After ranking every starting quarterback in the NFC, here is a ranking of every starting quarterback in the AFC.
Ranking Each Starting Quarterback In The AFC
16. Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
Flacco currently holds the starting quarterback job for the Browns, but for how long? They drafted two rookies in the 2025 draft in Dillion Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and they also still have Kenny Pickett in the mix. Saying the Browns have the worst quarterback room in the AFC is not as crazy as it sounds.
15. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Ward, the number one overall pick in the 2025 draft, is ranked low simply to being an unknown commodity. If Ward lives up to top overall pick expectations this season, Ward could add to a group of talented quarterbacks in the AFC.
14. Anthony Richardson/ Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Regardless of who wins the quarterback job, both guys may get their shot to play this season. Richardson is a talented former top-five pick in his third season, and even though he oozes physical traits and wow plays sometimes, his inconsistency on and off the field has been an issue. Though Jones can’t provide the upside Richardson can from the position, he is a veteran who could steady the ship.
13. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye has a lot of potential and was arguably in the worst situation of all the first-round quarterbacks that got drafted in 2024. Despite the lack of pass catcher talent and a shaky offensive line at best, Maye flashed the tools that made him a top-three pick. New England has added more weapons for Maye, and his new coach, Mike Vrabel, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could do wonders for him in 2025.
12. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Fields, through four seasons in the NFL, has been one of the most dynamic runners at the quarterback position. However, his inconsistency in the passing game has led to Fields being on his third team in such a young career. Fields is only 25 years old, and his best football could be ahead of him in 2025.
11. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The last two years for Rodgers have been forgettable. Rodgers spent the previous two seasons in New York with the Jets and barely showed flashes of the Rodgers of old. Rodgers will be 42 during the season, and it’s tough to imagine he has any high-level football left, but the Steelers believe he has enough to put together at least one more season of high-level play.
10. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa is as precise as any quarterback in the league when he is healthy. The problem is that the Dolphin signal-caller has a durability problem. However, when Tua has been healthy, he has led the Dolphins to top-scoring offenses, and he has done things like lead the league in passing yards and passer rating.
9. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Smith has been one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league the past three seasons. While in Seattle, Smith led the NFL in completion percentage one season and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Smith is an immediate upgrade for the Raiders after they traded for him this offseason.
8. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence is the former top pick from the 2021 NFL Draft. He has had flashes of high-level play since being a highly touted college prospect, but he hasn’t consistently put it together. It does help that Lawrence has already gone through two coaching regime changes in his short NFL career; however, with Liam Coen in the fold and players like Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter to throw to, Lawrence could be in for a big year.
7. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
If it hadn’t been for Jayden Daniels in Washington, Nix would have undoubtedly had the best rookie year for any of the first-year quarterbacks from last season. Nix finished with the second-most touchdown passes for a rookie last season and helped lead the Broncos to a wild-card playoff berth.
6. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud is coming off a good, not great, season after having a great rookie season. However, Stroud has led the Texans to back-to-back division titles and playoff wins. If Stroud is able to bounce back this season, he could move up even higher on this list.
5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert has had a historic start to his career since being drafted in 2020 from a statistical standpoint. He has the most passing yards of any quarterback in NFL history through their first five seasons. He has elite arm talent and is a very capable runner. Herbert did have a disappointing playoff performance to end last season; however, a playoff win or two could legitimize his top-level talent.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow had his best individual season of his career last season, leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. 2025 will be a crucial year for Burrow and the Bengals after missing the playoffs two seasons in a row, which means Burrow could once again take his game to another level to avoid it being a third season of missing the postseason.
3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen is the reigning MVP of the league and one of the best players in the entire NFL, regardless of position.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson has a very legitimate argument to be a three-time MVP after narrowly missing out on the award to Allen last season. Jackson has simply taken his game to another level, having the second-highest single-season passer rating of all time in 2024, with over 5,000 total yards and over 40 touchdowns.
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
I know Mahomes hasn’t had his best statistical outputs the last couple of seasons, but Mahomes continues to find ways to get it done. Since Burrow knocked off Mahomes and the Chiefs in 2021, Mahomes has led the Chiefs to every Super Bowl since then, winning two of three. Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL until further notice, though guys like Jackson, Allen, and Burrow have had their moments.
