Joe Burrow landed just outside the top tier in Sports Illustrated’s latest starting quarterback rankings, coming in fifth on the outlet’s 1-32 list ahead of the 2026 training camp.
The order at the top was Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson and then Burrow. That placement is a small dip from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler ranking, where scouts, coaches and executives had Burrow fourth.
The explanation came back to the same issue that follows Burrow everywhere: health.
“As always, will Burrow be healthy?” the article questioned.
“Through six NFL seasons, he’s been thwarted by injuries, playing 10 games or fewer in three campaigns. When healthy, Burrow has been a superstar, winning the passing crown in 2024, while also going to the Super Bowl (‘21) and then reaching a second consecutive AFC title game (‘22).
"In a wide-open AFC, Cincinnati has a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in four years and then make noise once there if Burrow remains upright. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the outside, along with 1,000-yard rusher Chase Brown in the backfield, the Bengals’ offense is poised to be among the best. If Burrow plays 17 games, he’s a preseason favorite in the MVP race."
Mahomes, meanwhile, was grouped right alongside Burrow in the same elite conversation, even if the article pointed out a different kind of concern. The Chiefs star is coming off a torn ACL and, by his standards, a down season.
Still, the case for Mahomes remains obvious. He was a top-10 passer by efficiency last season and has the hardware to back up just about any argument in his favor.
“Mahomes is coming off his first major injury after tearing his left ACL in Week 15 against the Chargers,” the article noted. “Despite being limited to 14 games, Mahomes still finished sixth in EPA at +65.2, directly ahead of Allen.
Still, Kansas City went 6-11, missing the playoffs and falling short of the AFC title game for the first time since Mahomes became a starter in 2018. This year, Mahomes will have Kenneth Walker III in the backfield to help shoulder the offensive burden.
If Walker runs for 1,000 yards, it will be the first time a back has done it in Mahomes’s career.
"In the passing game, Mahomes will be relying on Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce to help him eclipse 4,000 yards passing, a threshold not reached since 2023. Mahomes is a three-time champion.
He’s reached five Super Bowls and seven AFC title games, while also being a three-time Super Bowl MVP, a two-time NFL MVP, a two-time first-team All-Pro, and has twice thrown for 5,000 yards. Still, he has something to prove in 2026 with a few passers gunning for the top spot."
The bigger picture is simple: every quarterback in this group has either won an MVP or reached a Super Bowl more recently than Burrow. That’s what makes the race so tight, and why recent production matters so much in these rankings.
Burrow still has the kind of talent around him to force his way back into that conversation. With Chase, Higgins and Brown in place, the Bengals have the pieces for a big season if their quarterback stays on the field. And if he does, the article makes clear he’ll be right back in the MVP mix.
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