Ranking the QBs in the AFC West
By: Jake Rajala
The AFC West is full of highly gifted quarterbacks. They all hold their ground in unique ways. With that simply said, I’m going to rank the QBs in the AFC West.
4. Geno Smith
Geno Smith is a tad shaky. He won Comeback Player of The Year in 2022. He hasn’t quite matched his 2022 success over the past couple of seasons. Don’t get me wrong. He went 8-7 and 10-7, so he’s a capable winner. Smith has about the same firepower he has in LV that he had in Seattle. Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty are Pro Bowl-caliber players. It does help Smith that Pete Carroll went from the Hawks to the Raiders.
3. Bo Nix
Bo Nix looked like a bust early in the season. Then he turned on the jets and led his team to a 10-7 record, which placed them in the post-season. Nix threw 29 touchdowns (sixth among QBs) to 12 ints. Just as we witnessed Drew Brees grow with Payton, I suspect that Nix will take the next step with Payton. Nix also has young weapons that are still developing, such as Marvin Mims.
2. Justin Herbert
I don’t agree with Jim Harbaugh about Justin Herbert being one of the best QBs ever. He may be bias. However, he has quite the arm strength and ability to make magic happen when he’s throwing on the run. He threw 23 touchdowns to three ints! It’s blasphemous that he wasn’t voted to the Pro Bowl. He had a career-best record of 11-6 last season.
1. Patrick Mahomes
It doesn’t take Captain Obvious to peg Patrick Mahomes as the AFC West’s top QB. After all, he’s the best QB in the entire league. Even when Mahomes doesn’t throw for 5,000 passing yards, he is clutch and ready to shine in key moments. All Mahomes did last season was lead his squad to a career best 15-1 record! He holds a career record of 89-23! He has thrown 37 or more touchdowns four times in his career. Of course, let’s not forget that Mahomes has won three Super Bowls in his career. He has a realistic opportunity to win more SB rings than Brady when it’s all said and done.
The AFC West doesn’t have Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers, but there are still a few young QBs with arm talent that is off the charts. I’d love to see three AFC West teams return to the playoffs with their QBs leading the way.
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