CBS Sports puts Caleb Williams on overrated QB list for 2026

Caleb Williams may have the “Madden NFL 27” cover, a Bears passing record and a playoff comeback on his résumé, but CBS Sports says the Chicago quarterback is carrying more buzz than his 2025 tape can justify.

In a new quarterback analysis, CBS Sports writer Garrett Podell named Williams, Bo Nix and Baker Mayfield among the NFL’s most overrated passers entering 2026. On the other side, Podell listed Dak Prescott, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence as underrated.

Williams’ wild ride draws scrutiny

Podell pointed to Williams’ electric moments, including Chicago’s rally from an 18-point deficit to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the wild-card round. CBS Sports also noted his fourth-down touchdown throw that helped force overtime against the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.

Williams finished the 2025 regular season with 3,942 passing yards, which CBS Sports said set the Bears’ single-season franchise record. He also posted 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 6.94 yards per attempt.

The concern, according to Podell, is accuracy and postseason efficiency. Williams completed 24 of 48 passes with two interceptions against Green Bay, then went 23 of 42 with three interceptions against the Rams. CBS Sports said his overtime interception in the Rams game helped end Chicago’s season.

Podell also cited Williams’ regular-season completion rate of 58.1%, second-worst among 33 qualified quarterbacks. CBS Sports said he had 12 games at 60% completions or lower, the most in the NFL in 2025.

Nix and Mayfield also land in the overrated group

Denver’s Bo Nix made the list after leading the league with 612 pass attempts while falling short of 4,000 passing yards. CBS Sports said his 6.4 yards per attempt ranked 28th among qualified quarterbacks, and noted the Broncos punted 75 times in 2025.

Podell wrote that Nix benefited from a strong offensive line and defense, while also mentioning an ankle injury as a factor to watch.

Mayfield’s case centers on Tampa Bay’s slide. CBS Sports said he opened 2025 with 12 touchdown passes and one interception during a 5-1 start, then threw 14 touchdowns and 10 picks as the Buccaneers lost eight of their final 11 games and finished 8-9.

According to CBS Sports, Mayfield posted his worst marks with Tampa Bay in wins and losses, completion percentage, passing yards per game, touchdown passes and passer rating. He enters the final year of his contract in 2026.

Prescott leads the underrated side

Podell gave Dak Prescott the top billing among underrated quarterbacks after his return from a season-ending torn hamstring. CBS Sports said Prescott threw for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2025 while Dallas had the NFL’s worst scoring defense.

Prescott ranked third in passing yards, fourth in touchdown passes and 10th in passer rating, according to the CBS Sports breakdown. Podell also wrote that Prescott became the ninth quarterback in NFL history with a third 4,500-yard passing season.

Green Bay’s Jordan Love also made the underrated list. CBS Sports said only Love and Matthew Stafford have produced at least nine wins, 20 passing touchdowns and fewer than 12 interceptions in each of the last three seasons.

Love threw for 329 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in Green Bay’s playoff loss to Chicago, according to CBS Sports. Podell also noted that the Packers’ offensive line allowed pressure on 40.9% of dropbacks in 2025, the fourth-highest rate in the league.

Trevor Lawrence rounded out the underrated trio after a hot finish in Liam Coen’s offense. CBS Sports said Lawrence led the NFL with 24 total touchdowns over the final eight regular-season games, as Jacksonville went 8-0 to finish 13-4 and win the AFC South.

Podell cited CBS Sports Research in noting that Lawrence joined Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers as the only players with at least 19 total touchdowns and one or fewer turnovers over the final six games of a season.

This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.