The NFC South might be the weakest division in football. Let's rank the four starting QBs as the 2025 NFL Offseason rolls on.
I guess you never know what could happen here - there are two young QBs in Michael Penix Jr and Bryce Young who could both breakout in 2025 and make things a lot more interesting in the division. Derek Carr and Baker Mayfield are the other starting QBs in the division and are obviously the most veteran as well.
The QB hierarchy in the NFC South seems quite obvious right now. Let's dive deeper into it as the offseason rolls on.
NFC South Quarterback Rankings: Where does Saints QB Derek Carr fall?
4. Michael Penix Jr, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr is a de-facto rookie QB if we are being honest, and the verdict is clearly still out on the QB from Washington. Penix is a left-handed QB who possesses pinpoint accuracy and might have a great shot to breakout in 2025.
He's got a ton of great weaponry in Atlanta featuring players like Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Bijan Robinson. Honestly, if Penix does not figure it out with the Falcons, he may never put it together in the NFL. He is last in our NFC South quarterback rankings, but that is primarily because there is a ton of unknown with the player.
3. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
From Week 10 through the rest of the 2024 NFL Season, Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers tossed 12 touchdowns against just three interceptions for a solid 91.3 passer rating. He also ran for 208 yards and another five touchdowns.
While the verdict is still out on Young, he and the Panthers offense have all of that solid film to build off of for 2025. Young is not quite a legitimate franchise QB yet, but the momentum is trending positively in that direction. Only time will tell if the former first overall pick can put it all together in 2025, but he does seem to have the personnel and coaching to get it done.
He is third in the NFC South QB hierarchy.
2. Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is fine for any team that needs a short-term QB solution. Carr is entering his age-34 season and is an average QB at best. He has generally played well on paper for the New Orleans Saints, but the stats on paper and what we see on film are totally different.
New Orleans could likely win nine or 10 games in 2025 if just about everything goes well, and that is kind of the problem here. Until they move on from Carr and pursue a legitimate upgrade, the team isn't going anywhere.
Third-year Saints QB Derek Carr is second in our NFC South QB rankings.
1. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdown passes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2024 NFL Season. He was truly playing out of his mind and is the clear-cut best QB in the division until further notice. Mayfield seems to have found a home in Tampa Bay, as this team is the greatest threat in the division right now.
Losing former offensive coordinator Liam Coen hurts, but Mayfield is still likely going to play his tail off in 2025.