Josh Allen and Drake Maye Top Dan Orlovsky’s 2026 NFL QB Trait Rankings

Josh Allen leads the NFL in three of seven skill categories, while Drake Maye recorded a league-best 82.5 QBR inside the pocket.

Josh Allen holds the No. 1 position in arm strength, decision-making, and second-reaction ability according to Dan Orlovsky’s 2026 preseason evaluation of NFL starters. The Buffalo Bills quarterback led all signal-callers with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2025 and recorded 181 rushing yards after first contact. Despite throwing 10 interceptions and losing three fumbles last season, Allen’s tape earned him the top spot for problem-solving in and out of structure. Meanwhile, Drake Maye of the New England Patriots secured the top ranking for pocket presence after posting a league-high 82.5 QBR and a 74.9% completion rate from inside the pocket, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt.

Matthew Stafford ranks as the league's premier passer for ball placement and mechanics. The Rams veteran completed 37 passes of 20 or more air yards last season, the highest total in the NFL. In the ball placement category, Maye followed at No. 2 with a 72.0% completion rate and a 9.1% completion rate above expectation. Sam Darnold, now with the Seahawks, moved to No. 3 in ball placement and No. 5 in second-reaction ability after leading the league with 10.1 yards per attempt on throws while moving at least 10 mph. Brock Purdy finished with the fourth-best off-target rate at 10.7% and the highest QBR on throws from outside the pocket at 79.1.

Arm Strength and Mechanical Precision

Behind Allen in arm strength, Justin Herbert ranks second, having completed a league-best 162 tight-window passes over the last five years. Caleb Williams sits at No. 3 in this category, highlighted by a 40-plus-yard touchdown strike thrown while back-pedaling during the 2025 divisional round. Williams also led the NFL with a 3.3% sack rate. In the mechanics category, Joe Burrow ranks second behind Stafford. Burrow, who missed over half of the 2025 season due to injury, fell to No. 4 in ball placement after previously holding the top spot for two consecutive years.

Daniel Jones ranks third in mechanics following his performance with the Indianapolis Colts, where he executed a high volume of RPOs. Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, and C.J. Stroud round out the top six for mechanical consistency. Orlovsky noted that Aaron Rodgers was a difficult cut from the mechanics list entering his 22nd season, while Trevor Lawrence was a frequent snub across multiple categories including arm strength and decision-making.

Decision-Making and Pocket Navigation

Jordan Love and Drake Maye finished first and second in EPA per dropback last season, with Maye at 0.27 and Love at 0.22. Love recorded a 1.4% interception rate, ranking sixth in the league, while Maye’s 1.6% rate ranked 10th. These figures placed them third and fourth respectively in the decision-making rankings. Jayden Daniels of the Commanders enters the 2026 season ranked fifth for decision-making and eighth for mechanics. Patrick Mahomes, returning from a torn ACL, dropped in several rankings but remains third in second-reaction ability and seventh in rushing.

Bo Nix emerged as a broken-play specialist for the Denver Broncos, leading the NFL with 133 throws from outside the pocket. His eight touchdown passes on such plays tied for the second-most in the league. In the pocket presence category, Joe Burrow remains second despite his injury history, followed by Darnold, Herbert, and Prescott. Trevor Lawrence appears at No. 10 for pocket presence as he enters his second year under coach Liam Coen.

Rushing Dominance and Mobility Traits

Lamar Jackson remains the gold standard for QB rushing despite a 2025 season limited to 67 carries for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson averaged 5.2 yards per carry and has surpassed 750 rushing yards in six of his last seven seasons. Jaxson Dart led all quarterbacks with 34.8 rushing yards per game last year but was excluded from the top 10 due to durability concerns. Jalen Hurts ranks sixth in rushing ability, while Mahomes ranks seventh after leading the league with 18 scrambles of 10 or more yards.

Baker Mayfield is cited as having the most underrated arm in the league, ranking sixth in strength and eighth in rushing. The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback battle disqualified Tua Tagovailoa, who was previously ranked second in ball placement in 2024. Kyler Murray, recently named the Minnesota Vikings' starter, was also omitted from the rushing top 10 due to the timing of the depth chart announcement. Young prospects Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart are identified as potential 2027 candidates for the second-reaction list if they improve consistency.