The NFL is filled with talented quarterbacks today.
Some of the older ones, like Matthew Stafford, Aaron Rodgers, and Tom Brady, rule the NFC.
However, young guns like Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes rule over the AFC.
Mahomes isn’t the only young quarterback in the AFC.
In fact, the AFC has some of the youngest starting quarterbacks in the league.
But with that youth comes inexperience, which is why Mahomes rules the AFC for now.
Now that brings the question of which young quarterback can compare to Mahomes in the AFC?
Can Deshaun Watson Be The Next Mahomes In Cleveland?
Deshaun Watson and Mahomes have some similarities in common.
They were both drafted in the same year and they are both running quarterbacks.
However, Watson’s success in the NFL isn’t the same as Mahomes’.
During this run, Mahomes dropped 41 unanswered points on the Texans in the divisional, to come back from a 24-0 deficit in just under 20 minutes of play.
The QB on the other side? The man compared to Mahomes as the same, or even better than. Deshaun Watson.
Patrick crushed him.
— 3rd & Juan (@3rdnJuan) April 11, 2022
His first season saw him suffer a devastating season-ending injury.
The following year would see him bounce back from that injury.
He would have back-to-back winning seasons following his return to NFL action with the Houston Texans.
While he’s taken the Texans to the playoffs before, his career is muddied with legal issues.
Those legal issues resulted in him being benched for the 2021 season and traded in 2022.
His 2022 season is in limbo because of those issues, but that doesn’t change his talent.
With the Cleveland Browns running game, wide receiver Amari Cooper, and their defense, he can turn things around.
But him being the next Mahomes might not happen until 2023 or later.
Justin Herbert Wants People To See Him As The Next Star
The Los Angeles Chargers have themselves a great quarterback in Justin Herbert.
While the team wasted the years of Philip Rivers, they can change that with Herbert.
He showed in his first season with the Chargers he can throw the ball.
He continued that in his second season with the Chargers.
In 2021, he passed for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Justin Herbert 2nd Season in the NFL :
443 Completions
672 Passing Attempts
65.9 Completion %
5014 Passing Yards
38 Touchdowns
15 Interceptions
66.1 QBR
6th in the NFL In EPA/Play
9th in EPA+CPOE CompositeBEST QB IN THE NFL pic.twitter.com/CHoOhJ2ktR
— Braves (2-2) SZN (@sgmbraves2) January 10, 2022
As time goes on, he continues learning and attempting to improve his performance on game day.
The team has Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, two players that help his passing stats.
They also have Austin Ekeler to help with the running game, keeping pressure off Herbert.
These weapons could help him be the next Mahomes of the AFC.
Is Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow The Next Mahomes Of The AFC?
If there’s anyone that has a good chance of being the next Mahomes of the AFC, it’s Joe Burrow.
After suffering a season-ending injury in his rookie season, he bounced back to make it to Super Bowl 56.
He even beat Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game to make it to the Super Bowl.
Long-time teammate Ja’Marr Chase gives Burrow the weapon he needs in the passing game.
Joe Mixon, the team’s running back, is his weapon to keep defenses honest against the run.
These three players helped put the Bengals back in their first Super Bowl since the 1980s
Burrow will look to continue working with them as he keeps improving during his NFL career.
His tools he has and his determination to succeed are the reasons he will be the next Mahomes in the AFC.
NEXT: NFL Analysts Project Where Malik Willis Will Be Drafted
Charles says
How does this list not have Josh Allen (25)? But lists Deshaun Watson (26)?