The Pressure Meter: Quarterbacks

The second instalment of this season’s pressure meter is here. After ranking the top 5 coaches who find themselves in the hot seat to begin the year, it’s time to assess which quarterbacks go into the year with plenty of critics to silence.

The NFL did not oversee any major league-altering quarterback transactions over the offseason, but plenty of storylines exist among the position – from young talents trying to prove they belong, to established superstars in their prime, who must capitalize with a ring before it’s too late. Preme Football have determined the 10 quarterbacks who find themselves under the brightest spotlight ahead of 2026.

10. Jalen Hurts

It might be a surprise to find Hurts on this list, being the Super Bowl MVP of less than 2 years ago. He’s the only quarterback with a Lombardi trophy to his name to feature here, and while his legacy in Philadelphia remains immortal as a result, some individual heat will come his way this season, to see if he can still get it done without All-Pro receiver AJ Brown. Despite securing another NFC East title in 2025, the Eagles’ offense looked clunky all year due to a poor year from Brown and a decrease in production from Saquon Barkey. Similar levels of heat will also fall on head coach Nick Sirianni, and this season will certainly give us a solid answer this year to a question that has lingered since the Super Bowl LIX victory – were Sirianni and Hurts carried by their weapons? We’re backing them to respond strongly and with a resounding ‘No’.

9. Baker Mayfield

Despite a career resurgence throughout his 3 years in Tampa Bay, it’s hard to forget that Mayfield was selected 1^st overall in 2018, ahead of 2 future MVPs in Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Mayfield will no longer benefit from the services of Mike Evans, though the development of Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson should give him a solid arsenal to work with and return to the form that made him a Pro Bowler. Having moved on some all-time legends with the loss of Evans and retirement of Lavonte David, the Buccaneers enter an intriguing year, having missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2019. With the 31-year-old Mayfield going into the last year of his 3-year, $100 million deal, another year of regression for both him and the team could see the front office have genuine discussions and potentially make a tough call about the future of the quarterback position in Tampa Bay.

8. Josh Allen

With the 2025 playoffs ending in heartbreak for Allen and the Bills again, concerns have seriously been raised among the Buffalo faithful as to whether one of the league’s most talented quarterbacks will ever get the opportunity to show it off on the biggest stage. Having turned 30 over the offseason, he’s made it clear time after time that despite winning the 2024 MVP award, all he wishes for is to deliver Buffalo its first Super Bowl title. For years now the Bills’ front office has done whatever it takes to build a contending roster around its franchise quarterback. This year is no different. At the expense of a few depth offensive pieces, they picked up a true WR1 in DJ Moore to help Allen. He will no doubt help Buffalo will cruise to an 8^th successive playoff berth this season, but that is when the heat will fall on Allen’s shoulders to leap the final hurdle at last.

7. Lamar Jackson

You could almost copy and paste the above explanation for Allen’s place on this list and apply it to Jackson. In fact, Preme Football released an article exclusively looking at Lamar Jackson’s prospects for 2026 and beyond, so we’ll let that speak for itself as to why the 2-time MVP finds himself here. He’s adored by the Baltimore fans, and rightfully so, but the pressure from across the league is red hot now and it’s time for Jackson to deliver when it matters most.

6. Dak Prescott

Last season, despite Dallas missing the playoffs, might have actually been the best of Prescott’s career. He ranked 3^rd in the NFL for passing yards (4,552) and 4^th for passing touchdowns (30) in the regular season and was inspirational in getting his team over the line on multiple occasions. Having said this, his resume lists a playoff record if 2-5, highlighted, underlined and boldened. The NFC East appears up for grabs with Philadelphia having weakened, and Dallas’ favourable schedule could at least present Prescott with the opportunity to not only get a 3^rd playoff win but potentially make a deep run. It remains to be seen whether Prescott will finally be supported by a playoff-level defense, but it certainly underwent major offseason renovations and should keep the Cowboys in most games. The age-old question – is this finally Prescott and the Cowboys’ year?

