AFC North Quarterbacks
Over the years, the AFC North has established itself as one of the best divisions in football.
Throughout history, the AFC North has always been a gritty division, with defense the DNA over the years.
However, we have also seen some great quarterback play in recent years, from Ben Roethlisberger’s two Super Bowl rings, Carlson Palmer to the current crop that features a two time MVP in Lamar Jackson and an exciting Burrow who remains the only active quarterback to beat Mahomes in a playoff game.
Deshaun Watson has led the league in passing and Russell Wilson has been in two Super Bowls, winning one, but who is the best quarterback in the division?
Here is a ranking of the best AFC North quarterbacks from four to one.
Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
It is hard to ignore Watson’s decline in recent years. We all know what has gone on off the field, and the time he had away from the field has seen some rust that he has yet to shake off.
He was once arguably a top five quarterback in the league, but since he came back to the league via a trade to the Cleveland Browns, he has yet to repay the franchise for the draft picks and guaranteed money given up. It is unclear whether we will ever see the Houston Texans version of Watson ever again in the NFL.
Russell Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Wilson has also seen a decline in performances. After a disastrous spell with the Denver Broncos. He improved in 2023 before being benched by head coach Sean Payton for what you can only assume was money reasons.
Wilson now comes into a more functional franchise and with a head coach in Mike Tomlin who has never had a losing season. This might change with their incredibly difficult schedule down the stretch, but if the Steelers can make the playoffs in 2023 with Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett in their quarterback room, they can surely do it again with Wilson and Justin Fields in the building instead.
Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)
Jackson had another excellent season in 2023, guiding the Baltimore Ravens to the number one seed in the AFC and winning his second MVP award in the process.
The season ultimately ended in disappointment, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, but Lamar was electric all year long.
Any big game he was presented with in the regular season, he delivered. Whether it was the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions or Los Angeles Rams, the Ravens accepted every challenge and did so with flying colours, with Jackson the life and soul of these wins. He put on some clinics against some great teams.
His playoff credentials are still a question mark, having yet to take the team to the Super Bowl. However, Baltimore have now added Derrick Henry to their offense. They ran the ball just sixteen times, with Lamar running for eight of those carries.
The team has addressed their biggest problem position and this could be the difference in Lamar making the Super Bowl or not in the 2024 season.
Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
Burrow has his injury problems, which has to be a concern in 2024. However, when he has been healthy, he has reached the Super Bowl, and the AFC Championship a year later.
The 2020 first overall pick has to address these problems this season but has shown enough in his career to put him number one in this list. Just like Jackson in the regular season, Burrow has been extremely clutch in the playoffs for the Bengals, orchestrating a brilliant comeback against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game to take the Bengals to the Super Bowl, their first in some time.
Burrow has an incredible ability to place the ball in some excellent places and there are not many quarterbacks you would want more driving down the field than him with your team down by five when the two-minute warning approached in the fourth quarter.