Ranking NFC South teams by their starting quarterbacks
By Lucas Schuh
The NFC South may have the best group of starting quarterbacks out of any division but which quarterback and team reign superior?
The NFC South is arguably one of the best divisions in the NFL with some of the best players in the league taking residence there. The division has defensive nightmares in the forms of Luke Kuechly, Deion Jones, Cameron Jordan and now Ndamukong Suh. But were the NFC South really shines is on offense, specifically at the quarterback position.
Highly touted quarterbacks like Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan are in the division. Moreover, the NFC South also has Jameis Winston, who isn’t on the level of his peer, but he has the potential to be a good quarterback in this league. Of course, these quarterbacks are aided by the strong groups of weapons around them.
The NFC South holds some of the most dangerous receiving threats in the NFL, with the likes of Michael Thomas, Mike Evans and Julio Jones on the field. However, ranking these quarterbacks will not be based on their team’s performance but more on the quarterbacks in a vacuum. Their accuracy, arm strength and other traits will all be criteria.
With that, let’s rank the quarterbacks in the NFC South.
4. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston is one of the more interesting stories heading into this next season. He came out of Florida State as one of the best quarterbacks in college football, which led to him being the first overall pick in 2015. Now, Winston is in a contract year and his team might not be that confident in him as their franchise quarterback.
To this point, Winston has shown extreme highs and lows when he steps under center for the Buccaneers. He will have 20-yard passes into tight windows that look like an elite throws but can sail the next pass 10 yards past his target and into the hands of a defensive back just as easily.
One thing that’s for sure with Winston entering 2019 — he has no excuses. The Buccaneers traded away DeSean Jackson away this past offseason but he still has a good weapon in Chris Godwin and elite level weapons in Mike Evans and O.J Howard.
Another thing Winston has in his favor for the 2019 season is arguably one of the best coaches in the NFL. This offseason, the Buccaneers fired head coach Dirk Koetter and replaced him with the formerly retired Bruce Arians.
Winston has potential to be one of the better quarterbacks in this league, especially with the weapons he has and coach now guiding him. Currently, though, he has still yet to show that he can lead an offensive at a high level, which is why he brings up the rear in the NFC South.