5. Deshaun Watson

In the final year of his regrettable 5-year, $230 million mega deal, Watson has been named ahead of Shedeur Sanders as the Browns’ starting quarterback. The reaction from Cleveland fans and the wider league was primarily disappointment, with most believing that it was time to look to the future and give Sanders a full season to develop. It’s hard to know what a realistic aim is for both Watson and the team this year, but he will at least need to get the best out of the youthful skill players – KC Concepcion, Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr. and Denzel Boston – that the team has invested in to justify the decision. His leash as the starter appears very short and a poor start to 2026 could signal the end of Watson’s Browns career very quickly, and it would become hard to see which team might offer him a lifeline if so. Well and truly feeling the heat.

4. CJ Stroud

Just what has happened to Stroud since his legendary, record-breaking rookie season? It’s hard to put a finger on it, but the difference is night and day. On the back of one of the league’s best defenses, the Texans have overcome Stroud’s struggles and still made their way to the divisional round in each of the last 2 seasons, which makes those struggles all the more frustrating for Texans fans, who truly believe that their team can become a genuine contender if he can recapture his rookie season form. A difference maker for Stroud could be the return of Tank Dell, with whom he formed a captivating connection in 2023. Houston’s front office went all out to protect Stroud by revamping the offensive line and recently trading for Kayshon Boutte, who, alongside Dell, will offer depth behind Nico Collins. Stroud is out of excuses and it’s now time to live up to the hype and show why Houston selected him 2^nd overall in ’23.

3. Kyler Murray

Following his release from Arizona (where he was taken 1^st overall in 2019), Murray begins a fresh start in Minnesota. He’s been given the nod ahead of JJ McCarthy as the team’s starter, and the opportunity to go to work alongside the All-World Justin Jefferson might be what is required to get the best out of Murray. There’s no doubting his supreme dual-threat talent, as a Heisman trophy and Offensive Rookie of the Year winner, who started the movement of dual-threat quarterbacks across the league. With all this being said, the release of Murray out of Arizona didn’t come out of nowhere. He struggled big time for the best part of 18 months, before Jacoby Brissett assumed the starting duties halfway through 2025, adding emphasis to Murray’s disappointing stretch by bringing the Cardinals’ offense back to life to end the season. The pressure is scorching for Murray as he attempts to save his career.

2. Joe Burrow

He’s the greatest arm-talent in the NFL and has shown it in spades across his 6 seasons, but he’s blessed with one of the top rosters in the league this season and absolutely must capitalise. Going hand-in-hand with head coach Zac Taylor, who Bengals fans have attributed a much greater portion of blame to for the team’s failed seasons, Burrow is in the gun and needs to deliver an MVP-calibre season to put Cincinnati right back in contention. While it remains to be seen how they perform in season, the Bengals’ defense has received heavy investment and should ease the reliance on Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase the chance to have to win games on their own backs. A supremely talented quarterback complimented by a supremely talented team, anything less than a solid playoff run would be incredibly disappointing.

1. Justin Herbert

There’s simply no more excuses for Justin Herbert. His past 2 playoff performances have been unacceptable and to his credit, he’s owned it. Though he’s never been given an elite supporting cast, he and Jim Harbaugh have gotten the best out of those around him in the past few regular seasons. But unfortunately, when it counts, he hasn’t gotten it done, so much so, that theories have circulated that Herbert was ‘thunderstruck’ at half-time of that infamous playoff game against Jacksonville in 2023, where Herbert and the Chargers squandered a 27-0 lead. Herbert will no longer have the support of all-time Charger Keenan Allen, but what his offense lost on the field, they gained off it with the hiring of Mike McDaniel as the team’s offensive co-ordinator. His creative playcalling may be what is required to overcome the hurdles that the offense have ran into during recent playoff games. He’ll be under the microscope all year and simply must add a playoff win to his resume.

Which quarterback is under the pump in 2026 and needs a huge season?