Fans of the Steelers, Browns, Bengals and Ravens already knew that the AFC North is the most formidable in the NFL. But one league analyst ranks the division as tops specifically because of the quarterbacks.
So Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, take a bow. Folks are expecting big things when the NFL commences in September. Eric Edholm, an analyst for NFL.com, recently broke down the quarterback situation for the AFC North as he named the grouping tops in the NFL.
So why the AFC North? Edholm says “on name value alone, this division packs some serious punch.”
Then he talks up the quarterbacks.
“Jackson is coming off his second MVP campaign. Burrow is making a league-high $55 million per year, having guided Cincinnati to a pair of AFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl over his past two healthy seasons. Watson boasts a contract with the most guaranteed money in league history. Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ, while Fields is a 25-year-old former first-rounder with 38 starts under his belt.
“Pound for pound, top to bottom, there’s a lot to like with the North crop. Hence, the division receiving top billing on this list. But there also are some clear trap doors here.”
One “trap door” is the health of Burrow. The Bengals quarterback kicked off the season by straining his calf early in training camp. Then by the time he was healthy, Burrow tore a tendon in his right wrist (during a road game against the Ravens). Surgery days before Thanksgiving ended his season.
Another AFC North team really went through its quarterbacks. So the Browns, which used five starting quarterbacks, also has some traps. Watson battled shoulder issues throughout the seasons. But in a road game against the Ravens (it’s a trend), the quarterback fractured a bone in his shoulder. Surgery also ended his season before Thanksgiving.
Edholm wrote: “Even with some losses on offense in Baltimore, Jackson should be fine, fresh off a brilliant campaign. But Burrow and Watson both are working back from season-ending injuries, and the Browns no longer have the Joe Flacco safety net behind the enigmatic Watson.”
The Steelers quarterback situation should have its own AFC North category. The Steelers snapped up Wilson as the Broncos were releasing him. Because Denver still owes Wilson roughly $39 million, the Steelers got the nine-time Pro Bowler for the NFL veteran minimum. He came out of OTAs and minicamp as QB1.
After signing Wilson, the Steelers made two more trades to shake up the QB depth chart. Pittsburgh traded for Fields, leaving the Bears to take Caleb Williams at No. 1. Then they sent Kenny Pickett, the starter for the past two seasons, to the Eagles.
Edholm pointed out the flaws in both quarterbacks. “Wilson has been in a slow decline in recent years, and Fields has only made modest gains over the past few seasons as a passer.”
Still, Edholm anoints the AFC North as home of the collective QB kings.
“This group ranks first because of the high, firmly established floors of Jackson and Burrow — when healthy — as well as the potential for the Browns and Steelers to improve their QB play from a year ago.”
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