With the official start of the 2024-25 NFL season roughly a month and a half away, here are the top AFC quarterbacks going into the upcoming year.
1.) Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: THE G.O.A.T. Three Super Bowls, two Super Bowl MVP’s in his first eight years under center. This is undisputed. Period.
2.) Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: The only QB who has successfully defeated Mahomes and Josh Allen in the playoffs with a Super Bowl appearance already under his belt. Now, Joey B needs to close the deal.
3.) Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: With the mid-season firing of OC Ken Dorsey, and the off-season losses of Gabe Davis to Jacksonville and Stephon Diggs to Houston, it’s all on Allen to finally deliver the goods for “Bills Mafia” or else it’s time to shut the title window talk for good.
4.) CJ Stroud, Houston Texans: What will the second-year former Ohio State quarterback do for an encore after a record-shattering rookie year? The additions of RB Joe Mixon and the aforementioned Stefan Diggs could Stroud into the “elite” category.
5.) Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: As hard as it was to try to not put the now two-time NFL MVP in the top five, he is who he is. And now with the addition of RB Derrick Henry in the same backfield. Good luck, opposing defenses!
6.) Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: No one is happier to have Jim Harbaugh in SoCal than the third-year signal caller from Oregon, as a more balanced, run-heavy big play offense with less throwing will help keep him upright.
7.) Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Fresh off a new contract extension and beginning to look like the No.1 overall pick many envisioned, look for T-Law to emerge as the biggest rival to Stroud for AFC South supremacy for years to come.
8.) Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: As much as I wanted to try and rank Tua higher, his injury history and frailty is a major red flag. Also consider that a new contract has not been signed year in South Florida. If Tua can replicate his league-leading passing yards mark (4,624) and lead the Dolphins deep into January, then he will ascend higher on my list!
9.) Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets: Coming off of an Achilles injury on at 40 years old is a major ask and a huge concern for many in the Big Apple. The talent is still there, the question is, is his head?
10.) Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns: 59.3% completion percentage, 14 touchdowns, 9 interceptions in 12 games played due to injury and a 11-game suspension. This is not what $230 million guaranteed was supposed to look like for the Browns.
11.) Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers: A fresh start in a stable organization that values the running game and a tough defense, don’t sleep on Mr. Ciara bouncing back in the Steel City.
12.) Gardner Minshew, Las Vegas Raiders: Uncle Rico should outlast Aiden O’Connell in Antonio Pierce’s first full year as head coach. Don’t be shocked if the Raiders sneak up on some people with Minshew under center.
13.) Will Levis, Tennessee Titans: Like the Katy Perry song, “Hot and Cold” the former Kentucky gunslinger has a chance to cut it loose in Nashville, thanks to Ryan Tannehill no longer looking over his shoulder.
14.) Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: A potential risk sneaky good pick by Sean Payton in the Mile High City. With Russell Wilson now in Pittsburgh, and Zach Wilson brought in for competition, I’ll put my money on Nix to beat out the so-called Mormon Mahomes and surprise some people this season.
15.) Drake Maye, New England Patriots: Another high-profile quarterback selected high in the draft. New coach, new regime in Foxboro. Growing pains ahead.
16.) Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Despite having all the physical tools to be a potential franchise QB, Richardson needs to learn the NFL game more. With Joe Flacco in Indy, it’s gonna be hard to get up to speed quickly, especially if the former Gator star struggled out the gate.