Week 2 is wrapped up, which means fans have had a look at NFC West quarterbacks in the preseason and regular season. As such, we have a much better idea of the quarterbacks now than a month ago. With this being the case, it’s time to take a hard look at the state of the quarterbacks in the NFC West. Believe it or not, multiple backup quarterbacks made the final five.
Unfortunately, no Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks made the top five. Carson Beck is still looking for his first start, and Jacoby Brissett has become famous for struggling to win games. Beck could make a case to be added later this season, but he will need to set foot on a regular-season field first. Here’s a look at the top five quarterbacks in the NFC West.
Mac Jones Edges Into Best 5 NFC West QBs
#5 – Mac Jones
Mac Jones has popped with multiple head coaches in multiple situations. While his ceiling is pretty much played out, the quarterback still has given defenses reason to take him seriously. Jones put together a 5-3 run last year, which has all but said what needs to be said. His 13 touchdowns and six interceptions could convince a team to give him a run in a quarterback rebuild when his contract in San Francisco is up.
#4 – Drew Lock
Drew Lock managed to come off the bench and defeat the Super Bowl opponents in a game the Patriots had circled for months. He followed that up by helping shut down a 1-0 Cardinals team. In Week 2 of 2026, Lock looks like the quarterback John Elway thought he was getting in Denver.
Through two games, the quarterback has thrown for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. If Lock keeps it up, he may have a shot at competing for a starting job after his run in Seattle ends.
#3 – Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold’s recent injury is cause for concern, but the quarterback has a Super Bowl ring. A recent Super Bowl ring cancels plenty of criticism, but not all.
Darnold struggled for his first seven years in the NFL, which cannot be overlooked. However, at this point in his career, he has learned how to avoid losing games and has exploded with two different franchises. At this point, he has earned the benefit of the doubt.
#2 – Brock Purdy
Brock Purdy reminded fans that he can still play well in Australia. Of course, aside from injury troubles and a down season in 2024, the quarterback has been more consistent than most.
Purdy currently holds five touchdowns and one interception on his stat sheet, which could set him up for his best season yet. As a Super Bowl quarterback, Purdy has proven more than all but one quarterback in the division.
#1 – Matthew Stafford
Heading into Week 2, Matthew Stafford was at risk of falling behind Brock Purdy. However, his struggles now can be chalked up to Sean McVay’s apparent decision to do the bare minimum time commitment for the Australia trip.
Stafford’s explosive showing against the New York Giants proved that the Los Angeles Rams quarterback is still in top shape.
The 2025 MVP erased all doubts about his struggles in Australia with four touchdown passes to a receiving group that lacked Puka Nacua. At this point, Stafford’s league-leading 46 touchdown passes in 2025, combined with his strong showing in Week 2, have made a case that’s impossible to beat.