Ranking NFC South quarterbacks in 2026
Arguably the weakest division in the NFL, the NFC South has had its trials and tribulations over the past few years.
Two of the past four seasons have had teams win the division with a losing record. No team has had more than 10 wins since the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The division is showing no signs of improvement for the upcoming season. All four teams have huge question marks going into Week One, suggesting another tight but lacklustre division.
There are also question marks surrounding every NFC South team’s starting quarterback. Here is a ranking of each, from four to one.
4th - Tua Tagovailoa/Michael Penix Jr (Atlanta Falcons)
With the news that Kirk Cousins is the confirmed Las Vegas Raiders QB1 for Week One, the Atlanta Falcons remain the only team that are yet to confirm their QB1 for the start of the season.
Whether it is Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr, neither have convinced that they could be any higher than fourth in this list.
Tua joined the team this offseason after a disappointing end to his time with the Miami Dolphins. He has yet to prove in preseason that he can fix things quickly.
Even when he was the passing yards leader in 2023 with the Dolphins, he struggled to beat teams in cold weather or with a record of .500 or better. In any big game, Tua either struggled to guide the team to victory or be on the field. He lacks the arm strength that would benefit the likes of wide receiver Drake London or Kyle Pitts.
He may be the starter in Week One, but it is hard to see him in the same role come the time of Week 17 or 18.
Penix has also struggled to stay healthy or show he has enough talent to be the true franchise QB in Atlanta.
3rd- Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints)
It’s a small sample size, but Shough impressed during his 2025 rookie season for the New Orleans Saints.
However, this also means that he cannot be any higher than third.
2nd - Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
With a 5-4 record, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, the stat line does not show you how promising Shough was in 2025. After all, he came into the starting role with the team 1-7, showcasing how he was able to turn the team’s fortunes around. He finished the season with a 103.3 passer rating on third downs.
Bryce Young enjoyed an impressive end to the 2025 season, as the Carolina Panthers almost shocked the Los Angeles Rams in the Wildcard Round, leading the game at the fourth quarter two-minute warning.
Young has shown in spells that he is the guy but needs to work on his consistency with struggles in the first half of both 2024 and 2025 before excelling down the stretch in both.
1st- Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It was a disappointing end of Baker Mayfield’s 2025 season, playing on through injury as the team collapsed.
A full healthy Baker is hugely clear of any other quarterbacks in this division.
His warrior mentality came to his detriment in 2025, but his gunslinger approach is one that can take the team far but be to his detriment.
Mayfield has the temperament to fight for the extra one or two yards needed for a first down and is tough.
A very clear number one.
Andy Davies