NFL power rankings: Which AFC quarterback is best?

As the 2020 NFL season approaches, which teams boast the best quarterbacks in the AFC?

Two narratives dominate the AFC quarterback picture entering the 2020 NFL season.

First, three rookie quarterbacks who were top six picks in the NFL Draft dominated headlines for much of the offseason. Who will start Week 1 for the teams that gave up so much to draft them?

Second, the league’s last two MVPs reside in the conference. What will Lamar Jackson do to follow up his historic season? Will Patrick Mahomes reclaim the MVP award of the heels of his first Super Bowl MVP award?

These rankings will inevitably change throughout the season – but for now they’re based on what we know so far.

As such, those teams with presumptive/possible rookie starting quarterbacks, or veteran starting quarterbacks who could be replaced early/before the season by a rookie, find themselves at the bottom.

16. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals zeroed in on what they hope will be their next franchise quarterback by selecting Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick.

The team also cut veteran starting quarterback Andy Dalton quickly after the draft, leaving them with Burrow and second year quarterback Ryan Finley on the roster. Finley has three career starts, an 0-3 record, and completed less than 50 percent of his passes a season ago.

Burrow could be an excellent NFL quarterback, but he has to prove it to move up these rankings.

15. Tyrod Taylor/Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Regardless of who starts for the Los Angeles Chargers Week 1, we would rank them here.

Taylor has started only three games and thrown 91 passes since 2017. He has not had an appropriate offseason to prepare to take over for Philip Rivers. Frankly, at no point during Taylor’s career has he demonstrated the capacity to be a franchise quarterback.

On the other hand, Herbert suffers from even less experience and was a questionable pick at No. 6 overall anyway. The Chargers are in a rough spot until they identify their quarterback of the future.