Between Jameis Winston's 30 touchdown, 30 interception season, Drew Brees' lost year and Matt Ryan's second straight 7-9 season, the NFC South longed for consistent quarterback play in 2019. With a healthy Brees coming back, and two fresh faces in the fold, the division might now have the best collection of signal-callers in the NFL. Following this week's player movement, we will re-rank the divisions based on the strength of their quarterback play.
Because some teams have incomplete quarterback situations, this list could look very different when teams kick things off for the 2020 season.
1. NFC SouthTom Brady (TB), Drew Brees (NO), Teddy Bridgewater (CAR), Matt Ryan (ATL)
The NFC South now boasts three quarterbacks with Super Bowl appearances along with the most accomplished QB in NFL history. Regardless of what you think of Tom Brady at his advanced age, pairing him with a strong running game with Donald Jones, and two tantalizing weapons at receiver in Mike Evans & Chris Godwin gives Tampa more to work with this season with Bruce Arians' squad. While Drew Brees is another year older, a full year of health should lead to more consistent play from the defending division champions. Teddy Bridgewater proved competence at the position in Brees' absence, and pairing him with offensive coordinator Joe Brady along with the explosiveness of Christian McCaffrey gives the Panthers an innovative attack. When Matt Ryan was upright, he was able to find Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley with relative ease, and should have another downfield option with newly acquired tight end Hayden Hurst. While the left side of the offensive line and running back are still question marks for the Falcons, the team's lack of success does not fall on Ryan.
2. NFC WestJimmy Garappolo (SF), Jared Goff (LAR), Kyler Murray (ARI), Russell Wilson (SEA)
While this division also has three quarterbacks who appeared in Super Bowls, all benefited from strong running attacks to get them there. Russell Wilson put up MVP-type numbers in the early part of the season before fading fast before the season's end. Jared Goff cannot blame all of his "Super Bowl Hangover Season" on the lack of production from Todd Gurley, but he saw a setback in some key passing numbers. His yards-per-attempt went down by one whole yard, despite throwing for nearly the same amount of yards in 2018 and 2019. He also threw ten less touchdown passes and four more interceptions this past season as opposed to the NFC Championship campaign. Jimmy Garappolo's star continues to rise off an NFC Championship of his own, but he will have to prove that he can maintain the consistency that Goff could not. Kyler Murray's stock takes a big jump with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals.3. NFC NorthKirk Cousins (MIN), Aaron Rodgers (GB), Matthew Stafford (DET), Mitchell Trubisky/Nick Foles (CHI)
This division sits below the top two not because of anything the top three quarterbacks have done, but because of the dead weight of the one who brings up the rear. No division that has Mitchell Trubisky in it deserves to be ahead of two divisions that have solid QB options at every turn. Following the Bears' trade for Nick Foles, Matt Nagy might feel more comfortable working with a quarterback he has experience with in the past. Aaron Rodgers turned back the clock to have a resurgent season leading the Packers to within one win of the Super Bowl in 2019. Kirk Cousins shed many of the doubters of his big game potential, earning a two-year, $66 million extension earlier this week from the Vikings. While Matthew Stafford puts up serviceable, yet hollow numbers, the Lions aren't going away from him any time soon.
4. AFC NorthJoe Burrow [projected] (CIN), Lamar Jackson (BAL), Baker Mayfield (CLE), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Baker Mayfield's sophomore slump, and the uncertainty in Cincinnati are the reasons the AFC North falls short of a Top-3 "podium" finish. A full season of health from Ben Roethlisberger would put the Steelers back in contention with the Ravens for the top of the division. Lamar Jackson's playoff shortcomings don't undo the fact he's the league's reigning MVP and most unique quarterback talent heading into 2020. While Mayfield has a new Head Coach, Right Tackle and former Falcons tight end Austin Hooper in the mix, the former Oklahoma QB enters his third season with a bounty of people thinking he needs to show more at the position. After Cincinnati's Zac Taylor failed to provide any flashes of brilliance in his first season, the canvas gets swiped clean as the Bengals appear poised to make Heisman Trophy & National Championship-winning QB Joe Burrow their number-one selection in April's Draft.
