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Ranking Jacoby Brissett among AFC quarterbacks

Jared Mueller
·3 min read
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The odds-on favorite to start the most games at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 2022 has to be Jacoby Brissett. Baker Mayfield is still likely to be traded while Deshaun Watson is likely to have a significant suspension.

We have begun to prepare for a Brissett-led season, or at least a majority of games, with a few pieces. First, with the Browns roster being so good, Brissett only has to be as good or better than an injured Mayfield was in 2021. Second, on the field, Cleveland choosing Brissett over Mayfield may be about taking the higher floor over the higher ceiling player.

We understand there are off-the-field issues that have been hinted about with Mayfield and Tuesday the Heisman Trophy winner made it pretty clear both sides have moved on.

So looking at all of the quarterbacks in the AFC, just where would Brissett rank?

Behind The Elite

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We can make this very clear, Brissett is nowhere near as good as the elite in the AFC. For the sake of the writer, the elite are the following, in no particular order:

  • Patrick Mahomes

  • Josh Allen

  • Russell Wilson

  • Joe Burrow

  • Deshaun Watson

Behind the Almost Elite

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Some may argue with the list but it is hard to call someone elite if they are the sixth or seventh best quarterback in their conference. Brissett is still behind this group of almost elite QBs:

  • Justin Herbert

  • Lamar Jackson

  • Derek Carr

Behind the Very Good QBs

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Brissett also falls behind a group of very good quarterbacks who have proven what they can do:

  • Matt Ryan

  • Ryan Tannehill

The Young But Probably Better Group

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Behind those grouping of veterans are a bunch of young guys some of who are probably as good or better than Brissett early in their career:

  • Mac Jones

  • Trevor Lawrence

Brissett's Tier

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Finally, we get to where Brissett falls with a majority of these quarterbacks being young:

  • Jacoby Brissett

  • Davis Mills

  • Tua Tagovailoa

  • Teddy Bridgewater

  • Chad Henne (getting this spot only because of what he did against the Browns in the playoffs two years ago)

Brisset is Better Than Tier

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There are starters and backups that Brissett is better than at this point in their respective careers. The young guys have a chance to improve and be better than Brissett but haven’t shown it yet:

  • Zach Wilson

  • Mitch Trubisky

  • Kenny Pickett

  • Malik Willis

  • Nick Foles

  • Case Keenum

  • Joe Flacco

  • Tyler Huntley

  • Brian Hoyer

  • Chase Daniel

  • Mason Rudolph

  • Brandon Allen

  • Josh Johnson

  • C.J. Beathard

  • Kyle Allen

What Does It Mean?

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Based on these simple rankings tiers, the Browns would go into the 2022 season with at least 11 quarterbacks in the AFC better than Brissett and four others, two as backups, in the same range as him. Cleveland will have to find a way through the other talent on the team and coaching to overcome the separation between Brissett and those quarterbacks.

With a great offensive line and running backs group, Amari Cooper and David Njoku in the passing game, the offense can be productive with Brissett. The defense can be elite if they get the kind of play they got late last season and the void on the interior of the defensive line doesn’t become a huge issue.

Making the playoffs with Brissett is possible but an uphill climb for the rest of the team.

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