The second-year quarterbacks who could break out during the 2026 NFL season
Examples of quarterbacks who excelled in their second season include Mahomes, Lamar, and Burrow
With the NFL regular season getting close it's a good time to remember that thru years second-year quarterbacks have exceeded expectations. Take for example Dan Marino in 1984 with 23 years winning the MVP after throwing for a record that lasted decades with 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns while leading the Dolphins to the Super Bowl.
In more recent years Patrick Mahomes , also at 23 years, threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns becoming only the second player with such numbers (following Peyton Manning in 2013) and winning the MVP.
The year after Mahomes, Lamar Jackson also had an MVP season at 22 years old by being the first quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards (3,127) and rush for over 1,000 in a single season (1,206) . Or even last year, Drake Maye finished second in MVP voting after leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl against all odds
Sophomore Signal-Callers Primed to Take a Leap in 2026
Last season 14 quarterbacks were taken in the draft , but only three played over 10 games, and those three possess the best chances to stage a second-year breakout.
Cam Ward ( Titans ): The first overall pick in 2025 was the only rookie to play all 17 games, finishing with a rookie-high 3,169 yards and 15 passing touchdowns , though a 3-14 record resulted in the arrival of a new head coach in Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for this campaign.
Jaxson Dart ( Giants ): The 25th overall pick started 12 games, compiling a 4-8 record with 2,272 passing yards and 24 total touchdowns (15 passing) . He flashed immense dual-threat dynamism, though struggles with avoiding heavy hits cut parts of his debut season short. Armed with an experienced winning head coach in John Harbaugh and a reinforced roster, Dart enters 2026 with every tool needed for a stellar campaign.
Tyler Shough ( Saints ): Selected 40th overall, Shough wasn't originally slated to start in New Orleans, but after taking over the job in week eight he never looked back, finishing with a 5-4 record, 2,384 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns , and a rookie-best 67.6% completion rate. Backed by a favorable schedule, Shough has all the momentum to guide the Saints toward the NFC South crown if the team remains healthy.
