Ranking NFC west quarterbacks in 2026
The NFC West was by far the best division in the NFL last season.
It was the only division to have three teams in the playoffs, in the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
Not only did the Seahawks beat the Rams to reach the Super Bowl and subsequently win it, but they also won it in the 49ers’ stadium.
This is a division littered with talent. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the Offensive Player of the Year, edging out Rams wideout Puka Nacua.
The Defensive Player of the Year went to Myles Garrett for the second time in three seasons, and he made the move to the Rams this offseason.
It is also a division full of excellent head coaching. Mike McDonald has a 24-10 record in the role and a Super Bowl to match. Rams head coach Sean McVay is seen as one of the greatest minds in the league and Kyle Shanahan continues to guide the 49ers to the playoffs amidst various injuries to star players.
Arizona’s Mike LaFleur is new to the role, but if he can perform anything like his brother in Packers head coach Matt, then he will bring success to the Cardinals organisation.
With a division full of excellence on offense, how do the quarterbacks rank? In the final of the eight divisions this offseason, here are their rankings from fourth to first.
4th - Jacoby Brissett (Arizona Cardinals)
In all of our eight divisions, this might be the easiest fourth place to choose.
Whilst the Rams, Seahawks and 49ers are all dreaming of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at SoFi stadium on Valentine’s Day, there will be no love lost between the Cardinals and playoff success.
The Cardinals, who finished 3-14 in 2025, are one of the favourites to acquire the first overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Despite the talent of Trey McBride and the potential of Marvin Harrison Jr, their schedule and the overall shape of the roster has many predicting just a handful of wins for Arizona.
Part of that reason is their quarterback situation. This is a room that features Carson Beck, Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett has been named the starter for the Cardinals going into Week One. Whether he is the QB1 in nine weeks’ time is another story, but whoever is the starter cannot be any higher than fourth.
During Brissett’s career, he has played for six different NFL franchises and played in 101 games, starting 65. In total, he has a 20-45 record as a starter. His 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in the 2025 season suggest a solid campaign, he could only muster up one victory. Being behind in so many games only helped inflate his numbers. This was evidenced in one game, where he threw for two fourth quarter touchdowns, in a game where they lost 41-22 and were down 35-10 in the final 15 minutes. Things were not helped by his offensive line, being sacked 43 times in 2025.
It is hard for Cardinals fans to be truly inspired by Brissett, even if he did set a single season record in that Niners loss with 47 straight pass completions.
3rd - Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers)
Despite being ranked third in this list, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues to be one of the most disrespected quarterbacks in the league. In similar vein to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, a point referred to in our NFC East ranking, he is hamstrung by the “supporting cast” narrative.
Whilst Purdy does have a brilliant set of offensive weapons to worth with when they are healthy, he still needs to make the plays. After all, the likes of Nick Mullens, Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs have worked with the same talent and failed to inspire.
His play against the Chicago Bears in December 2025 proved he is more than just Mr Irrelevant, a title that continues to be used against him by some NFL fans. On a 1st and goal play in the third quarter, the Niners ran a bootleg play. Purdy scrambled around, before finding a gap and playing a quickfire pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Purdy might not be in the top two, but this is purely for the success on the field last season for both quarterbacks. This should not discount those away from the talent that the Niners’ number 13 has and what he has been able to do in his NFL career.
2nd - Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks)
In 2025, Sam Darnold become a future inspiration to millions when he became a Super Bowl champion last season.
Picked third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, Darnold struggled to live up his draft position in the Big Apple. He was eventually traded to the Carolina Panthers but also struggled on the field.
He spent time as backup to Purdy during the 2023 season, one where they reached the Super Bowl, before joining the Minnesota Vikings via Free Agency in 2024 on a one-year deal.
Darnold’s renaissance began in Minnesota and despite a 14-3 record, the Vikings put their faith in JJ McCarthy, and he signed a three-year $100.5 million deal. He would go on to become Super Bowl LXI champion, showcasing that you should never give up. In years to come, school children in America will be taught of his story and how you should not let failures define you.
Of course, it should be said that Darnold was not the reason the Seahawks were named Super Bowl champions. The defense, nicknamed the Dark Side, were a massive reason why the Lombardi Trophy arrive at Lumen Field for the second time, but he still had to put in a good enough performance to get the job done.
Darnold was mistake free in the postseason. In fact, after October 21st, Darnold threw just three more interceptions in the 2025 season and none of these were in the playoffs.
Whilst Purdy has maybe shown more in the past three seasons combined, Darnold is a Super Bowl champion and helped Smith-Njigba on his way to winning Offensive Player of the Year. Despite this, he did not win MVP, unlike the top player in this ranking.
1st - Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
Stafford put in a season for the ages in 2025, becoming MVP for the first time.
Along with single digit interceptions (8), Stafford was ranked first across the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46). His quarterback rating of 71.2 was fourth amongst all quarterbacks.
Stafford was always an elite quarterback but was a victim of his surroundings as the Detroit Lions’ issues stopped him being noticed by all 31 other fanbases.
Joining the Rams, a team that gathered a lot more media spotlight and primetime game slots, allowed everyone to see just how special he was. His Super Bowl LVI victory less than 12 months after joining the team was proof of just that.
Stafford had the third highest total of “big-time throws” in 2025 as per Pro Football Focus (PFF), with 58. Described by PFF as a pass with excellent ball location and timing, thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window, only Eli Manning and Drew Brees (both in 2011) have topped this. His failed completion rate of 16.0% as per FTN Fantasy, was the lowest total across the league.
His 2025 season was magical, especially given his age. With the Rams the overwhelming favourites to win Super Bowl LXI, it could be a second ring and the perfect way to bow out.
When the lights are on, Stafford has a pretty good record of getting the job done with the Rams. His ability to make the right pass at the right time, his poise in the pocket and avoid the sack make him one of the league’s best, let alone in this division.
Andy Davies