CHTV's Quarterback Rankings For The 2026 NFL Draft
Newt breaks down his top quarterbacks in this year’s NFL Draft class and runs through the rankings, traits, strengths/concerns, and draft range for his top prospects.
By Newt Westen
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Newt Westen is the Founder of 0-Tech Draft, contributor for The Draft Professor and Lead NFL Draft Analyst for CheeseheadTV.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan and you can follow Newt at @NFLDraft_Westen on X.
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Comments (15)
golfpacker61
March 31, 2026 at 12:37 pm
Does GB need to draft a QB this year? I thought we already have 2 younger talented backups already in Ridder and McCord.
Newt Westen
March 31, 2026 at 12:42 pm
Running through a final ranking for every position. QB was naturally an easy place to start. We also talked about most of these guys in the early ranking, so it gave an opportunity to discuss the format of these final rankings.
Also, I don't think McCord or Ridder on the roster would prevent the Packers from drafting a QB that they really like with 236 or 255. That's just my opinion, of course.
golfpacker61
March 31, 2026 at 02:17 pm
Newt do you really think anyone we could draft with a pick after the 4th round this year, would be even close to the talent that Ridder and McCord have now? Plus they are both cheap just like a draft QB would be.
I understand having an article about the draft QBs, I just can't see wasting a draft pick on one who won't even make the team. Those 7 picks are all we have right now, but we need 10 to fill needs.
Newt Westen
March 31, 2026 at 02:48 pm
Ridder was waived/released by 4 teams in the last 18 months, and McCord was brought in from Philly's practice squad with absolutely no regular-season experience to date. Forgive me if I don't think either of these guys are talented.
The Packers have drafted a QB in the 5th round or later in two of the last three drafts. While I might not use a late draft pick on one, Gute has shown he may.
GregC
March 31, 2026 at 03:08 pm
The Desmond Ridder of a few years ago would seem like a good backup QB to me, but for some reason, his career took a nosedive last year. There were times when he was out of the NFL entirely--not even on a practice squad. The Vikings chose not to elevate him to their roster in spite of numerous QB injuries and extremely poor play by their backups. What happened? Did he have an undisclosed injury that affected his mechanics? Is he losing his desire to play the game? Without knowing what went on, I would be extremely leery of relying on Ridder as the Packers' primary backup.
golfpacker61
March 31, 2026 at 06:01 pm
Well Greg, it is the Vikings. They have been slightly above the Bears when it come to ruining QBs. GB is the first good team Ridder has been on, I think he will be decent.
Newt Westen
March 31, 2026 at 07:12 pm
The Vikings ruin QBs?!?!? Did we not just see Sam Darnold win a Super Bowl? A lot of that turnaround started with KOC in Minnesota. Kirk Cousins played arguably his best football when KOC was the coach. I have no love for the Vikings, but that's a bad take in my opinion.
Bitternotsour
March 31, 2026 at 07:37 pm
See also: McCarthy, JJ.
LeotisHarris
March 31, 2026 at 07:52 pm
Christian Ponder
Sam Bradford
Teddy Bridgewater
Tavaris Jackson
Matt Cassell
It's a minefield, Newt. KOC and JJ may ride out together after this season.
Newt Westen
March 31, 2026 at 08:20 pm
Literally none of those guys were around once KOC became the head coach.
Newt Westen
March 31, 2026 at 08:20 pm
The Packers released Pratt before the season even started and Clifford a year after drafting him because they didn’t pan out. Would you say the Packers can’t develop a QB?
Pointing to guys who don’t work out is a lazy cop out.
Bitternotsour
April 01, 2026 at 12:06 am
Favre - Rodgers - Love.
Show us where the bad person touched you
Newt Westen
April 01, 2026 at 05:22 am
Circular reasoning and pedophilic insults. Cool bud, I think I’ll bow out now if that’s what the discussion had gone to.
GregC
March 31, 2026 at 09:20 pm
How could the Vikings ruin him if he couldn't even make the team? They didn't even want him on their practice squad. And neither did anyone else. A former third round pick who had started in the NFL, still young, and no NFL team thought he deserved to be on their practice squad for most of last season. Doesn't that seem like a red flag to you?
I would love for Ridder to be the solution at backup QB. When the Packers first got him, I thought maybe he would be. But when I took a closer look at what the 2025 season was like for him, I decided he's probably not going to be the guy.
golfpacker61
April 01, 2026 at 10:24 am
The Vikings are so smart with QBs that they let Darnold go after a fabulous year, and they got virtually nothing for him. At worst if they didn't want him they could have signed and traded him for a first round pick. Cousins is a slightly above average QB who plays with a chip on his shoulder just like Baker Mayfield.
The Vikings were a total mess in the QB room last year, so it doesn't surprise me they bailed on Ridder quickly when he didn't set the world on fire in Minn. Darnold is exactly the kind of success story that a QB can have when put in the right situation. The Vikings had a magic season in 2024 and won many contested games with late comebacks. And they were talented too, some very talented WRs that could help a QB like Darnold.
GB is Ridders first real opportunity to catch on with a top flite organization and I think the coaching and support he will get will make him a better QB in 2026. I also think McCord is potentially better than anyone we would waste a draft pick on in this draft.
Lastly Newt, I love the draft and appreciate the articles you do. People aren't always going to agree with you or me, but it seems like you take offense too easily.