Through the first seven seasons for the quarterbacks taken in the first-round of the 2018 NFL draft, the only thing less likely to happen in season eight would be the moniker assigned to Josh Rosen.
Darnold's journey from first round pick to Super Bowl champion was not an easy path, not that one rarely is. Injuries, inconsistent play, and a case of mono, from toiling to Carolina to MVP consideration with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold climbed the mountain. In doing so, he became the first of the five first-round quarterbacks from that year to nab the ring.
Three of the other four have tasted the playoffs and are again contenders to follow in Darnold's footsteps in the 2026-27 season. The windows might be tightening, for different reasons. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson remain part of stellar franchises with the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. Locked in for another run, both have the talent around them for success. But the shine and hype surrounding these two teams is wearing slightly thin, with neither near the top of "trendy" picks to win the Super Bowl this season.
Down in Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield is back to lead the Buccaneers. A big question looming: How will Mayfield be without Mike Evans, who is now running routes in San Francisco.
Each quarterback has questions to contend with entering the 2026 season. The next crop of teams and quarterbacks are poised to start edging out the likes of perennial contenders like the Bills, Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City, and Philadelphia Eagles. As their ninth season in the league approaches, it should be commended that the four quarterbacks mentioned are still starters. Impressive, considering the way teams cycle through quarterback picks (i.e., Arizona, or the six quarterbacks drafted in the first round in 2024).
Heading into the season, it's only fair reigning Super Bowl winner Darnold sits atop the list of these four quarterbacks.
Sam Darnold
For the Super Bowl, backed by a strong running game, stellar defense, and outstanding special teams, Darnold did not have to be perfect. And he certainly wasn't, but did more than enough to help the Seahawks secure a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots.
Darnold was a mediocre 19-38 passing with 202 yards and one touchdown. He did not turn the ball over and was sacked just once.
In three postseason games, Darnold threw five touchdown passes and zero interceptions, completing 61.2% for 672 yards.
With top receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp returning, Darnold should enjoy similar success to previous season. The telling sign will be how the running game responds, with star Kenneth Walker off to Kansas City. A running back by committee will be present to start the season, led by rookie Jadarian Price and returnee George Holani.
Last season, Darnold passed for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Darnold's completion percentage of 67.7 was a career best. If he can produce like the last two seasons, Darnold could very well reach career milestones of 25,000 passing yards and 150 touchdown passes.
The Seahawks, barring a huge setback, should be on track for the postseason in 2026. Hard to predict early on but after the first four weeks, Seattle could be off to a very strong 3-1 start.
First four weeks: vs NE (9/9), @ ARI (9/20), @ WAS (9/27), vs LAC (10/4)
Josh Allen
In many circles, with no Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City, the hands-on favorite in last season's playoffs belonged to Allen and the Buffalo Bills in the AFC. The Denver Broncos had other thoughts.
Allen and the Bills fell short yet again, this time around falling to the Broncos in the Divisional Round, a 33-30 overtime loss.
As games usually go with the Bills the last eight seasons, the result hinged on the play of Allen. While he was his usual stat-producing self, Allen also had four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles) that contributed to the final result.
Allen passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns while adding 66 yards rushing.
It was another disappointing end to a season that held high hopes for a Super Bowl title. Allen's numbers dipped in a couple areas but were not too far off. He completed a career-best 69.3 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and ten interceptions.
Allen also rushed for 579 yards and 14 touchdowns, marking the third time in his career with 10+ rushing touchdowns.
Last season, Allen entered the 30,000+ career passing yards club and sailed past 200 career touchdown passes. He would need one of the best seasons of his career to reach 35,000 passing yards while he is only 30 touchdowns away from reaching 250. The addition of DJ Moore should help solidify Buffalo's receiving core. Running back James Cook is a star, helping to alleviate the pressure on Allen to do everything, all the time.
Allen and the Bills should be in contention for another AFC East title, battling the New England Patriots for supremacy. The two teams meet in week four, with the Bills, in the bleakest of terms, could start the season 1-3 or 2-2.
First four weeks: @ HOU (9/13), vs DET (9/17), vs LAC (9/27), vs NE (10/4)
Baker Mayfield
The former top-pick Mayfield enters the season in the final year of a three-year deal, with talks between he and management currently dead.
Mayfield last season was plagued by inopportune turnovers and sacks but to be fair, he was doing a lot with a banged-up offense around him. Though Evans is gone, the Bucs have Emeka Egbuka, who flourished at times as a rookie. A good crop of running backs, if they can stay health, also provides a nice balance on offense.
Overall, Mayfield passed for 3,693 yards with 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Mayfield's legs also got a workout, rushing for 382 yards. A healthy season in 2026 should also see Mayfield pass 30,000 career passing yards and he is currently only three touchdown passes from reaching the 200-yard mark.
As it has been in recent years, the AFC South title is a grab bag of spoils. All four teams could be in contention as Tampa Bay aims to start the season on the right side of .500, an entirely doable feat.
First four weeks: @ CIN (9/13), vs CLE (9/20), vs MIN (9/27), vs GB (10/4)
Lamar Jackson
Jackson again ran into injuries in 2025, playing in 13 games as the Baltimore Ravens finished 8-9. While Jackson did play in four of the last five games last season, he went 1-3 in those games, finishing 6-7. It was the first time in Jackon's eight seasons he had a losing record as the starting quarterback.
One of the downward trends for Jackson last season was his running game. While having the great Derrick Henry certainly alleviates burden on Jackson, the numbers weren't great. Good, by all means, but Jackson's 5.2 yards per carry were the second lowest of his career. Over his last four games, Jackson carried the ball 15 times for 85 yards and was sacked nine times.
On the season, Jackson finished with 349 yards on the ground.
However, in the passing game, Jackson had a fine year, and was even on track to put up passing numbers consistent with previous seasons. Slightly lower, yes, especially in completion percentage (63.6 %, compared to over 67 % in his seventh season). Jackson passed for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns, plus seven interceptions.
A healthy 2026 will see Jackson surpass 25,000 career passing yards and 200 touchdown passes. Jackson could also pass 7,000 yards for his career on the ground with a return to the type of work he produced in years one through seven.
With a new head coach in Jesse Minter, questions do surround the team as Jackson looks to get the Ravens back into the playoffs. The offense around Jackson returns many key players and the defense should return to glory with the defensive-minded Minter. Baltimore at the very least should be 2-2 to open, taking those first steps back on the road of Super Bowl contention in 2026.
First four weeks: @ IND (9/13), vs NO (9/20), vs DAL (9/27), vs TEN (10/4)
Josh Rosen
Rosen was last on a team in 2022. In the spring of 2026, Rosen earned his MBA from Wharton School.
Be sure to follow along with season nine for these quarterbacks, with the next update coming after week four.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
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