# NFL 2026 backup QB rankings: best and worst

> With injuries plaguing the league, we rank the five best and five worst backup quarterback situations across the NFL.
- Title: NFL 2026 backup QB rankings: best and worst · CBS Sports
- Summary: With injuries plaguing the league, we rank the five best and five worst backup quarterback situations across the NFL. The NFL has a quarterback development…
- Keywords: nfl, quarterback, backup quarterbacks, 2026 season, qb depth, qb development, injuries, josh allen, kyle allen, quinn ewers, trey lance, tommy devito
- Source: CBS Sports — https://cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-2026-backup-qb-rankings-five-best-worst
- Published: 2026-09-22T19:14:00+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: nfl, quarterback, backup quarterbacks, 2026 season, qb depth, qb development, injuries, josh allen, kyle allen, quinn ewers, trey lance, tommy devito
## The quarterback pipeline is broken
Youth sports specialization and coaching neglect of quarterback development have created a shortage of capable backups across the NFL. There simply aren't 32 solid starters, let alone 64 total quarterbacks.
## Recent injuries expose the problem
Jaxson Dart, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams, Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailoa, and Michael Penix Jr. have all missed time this season, highlighting how thin quarterback depth really is across the league.
## Buffalo's backup situation is precarious
Kyle Allen, 30, is the Bills' backup despite a mediocre track record. He threw 17 TDs to 16 INTs in 12 starts for Carolina in 2019 and has barely played since, making him a risky option if Josh Allen gets injured.
## Jacksonville's Quinn Ewers is inconsistent
The rookie had three wildly different starts for Miami last season: two interceptions against Cincinnati, two touchdowns against Tampa Bay, and four sacks against New England. His performance is unpredictable.
## Trey Lance's pedigree hasn't paid off
Despite being drafted third overall in 2021 after San Francisco traded four picks including three first-rounders, Lance has struggled everywhere. His only Chargers start showed 45.5% completion and four sacks.
## Tommy DeVito's flash faded quickly
The Giants backup had a fun 2023 with three wins in six starts, but his 17.2% sack rate was the worst in the NFL. He hasn't played in 2025, leaving New England vulnerable if Drake Maye goes down.
## Cooper Rush's collapse is historic
Once a reliable Cowboys backup, Rush has lost his last five starts and now leads the NFL with four interceptions in two weeks with Atlanta. His 42.5 passer rating is dead last in the league.

> Falcons fans temporarily edited his Wikipedia page to change his name to Cooper Robert Adolf Hitler Joseph Stalin Kim Jong-Un Rush.
## Joe Flacco still has it at 41
The former Super Bowl MVP can still deliver in a pinch. He threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh in Week 7, then 470 yards and four TDs against Chicago, proving he's a capable fill-in.
## Carson Wentz still has juice at 33
The former MVP candidate threw three touchdowns off the bench in Minnesota's season opener against Green Bay, then led a 9-3 win in Chicago rain. He's proven he can manage games effectively.
## Drew Lock is leading the NFL
After Sam Darnold's glute injury, Lock stepped in and has started two games with a 127.3 passer rating, leading the NFL. He's connected frequently with Jaxson Smith-Njigba, including an 82-yard touchdown.
## Mac Jones is thriving in San Francisco
Kyle Shanahan finally got his guy after missing out in 2021. Jones ranked in the top 10 in completion percentage, passing yards, and sack rate over eight starts, proving he could be an NFL starter again at 28.
## Fernando Mendoza has elite pedigree
The 2025 Heisman winner and first overall pick hasn't taken an NFL snap yet, but learning under Kirk Cousins and coach Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas gives him the best development situation of any backup.
## Kubiak's track record matters
The Raiders coach helped revive Sam Darnold's career as Seattle's offensive coordinator on a Super Bowl championship team. That experience positions Mendoza for success when he eventually takes over.
## Coaching and development matter most
The difference between the best and worst backup situations isn't just talent. It's having experienced coaches who can develop young quarterbacks and teach them the game's nuances.
## Depth is a luxury few teams have
Most NFL teams are one injury away from disaster at quarterback. Only a handful have legitimate backups who can step in and perform at a high level without derailing their season.
## Key takeaway

The NFL has a quarterback development crisis, leaving most teams dangerously thin at the backup position, though a few teams have solid contingency plans.