Six NFL quarterbacks primed to make the leap in 2026

While the Bears' dreamlike season ended in disappointment (brought on, in part, by a Williams interception), Chicago has every reason to carry an overwhelming sense of optimism into 2026. Williams' first year under Ben Johnson produced a noticeable jump, both statistically and visually, and that's before I even mention the revelation of his indefatigable clutch gene. Williams graduated from a quarterback who held on to the ball too long in an effort to make the perfect play to a signal-caller who became a fearless gunslinger, both to his benefit and his detriment. He possesses rare arm strength and athleticism -- empowering him to pull off some of the most unbelievable plays we saw in 2025 -- and he grew more comfortable operating Johnson's offense as the season progressed. An offseason (and perhaps an addition at receiver) should only see Williams become an even better quarterback in a system he'll know much better than he did to start 2025.

I admit this may seem absurd at first glance because Lawrence played the best football of his career in the back half of the 2025 season, powering an ascending Jaguars team to the AFC South title. Both things can be true, though: Lawrence was better than ever in 2025 and can improve even more because of the coaches guiding him. Liam Coen and his staff did an excellent job with Lawrence in their first year together, as evidenced by the fact that 30-year-old offensive coordinator Grant Udinski is attracting head-coaching interest in the current hiring cycle. With this coming after Baker Mayfield's 41-touchdown campaign in 2024, Coen's quarterbacks have enjoyed career years in consecutive seasons. (OK, technically, Lawrence's 2025 totals weren't as strong as his 2022 numbers, but by the eye test, he's never been better.) That leads me to believe Coen will continue to foster growth from Lawrence, a former No. 1 overall pick who was considered a generational talent coming out of Clemson. It's time to deliver on those expectations, and I believe Lawrence is capable of doing so under Coen.

By the end of the regular season, the football world had caught up to what those who follow the Saints closely already knew: Shough is a legitimate NFL quarterback with room to grow. The rookie meshed quite well with first-year coach Kellen Moore and steadily improved down the back stretch of the season, looking confident in the pocket while delivering accurate passes on time, taking shots when available and using his legs plenty to extend drives. He's fortunate to fill one half of an ideal partnership with Moore, a former quarterback who should help Shough develop into a long-term starter in New Orleans. Because of this, Shough is one of the young passers I'm most eager to watch evolve in the seasons ahead. I think the Saints have finally found a Drew Brees replacement. Now, they need to surround him with more talent to maximize his potential.

Dart's start to the season was stronger than his finish, a reality brought on by his failure to protect himself while trying to will the Giants to victories. That element of his game must be improved if he is to enjoy a lengthy career. It's Priority No. 1 entering 2026, but there are plenty of examples that suggest Dart could become the reliable signal-caller the Giants have lacked for quite some time. He's already demonstrated a creative instinct that makes him difficult to defend as both a runner and passer, an accurate arm, a willingness to scramble for positive gains and a competitive fire reminiscent of Baker Mayfield's moxie. That last trait could produce some volatile performances, but for the Giants, they should welcome that passion. Dart will need to improve when it comes to his decision-making as a passer, but much of his development will depend on whom John Harbaugh tabs as his offensive coordinator. If Dart lands an experienced play-caller with a knack for fitting his system to his quarterback, a beautiful product could emerge, especially once he gets Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers back from injury. That is, of course, if Dart manages to avoid his own ailments.

We can all agree 2025 was not the sophomore season we expected from Penix, not after he demonstrated qualities late in the 2024 campaign that could be cultivated with a full season of starting experience but failed to deliver on that potential in Year 2. Then again, Penix also didn't play a full '25 season due to injury, and he likely won't begin 2026 in the starting lineup because of it, either. But this is about the long play and the changes the Falcons have made. Atlanta dismissed defensive-minded coach Raheem Morris after the regular season, clearing the way for a new regime headlined by president of football Matt Ryan. The former Falcons quarterback moved quickly to hire Kevin Stefanski, a coach who guided Baker Mayfield to his best season with the Browns and led Cleveland to its deepest playoff run since the 1990s in 2020. This was the perfect hire for Atlanta's current situation, which centers around Penix's potential. The pieces are there for Penix to blossom; now, it's up to him to get healthy and begin to capitalize.

McCarthy needs to clear a few requirements in order to earn the faith of Vikings fans in 2026. First, after missing significant time due to a multitude of injuries, he must prove he can stay healthy enough to play in most (if not all) of Minnesota's games. Next, he needs to fix his footwork, an issue Kevin O'Connell has stressed as important since training camp. If McCarthy addresses those two issues, the rest should take care of itself, especially under the direction of a former quarterback with an established reputation of being an excellent developer of the position. Oh, and don't forget the receiving corps he's working with, either. If McCarthy gets on track, Justin Jefferson should enjoy his own bounce-back season that inherently helps produce a breakout year for the quarterback.