No beginning QB is ideal — even three-time Tremendous Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Forward of coaching camps opening in late July, Yardbarker NFL writers establish the chief weak point of each beginning quarterback within the AFC.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Josh Allen | Playoff failures | Down 32-29 with 3:33 left in final season’s AFC Championship Recreation, Allen accomplished considered one of three passes for 5 yards on the group’s closing drive earlier than turning the ball over on downs to Kansas Metropolis. Total, Allen’s playoff numbers are good (302-for-460, 65.7 completion %, 25 TD passes), however till the $330M QB places the group on his shoulders and carries it to the Tremendous Bowl, it’s truthful to imagine he gained’t.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Tua Tagovailoa | Damage historical past | Tagovailoa has missed 20 video games with accidents in his first 5 seasons, together with six in 2024. When wholesome, the 27-year-old seems each bit the fifth general choose within the 2020 NFL Draft, however with 4 documented concussions since 2019 (one with Alabama), Dolphins followers ought to cross their fingers each time their QB takes the sphere.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Drake Maye | Turnovers | Maye fumbled 9 instances (shedding six) and had 13 interceptions in 12 begins final season, rating him 59th amongst 75 QBs, per Pro Football Focus. He additionally threw 4 interceptions in the team’s first OTA practice, one thing new head coach Mike Vrabel will tackle when New England opens camp July 22.
NEW YORK JETS | Justin Fields | Previous efficiency | Fields has proven flashes since becoming a member of the league because the eleventh general choose within the 2021 NFL Draft. However few first-round picks, particularly QBs, discover themselves enjoying for 3 groups of their first 5 years, as Fields has. After three uninspiring years with the Bears, Fields threw for 5 touchdowns in six begins for the Steelers earlier than being benched for Russell Wilson in 2024. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Bo Nix | Intermediate accuracy | Nix completed third in 2024 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months voting, however he left meat on the bone within the intermediate passing sport final season. According to PFF, in 17 regular-season begins, he accomplished 51.5 % of his intermediate passes — throws that journey 10-19 yards downfield — thirty fourth amongst 43 eligible QBs (minimal 105 passing makes an attempt).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Patrick Mahomes | Simpler to cease when he holds the ball | In a narrative printed Feb. 3, The Athletic’s Mike Sando reported Mahomes is 2-8 within the playoffs and common season when his common time to throw is 3.31 seconds or extra (per TruMedia). In a 40-22 loss in Tremendous Bowl LIX towards the Philadelphia Eagles, Mahomes averaged 3.24 seconds to throw (via Pro Football Focus), his longest launch time final postseason.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Geno Smith | Interception-prone | Over his previous three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith tossed 11 interceptions or extra twice. He should be much less susceptible to picks for the Raiders, who signed him to a two-year, $75M contract extension this offseason.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Justin Herbert | Poor postseason play | In 5 seasons with the Chargers, Herbert is 0-2 within the playoffs. In his postseason losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, he accomplished 52 % of his passes for 2 landing passes and tossed 4 interceptions. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Lamar Jackson | The playoff narrative | Jackson took huge steps to alter this narrative with a robust postseason exhibiting in 2024, however the actuality is that his efficiency and manufacturing within the playoffs has not matched his MVP-level regular- season performances. He’s solely 3-5 in eight postseason begins with an 84.6 passer ranking (down from 102 within the common season).
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Joe Burrow | He’s enjoying within the unsuitable state of affairs | The most important challenge with Burrow has nothing to do with Burrow himself, as a result of he’s nearly as good as any within the NFL. It’s that he would possibly merely be caught within the unsuitable state of affairs to win a championship. Within the AFC, he should prime Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Plus, he performs for a franchise that does not have a top-notch protection to present him a shot within the playoffs.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Joe Flacco | He’s not a long-term reply | In typical Browns vogue, their greatest QB challenge is the truth they only don’t have a QB, from each a short- and long-term perspective. We’re assuming Flacco finally ends up profitable the beginning job to open the season over Kenny Pickett and the rookies (Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel), however that may’t excite anyone in Cleveland or elevate expectations past 4 or 5 wins.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Aaron Rodgers | He’s simply not good anymore | The 41-year-old is without doubt one of the finest and most completed QBs within the historical past of the NFL. However the harsh actuality for the Steelers is that Rodgers is only a shell of the QB he as soon as was. As a starter over his previous two full seasons (and one sport in 2023), he’s 14-21. — Adam Gretz
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | C.J. Stroud | Dealing with stress | Stroud was sacked 52 instances final season, the second most in the NFL behind solely Chicago rookie Caleb Williams. The Texans have main offensive line questions once more heading into 2025, so Stroud could also be pressured to enhance his choice making, even when dealing with stress will not be essentially a weak point. The vast majority of the sacks Stroud took final season weren’t his fault, however he should discover methods to get his move protectors in the correct spots earlier than the snap.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Daniel Jones | Does not take dangers | Jones tends to draw back from throwing the ball downfield, which severely restricted the Giants’ offense when he was their starter. He grew to become much more conservative after throwing 22 interceptions in his first 27 NFL video games. Even with an explosive playmaker at his disposal final season in Malik Nabers, Jones nonetheless favored the quick passing sport.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Trevor Lawrence | Turnovers | Lawrence has 46 interceptions and 22 lost fumbles in 60 video games. Although accidents had been his greatest challenge final season, he nonetheless had seven interceptions in 10 video games. Lawrence is coming into his fifth NFL season and enjoying underneath a $275M contract, so he should do a significantly better job defending the soccer.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Cam Ward | The rookie issue | Beginning as a rookie QB within the NFL is without doubt one of the harder undertakings in sports activities. Ward is surrounded by a stable assortment of skill-position gamers in WRs Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett and RB Tony Pollard, however the No. 1 general choose goes to make loads of errors. The best way he bounces again from them will finally decide how he fares in his first NFL season. — Steve DelVecchio
