Ranking Every Quarterback Room In The AFC West
Home of the defending Superbowl champions, the race for the best quarterback rooms in the AFC West is essentially a race for second. The Raiders, Chargers, Chiefs, and Broncos all share plenty of hate and grief, maintaining some of the NFL's best rivalries. That being said, it's unlikely that others will dethrone the Chiefs anytime soon. Without further ado, here are the rankings for the quarterback rooms in the AFC West.
4) Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are very clearly in last place, and despite the Broncos having a rough quarterback room, too, it's not close. Aiden O'Connell looked solid at times last year, but his ceiling caps out at most as a game manager and nothing more. The Raiders did go out and pay Gardner Minshew to come and play backup, but it feels like Minshew could almost start for them. With no massive upside to any starters or guarantees at the position, it feels like the Raiders are drowning and desperately need a lifeline. Maybe they can get Derek Carr back, given that he isn't thriving in New Orleans, but that would barely help this awful room.
3) Denver Broncos
The Broncos quarterback room, unlike the Raiders, has upside. Zach Wilson is the third-string quarterback, and the former second-overall pick is a decent backup given his potential to make big plays like we saw him capable of at BYU. Other than that, the hope lies in rookie Bo Nix out of Oregon. Many fans viewed this pick as a reach at the time, but Sean Payton worked with Drew Brees for 14 years and saw something in Nix that he liked. While he is older, Nix has plenty of potential to succeed in the NFL if he has the proper weapons surrounding him.
2) Los Angeles Chargers
New head coach Jim Harbaugh will hopefully change everything for the Chargers. The only thing that doesn't need changing is quarterback Justin Herbert. The former Oregon Duck has been one of the NFL's most underrated stars since being drafted sixth in the 2020 NFL and has primarily had no help from his team.
Given that he has either had horrible offensive lines, inconsistent and injury-prone receivers, or bottom-tier defenses to help him, it has been a rough start to Herbert's career. Despite all of this, Herbert has won Offensive Rookie of the Year, has been a Pro-Bowler, and has consistently been atop the league in passing yards when healthy. Herbert is a franchise quarterback. Hopefully, Harbaugh can figure out how to build a good team around him.
1) Kansas City Chiefs
There is not much to say about the Chiefs that hasn't already been said. After winning back-to-back Superbowls and three already under Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, the Chiefs seem to want to rule the NFL for the next 15 years. Mahomes is undoubtedly the best in the league today and arguably the most talented quarterback to ever play alongside Aaron Rodgers and Dan Marino.
Mahomes has the tools he needs to flourish around him. After last year's awful situation at wide receiver improved during the offseason, there is no reason why Mahomes won't dominate the NFL again. If a fan doesn't believe that Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL, they are lying to themselves.
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