His best stat by far is his TGH at 98 and STM at 96. He’s also good in pace with 86 SPD, 85 ACC, and 82 AGL.
Moving on to his Passing stats, his best stats revolve around Throw Power and Throw Accuracy Short. This means you can opt for either short passes for guaranteed yards or take a risk and go for deep throws into the flat. Ball Carrier stats aren’t the best, but might be a viable option if all else fails. Mayfield will probably require a bit of testing before you can fully unlock his potential, but he will be a fun QB to play with.
Jaylen Daniels – 85 OVR
- Team: Washington Commanders
The final spot for the best QBs in Madden 26 goes to Jaylen Daniels, the right-handed QB for the Washington Commanders. Daniels weighs 209lbs and stands at 6’4, with the Scrambler archetype in his pocket. Scrambler is a lesser-seen archetype amongst QBs, which might make Daniels an interesting QB to experiment with. He has some decent stats overall, specifically in the general and passing fields. One thing that stands out is his speed. With 90 SPD, 91 ACC, and 91 AGL, he’s one of the fastest QBs on the list.
His AWR is pretty low at 82, so you might run into issues with that. Otherwise, his passing and ball carrier stats can hold their own. The two main stats that should be avoided at all costs are Stiff Arm and Trucking, as they are at 32 and 28, respectively. As for passing, all his throws are more or less the same, so you can opt for whatever you find comfortable. The best plays for him will revolve around triple-option plays, where you hold the ball before making a short pass.
