NFC South Quarterback Rankings
The NFC South has fast become the poorest division in the NFL with some poor play across all four teams.
This has resulted in no double-digit division champion since the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went 13-4. The Bucs have since won two further NFC South crowns, but they have done so with 8-9 (2022) and 9-8 (2023) records respectively.
In fact, in 2022, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions went 9-8, one win more than the Bucs who won their division, and did not even make the postseason.
In 2023, the Cincinnati Bengals went 9-8 in the AFC North and finished bottom of the division. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks also went 9-8 in 2023 but failed to make the playoffs.
This will not be music to the ears of Matt Cassel, who took the New England Patriots to a 11-5 record in 2008 in the absence of the injured Tom Brady and they did not even make the playoffs, three wins clear of what the Bucs earned in 2022.
Granted, every year is different and you only beat what is in front of you. However, for a guy only started one postseason game in his NFL career, this would make him wonder what he could have done in that season had this New England team been in the 2022 or 2023 NFC South.
The NFC South is a division full of two seasoned vets, a guy who was robbed of last season’s Comeback player of the Year award and a sophomore QB who had his issues in 2023. Here is a ranking of the four starting NFC South quarterbacks from four to one.
4. Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers)
Bryce Young had the rookie struggles of all rookie struggles in 2023 (unless your name is Jamarcus Russell, Johnny Manziel or Ryan Leaf).
In 16 starts, Young had a 59.8% completion percentage and threw for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Just like Josh Rosen with the 2018 Arizona Cardinals, Young was put in an impossible situation. The Carolina Panthers have not had an electric quarterback since prime Cam Newton, trying the likes of Baker Mayfield (more on him later), Sam Darnold, Kyle Allen to name a few without any success.
This caused them to go out and trade with the Chicago Bears for the number one overall pick in last year’s draft. With how good a situation that the Bears have put Williams in for his rookie year, Young can only look on in envy.
3. Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints)
It seems like a lifetime ago that Derek Carr was balling out as an MVP candidate in 2016 before his season ending injury.
He has a resurgence under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia in the 2021 campaign but it has been a struggle for him since he moved to the New Orleans Saints last year.
We all know Carr has the talent to get back to his best, but with a receiving core that only has one elite weapon, it is hard to see the former Fresno QB getting back to anywhere near his best and with Spencer Rattler waiting in the wings, he may spend the entire season looking over his back.
2. Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
This was one of the stories of last season, Baker showing the league once again what he can do. After a brilliant rookie year, he took a sophomore slump before having another good season in 2020 that earned the Cleveland Browns their first playoff berth since the 2002 season and their first postseason win since the 1994 season.
However, his fourth season with the team did not go well and he was eventually moved on after asking for a trade because of their decision to trade for Deshaun Watson. He joined the Panthers but started just six games and was released in early December.
Whilst he showed the league what he can do when he led the Los Angeles Rams to a comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders just two days after joining the team, no one expected him to do much when he signed for the Buccaneers the following offseason.
Signing a one-year $4 million deal, the Bucs front office probably did not expect him to do much either. In the end, what transpired was arguably his best ever season statistically. He finished with his first ever 4,000 yard passing season (4,044), his most ever touchdown passes (28) and with ten interceptions, this was only two more than his career lowest (8, 2020).
He took the Bucs to the division crown and they were close to reaching the NFC Championship. After beating the Philadelphia Eagles 32-9 and throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions, Baker put up a fight against the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. They lost 31-23 and despite throwing for two picks, he recorded 349 yards and three touchdowns.
Whenever the Lions scored, Baker fought back. It took until the fourth quarter with just over six minutes remaining in the game for Tampa Bay to be more than seven points behind when Jared Goff threw to Amon-Ra St. Brown in the end zone to make it 31-17.
This could have killed spirits, but Baker got back on the field and in just nine plays and 1:45 used up on the clock he threw a touchdown pass to Mike Evans. Whilst his season ended in an interception to seal the game for Detroit, he showed exactly what he can in big spots.
1. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
Doing well in big spots is not something you can associate with Kirk Cousins, with a well renowned poor record in primetime games. However, there is no doubt that he is the best QB on this list.
He was on pace to beat his career record for most touchdowns with 18 in the eight games that he played in, and only threw for five picks.
Cousins is set with the task of trying to take another team to their first Super Bowl triumph. Whilst this is unlikely, a first division crown since 2016 is definitely on the cards.
The Falcons finished with a 7-10 record in 2023, and with Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder in the QB room. Add in Cousins this offense that already features a host of brilliant weapons, this could be a really good season for the Falcons.
Kirk is likely to still perform at a high level, despite leaving a Minnesota Vikings team that had Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. He will have Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier to hand the ball off to as well as weapons such as Kyle Pitts and Drake London to throw to.
The defense, that already had Jessie Bates and A.J. Terrell, has now added Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons, which will help ease the burden off Cousins who performed excellently for the Vikings in the Wildcard Round loss to the New York Giants two seasons ago only for the defense to let him down.
Cousins has the best arm and has performed at a higher level for a longer period. An easy pick as the number one QB in the NFC South.