The NFC South doesn’t exactly carry the same quarterback glow as some other divisions, but it still has a few names with real juice. Baker Mayfield sits at the top for now, Bryce Young is making a fast climb, Tyler Shough may have finally given the Saints some stability, and Atlanta is still sorting out its quarterback situation.
Mayfield gets the No. 1 spot after a season that started with MVP buzz and Super Bowl talk in Tampa Bay. That all unraveled by the finish, as the Buccaneers missed the playoffs and fell short of the division title.
Even so, Mayfield still put up nearly 3,700 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, and injuries down the stretch may have played a part in the team’s collapse. The bigger picture is that he showed the kind of talent that made him the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns.
Young comes in at No. 2, and his rise has been one of the more interesting developments in the division. After getting benched as a rookie, he said that move was the best thing that happened to him because it got him back on track.
That reset helped fuel a strong finish to his first year and a much better second season. Young threw for over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, added 216 rushing yards, and helped Carolina win the division, reach the playoffs, and nearly knock off the Los Angeles Rams in the opening round.
He could be the one sitting at the top of this list next year.
The Saints may have finally found some direction with Tyler Shough. Since Drew Brees retired, New Orleans has gone through a long stretch of quarterback uncertainty, but Shough emerged from the competition and came out on top. He finished with over 2,300 passing yards and 10 touchdowns, and if the Saints build the right pieces around him, there’s at least a path for this offense to keep moving.
Atlanta is the wild card here. Right now, there’s no clear answer on who will start at quarterback.
Michael Penix opened last season, but injuries sent him to the bench by the end of the year. Then there’s Tua Tagovailoa, who was recently cut from the Miami Dolphins and is now in the mix as the backup, or so it seemed.
He could end up taking over the starting job. When healthy, he’s a gifted passer, and the Falcons have some of the best offensive talent in the league.
If they settle the quarterback spot, they could make a serious push at the division.
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