The AFC West features the best football team and quarterback in all football. However, aside from the glitz and glamour in Kansas City, the AFC West division also offers another elite talent in Los Angeles, and a young pup in Denver looking to make a name for himself in the league. Here is part three of the quarterback rankings in each division.
AFC West Quarterback Rankings
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Nothing more needs to be said at this point about the legend of which is Mahomes. In his young career, he is a three-time Super Bowl champion with three Super Bowl MVPs. He also has two regular-season MVP awards to go along with his postseason honors.
In most all-time quarterback discussions among fans and pundits, Mahomes has been regarded as high as number two, which speaks to all he has accomplished in just seven seasons. As long as Mahomes is the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, they will always be a perennial contender, no matter who else is on the roster.
The Chiefs can make history this NFL season by becoming the first team to three-peat as Super Bowl champions. If Mahomes can lead this team to the league’s first-ever three-peat, it will separate him from his peers and those coming behind him by an even more significant margin.
2. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert has all the physical talent in the world. The Los Angeles Chargers‘ signal caller stands at 6’6 and 238 pounds with a cannon for an arm. Despite being regarded as one of the best young quarterbacks in the league and a worthy challenger to Mahomes when they face off, Herbert still leaves more to be desired.
After bursting on the scene his rookie year in 2020, breaking every NFL rookie passing record, it immediately launched him into the upper echelon of quarterbacks. However, many argue that Herbert has failed because of his surroundings, particularly at head coach. In his fifth year in the league, Herbert is on his third head coach and has only led the Chargers to one playoff appearance.
Hopefully, the arrival of Jim Harbaugh will provide some stability for Herbert, and his gaudy numbers will result in the proper team success as well.
3. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
The new young kid on the block in the AFC West. Nix takes over for a Denver Broncos team that just ended a brutal Russell Wilson era and is looking for new hope.
Nix, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Oregon, comes into the league with an unusual profile.
In college, Nix played for five years for two programs (Auburn and Oregon) and currently holds the record for most career starts for a college quarterback with 54. At 24 years old, he is among the oldest quarterbacks drafted in league history. During his final season in college, he was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.
During the preseason, Nix was able to solidify himself as the starter for the Broncos after showing flashes of his revered accuracy and mobility.
4. Gardner Mindshew, Las Vegas Raiders
Mindshew will be playing for his fourth team in his sixth season in the NFL. Last season, he was the backup quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He found himself thrust into a full-time starting role after rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson‘s season was ended after just four games.
Mindshew was admirable in not letting Colt’s season go by the wayside. He finished the season with 3,302 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Colts maintained AFC playoff contention until the season’s final game but were eliminated.
Mindshew signed a two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in March and, after a quarterback competition, was named the starter in August.
The AFC West top tier at the quarterback position is as good as it gets in the NFL with Mahomes and Herbert. Nix, who is an unknown, will have the chance to show the Broncos that they have their future franchise quarterback. Mindshew is a quality spot starter in the NFL, and even though he lacks the physical talent the other three quarterbacks have, he can keep the Raiders relevant this season.
Main Image: Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Images
