Top 10 NFL QBs: Josh Allen Or Patrick Mahomes At No. 1? Caleb Williams Top 5?

The debate over who is the best quarterback in the NFL might be the most open it's been in years. Patrick Mahomes struggled in 2025 before tearing his ACL, leading to some questions about what his future might look like. Josh Allen won MVP in 2024 and has been a strong contender for the award in recent years, but he hasn't gotten over the hump in the playoffs. Matthew Stafford won his first MVP in 2025, although he's 38 entering the new season. And we can't count out young quarterbacks like Drake Maye and Caleb Williams from the discussion either, even if they haven't had sustained success yet. So, as the debate over the quarterback hierarchy rages on, Colin Cowherd gave a try at ranking the top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL ahead of the 2026 season on "The Herd." Cowherd's thoughts: "Drake Maye edges out Lamar Jackson. Listen, he was the first quarterback in league history to ever have a 70% completion percentage and 4,000 passing yards before turning 25. It feels like he's in his prime and he's a kid and he did it last year with a bad offensive line and an average running game. No one thought they would get to the Super Bowl. He was the most accurate quarterback in the NFL last season, for a kid! He reminds me a little bit of Herbert with a little bit of accuracy." Cowherd's thoughts: "The most underrated player in the league is Jordan Love. I'm pretty sure Jordan Love is underrated. Now, he gets off to bad Septembers. It's inexplicable. It's bad. I cannot explain Septembers. He completes 60% of his throws since he's been a pro quarterback in September and he's 4-5-1. I think it's Matt LaFleur's offense. … But in terms of arm, whip, size, smarts, toughness — he'll get banged up, but he doesn't miss a lot of starts — I think he's a huge talent." Cowherd's thoughts: "Goff's one of these guys that got a new coordinator — again, we're considering everything. He doesn't miss starts, he's unbelievable from the pocket. He does need O-line protection to flourish. But he's got Drew Petzing. Last year, the OC situation wasn't ideal. He wasn't quite the same. But he leads the NFL in passing yards, passing touchdowns and wins over the last three seasons. That accounts for a lot." Cowherd's thoughts: "I don't know what there is to argue. Last four seasons, four different teams, he's 28-6. He's now got a trophy. He is one of the two quarterbacks in the whole league with 4,000-plus passing yards in back-to-back seasons. He led the Seahawks with a defensive coach having lost DK Metcalf and a running back that couldn't stay healthy to the No. 1 offense in probably the second-best division in football. He's in his prime. … He's one of the younger great quarterbacks in the league. Really, if you look at his age, he's got six years of prime left." Cowherd's thoughts: "I love Joe Burrow. But, in two of the last three seasons, he gets banged up, [and] only played eight games last year. I also think he doesn't have the support system of a Herbert, Patrick Mahomes or now, with Ben Johnson, a Caleb Williams. I love Burrow. He's the all-time leader in completion percentage. He's one of the great third-down quarterbacks.  think he's in Brady's category, Mahomes' category. I think he's unbelievable. I have to consider everything: durability and offensive line, which have yet to be mediocre, have to be considered." Cowherd's thoughts: "Justin Herbert has a new coordinator. He finally has a head coach and a big-time OC, Mike McDaniel. By the way, the remarkable thing about Herbert: he made the playoffs with the 30th-ranked offensive line. I've seen Mahomes get buried in a Super Bowl when he had a bad O-line. This kid made the playoffs and he was getting hammered for 17 straight weeks." Cowherd's thoughts: "My one old guy [on this list]. He had the highest passer rating in the league. Is his back going to hold up? Will he have a left tackle? I don't know. I just know that when he lets go of the football, it is a thing of beauty. Pre-snap, post-snap, I don't get a lot of movement. If it's just pure throwing the football and reading the defense, he is near the top." Cowherd's thoughts: "I don't know why people will push back on this. … Folks, he made two plays in the playoffs last year — one against the Green Bay and one against the Rams — that broke football physics. It was early Mahomes. They just didn't make any sense. The throw up the left sideline against Green Bay just made no damn sense. The throw in the back of the end zone against the Rams — what in God's name is happening? That's early Mahomes. By the way, lowest interception percentage of any quarterback in league history with 1,110 attempts." Cowherd's thoughts: "He now has a run game and an upgraded O-line. I think he will be Patrick Mahomes again, but I need to wait and see it. The most remarkable stat about Patrick Mahomes is this: He's won half the games in his career, 20-20, when he's trailed by 10-plus points. He is the great [John] Elway. He is the great ‘come from behind’ quarterback of my life." Cowherd's thoughts: "Josh Allen has his health. He's a force of nature. Six straight years with at least one playoff win. He's in his prime. He's done remarkable things with a coach on the defensive side that got fired. I think his organization, in my opinion, has let him down. I don't think he's had Patrick Mahomes infrastructure. That's not saying he would have as many trophies as Mahomes. But I think his size, his arm, he's healthy, he's in his prime, Josh Allen is the best quarterback in this sport."