5. AFC SouthGardner Minshew (JAX), Philip Rivers (IND), Ryan Tannehill (TEN), Deshaun Watson (HOU)
Philip Rivers coming into this division makes it a real wild card, and could surpass the AFC North by season's end if the Colts find themselves in the divisional mix. Deshaun Watson remains the class of the South, while Ryan Tannehill comes in a close second as the Titans fell one win shy of the Super Bowl. Watson will have to rely more on his running ability after the Texans inexplicably traded away one of the best receivers in the conference to Arizona. Randall Cobb's addition comes up very short in Houston's efforts to replace the explosiveness lost by the departure of DeAndre Hopkins. While Tannehill wasn't asked to do much, he did just enough while Derrick Henry carried the major load of the Tennessee throwback attack. Jacksonville made its decision at QB, retaining Gardner Minshew while shipping Nick Foles off to Chicago. The former Washington State quarterback impressed early, but failed to show consistency leading to his benching after Week 9. Lame-duck Head Coach Doug Marrone is banking on the Minshew that began and finished the season as the starter to try and save his job in Jacksonville. As for Indianapolis, if the Colts can get Rivers another weapon to pair with Marlon Mack & T.Y. Hilton, don't sleep on them.
6. AFC WestDerek Carr (OAK), Drew Lock (DEN), Patrick Mahomes (KC), Tyrod Taylor (LAC)
The only reason this division has a ranking below the cellar just finished polishing the Lombardi Trophy. Patrick Mahomes put together a regular season only bested by Lamar Jackson, and despite a rough start in the big game, Mahomes put together one of the greatest quarters in Super Bowl history to finish off KC's championship. The rest of this division is an unfettered mess at the position. Denver seems set with Drew Lock as their future, as they've made it clear they intend to trade or release Joe Flacco. Lock was a good value pick for the Broncos in last years draft and showed flashes near the end of the season. The question with him is sample size. After flirting in the Tom Brady market, Jon Gruden and the Raiders appear "stuck" with another year of Derek Carr. Gruden gave him another weapon in tight end Jason Witten, but also signed Marcus Mariota to give him some competition in the quarterback room. The Raiders also clearly need a legitimate number two receiver to pair with Tyrell Williams. The Chargers have only one legitimate quarterback option on the roster currently in Tyrod Taylor, but that could change if they trade for Cam Newton. Los Angeles figures to take a QB with the number-six overall pick, more than likely former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert or Utah State's Jordan Love.
7. NFC EastDwayne Haskins (WSH), Daniel Jones (NYG), Dak Prescott (DAL), Carson Wentz (PHI)
Two established quarterbacks, a rookie, and Washington's uncertainty sum up the situation in the NFC East. Dak Prescott could receive the richest quarterback contract in the NFL by offseason's end, and the Eagles appear pleased after Carson Wentz stayed on the field for 16 games for the first time since his rookie season. After those two, the QB picture gets murky. Daniel Jones had an inaccurate rookie season, completing just 61% of his passes and throwing 12 interceptions in 13 games. First-year Head Coach Joe Judge acted noncommittal when asked if Jones had the reigns of New York's QB position. While that all might sound like coach-speak, the Giants can't figure to be challengers for a playoff spot until some big questions are answered. While new Redskins coach Ron Rivera has said all the right things about Dwayne Haskins, Washington has been active on the rumor mill looking for another signal-caller. Rivera could possibly reunite with Cam Newton in burgundy & gold or possibly copy Arizona's model selecting a second-straight rookie QB for a with Tua Tagovailoa waiting for them at number-two in the draft.
8. AFC EastJosh Allen (BUF), Sam Darnold (NYJ), Ryan Fitzpatrick/Tua Tagovailoa [projected] (MIA), Jarrett Stidham (NE)
The AFC East has the greatest combination of uncertainty and upside. The two rising third-year QBs in New York and Buffalo are the future of the league, and with Allen getting a stout number one receiver in Stefon Diggs, he has a chance to put up the best numbers in the East this season. Darnold's 2019 mono-ridden season can be looked at as a lost year, but 2020 already appears brighter with a revamped offensive line. General Manager Joe Douglas, working in his first full offseason has already added center Connor McGovern and tackle George Fant along with the re-signing of Alex Lewis. That trio should keep Darnold more upright this season. Miami has been linked to Tua Tagovailoa since the offseason began, but many wonder whether he'll still be available for the Dolphins to pick at number five in the draft. Ryan Fitzpatrick has one more year left under contract in Miami. New England's top QB on the roster after Tom Brady's departure is former Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham, but Bill Belichick will most certainly add a more established option. Cam Newton, Jameis Winston & Jacoby Brissett all have been linked in one way or another with the Patriots' quarterback vacancy.
These rankings all are subject to change based on more movement, but the shuffling of the deck makes for a very intriguing 2020.
This article was updated from a previous version which now reflects Jacksonville's Wednesday trade of Nick Foles to Chicago.
