Ranking AFC North quarterbacks for the 2022 season
The NFL might not have a more perplexing quarterback division than the AFC North.
Even taking out the drama in Cleveland it’s impossible to get a read on it. Lamar Jackson’s coming off an injury-riddled season. Pittsburgh could start a rookie or former bust. Joe Burrow could only get better and in Cleveland, the starter – and whether that starter will get back to his usual self – isn’t guaranteed to play.
So naturally, we thought now was the best time to rank the quarterbacks in the AFC North. What’s fun about the division is that three of the four projected starters could realistically take control of No. 1 at any point, so let’s take a look.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mitchell Trubisky/Kenny Pickett
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We can talk all day about whether Mithcell Trubisky was sabotaged from the start in Chicago but either way, it would appear the book has been written on him. Pittsburgh’s weapons might squeak out career-best numbers, but that isn’t likely to move the needle too much.
Kenny Pickett deserves a chance to be a pro without silly Joe Burrow comparisons right out of the gates. But there’s also a reason he fell so far in an agreed-upon bad quarterback class. At least for now, he’s not moving the Steelers up the rankings here – though he’s undoubtedly landed in a great locale to develop and eventually prosper.
3. Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson
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There’s just too much unknown about Deshaun Watson in more ways than one.
It’s a question mark whether he’ll even see the field in 2022. But it’s also worth wondering if he’ll just be able to up and return to himself when on it.
Watson hasn’t played a down of football since 2020 and while his numbers there were some of the league’s best, there’s no guarantee he’ll ever recapture that form. It’s quite a bit more than the usual struggles of just joining a team. And facing the AFC North over the course of a 17-game season isn’t exactly the same as beating up on the terrible AFC South.
If this is Jacoby Brissett instead, the ranking falls to tied for fourth in the division at best.
2. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
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Lamar Jackson somehow managed to fall underrated at this point despite the MVP award. He’s still one of the most versatile, dangerous weapons in football (possibly held back by coaching in some ways) and even increased important passing metrics last year.
Even while hobbled by injuries over 12 games last year, Jackson completed 64.4 percent of his attempts with 16 touchdowns, though the career-high 13 picks were worth an eyebrow raise.
For now, Jackson just has to stay healthy and he’ll produce better than most. But last year’s dip further away from the heights of 2019 keeps him out of the top slot. He’s still just 25, but he’s also repping himself in extension talks, so who knows where things are going?
1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow
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Look, the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately?” league and right now, it’s all about the Comeback Player of the Year.
It’s not exactly that simple, either.
Burrow returned from a knee injury early, played in a brace all year and took the Bengals – of all teams – to the Super Bowl. We can argue that he’s throwing simple passes that guys like Ja’Marr Chase take the distance at times, sure. But he’s also been deadly accurate after using his rehab time last year to tweak his throwing motion – the weak-arm allegations are done. Not only that, while he’s not an elite rusher, he’s got that uncanny ability to escape pockets and extend plays. He’s also already calling the offense at the line of scrimmage.
Oh, and we should also mention the leadership. He’s the one responsible for a culture change, making the Bengals cool again and ending a generational drought for a football city. Everyone outside of Pittsburgh has a legitimate argument for No. 1 here, but we’ve yet to see Burrow’s best. With an improved offensive line and his current trajectory, he could be in the MVP conversation annually.
Conclusion
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No division has quarterback drama quite like the AFC North. Pittsburgh’s in a full-blown rebuild. Baltimore’s trying to retain a former MVP. Cleveland’s, at this point, Cleveland and has mortgaged its future. Even Cincinnati has to ponder the Burrow extension after this season against other high-price items.
This drama will reflect on the field, too, as there are three quarterbacks in the AFC North right now capable of playing at a top-five level. Burrow, though, is the only one with a claim to potentially still getting even better, never mind feeling like the most stable. That’s worth the top slot until someone else can knock him out of it.