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Adam Vinatieri Set For Lucas Oil Stadium Return in Colts’ Ring of Honor Induction

Adam Vinatieri, the NFL's career scoring leader who was also widely considered the best clutch kicker in league history, will have one more celebration on the Indianapolis Colts' home turf this season when he's inducted into the team's Ring of Honor. Team officials announced Wednesday that Vinatieri would be honored during the Colts' game against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 18, a little more than two months after his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Vinatieri will become the Colts' 21st Ring of Honor honoree five years after he officially retired. He'll join a group that includes former teammates and fellow Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeney, as well as Robert Mathis, Jeff Saturday and Reggie Wayne. Tony Dungy, the Hall of Fame coach for whom Vinatieri played; Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian, who signed Vinatieri as a free agent before the 2006 season; and late team owner Jim Irsay are also in the Colts' ring. The four-time Super Bowl champion shocked many when he left New England as the franchise's career scoring leader after 10 seasons and wound up with longtime rival Indianapolis. But Vinatieri was far from finished and went on to break the Colts' career scoring mark, too. Though Vinatieri's stats tell one tale: He finished his career with 2,673 points and as the league's all-time leader in field goals made (599), field goal attempts (715), consecutive field goals made (44) and 100-plus point seasons (21). But it was his penchant for making kicks in the toughest conditions and most crucial moments that stuck with him. His 45-yard field goal into swirling winds amid snowy conditions for New England in a January 2002 AFC divisional round game tied it and sent the Patriots into overtime against the then-Oakland Raiders. He then kicked a 23-yarder to start New England's trek to coach Bill Belichick's first Super Bowl. Two weeks later, Vinatieri did it again by making a 43-yarder in the waning seconds to give the Patriots their first Super Bowl title with a 20-17 victory over the then-St. Louis Rams in much more ideal conditions. Vinatieri 41-yarder with 4 seconds left broke a 29-29 tie with the Carolina Panthers for New England's second Super Bowl title two years later. Vinatieri continued to excel in Indy, where he first played inside a dome stadium and later a retractable roof stadium. In January 2007, the South Dakota State alum made five field goals in a divisional round game that featured no touchdowns at Baltimore. The 15-6 victory set up an AFC title game rematch between the Colts and Patriots, this time in Indy with Vinatieri on the opposite sideline from Tom Brady and his ex-teammates. Vinatieri's playoff run continued as the Colts reached their first Super Bowl since the franchise moved to Indianapolis. Vinatieri made three more field goals and captured yet another ring while finishing that postseason with 49 points and 14 field goals, both one-season playoff records, while becoming the first player to make three or more field goals in four consecutive postseason games. Vinatieri ranks second all-time in NFL victories (242), regular-season wins (221) and postseason wins (21) and is one of five players who appeared in a game at age 46. He's the only player in league history to make 250 or more field goals and scored 1,000 points for two teams. The three-time All-Pro also was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a member of the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza Reveals Key Traits Between Klint Kubiak, Curt Cignetti

