Ranking each division by its quarterbacks

By: Josh Frey-Sam

This is a quarterback-driven league.

I’m not breaking any news in saying that.

Which divisions are really in the driver’s seat, though? Let’s talk about that today, with a pre-draft look into the best divisions based on their quarterbacks.

Side note: I’ve also listed each QB in the order I would rank them.

1. AFC WEST: Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Geno Smith, Bo Nix

Easy No. 1. I don’t need to say anything about Mahomes, or Justin Herbert, for that matter. Bo Nix is coming off a terrific rookie season and is only poised to get better. What sets this division apart from the rest now is the addition of Geno Smith, who is receiving his flowers now that he’s out of Seattle. Real ones know Geno has been underrated for a long time.

2. NFC EAST: Jayden Daniels, Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Russell Wilson

This could come as a bit of a surprise to some. Say what you want about him, Jalen Hurts just won a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels was the cream of the rookie crop last season and might already be among the top eight quarterbacks in the league. Dak Prescott is coming off injury, but I don’t think there’s any debating he’s an above-average quarterback in this league, with potential to be a top 10. The recent addition of Russell Wilson doesn’t move the needle a ton, but he’s average, and that’s not bad for being the fourth-best in a division.

3. AFC NORTH: Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph

This is where it starts to get tough. I went AFC North because of the top-heavy nature of the division. Are Lamar and Burrow really enough to pick up the slack for Pickett and Rudolph? According to many, probably not. But I say they do in this exercise. When there are two perennial MVPs in one division — the only division in the league we can say that about right now — that holds some weight. Pickett and Rudolph are really bad, though. Fortunately, they probably won’t be on this list if I re-do it in a month.

4. AFC EAST: Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, Drake Maye, Justin Fields

At this point, I need to lean with known commodities. We have a reigning MVP in Allen, an average to above-average signal-caller in Tua, a QB that still has some potential in Fields and a rookie that showed a ton of promise in Maye.

5. NFC NORTH: Jordan Love, Jared Goff, Caleb Williams, JJ McCarthy

This division might have the best chance at being No. 1 a year from now. A plethora of young, exciting talent, along with Goff, who I’m interested to see perform without Ben Johnson calling plays.

6. NFC WEST: Matt Stafford, Sam Darnold, Brock Purdy, Kyler Murray

The best quarterback in this division, Matt Stafford, is top-12 at best at this point in his career, which pains me to say because I have a great deal of respect for Matty. The funny thing is a top-12 guy might be enough for the Rams to make a decent run next season, in which case the narrative might change a bit on Stafford. Darnold is still up in the air for me — I need to see him repeat the kind of season he had last year. I personally believe that was him at his peak. Kyler Murray — a respectable fantasy asset usually, but not a guy I want quarterbacking my team. This is a big season for Brock Purdy to dictate what the narrative will be around him for the foreseeable future.

7. NFC SOUTH: Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, Michael Penix Jr., Bryce Young

Carr is the weak link here, only because the jury is still out on Penix Jr. and Young, who will look to take a jump this season. It’s tough to rank this division when Mayfield is the only sure thing.

8. AFC SOUTH: CJ Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson

Boy, this is a head-scratching group. Let’s be honest, Levis won’t be on this list in a month, but we still don’t know what we’re gonna get from Cam Ward. Richardson feels like a failed experiment. Stroud is fine and should return to his pedastle next season. Trevor Lawrence — HUGE year for his career coming up.

This was a fun but challenging exercise. There are always so many unknowns at the most important position in sports.

Thanks for reading and, as always, have a great day.

Josh