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Patrick Mahomes’ place atop FOX Sports’ Nick Wright’s NFL quarterback power rankings has been so consistent the segment adopted his name.
And, in Wright’s opinion, Mahomes continues to be the king of the mountain as the 2026 NFL season approaches.
FOX Sports’ Chris Broussard, however, felt otherwise. Other questions consist of, can Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford repeat his MVP form? How far has Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson fallen? Who will continue to ascend toward the summit?
Mahomes is on the peak for now, but will Mahomes Mountain retain its rightful leader, or will another quarterback claim the top spot?
In Wright’s first edition of “Mahomes Mountain” this season, he’s confident there are “18 or 19 teams that feel pretty good about their quarterback situation.” The bottom rung aren’t part of that group.
8th Row
“Either young, unproven players or guys you don’t feel comfortable being your starting quarterback,” Wright said.
While both quarterbacks competing for the Atlanta Falcons’ starting job made the list, only one half of the Cleveland Browns’ competition was included. No DeShaun Watson.
“I don’t think it’s a real competition,” Wright said. “If DeShaun Watson’s the starting quarterback, I think it’s because the owner made him do it… It’s pretty clear who [Todd Monken] likes more, it’s pretty clear who has more upside — even though I’m not a Shedeur [Sanders] guy — it’s pretty clear what the best thing for the Browns is.”
7th Row
The seventh row consists of a group with the potential to make their teams feel good about the quarterback position, but also the chance to destroy their season with poor quarterback play.
That list includes: Daniel Jones, Cam Ward, Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart, Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, Aaron Rodgers.
“[Cam] Ward, [Tyler] Shough and [Jaxson] Dart…They’re too young to have proven anything,” Wright said.
Ward will get boosted with the addition of Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate at hideout, while Dart will get the experience of John Harbaugh in his ear. Shough will get a full season under his belt with the addition of rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson.
Wright, however, isn’t as optimistic about whom the Minnesota Vikings named their starting quarterback on Tuesday.
“I’m not a Kyler Murray guy, you guys will see how this year goes,” Wright said.
6th Row
Wright left two vacant spots on the sixth row, “because this is the line of demarcation on if you’re set at quarterback, believe you’re set at quarterback, or have a potential problem.” He believes these quarterbacks have proven themselves, but aren’t solidified as reliable week-in and week-out starters.
Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud
“Stroud is borderline, but the three playoff wins…the playoffs every year and the great rookie season,” Wright said. “I’m not putting him down in the other group.”
5th Row
Wright’s fifth row is the definition of solid. The quarterbacks Wright listed know who they are, and their teams are confident in what they have. Still, they lack the superhero traits possessed by the quarterbacks Wright ranks above them.
4th Row
Each of these quarterbacks, according to Wright, are “clearly top-10 quarterbacks.”
Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott have supported their teams even as the defenses have struggled. Trevor Lawrence and Sam Darnold led their teams to success after being doubted in most of their careers, with Darnold taking the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory last season.
3rd Row
“Three guys that either are already superheroes… and two guys with superhero talent.”
Jackson dropped to 14th among quarterbacks in ESPN’s top 100, but Wright believes he’s securely in the top 10.
“I have some pretty well established concerns about Lamar [Jackson] in the playoffs, and concerns about Lamar not being a consistent rushing threat, but the idea that he’s not still a top 10 quarterback in the league is total absurdity.”
“And then you have two guys that, I believe, are going to be perennially top 5 quarterbacks throughout their prime. Maybe this year Drake’s already in it. Maybe Caleb’s entering it… I think they’re star quarterbacks.”
“We are in an era of the best quarterbacks having these superhero athletic traits that make it very hard to be atop the mountain if they don’t have one of those. I think Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have those.”
2nd Row
Chris Broussard believes Stafford should jump up the list.
“Mahomes should not be atop the mountain right now,” Broussard said. “He’s coming off the worst season of his career. He’s coming off the worst injury of his career. His receiving core doesn’t look special… And his last three years, individually, he doesn’t look great. Stafford should be atop the mountain right now.”
1st Row
“I believe Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL. Did he have the best season? Nope. Is he coming off a torn ACL? Yep. Did Matt Stafford have an unbelievable year? Yeah. Did Josh Allen have a pretty good year until the playoffs? Sure. Those guys had the opportunity to go out and grab it, and they didn’t. They didn’t. So, still atop the mountain is a guy who, god forbid, has made five of the last seven Super Bowls, god forbid, three people have won an MVP more recently than him.”
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