Which AFC South teams are set at quarterback — and which ones rank at the bottom of the division barrel?
The quarterback is the most important position in football, maybe in all of sports, and the AFC South has four teams with four quarterback groups spanning the spectrum of talent and legacy. From elite to unproven, from an insane boom or bust potential to comfortably consistent.
But the thing about quarterback play in the NFL is that it can shape the course of a franchise in a way that no other position can. Having a great quarterback calling the shots for an offense, even just a “good enough” quarterback running the show, can elevate an entire team to new heights and make the players around him even better (see, the 2019 Tennessee Titans from Week 7 onward).
On the other end of the spectrum, quarterback play that’s not up to par can bring a team down in a way more damaging than a weak showing at any other group (see, the 2019 Tennessee Titans from Week 6 prior). It can deflate a talented supporting cast and highlight weaknesses that would normally be masked by a more-skilled quarterback.
Point being, quarterbacks are important, and they go a long way in determining the success or failure of a team in a given season. So for those invested in the 2020 Tennessee Titans playoff hopes, it’s important to look not just at their quarterback situation for the upcoming season, but the quarterback situations for their three AFC South rivals as well.
Understanding where each of the four AFC South teams stands at quarterback will go a long way in determining where each team stands as a whole heading into the season, and which teams have the best chance at coming out of the division to represent the AFC in the playoffs. So let’s dive into it, starting from fourth place.