2026 NFL QB Tiers: Patrick Mahomes’ unanimous run ends, Lamar Jackson slips into loaded Tier 2 – The Athletic
Love has climbed in QB Tiers every season, cracking the top 10 for the first time.
“He’s good — I was surprised,” an opposing defensive coordinator said. “Really solid, mobile, threw with better accuracy than I thought. I’d give him a 2.”
Love ranked second to Maye in EPA per pass play last season.
“Smart, can do things at the line, has the arm talent, the mobility when he needs it, but knows how to sit in and deliver,” another defensive coordinator said. “Not a consistent killer yet, but if he plays good ball, you can win a Super Bowl with him.”
As for that No. 2 ranking in EPA per pass play: Stafford, Brock Purdy, Goff, Prescott, Allen and Daniel Jones were next, followed by Mahomes, Mac Jones and Bo Nix. The varied composition of that list shows why statistics are only part of the equation. Systems and supporting casts matter.
“There are years where I could have pushed Love up to the bottom of Tier 1, top of Tier 2,” another defensive coach said. “He needs more consistency, week-in and week-out. He has some WTF plays and throws, like, ‘Why are you doing this?’”
Finding greater consistency was a recurring theme for Love.
“He is still coming into his own as a player,” another defensive coordinator said. “Early on, he was trying to be Aaron Rodgers. You could tell from his mannerisms: too cool for school. I think he is starting to settle into who he really is. He has the size, the length, all the tools.”
Comparisons to Rodgers and even Brett Favre were inevitable. Are they fair?
“If you can create pressure on him and make him move around, it ain’t the same,” an exec placing Love in Tier 3 said. “It took Aaron Rodgers three years to learn how to manipulate the pocket. Brett just did it. The question is, can Love learn it?”
The inconsistency made Love one of the tougher QBs for voters to evaluate. Improved play from the offensive line could help steady him.
“I used to think Josh Allen was a 2 because he just does too much where I go, ‘OK, it’s not by the book, it doesn’t always look the way it is supposed to, but God, is it productive,’” an offensive coach said. “Jordan Love is the Tier 2 version of that. He is at times careless and overly aggressive. It looks like it shouldn’t be working, and he’s getting away with things.
“But he’s always getting away with them, so at some point, I just have to tip my cap and be impressed.”