Fernando Mendoza went from winning the College Football Playoff National Championship with the Indiana Hoosiers to joining a team that was tied for the worst record in the NFL last season in the Las Vegas Raiders. But the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft sees a similarity between the two teams: the traits of new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti. "For example, [in practice], you make a big completion, and you're looking forward to seeing it on film, and then both of those guys would be like, 'Come on, really? You took an extra hitch,' or ‘Come on, instead of five yards you were at four and a half,’" Mendoza said on the latest episode of "The Rush With Maxx Crosby," which is hosted by the quarterback's teammate, Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. "And you're like, 'What? I literally took the perfect footwork, perfect read, perfect throw, awesome, explosive play.' And you're like, 'Bro, you got to give me a break, what's this guy talking about?' "Then you see, especially with Cignetti, having spent a whole season with him, like when he's riding me on all these things in fall camp, I'm like, 'You've got to be kidding me,' and then the season you see it show up. And it's like, 'OK, that pass was completed by this much because I was at the right depth or because I didn't take the extra hitch.' "You see the same similarities with Coach Kubiak pushing and really making sure you're doing everything, rather than giving you a pat on the back, finding something to improve, because I have a lot to improve on." The 39-year-old Kubiak is embarking on his first head-coaching stint, most recently serving as the offensive coordinator for the reigning Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks (2025) and New Orleans Saints (2024). Kubiak was previously the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (2023) and Denver Broncos (2022), among other positions. Meanwhile, Cignetti is doing one of the best coaching jobs, if not the best job, in college football history at Indiana. Following a three-year stretch during which the Hoosiers won just nine games (a combined 9-27 record from 2021-23), they went 11-2 in their first season under Cignetti, marking the first double-digit-winning season in program history and making their first appearance in the College Football Playoff. Then, Indiana put together a 16-0 campaign in 2025, capped off by winning the first national championship in program history. As for who was under center for Indiana last season, Mendoza transferred to play for the Hoosiers after three seasons with the California Golden Bears (2022-24). Starting all 16 games for Indiana, Mendoza totaled 3,535 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, six interceptions and a 182.9 passer rating, while completing 72.0% of his passes. He also rushed for 276 yards and seven touchdowns. Moreover, Mendoza threw for a combined eight touchdowns, completed 86.1% of his passes and posted a 245.5 passer rating over Indiana's quarterfinal and semifinal round wins over the Alabama Crimson Tide (38-3) and Oregon Ducks (56-22). Mendoza earned 2025 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors and won the 2025 Heisman Trophy Award. "One thing that I think Coach Cignetti and Coach Kubiak both preach, in a way, is that everyone's equal," Mendoza said. "And how I see that as a quarterback is killing the ego. Making sure that no matter what success I had at Indiana or what future success or whatever expectation, there's no ego there. The only motivation is getting better." As for Mendoza's new teammates, Las Vegas signed center and three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum (three-year, $81 million deal) and former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (three-year, $35 million deal) in free agency, among others. It also has star tight end Brock Bowers — who earned All-Pro honors in his 2024 rookie campaign — running back Ashton Jeanty (the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft) and wide receiver Tre Tucker, who totaled a career-high in receptions (57), receiving yards (696) and receiving touchdowns (five) in 2025. Of course, Mendoza could potentially begin his rookie season as the Raiders' backup quarterback, as they signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a two-year deal in April.

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Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's 'Love Story' Complete: Star Couple Gets Married At MSG

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, where actor Adam Sandler was the surprising officiant at a star-packed ceremony. The secrecy that surrounded the buildup to the nuptials lifted when a marquee outside the Midtown Manhattan arena proclaimed "JUST&T MARRIED" once the deed was done. The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen, instead opting for Swift’s brother Austin Swift to serve as her man of honor and Kelce’s brother and podcast co-host Jason Kelce serving as his best man, Swift's publicist Tree Paine said in an email. The bride and groom’s outfits came from Christian Dior Haute Couture and its designer Jonathan Anderson, with shoes custom-made by Christian Louboutin. She wore Cartier jewelry. The long-anticipated union of sports and song brought hype to new heights at a venue made more for historic NBA games and bucket-list concerts. The Kansas City Chiefs' superstar tight end and the music megastar married as fans and spectators gathered outside in blistering heat, eager to be part of the occasion, even though the event was almost entirely hidden. Singer Camila Cabello, actors Hugh Grant, Ethan Hawke and Jason Sudeikis, and model Karlie Kloss were among the guests. Running back Kareem Hunt was among Kelce's Chiefs teammates in attendance. Seattle Seahawks receiver and recent Super Bowl champ Cooper Kupp, New York Giants receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, NFL announcer Joe Buck and Jenny Han, author of the "The Summer I Turned Pretty" series were also seen entering the arena. In a culture obsessed with famous couplings, it may be the apex celebrity wedding, with perhaps only royal unions getting more attention. Holding such a ceremony in a huge, iconic space that sits at the center of the U.S. media universe while keeping all the details secret made for a surreal scene, but it was a mix of hype and hush that is not out of character for Swift. An Associated Press camera outside the arena showed a long line of black SUVs dropping off wedding-goers in tuxedos and evening gowns, surrounded by New Yorkers in shorts and Swifties amassing for the occasion. Celebrities, athletes and friends were posting on social media about getting ready or about to leave for a black-tie event, including Brandon Borders, producer of the New Heights podcast starring Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce; Beau Allen, retired defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles; and Jessica Chastain. There was a notable lack of social media posts from guests once they had entered the arena, after reports that phones would not be allowed. Rain began falling soon after the marriage was announced. Weddings have been a constant subject in Swift’s songs since she was a teenager, and her actually walking the aisle for the first time at age 36 adds to the drama. It would also be a first marriage for the 36-year-old three-time Super Bowl champ Kelce, who could have been one of the jock characters in Swift's early hits. Sandler, star of "The Wedding Singer" and many other hit comedies, can’t have been high on anyone’s betting list for who would marry the couple, though he’s become an increasingly warm and paternal cultural figure with age. The email announcing the marriage described him as "a friend" of the couple. Kelce was one of the many athletes who appeared in "Happy Gilmore 2," Sandler's 2025 sequel to one of his earlier hits. The relationship of the pop star and the football player has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world — particularly the Swifties, the pop star’s enormous and ardent fan base — ever since the pair first started dating in 2023. Outside the arena, some frazzled tourists mixed with happy fans. Lori Powers, who lives an hour north of Manhattan and rode the train in to be near the nuptials, said Swift's "music is the soundtrack behind so many amazing moments in my life. Relationships, friends, like my husband and my kids." She stood outside the arena before the marriage was announced with her friend Cecily Hall. "Just being here and witnessing all the energy and the excitement, it’s so much fun," Hall said. "The combination of sports and music makes perfect sense as to why they’re at Madison Square Garden today." Questions remain about who may perform and what it looked like inside the affair that could go well into the night. Reporting by The Associated Press.

