The AFC North has become one of the strongest divisions in football. Here’s how I have the quarterbacks ranked with Ben Roethlisberger set to return.
After months of waiting, we finally have confirmation that Ben Roethlisberger will be returning to play a final season for the Steelers in 2021. With a division full of promising, young quarterbacks, it looked like Pittsburgh was about to fall far behind, but Ben’s return changes things.
This is one of the best divisions in football. It is always must-see TV when there is an AFC North matchup on that week, as evidenced by the three out of the four teams made it to the postseason. The only team that missed were the Cincinnati Bengals but they are currently going through a rebuilding process. They do, however, have some nice pieces to work with going forward so they are a team on the rise. Cincinnati could challenge opponents and make this already tough division even more difficult to be apart of.
One thing is for sure: each team has either a good quarterback or a promising prospect. They all have the talent and the ability to make plays in the NFL. It is turning more into a young man’s division but the veteran still got a few tricks up his sleeve.
The youth that has entered the game will bring some bright futures in the NFL. The division shows that going forward the younger players will bring more and more popularity as these aging stars begin to retire from the game they love. Even though these young players are bright spots, these veterans have some game left in the tank. Until these veterans retire, they will have the edge when it comes to the mental side of the game. That comes with experience and only one has that with his successful career in and outside of the AFC North. Now that we know for sure Ben Roethlisberger will be back, here’s how I have my AFC North quarterbacks ranked heading into the 2021 season:
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow was the number one pick in the draft a year ago. He came out of LSU with a lot of hype as he entered a terrible Cincinnati Bengals team. It was a very good start to his career during his rookie campaign. He kept a bad team in games and was able to give those fans hope for the future.
This franchise still needs a ton of work behind Burrow but he is going to lead this team into a brighter tomorrow. The quarterback position is the toughest in football to find and it seems like the Bengals have found a really good one here. He, unfortunately, got injured so he did not get to play a full schedule during his rookie season but while he played, it was something special to watch.
The former LSU product is at number four because of his youth and inexperience when compared to the others in the AFC North. It is no knock against him but he will rise up the rankings in due time. After another year or two with the showings he had in his first season then he could become the best quarterback in this division. He is a humble guy that leads by example and is a perfect cornerstone to turn a franchise around and the Bengals got a really nice player going forward. They just have to build a solid team around him.
3. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield is one of the more puzzling quarterbacks in the AFC North. He has glimpses of being special at times but he also has many flaws. His inconsistency seems like it will be the downfall of this Cleveland Browns team. Mayfield cannot perform consistently and that causes a recipe for disaster. The franchise finally won their first playoff game in decades and pushed the Kansas City Chiefs to the brink before being eliminated.
The biggest issue with Mayfield is he needs a nice supporting group to succeed. The good news for him and Browns fans is that he has that. Once his rookie deal expires and the team needs to pay him will be when the issues arise. The talent around him will begin to dissipate and that’s when the true colors will show.
The Browns have a solid defense with a great offensive line and weapons for him to throw to. That is no knock against him as good teams find talent to help surround their quarterback. They are making him as successful as possible. The issue is that if this is his ceiling then he likely won’t go far in this league after getting paid. It costs a lot of money to keep guys at his position and when that supporting cast leaves then he will falter. The biggest positive with him is that his youth helps, and he can still grow as a player, but this next year will be huge for him and the franchise.
2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is a former NFL MVP and some might think it is crazy to not have him at number one in these rankings. The issue with the player is he seems to run more than he throws. Teams have to shut down the Ravens run game and they will beat them. Now, that is a much easier said than done as he makes this an electric offense for the black and purple.
Jackson brings a unique style of play that no other team currently has across the NFL. The Ravens surely like him and will have to pay him handsomely to keep him in Baltimore. He will become the highest-paid player in the AFC North soon, and that contract will be very interesting to see going forward. This is still a very good team and Jackson has been able to take them to the playoffs. He has only one once in the postseason but he has a long career ahead of him.
The biggest issue with Jackson is his throwing ability. He often looks to run before he throws and that is a major concern. His lack of passes and spotty accuracy has caused teams to focus on stopping the run more and he refuses to throw at times. Instead of taking advantage of other teams focusing on stopping their run and countering that with a passing attack, he continues to run. If he can grow his passing ability then this could be one of the best players in the AFC North and the NFL for years to come.
1. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Many will feel bitter about Ben Roethlisberger being at number one with how the Steelers season fizzled out. He did look like two polar opposites at different points in the year. Still, Ben is the top dog in the division right now, but this could change as soon as next season.
Young players are biting at his heels for this top spot in the rankings. It is a close competition in this division and Pittsburgh was still able to win the AFC North this past year. It was a disappointing ending but people forget this was still a good season for the veteran. It was one of his best seasons statistically and he made this offense move up and down the field again. Even with his age, the team around him is still strong. They need to fill holes at different positions but this is a steady franchise. They are competitive every season, so do not be surprised when they are better than most think next year.
Many discounted Ben Roethlisberger returning last season as a feel-good story that would get nowhere. It was expected that the team would finish third or last in the division. Missing the playoffs seemed like an almost guarantee by these “experts”. Those same people forgot that this was a solid team that needed a bump in quarterback play. Big Ben might not be what he once was but he is an upgrade over anyone else in this division currently.
These rankings might get some interesting looks with Ben Roethlisberger ranked as top dog still. When it comes down to it, his mental game and ability to still throw the deep ball make him the best in this division right now.