Approaching Week 5 action, let's power rank the 16 starting quarterbacks in the AFC. Who stands at the top? The AFC feels wide open for the first time in a while, as every single top team has a notable flaw that could hold them back.
And with the Cincinnati Bengals all of a sudden becoming a non-factor, and the Baltimore Ravens being an injured mess at 1-3, the conference feels open, as even the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have roster issues of their own.
It's really not even clear which team is the second or third-best right now. It's early, but the AFC is absolutely looking a lot different than it has in previous seasons. Approaching Week 5, let's power rank all of the starting QBs.
Power rankings AFC quarterbacks approaching Week 5
16. Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns
Dillon Gabriel will make his first NFL start on Sunday, and since there is a ton we do not know, he'll be the last QB in our power rankings. Gabriel was a third-round pick and has been the backup to Joe Flacco all season, so he's now getting his chance to prove to a ton of people that they were wrong on their evaluation.
15. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans have been a disastrous team this year. Ward hasn't played particularly well, but there is only so much blame that he can take. He might end up being a top QB in the NFL, but it'll be late 2026 or early 2027 until we see that come to fruition.
14. Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals
Jake Browning is a fine backup, but that's all he is. The Cincinnati Bengals are not likely to get Joe Burrow back, so it might be Browning the rest of the way. I do wonder if the Bengals would consider a major QB trade, perhaps for Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, or Kirk Cousins, if things get really out of hand.
13. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Geno Smith has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, and you don't need to be an NFL guru to know that is terrible. He's a below-average QB at this stage of his career and was traded for a third-round pick this offseason for a reason; we're seeing that reason now.
12. Justin Fields, New York Jets
Justin Fields is never a quarterback you want on your team if you expect to win football games. He's a career loser, below-average passer, and at best a high-end backup. The New York Jets really didn't have much of a choice this offseason, as they brought along a brand-new coaching staff and front office, so they needed a stopgap.
I do believe it's likely that the Jets take a QB at some point in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, as Darren Mougey was previously with the Denver Broncos for years, so he saw first-hand what a franchise QB could do for a franchise.
Fields is 12th in our power rankings.
11. CJ Stroud, Houston Texans
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans have been horrendous this year on offense. Their defense has been top-tier for a while now, so you get the sense that if they can figure something out on offense, this team could again win the AFC South. However, this might just be one of the worst offensive lines we have seen in quite some time, and Stroud himself takes some blame here, too.
Since the start of the 2024 NFL Season, the third-year QB has thrown 24 touchdowns against 15 interceptions, and this comes after his insane rookie season throwing 23 touchdowns against just five picks. Right now, CJ Stroud and the Texans are trending in the wrong direction.
10. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is a quarterback. I'm not sure he's good or bad to be honest, but we have to give him and the Jacksonville Jaguars some credit this year, as they are 3-1 through the first month of the season and are beating good teams as well.
The Jags could end up winning the AFC South if the offense takes a step forward, as their defense is already creating a ton of havoc. Liam Coen is the first-year head coach on the job and has already done wonders for the rushing attack.
9. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is the most 'good' quarterback in the history of the NFL. He's never finished a season with a losing record but is also far from being great at much of anything. The Miami Dolphins have a pretty shaky roster outside of Tagovailoa, so this team is trending in the wrong direction.
But he's been an efficient QB throughout his career. He's tossed 107 touchdowns against 48 interceptions and averages 27 touchdowns per 17-game season. He's honestly this generation's Kirk Cousins.
8. Bo Nix. Denver Broncos
Bo Nix has been pretty solid over the past three games after a shaky Week 1 performance of the Tennessee Titans. He's thrown four interceptions on the year already, but he's thrown just one over the past two weeks and played his tail off against the Cincinnati Bengals. Nix and the Broncos will be just fine, and it's important to note that Sean Payton-coached teams are .500 in September, so the Broncos being 2-2 isn't surprising.
Denver is going to go on a run at some point in the 2025 NFL Season, and we'll see Nix and the offense really take off. He's eighth in our rankings right now and is definitely going to rise as the season progresses.
7. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones has played well this year, but you'd think he'd have thrown more than four touchdown passes. He's got two interceptions on the year and has completed 71.9% of his passes, so he has been efficient, but it's been nothing overly special at this point.
The Colts are 3-1 and do have a great shot to be 4-1 with a win over the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. Jones could be the next example of other QBs like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield who thrived on others teams.
6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Throwing three interceptions over the past two games, it feels like the once 3-0 Los Angeles Chargers and hyper-efficient Justin Herbert have taken a huge step back. LA is still in a good spot and is 3-0 in the division, but this team has roster holes. The defense could use another pass rusher, and Joe Alt could be out for multiple weeks.
Obviously, Rashawn Slater is done for the year as well. With how weak the AFC is right now, the Chargers could win the division and perhaps even win a playoff game, but they are trending in the wrong direction after their Week 4 loss, and they face the Washington Commanders in Week 5.
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
It's going to be another one of those years for Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. An excellent QB when on the field, Jackson and many of his teammates won't be on the field in Week 5 and beyond. Jackson is still an elite QB and the best dual-threat passer of all-time.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are now 2-2 on the season after a shaky 0-2 start. Mahomes and the Chiefs blew out the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 and could continue stacking wins. Rashee Rice returns soon, and that could be the missing link on this offense with a healthy Xavier Worthy in the mix as well.
However, Kansas City is below-averaging at the running back position and don't have anything overly special on defense. Mahomes will keep the Chiefs atop the NFL hierarchy, and they could capture the AFC for the fourth year in a row.
3. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers has a 102.6 passer rating through four games, and all of a sudden, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a great position to win the AFC North. With the Bengals being a non-factor and the Browns being the Browns, the only thing in the Steelers' way is the Baltimore Ravens, but they currently have a plethora of injuries.
Pittsburgh is likely winning the AFC North, and I would imagine that Rodgers is only going to get better as the season goes on.
2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye is completing 74% of his passes and has a 109.4 passer rating through the first four games of the 2025 NFL Season. Folks, I think you are too low on Maye. Sure, the New England Patriots might still be a year away, but Drake Maye is arriving right before our eyes, and I am not sure there are many QBs in the NFL playing better than him right now.
Having Josh McDaniels back as the offensive coordinator also helps, too.
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen is no. 1 in our QB power rankings in the AFC. He and the Buffalo Bills are the lone unbeaten team in the conference, so it's only fitting that the reigning MVP is top in our power rankings
approaching Week 5.
The Bills themselves do have roster flaws, but they also have an easier schedule this year and are racing toward capturing the first seed in the AFC playoffs, which could be precisely what they need to make a Super Bowl run.