Though it is a division that can be forgotten at times, the AFC South appears to be a group of teams on the rise. Some have high playoff aspirations while others have a 2019 outlook that could go either way.
We are going to take a look at the quarterback position in the division, ranking the starters of each of the four teams that will be battling for the AFC South crown.
Here’s our ranking of the quarterbacks in the AFC South:
4. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Since being selected No. 2 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota has underwhelmed as the starting signal caller for the Titans. He’s either dealing with a significant injury that’s keeping him off of the field or he’s simply underproducing.
Mariota has played 15 games twice in his four-year career but never a full 16-game season. He had his best season in 2016 but hasn’t come close to repeating those numbers. He’s thrown 24 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions in 29 games over the past two seasons.
Mariota faces a huge season in 2019—one that has a bearing on his future—but his days as a franchise quarterback are likely behind him.
3. Nick Foles, Jacksonville Jaguars
The sample size might be a little small for Foles in terms of working as a starter in recent seasons, but his production in the playoffs with the Philadelphia Eagles is enough to say he’s at least not the worst quarterback in the division.
Signing a four-year, $88 million deal with the Jaguars this offseason, Foles will be the one to usher in a new era following the departure of Blake Bortles. He only started five games with the Eagles in 2018 but averaged 282.6 passing yards per game with a 96.0 passer rating.
Will Foles be any different under Doug Marrone? Who knows. But the Jaguars are hoping he can bring that 2017 playoff magic to TIAA Bank Field as an attempt to get back to relevancy.
2. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
The former Clemson Tiger has been everything the Texans have wanted in a franchise quarterback since selecting him with the top overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was on a crazy pace during his rookie season before a torn ACL claimed the second half of his year.
Watson returned to the mix with an efficient and productive season in 2018 but not one that was as exciting as his rookie campaign. A dual-threat, highly intelligent signal caller, Watson enters a big year for production. He was sacked a whopping 62 times in 2018, which has forced the Texans to try to upgrade their offensive line.
Watson has averaged 8.3 yards per attempt while posting nearly identical passer ratings over the first two seasons—103.0 in 2017 and 103.1 in 2018. The passing game for the Texans should be solid again as Watson enters his third season. But it’s not enough to take the crown.
1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Come on. This spot is reserved for the only man rightfully deserving of the title as the best quarterback in the division. Luck bounced back beautifully in 2018 to show that not only is he back but that his future is brighter than ever.
The 29-year-old still in his prime enjoyed a career-high in efficiency numbers, posting a 67.3% completion percentage and a 98.7 passer rating. He was also second in the NFL in touchdown passes (39) and fifth in passing yards (4,593).
The Colts have a bright future large in part to the revival of Luck, and he’s likely to continue as the top signal caller in the division barring any major changes.
