NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers rolls out of the pocket during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The LSU Tigers topped the Clemson Tigers, 42-25. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
In the AFC North, young quarterbacks have taken over the division. Who is the division’s best signal caller?
All but one team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the AFC North will start a quarterback under the age of 26 in 2020. Assuming the Cincinnati Bengals give Joe Burrow the job right away.
Baker Mayfield is 25 years old, while Burrow and Lamar Jackson are 23. The latter two will turn 24 in December (Burrow) and January (Jackson).
Ben Roethlisberger is the eldest of the group. At age 38, 2020 will be his 17th NFL season, which all have been spent with the Steelers. The veteran Roethlisberger was around for the division’s best quarterback days, and now he will spend some time playing the new generation of AFC North gunslingers.
For the Browns, Mayfield will enter year three as the team’s starter. Consistency under center is something this organization has not had in years.
So, who is the best quarterback in the AFC North?
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow: 2019 (LSU) – 5,671 yards, 65 Total TD, 6 INT.
All signs indicate that Zac Taylor will start his rookie quarterback right away in 2020. The Bengals released Dalton, who has since inked a one-year deal to play behind Dak Prescott in Dallas with the Cowboys.
Joe Burrow was selected number-one overall in the NFL Draft. He is coming of a historic season at LSU. A year that some call the greatest in college football history.
As you can see above, Burrow’s numbers support the “best season ever” argument. He completed over 76 percent of his throws, threw for 60 scores and added five more on the ground, and he tossed only six interceptions.
Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and led the LSU Tigers to the national title.
It would be unfair to rank Burrow any higher without throwing a pass in the NFL. He will make mistakes as he acclimates to the pros but he could also jump a ranking with a big rookie season.