The AFC has become the beacon for young, elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Many believe we are on the cusp of an unprecedented era of quarterback greatness for the next decade.

AFC quarterback tiers

You’re still in a category all by yourself until we say otherwise
  • Patrick Mahomes. Yes, despite shoddy play and an inexplicable exit from the playoffs, Mahomes is still top dog. None of his counterparts can boast a league MVP or Super Bowl title (or are we counting Joe Flacco?) Mahomes will remain in this category until another AFC team decides

These quarterbacks are upper-class and are on the cusp of potential Top Gun status.
  • Joe Burrow. We saw Joe come within an eyelash of winning the Super Bowl in just his second season in the NFL. You’ve got to love the poise, the swagger and the bevy of weapons at his disposal. First time Super Bowl losers tend to have a tough time getting back historically, but Joe seems like just the quarterback to buck this trend.
  • Josh Allen. HIs skillset is elite and he’s proven he can go toe-to-toe with a Patrick Mahomes on the big stage. It seems just a matter of time until he has his shot at the ultimate prize.

This is for the league’s best athlete that lines up behind center and throws sometimes (often to poor results)
  • Lamar Jackson. The player deserves his own category. He’s a former NFL MVP and has amassed a tremendous regular-season record but this whole quarterback thing is very muddy. He’s a running back with a QB number and has finally been bitten by the injury bug. What does the future hold for this young man?

We need to see you achieve at a high level with our own eyes
  • Ryan Tannehill. He’s had the Titans on the verge on a few occasions but it just doesn’t seem like it’s meant to be. Tannehill does have a solid roster including the league’s best RB so we’ll see what happens as the Titans have, apparently committed to Tannehill for 2022.
  • Justin Herbert. Let the controversy begin. We all see Herbert’s tools and arm strength. What we haven’t seen is the Chargers in the playoffs as of yet and like Patrick Mahomes once famously said “I’ll see it when I believe it.” It’s very possible that we move Herbert into the “You’re gonna do it” category as soon as 2022.
  • Derek Carr. Carr often flirts with being a top-flight NFL quarterback but has played in one playoff game in eight years. His inexplicable turnovers are often costly and the Raiders will likely be living in limbo until they go in a different direction.

Would still like to see Sam Darnold give it a go in Denver.
  • Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo (late addition Carson Wentz). I mean, does it matter? Unless they are able to land Aaron Rodgers, just mark the Broncos down for an 8-9 record and subpar quarterback play. This franchise has rolled out 10 different starting QB’s (including WR Kendall Hinton for a game) since Peyton Manning retired and it feels like they just can’t get it right.

Good at football? Average? Bad? Who the heck knows?
  • Trevor Lawrence. A lost rookie season under a coach that didn’t even make it a year playing for a franchise that is devoid of talent and hope. So what do we know about Trevor Lawrence after one year in the league? Virtually nothing. Will reassess after next year.
  • Tua Tagovailoa. Tua seems to be overachieving a bit in Miami and his trajectory is pointing slightly up after a strong finish to 2021.
  • Mac Jones. Hope springs eternal for Mac Jones in New England but he seemed to hit a bit of a rookie wall at the end of 2021. His potential is still very high under Bill Belichick but I’m a tad cooler on Mac than most.
  • Zach Wilson. Honestly, did Zach Wilson play football in 2021? I mean, I know he did but I really don’t know what to expect from he or the Jets going forward. He’s young and he’s the Jets quarterback currently and that’s about where it stops.

Having trouble justifying the existence of this bunch
  • Carson Wentz. One of the tougher QB’s to figure out, Wentz went to Indy with visions of first-round playoff losses dancing in his head…and then couldn’t even pull that off. Rumors swirling that Wentz may be gone from Indy and nary a soul will notice. Oh…need to add him to the Broncos category.
  • Baker Mayfield. What a decline. Many will argue that it’s unfair to drop Bake this far down after a crummy 2021 but that roster has been building for years and they were supposed to build off last year’s playoff appearance. Now, it’s looking more like the Browns may even be willing to move on from Mayfield.
  • Deshaun Watson. Literally, are you still in the NFL at his point?
  • David Mills. The guy that actually played football instead of Deshaun Watson.
  • Mason Rudolph. I don’t know, you’re the Steelers quarterback as of today.
  • Joe Flacco. Far deserving of a category all his own, Joe Flacco is the only active AFC quarterback besides Patrick Mahomes that has won a Super Bowl. More shocking than that is the fact that Flacco started a football game for the NY Jets last season.

Avatar of Clint Switzer

By Clint Switzer

Full-time sports fan, part-time contributor to society. Starcade Media co-founder, podcast host, filmmaker and writer.