Sports

NFL predictions, 2026: 4 quarterbacks primed to take the league by storm

NFL Spin Zone · Jul 22, 2026 21:00 · 4 min read

NFL Predictions, 2026: 4 quarterbacks primed to take the league by storm — New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There are some quarterbacks who could on the cusp of breaking out. Let's dive into the four most logical candidates here as training camps begin.

With training camps beginning across the NFL, we're one major step closer to the start of the 2026 NFL Season. The regular season is less than two months away, and from now until then, we'll have training camps, final roster decisions, perhaps another major move or two, and the preseason games.

It's truly almost go-time for the NFL as it gears up for the 2026 campaign, and if 2025 tells us anything, 2026 could be truly magical with a ton of unexpected scenarios playing out. Much of how the league goes revolves around the quarterback position, the most important in all of sports.

With that being in mind, we have four quarterbacks primed to breakout and take the league by storm. We've listed them here as our latest NFL predictions exercise.

These four quarterbacks are primed to take the league by storm in 2026

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Some may argue that Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has already taken the league by storm, but in terms of pure passing production, there has been a lot of meat left on the bone. With that being said, Nix dealt with 43 drops by his pass-catchers in the 2025 season, according to Pro Football Reference, and up until this offseason, he has not had a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver.

While you may not think Nix all that good, ask yourself why the Broncos felt the need to make such a major trade for Jaylen Waddle - it's because the pass-catchers just were not good enough. With that in mind, we should see a more well-rounded offense, and that even includes the run game, which saw Jonah Coleman enter the mix in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Furthermore, offensive coordinator Davis Webb is now calling the plays, and with Webb having just recently been in the league, there is reason to believe he'll be more in tune with what Nix wants to do on offense, even if it's still 'Sean Payton's offense.'

Overall, Nix's third year in the NFL is likely going to be the best of his career thus far. He has better playmakers around him, an elite offensive line, a brand-new play-caller, and a massive contract extension on the line as well.

Ever since coming into the NFL out of Oregon in the 2024 NFL Draft, it has felt like the Nix doubters have kept steady in their criticism, but Nix has really done nothing but prove them wrong thus far, and the pattern will continue in a major 2026 season.

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

In his nine starts as the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback during his rookie season in 2025, Tyler Shough went a respectable 5-4 and finished with 10 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, and a solid passer rating of 91.3. All in all, it was a very encouraging, productive season for a player that not many people had high hopes for.

He also completed 67.6 percent of his passes, which is excellent for a rookie. Over his final four games of the season, the Saints went 3-1, and Shough tossed 5 touchdowns against 1 interception for an excellent rating of 103.8.

All things considered, Shough was awesome as a rookie, and in the offseason, the Saints added running back Travis Etienne, guard David Edwards, and wide receiver Jordyn Tyson to the offense. Not only does Shough have a ton of capable weapons around him now, but the offensive line got better, and even the defense, led by Brandon Staley, was sneaky good last year.

There is a lot going for Shough here in year two, and while the Saints and the NFC South as a whole is nothing special, the second-year quarterback has what it takes to breakout.

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

Another second-year quarterback on this list, Jaxson Dart, despite the dysfunction that seemed to plague the New York Giants in 2025, finished with 24 total touchdowns in 14 games, which included a whopping nine rushing touchdowns and a stellar 3:1 TD:INT ratio.

I understand that the Giants haven't really done themselves any favors this offseason in terms of shedding that dysfunctional label, but it's hard not to like what he did as a rookie. Yes, he needs to take care of himself better when he runs, but this is a quarterback with a legitimate dual-threat skillset.

Watch out for Dart taking a major year two leap in the 2026 season.

Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings

This feels like an obvious one, right? What we saw from Sam Darnold with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 is likely what the team hopes for Kyler Murray in 2026. Murray had an up-and-down, but productive tenure with the dysfunctional Arizona Cardinals from 2019 to 2025, and he's now entering a personnel situation in Minnesota that is significantly better than anything he had during his time with the Cardinals.

Simply put, Murray is a good player at a hugely important position, and with what I believe to be a make-or-break year for some coaches on the team, I could see an 'all out' effort to make it work with Murray under center.

He does have the passing talent to have that part of the offense at a good spot, and his legs are something that creates a rushing element to keep the defenses honest.