Who is the Best QB in the AFC South?
1. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
A year ago, the jury was out on whether Lawrence was a bust or a future talent after a disastrous rookie year under Urban Meyer.
It turned out, that Meyer was the problem in Jacksonville as Lawrence made tremendous leaps in his sophomore season.
Lawrence went from throwing for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2021 to 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2022. Doug Pederson made a tremendous impact in his first year as Jaguars head coach, making the Divisional Round after their comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wildcard Round.
There was an encouraging improvement from Lawrence who proved he was worth the high school and college hype and whilst there is not much competition in this list, it is safe to say that he is a top 10 QB in the NFL and the franchise quarterback they have not had since Mark Brunell was under centre in the late nineties or early noughties.
2. Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans)
The starting role in Nashville may not be given to Tannehill for too much longer in 2023 with Will Levis waiting in the wing, but for now the former eighth overall pick has the job.
The same narrative surrounded Tannehill in 2022 after the selection of Malik Willis, but he managed to keep the starting role. Can he do the same in 2023?
Early clips from Titans practice suggests Levis will push Tannehill further than Willis, with the 2019 Comeback Player of the Year struggling for form in 2022.
Tannehill had the worst statistical season of his career, with lows in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2022. He will turn 35 by the time Week One comes about, and it is hard to see his yearly stats improving.
3. C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)
Their rookie status keeps Tannehill in the top two, but it is hard to see either Stroud or Richardson being outside the top two in this list 12 months from now.
Stroud was the second overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and the fanbase will hope he can become the franchise QB that they thought they had in Deshaun Watson.
Stroud threw for 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his time with Ohio State, achieving the numbers in two of the three seasons in college with zero touchdowns or yards in his rookie year.
He may not have the best roster around him, but with DeMeco Ryans as the new head coach in H-Town, there is encouragement that they may have finally found the right man to call the plays.
4. Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts)
Richardson is the freakiest athlete in the 2023 NFL Draft class, but also has the biggest bust potential of all the quarterbacks taken this year.
In 22 college games with the Florida Gators, Richardson threw for just 24 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, with 12 additional rushing touchdowns. Compare this with the stats put up by Stroud, and it is not exactly one to be excited about.
Even Josh Allen and Cam Newton, who have been mentioned as his biggest comparisons, thew for 44 and 30 touchdowns respectively during their times playing in college. However, Richardson, has tremendous upside and has all the potential to be a star in the NFL.
Whilst Allen may have had 20 more career touchdowns than Richardson in college, he also threw for 21 interceptions in college, so there is hope that Richardson can go on to become Allen, someone who is currently seen as a top three QB.
Rookie status and bust concerns keep Richardson bottom of this list, but he has the potential to either be number one on this list in three years, or still bottom.