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2026 NFL Odds: Josh Allen, Buffalo Best Bet To Win AFC East

The Fourth of July is a great time to celebrate. Hot dogs, hamburgers, fireworks and warm weather — Independence Day is a 1-seed when it comes to holidays. The nation’s birthday also means football is right around the corner. The late, great John Madden used to say July 4 is what he considered the start of football season, as training camp is just weeks away, and the start of the regular season is just two months away. As we prep for football season and fantasy drafts, the best bet I think to be made right now is the Buffalo Bills to win the AFC East at -125. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. The Bills had won this division five consecutive years until last season, when the New England Patriots unseated the Bills on their way to another AFC championship. But last year, the Patriots had a pillow-soft schedule, playing just four of their 17 games against teams that would go on to make the playoffs. The Steelers, Panthers and two games against the Bills were the only other playoff teams the Patriots encountered last regular season, and this year, a first-place schedule will give the Pats a significantly tougher test. That schedule includes the Jaguars, Broncos, Seahawks, Chiefs, Chargers, Lions, Packers, Bears and two games against the Bills. The Super Bowl hangover has long been an obstacle for teams who struggle to bounce back the following year after losing the Big Game, and the last three Super Bowl losers combined to win zero playoff games the following year, with two of those teams missing the playoffs entirely. The Bills finished runners-up in the AFC East last year but were still able to win 12 games. That was their seventh consecutive double-digit win season. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is one of the league’s best and most durable players. While his teams have yet to get over the hump and win — or even play in — a Super Bowl, he’s a regular-season winning machine. With Allen, the Bills have won 10 or more games every year except for his rookie year in 2018. With the Patriots' difficult schedule and the consistency of the Bills, I like the AFC East to once again go back to the Bills for what would be a sixth division title in seven years. PICK: Bills (-125) to win AFC East

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Sports World Reacts To Folarin Balogun's Controversial Red Card In USA Win: 'Man What'

The U.S. men's soccer team defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the World Cup round of 16, but the victory came with some controversy that could hurt the team in the long run. Folarin Balogun received a red card during the 64th minute of the matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The USA star forward stepped on Bosnia and Herzegovina center back Tarik Muharemovic's ankle as he was falling while challenging a ball. Balogun wasn't called for a red card initially. However, after a VAR check, it was determined that Balogun's challenge was worthy of a red card. So, even though the USA's victory was a joyful occasion, many in the sports world were stunned by the decision to give Balogun a red card. Even some in the NFL thought the call was bad, like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Future Pro Football Hall of Famers JJ Watt and Jason Kelce weighed in, too. In the basketball community, Basketball Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki and New York Knicks standout Josh Hart also joined the chorus. FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas thought there was an inconsistency with the VAR decision that led to Balogun's red card. He shared a picture of Lionel Messi making a similar play earlier in the World Cup that didn't lead to a VAR check. Soccer broadcaster Ian Darke, meanwhile, thought that the play was worthy of a card, but not a red. On a different note, NBA icon LeBron James weighed in on the goal Balogun scored earlier in the night. As Balogun used James' iconic silencer celebration, the NBA's all-time leading scorer saluted him.

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More Magic At MSG: Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce To Hold Wedding At Iconic NYC Venue

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will have their wedding at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the security plans. The festivities will kick off with a smaller rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night, the official said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the events. Speculation about the superstar singer and football player’s nuptials has built to a frenzy in recent days, following weeks of unconfirmed reports that it would take place over July Fourth weekend at one of New York’s iconic landmarks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Wednesday that a permit had been filed for a "large event" at Madison Square Garden. "We are fully prepared," he added. "There isn’t anything to share beyond that." New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said police "will of course have a detail in place," but also declined to go into further detail. This week, crews have been unloading equipment from trucks outside the Manhattan arena. A large carpet was briefly unveiled outside one entrance and then promptly removed. Nothing has been publicly confirmed by the couple, despite multiple requests from The Associated Press to Swift’s representative for comment, including on Wednesday. Reporting by The Associated Press.

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