The AFC is truly stacked. As we slowly approach the 2025 NFL Season, let's predict all 16 starting QBs in the conference. Yet again, the Kansas City Chiefs represented the AFC in the Super Bowl, but oddly enough, they were not the best team in the conference in the 2024 NFL Season.
There may never have been a time in previous NFL seasons where a conference has been as deep as the AFC is today. Between the elite quarterbacks and up-and-coming teams, anything is on the table as we head toward the 2025 NFL Draft, the offseason programs, and the start of the new season.
The best quarterbacks in the entire NFL are in the AFC. Let's try to predict all 16 starting QBs in the conference for the 2025 NFL Season.
2025 NFL Predictions: Predicting all 16 AFC starting quarterbacks
Baltimore Ravens - Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson truly should have won his third NFL MVP award in the 2024 season, but it went to Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills. If the Ravens again get bounced out of the playoffs early, it might be time to have some serious conversations...
Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen
Winning his first MVP award, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills has revived and helped them make the AFC Championship Game in 2024. Allen is the QB of the future for Buffalo.
Cincinnati Bengals - Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow threw over 40 touchdown passes in the 2024 NFL Season, and this Bengals team probably could have made a deep playoff run had their defense not been among the worst in the NFL. Cincinnati recently extended Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase.
Cleveland Browns - Kirk Cousins
I am going to guess that Kirk Cousins ends up starting for the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL Season. He'd reunite with Kevin Stefanski, as both were in Minnesota at one point, and I truly do not believe the Atlanta Falcons want to keep Cousins on their roster in 2025.
Denver Broncos - Bo Nix
Bo Nix shocked the NFL world in the 2024 NFL Season, throwing for 29 touchdown passes and helping the Broncos win 10 games and snap their playoff-drought streak. Nix and the Broncos are trending in the right direction.
Houston Texans - CJ Stroud
A down year for CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans, they will look to bounce back and win the AFC South for a third year in a row in 2024. The offensive line was a sore spot in 2024, as Stroud was running for his life.
Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts signed Daniel Jones in free agency to compete with Anthony Richardson, and while that is a notable signing, I truly do not believe the Colts intend on starting Jones unless Richardson looks abysmal this offseason.
To be fair, though, abysmal is a good way to describe Richardson's QB ability. The "QB competition" we see in the offseason between the two is probably going to favor Richardson.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence
Will the Liam Coen era be the one where we'll finally see Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars hit their potential? Lawrence isn't going anywhere, but if we're being fair here, he's not been nearly as good as many of us thought he would be coming into the NFL out of Clemson.
Kansas City Chiefs - Patrick Mahomes
Yeah, there isn't much to share here. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs have won three Super Bowls since the start of the 2019 NFL Season and did make it back to the big game for the third year in a row in 2024. They lost in embarrassing fashion, but this team is still very likely going to be back atop the NFL world in 2025.
Las Vegas Raiders - Geno Smith
One of the major moves this offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders swung a trade for Geno Smith, giving up a third-round pick in the process. It's an interesting move, as the Seattle Seahawks clearly had no issues trading Smith, so you wonder just how 'good' this QB actually is.
Geno Smith is the fourth-best QB in the AFC West and doesn't really move the needle a whole lot for the Raiders in the deep AFC.
Los Angeles Chargers - Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have gone 0-2 in the playoffs since the Herbert era began, losing in notable fashion both times. You truly have to wonder just how far Herbert could lead LA when it's all said and done. He's been in the league for four seasons and has been the same exact 'B+' QB for his entire career.
Miami Dolphins - Tua Tagovailoa
The Miami Dolphins signed Zach Wilson in free agency to backup Tua Tagovailoa, who simply cannot stay on the field consistently. I could see some major QB changes on the horizon of Tagovailoa and the Dolphins can't put it together in 2025.
New England Patriots - Drake Maye
One team I would feel very comfortable putting as a breakout team in 2025 is the New England Patriots. Drake Maye is going to take the league by storm in 2025. The Pats could compete for a Wild Card spot in the AFC.
New York Jets - Justin Fields
I really don't understand the New York Jets signing Justin Fields. They did indeed downgrade from Aaron Rodgers. Fields is not going to do much with the Jets, and this could be another lean, rebuilding year for the team.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Rodgers
Let's predict that Aaron Rodgers ends up signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers was not bad for the New York Jets in 2024 and would be an upgrade over the Russell Wilson-Justin Fields QB room Pittsburgh had.
Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward
With each passing day, it seems more likely that the Tennessee Titans will end up choosing Cam Ward with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward is a raw prospect, but would have a nice offensive line and some decent weapons at his disposal.