Having recently released our projected starting quarterback power rankings for the NFC, it’s time to shift our focus toward the AFC. The AFC is home to some of the most elite quarterbacks in the NFL, boasting a level of talent that sets it apart from the NFC. When looking at the current landscape, it’s clear that the AFC quarterbacks dominate the league, featuring names like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow. With such formidable talent, there’s a 95 percent chance that any NFC quarterback advancing to the Super Bowl will likely face one of these elite passers. As we delve into the rankings, we’ll explore why the AFC quarterbacks are considered the best in the game and what makes them exceptional heading into the 2024 season.
1. Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
Patrick Mahomes is coming off his third Super Bowl title victory of his career heading into 2024. The accolade was accomplished by needing better resources regarding the wide receiver position. The conversation about Mahomes being an all-time top-five great quarterback has begun. He’s only been a starter for six seasons.
2. Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
In 2023, Lamar Jackson picked up his second Most Valuable Player award of his career after what was accomplished with the Ravens. Jackson threw for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. On the ground, he rushed 695 yards and five touchdowns. The former Heisman Trophy-winning QB embodies the term “most valuable” for an NFL franchise.
3. Josh Allen (Bills)
2023 was another year of disappointment for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The team suffered another playoff exit at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Last season was deemed the best year to knock off the Chiefs, yet the Bills failed to capitalize. The expectation of contending for a Super Bowl is still expected for the Bills despite losing impact players on both sides of the football field.
4. Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Injuries got the best of Joe Burrow last season, significantly affecting the trajectory of the Bengals Super Bowl hopes. With looming deals coming for wide receivers Ja’Maar Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals must put themselves back in the best position to contend for a title.
5. C.J. Stroud (Texans)
C.J. Stroud’s name was added to the short list of quarterbacks that have led their team to playoffs in their rookie season. Stroud also broke numerous NFL rookie passing records. In the offseason, the Texans added former Bills wideout Stefon Diggs to their already dangerous receiving core.
6. Justin Herbert (Chargers)
The 2023 season ended poorly for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers. He missed the remainder of the season with an injury, and the team faltered to a 5-12 record. The dismal outing down the stretch led to the dismissal of head coach Brandon Staley. Incoming coach Jim Harbaugh has a track record of quickly building contending rosters in college and the professional ranks. By far, Herbert will be his best prospect at the quarterback position.
7. Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
It was another year of tremendous success while playing under Mike McDaniel’s system for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. With the former Alabama signal-caller under center, the Dolphins have qualified for the postseason in back-to-back years. With a new deal potentially on the horizon, 2024 will be Tagovailoa’s most pivotal to continue his success.
8. Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars)
Trevor Lawrence has not entirely lived up to the mantra of being a “generational talent.” After coming off a season where the Jaguars were finally lifted from playoff purgatory, they would regress to their losing ways in 2024. Like Tua Tagovailoa, Lawrence will have a lot at stake this upcoming season, especially with an opportunity to sign a new deal that could be record-breaking. Optics indicate that Lawrence will be the Jaguars man under center for the foreseeable future, but if the playoffs are missed again, do those plans change?
9. Aaron Rodgers (Jets)
The New York Jets will sink or swim with Aaron Rodgers under center in 2024; it’s that simple. Regardless of how it happens, the Jets must clinch a playoff spot in 2024 for the current regime to stay beyond this season. The hype of the Rodgers Era Jets died off quickly when the former Packers QB was last for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL on the opening drive of their Week 1 matchup.
10. Deshaun Watson (Browns)
Will the Browns finally get a positive return on their $230 million-dollar investment, Deshaun Watson?
We have yet to see the true potential of what the Browns can achieve with Deshaun Watson under center for an entire season. Despite the team’s playoff qualification last season, Watson was not the quarterback leading the charge, having missed the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. The former Houston Texan’s hefty contract has yet to yield the expected results, but with an entire season ahead, the Browns hope Watson can live up to his potential and lead them to greater heights.
11. Will Levis (Titans)
2024 will likely be a one-year audition for second-year signal-caller Will Levis to show that he is the Tennessee Titans’ long-term option at quarterback.
During free agency, the front office added upgrades at wide receiver and running back to give Levis more weapons on offense to utilize. The new head coach, Brian Callahan, did not select Levis as his quarterback for the future. If the team does not see significant progress from Levis, other options will be pursued through the draft or free agency. This season is critical for Levis to prove his worth and secure his role as the Titans’ franchise quarterback.
12. Gardner Minshew/Aidan O’Connell (Raiders)
It will either be Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell, who will lead the charge for the Raiders at QB in 2024.
New offensive coordinator Luke Getsy envisions a long and drawn-out process to name a starter for the upcoming season. “I think [it’s] the evaluation of the performance on a whole,” Getsy said via Pro Football Talk. “There’s a lot of parts to it. I think it’s how the operation [functions], making sure we’re taking care of the football, and then the production part of it. I think this is a long process. We’re at the beginning stages of it. Everyone’s trying to grasp what we’re trying to accomplish — not just the Qs, but everybody.” The competition between Minshew and O’Connell will be closely watched as the Raiders seek stability at the quarterback position.
13. Anthony Richardson (Colts)
We did not get to see what Anthony Richardson would have accomplished in his rookie year under the tutelage of first-year head coach Shane Steichen. Richardson’s season would end early after suffering an injury to the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder in a Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans. The expectation is that Steichen will have the same effect that he had on Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. Hurts had an MVP-level season when Steichen was the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. Based on how former QB Gardner Minshew produced in Steichen’s system in 2023, Colts fans should be excited about what Richardson’s progression as a QB will look like.
14. Russell Wilson (Steelers)
Russell Wilson, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, could present the last opportunity to show that he’s a viable option for the quarterback position. If a turnaround does not occur, the bridge QB status could be added to the cards for the former Seahawk.
15. Bo Nix (Broncos)
Sean Payton determined that Russell Wilson was not the guy at quarterback who could usher in a new era of football with the Denver Broncos. So, he turned to the NFL Draft to select Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to Payton, Nix’s professional growth is going well. However, if a Broncos fan reads this, don’t expect miracles from the former Oregon Duck in 2024.
16. Jacoby Brissett/Drake Maye (Patriots)
There were several offers for the New England Patriots to give up their third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. But they choose to stay put and select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye. The selection of Maye will be an attempt to usher in a new era that will not involve greats such as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. However, the Patriots’ new regime will not immediately give Maye the keys to the franchise. Jacoby Brissett is a quarterback familiar with the franchise and provides veteran experience for young talent like Maye. The expectation is that Maye learn the ropes from Brissett from the sidelines until the coaching staff determines he is ready to start games at the next professional level. However, we all know that the strategy to allow a young quarterback to sit and learn from the veteran never goes as planned.
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