Player rankings are ridiculous. That much is established offseason after offseason, and this year is no different. We've already laughed at the NFL Top 100, and it's got a long way to go. Already-released quarterback rankings have made us roll our eyes, and we're likely going to get 20 more lists like it. But we were a bit surprised to see some common sense coming from an unlikely source when it comes to sizing up Patrick Mahomes for the 2026 season.
Talking head Colin Cowherd—that's about as friendly as his title ever needs to be—unveiled his top 10 quarterbacks for the '26 season recently, and he had Mahomes coming in at No. 2 overall. He slotted the Chiefs superstar just behind Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.
“Coming off of an injury, Mahomes is No. 2," said Cowherd. "He now has a run game and an upgraded o-line. I think he will be Patrick Mahomes again, but I’m gonna wait to see it. I think the most remarkable stat about Patrick Mahomes actually is this: He has won half the games in his career—20 and 20—that he’s trailed by at least 10-plus points. He is the great Elway. He is the great come-from-behind quarterback of my life. Brady didn’t trail that much, it feels like. Elway trailed a lot in big games. Mahomes is the greatest come-from-behind quarterback of my life.”
Of course, we'd love to see Mahomes at No. 1 in every ranking, but despite our bias, even we can admit that Allen deserves to be at the top. Mahomes is coming off of an injury-shortened season that's led to serious recovery questions for the entire offseason. And it's not as if the Chiefs' offense was anything to write home about before he went down in Week 15 against the L.A. Chargers with torn knee ligaments. Perspective is needed.
That said, we're also glad to see Cowherd consider the greater body of work here and admit that a single injury—or even a frustrating season for Kansas City overall—doesn't negate the benefit of the doubt that belongs to an all-time great at the position who is just now entering his thirties. As boring as the Chiefs' offense has been, Mahomes is the one making anything happen despite a lack of proven playmakers, an aging tight end, and an inept ground game.
When all is said and done, Mahomes actually has chance to turn all of these narratives on their heads pretty quickly—assuming he can take the field in Week 1 like reports suggest. Everyone loves a comeback story, and Mahomes will have reporters anxious to write one on his behalf. He's already won three championships and the highest accolades available to any one individual in the sport, so it makes sense that the ultimate rebound would be the next chapter in the book. And at least Cowherd can call himself a believer all along.
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