Power Ranking the Quarterbacks in the AFC North
The start of training camp is just days away for some NFL teams, and a few weeks for others, meaning the return of meaningful football games is right around the corner.
It's been a pretty eventful offseason - one in which we've previewed training camp dates and storylines to watch, examined the top position battles to watch, and named which rookie has the best chance of winning a starting job for all 32 teams.
Next up in our offseason series is power ranking every starting quarterback in each of the NFL's eight divisions. First up is the AFC North.
1- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The Joe Burrow vs. Lamar Jackson debate is one of the best in the NFL.
Both have their respective accolades, but one could argue Burrow has accomplished more in less time. Sure, Jackson has won two MVPs and is a three-time All-Pro selection, but Burrow is a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Comeback Player of the Year, he's led the NFL in passing yards, touchdown passes, and completion percentage, and he's taken his team to a Super Bowl - something Jackson has never done.
Yes, Burrow has had his share of injury issues lately, but he also holds the edge over Jackson in 4,000-yard seasons (three to one) and 30-touchdown seasons (three to two), he's more accurate (68.5 completion percentage to 64.8), and he knows how to win in the playoffs - Burrow is 5-2 in the postseason, while Jackson is 3-5, which is why he gets the nod.
2- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson may be second in his own division, but that's nothing to be ashamed of. He's one of just 11 players ever to win multiple MVPs, his .690 win percentage (76-31 record) is 10th-best all-time and third-best among active QBs, and he's the NFL's all-time leader in career rushing yards by a QB.
Jackson is just one year removed from his career best, in which he threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just four interceptions with an NFL-leading 119.6 passer rating. He was injured for half of last season, and if he's fully healthy in 2026, he should play like the top-five QB everyone's used to seeing.
3- Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
It's clear Rodgers isn't the player he once was, but he's still playing like an above-average passer. He threw for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions last season while leading Pittsburgh to a 10-7 record, a division title, and a playoff appearance.
The 42-year-old QB will have a better supporting cast than he did last year with the additions of running backs Rico Dowdle Eli Heidenreich, wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard, tight end Robert Tonyan, and tackle Max Iheanachor, and he should have an even more productive season in what will be his NFL swan song.
4- Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
If somehow Deshaun Watson ends up winning Cleveland's starting job in camp, then he's interchangeable here with Sanders. Regardless of who's under center for the Browns, they're both clearly the fourth-best option in the division.
But Sanders is impressing coaches with his improvement this offseason, and given the upgrade in talent on the Browns' offense - wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, tackles Tytus Howard, Spencer Fano, and Austin Barber, guard Zion Johnson, and centers Parker Brailsford and Elgton Jenkins - he will be in a much better position to succeed in 2026.
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This story was originally published July 18, 2026 at 8:25 PM.