ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky has ranked Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen as having the strongest arm among all NFL quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season.
Orlovsky released his annual rankings of quarterbacks by specific traits, placing Allen at the top of the arm strength category for what has become a consistent recognition of the Bills signal-caller’s elite throwing power.
The full top 10 list for arm strength, as shared widely including in an X post from SleeperNFL, reads: 1. Josh Allen, 2. Justin Herbert, 3. Caleb Williams, 4. Matthew Stafford, 5. Patrick Mahomes, 6. Baker Mayfield, 7. Drake Maye, 8. Joe Burrow, 9. Lamar Jackson, 10. Dak Prescott.
Orlovsky explained his criteria for evaluating arm strength goes beyond the most obvious deep throws.
“There are different kinds of arm strength. Everyone immediately looks at deep balls — the 60-yard Hail Marys down the sideline. It’s all about who can throw the rock the furthest, right? You need a live arm to connect on those shot plays, no doubt,” Orlovsky said.
“But I focus more on passes into tight windows in the intermediate areas of the field and the pure power throws from what I call ‘funny body’ positions. Quarterbacks don’t have the strong base to fall back on here; there is no loading up and driving through the pass. Instead, they need to rely almost entirely on their arm to get the ball where it needs to go with velocity.”
On Allen specifically, Orlovsky was emphatic about the Bills quarterback retaining the top spot.
“Allen is still No. 1 in this department. His ability to get zip on his throws from uncomfortable positions really stands out. He just flicks his wrist, and the ball is suddenly in his receiver’s hands on a rope. Not every QB1 can do that, and yet he does it with consistency.”
The ranking comes as the NFL prepares for the 2026 campaign, with teams evaluating their quarterbacks on tape and projected performance. Orlovsky based his assessments solely on current starters and what he observes from film study.
Allen has long been celebrated for his cannon of an arm since entering the league out of Wyoming. The ability to generate velocity without a perfect platform has defined many of his highlight throws over the years, allowing the Bills to stretch defenses vertically and attack tight coverage windows.
Herbert of the Chargers sits second, with Orlovsky noting the volume of tight-window completions the former Oregon standout has produced. No quarterback has completed more tight-window passes over the past five years than Herbert, who has 162 such throws.
Caleb Williams, the Bears’ young quarterback, earned the No. 3 ranking after making several standout throws from awkward angles in 2025, including a 40-plus-yard touchdown strike while backpedaling in the playoffs.
Matthew Stafford, the Rams’ veteran, comes in fourth. The 2025 NFL MVP completed 37 passes of 20 or more air yards last season, the highest total in the league, underscoring his continued ability to drive the ball downfield despite his age.
Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs rounds out the top five. Orlovsky praised Mahomes’ capacity to wing the ball with elite velocity while also highlighting other strong arms further down the list, such as Mayfield’s often overlooked talent and Maye’s downfield prowess.
The rankings form part of a broader set of trait evaluations from Orlovsky that also cover ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, second-reaction creativity and rushing ability. Allen appears high in several of those categories as well, including No. 1 in decision-making and second-reaction ability.
For Bills fans, the arm strength recognition reinforces what they have seen for years from Allen under center. His combination of size, mobility and pure arm talent continues to set him apart even among a talented group of NFL passers.
Orlovsky noted that limiting the list to 10 was difficult, mentioning Trevor Lawrence as one quarterback he considered for inclusion due to underrated arm talent that makes difficult throws look routine.
As training camps progress and the regular season approaches, such expert evaluations provide early talking points for how quarterbacks measure up in specialized skills that can decide games. Allen’s placement at the top of arm strength suggests the Bills once again enter the year with a quarterback capable of making every throw on the field.
The recognition arrives at a time when the position continues to evolve, with more emphasis on improvisation and off-platform throws in modern offenses. Allen’s mastery in those areas, according to Orlovsky, keeps him ahead of the pack.
