Josh Allen earns honor Patrick Mahomes held for years

Josh Allen earns honor Patrick Mahomes held for years originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Josh Allen has spent years chasing Patrick Mahomes in discussions about the NFL’s best quarterback. According to ESPN’s latest survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts, the Buffalo Bills star has finally climbed to the top of that conversation.

Josh Allen Earns Top Spot In ESPN’s NFL Quarterback Rankings

Allen finished No. 1 in ESPN’s annual quarterback rankings after receiving votes from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. The survey, compiled by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, marked the first time Allen edged Mahomes for the top position after years of finishing just behind the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback.

One NFL general manager explained why Allen deserved the honor. “He’s the most singularly unstoppable player at the position when you get his A-game,” the executive told ESPN. The evaluator also pointed to Allen’s improved ball security after years of criticism over costly turnovers.

That improvement has become one of the biggest reasons Allen’s game continues evolving. Since 2024, he has averaged only eight interceptions per season after throwing nearly twice that many annually between 2021 and 2023. His ball security has also improved on designed runs, even while remaining one of football’s most productive rushing quarterbacks.

League evaluators also believe Allen’s impact extends well beyond his own statistics. An NFL coordinator told ESPN that Allen consistently elevates the players around him, adding, “Look who he was throwing to. His wideouts weren’t great. But he made it work and brought out their best.”

Several coaches credited Bills head coach Joe Brady for helping refine Allen’s approach over the past two seasons. They believe Brady built an offense that highlights Allen’s unique blend of arm strength, mobility, and decision-making, rather than forcing him into unnecessary risks.

Allen still has areas to improve after four turnovers in Buffalo’s playoff loss to Denver last season. Even so, the latest league-wide vote suggests NFL decision-makers now view the Bills quarterback as the standard at his position entering the 2026 season.

More NFL news: