CBS Sports says AFC West is “clear winner” as NFL division with best QBs

The AFC West was already tough for the Broncos to navigate.

It got even tougher as a division this offseason, but that was in large part due to Denver acquiring future Hall of Fame QB Russell Wilson in a blockbuster trade. QB is king in football and the Broncos finally have one after searching for six years since Peyton Manning retired.

CBS Sports recently ranked the eight divisions in football from worst to best based on QB talent, and to no one’s surprise, the AFC West came in at No. 1. Cody Benjamin wrote the Broncos trading for Wilson solidified the division’s status at the top.

Here are Benjamin’s rankings:

8. NFC South (Brady, Winston, Mariota, Darnold)
7. NFC East (Prescott, Wentz, Hurts, Jones)
6. AFC South (Ryan, Tannehill, Lawrence, Mills)
5. AFC East (Allen, Jones, Tagovailoa, Wilson)
4. NFC West (Stafford, Murray, Lance, Lock)
3. NFC North (Rodgers, Cousins, Fields, Goff)
2. AFC North (Burrow, Jackson, Watson, Trubisky)
1. AFC West (Mahomes, Herbert, Wilson, Carr)

Benjamin wrote the following about why he put the AFC West at No. 1:

The gold standard. The AFC North would come closer if not for Deshaun Watson’s off-field questions. Here, however, we have a truly pristine crop of starters. Patrick Mahomes isn’t invincible like he once appeared, but his off-script playmaking keeps the Chiefs in every single game. Justin Herbert is an elite, prototypical pocket passer who’s only getting better. Russell Wilson is coming off a quieter, injury-marred year, but he remains one of the most poised veterans at the position, and he’s clearly motivated by the change of scenery. Derek Carr is the weak link of the bunch, often turning in top-12 numbers without many big wins to show for it, but that’s not to say he isn’t a rock-solid starter, which he absolutely is.

It’s hard to disagree with anything he says, although I’d put Wilson above Herbert. The Chargers signal caller has flashed all kinds of talent, but Wilson’s resume is stronger by a massive margin.

Regardless, the AFC West is indeed the gold standard for quarterbacks right now, with the Broncos and Wilson a big reason why.
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