The NFL Season is about to kick off, so what’s better than ranking some quarterbacks? From whatever the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are doing to the elite QBs of today’s NFL, this is the AFC quarterback rankings.
Flacco enters the 2025 season presumably as the Browns’ starting QB. There is nothing flashy about a washed-up 40-year-old anchoring a non-contending team in the NFL, but then again, it is Cleveland. He likely will not be starting the entire season, though, as the Browns have multiple young QBs ready to pounce on the veteran.
Richardson and Jones entered training camp in a battle, and there has seemingly been no change. On the first depth chart, the Colts listed them both as QB1. Neither has what it takes to put Indianapolis over the edge, but at least the decision will be an interesting story to follow.
Fields enters 2025 in a new place once again. He takes over the New York Jets’ starting QB role from Aaron Rodgers. It will be interesting to see how Fields fits under new HC Aaron Glenn, and he does have the potential to end the season ranked higher than he starts it.
Ward is going into his rookie season after being the first overall pick, and he may be the least hyped-up number one pick ever. There are very few people outside of Tennessee who are anticipating his rookie campaign. It’s impossible to tell where to rank rookies, so he could surprise everyone and end up being better than expected.
Maye is coming off an interesting rookie year with the New England Patriots. It wasn’t particularly great, but he certainly showed flashes of talent that made him a top draft pick. Entering his first season under Mike Vrabel, he will look to develop into the player the Patriots drafted third overall.
Rodgers finally found a home in Pittsburgh as he gets closer to retiring from the NFL. He wasn’t anything special last year for New York, but he is the oldest player in the league now and can’t carry a team like he used to. He has weapons around him now, like DK Metcalf, so perhaps he could find his stride and show flashes of old.
Lawrence has not been who he was expected to be coming out of Clemson, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a good NFL QB. He goes into 2025 with more weapons than ever, including two-way sensation Travis Hunter.
Tagovailoa has had his ups and downs throughout his entire career. The main thing he needs to maintain a decent ranking is to stay healthy. If he suffers one more concussion, he may be forced to retire. Unfortunately, his skill has been overlooked due to his health, but he certainly can still play at a high level.
Smith has a new home in Las Vegas as he looks to continue his storybook career with the Las Vegas Raiders. His career path has been anything but typical, but Smith has silenced critics completely. He will anchor what is projected to be a run-heavy offense with top pick Ashton Jeanty.
Nix is coming off an excellent rookie season and has his eyes set on even more. The Denver Broncos will need him to be great like last season, and if he can improve, they will certainly be competitive in the playoffs.
Stroud had a major drop-off in productivity last season after having a fantastic rookie campaign. His ranking may seem low, but the AFC is so stacked with elite quarterbacks that everyone above him is more than deserving. If he can have a bounce-back season, which is possible with the weapons around him, he could surpass some of them by the end of the NFL season.
Herbert has all the talent in the world, but just hasn’t been able to put it together when he’s needed most. He has been surrounded by talent on and off the field, but he has just failed when it comes to playing meaningful football. He could easily be in conversations with the NFL’s best, but his lack of postseason success denies him that privilege.
Allen is entering 2025 as the reigning NFL MVP winner. He is ranked fourth in his conference, which may seem strange, but the top QBs in the NFL all reside in the AFC. The lack of weapons he has around him is concerning, but he should be able to carry them to the playoffs again.
Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP who some may argue should’ve had his third last season. The Baltimore Ravens have not been able to get over the playoff hump, but if Jackson continues playing at such an elite level, it is only a matter of time.
Burrow is surrounded by the best wide receiver core in the NFL, and he takes full advantage of it. Throwing to Jamaar Chase and Tee Higgins every game gives him an advantage that no other QB has in the NFL. Some may argue he is the best QB in the entire league.
Mahomes is still the number one QB in the NFL. The struggles in the Super Bowl shouldn’t linger too much, and he should bounce back in a big way. He is the most successful and most skilled QB in the NFL, which makes him the number one QB in the AFC.
Mahomes continues to reign supreme as yearly MVP candidates surround him. The AFC has the top four to five QBs in the NFL, all in the same conference. The Browns and Colts QB battles trail behind everyone else as usual, but perhaps they can get a decent draft pick next season.
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