Sports Illustrated’s Gilbert Manzano ranked all 32 backup quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season.
Chargers QB Trey Lance checked in at No. 15 overall.
Bengals’ Joe Flacco was No. 1. 49ers’ Mac Jones was No. 2. Falcons’ Tua Tagovailoa was No. 3. Giants’ Jameis Winston was No. 4. Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza rounded out the top five.
Here is what Manzano had to say about Lance’s ranking:
For a second, it seemed Lance was going to make the most of his second opportunity in the league after the 49ers traded the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft to the Cowboys. But Lance struggled to take the QB2 job from Cooper Rush in his two seasons in Dallas and wasn’t brought back for the ’25 season. However, Lance found stability with the Chargers and gained the trust of coach Jim Harbaugh after an impressive preseason last summer in Los Angeles. In four seasons, Lance has six career starts with five touchdowns and five interceptions.
Lance, who joined the Bolts last year, appeared in four games and made one start during the regular-season finale against the Broncos. He threw for 226 yards and an interception, while showcasing his dual-threat ability by rushing for 85 yards on 17 carries.
Still only 25 years old, head coach Jim Harbaugh said he thinks Lance can have the same sort of later-career resurgence former early-round picks Geno Smith and Sam Darnold have had.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Where Chargers’ Trey Lance ranks among all backup quarterbacks in NFL
Reporting by Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gavino Borquez, Chargers Wire | USA TODAY Network
