AFC South quarterback ranking: where does Trevor Lawrence sit after 2025

In 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars were the AFC South's best team. Sure, the Houston Texans were the squad that lasted longer in the postseason, but they didn't draw the do-or-die Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.

Similarly, we felt like Trevor Lawrence was the second-best quarterback in the division behind Houston's CJ Stroud during the preseason. However, various events throughout the 2025 campaign showed that some reshuffling could be in order.

Up north, Daniel Jones gave the Indianapolis Colts a great year of service. Unfortunately, his performance tailed off during the back half of the year before he suffered a season-ending injury. Danny Dimes will be a free agent this year unless the Colts use their franchise tag on him, but should they?

Whether it's the most sensible play or not, Indy's ownership made it clear that this is a win-now year for Chris Ballard and Co. Also, Sam Darnold's magical run to a Super Bowl title is the ultimate warning sign for every front office that feels like it can do better.

With all this in mind, it's time to revisit the AFC South's stable of starting QBs and see who's No. 1 at the close of the 2025 season. The leader might not surprise you, but the one bringing up the rear might.

The financial risk of bringing back Daniel Jones outweighs the benefits

Obviously, Daniel Jones' best moments were better than Cam Ward's entire rookie campaign. After all, Jones led the Colts offense through the fire week after week and opened up boxes for Jonathan Taylor to run through. And run he did, as the former Wisconsin Badger was an early-season favorite for various postseason awards.

The good times were great in the Hoosier State, but the old Jones was slowly revealing himself before things went south in Jacksonville. If the Colts sign him to a long-term deal, which version are they getting? Are they getting the one who took the New York Giants to the playoffs and got Brian Daboll a Coach of the Year Award, or are they getting the one who was ousted by Big Blue and wasn't that valuable to the Minnesota Vikings either?

I feel like there are safer dice rolls on the market (here's looking at you, Kirk Cousins).

Cam Ward will be solid for the Tennessee Titans, but he's not the second-best QB (yet)

If you look at the box score, Ward isn't that much better than his predecessor, Will Levis. However, the reality of the situation shows that neither player received the offensive coaching they needed to develop quickly in their youngest years.

The former Miami Hurricane shone as a leader; however, he quickly called out his team's lackluster performances and even gave us one of the best sound bites of the 2020s. Ward's intangibles could give Robert Saleh the field general he needs to hit the ground running during his first season as the Titans' new head coach.

I don't know if the former first-overall pick's style of play will ever pop off the screen at the NFL level. Ironically enough, Tennessee hired Brian Daboll to be Saleh's offensive visionary, so there isn't any evidence that Ward will be placed in a system that asks him to do everything by himself either way.

The Titans will probably win six or seven games while Ward looks serviceable as a starting QB on a cheap rookie deal. In this division, that's definitely good enough for third place.

CJ Stroud definitely collapsed in the playoffs but is still the Houston Texans' best option . . . I think

Okay, Stroud's collapse in the Divisional round against the New England Patriots was a sight to behold. The two-time AFC South Champion threw four interceptions in the first half and couldn't rebound after the Texans exited the tunnel after halftime.

Prisoners of the moment would probably drop Stroud all the way down their AFC South rankings if they had to write an article right after the game. Honestly, I can't say that I disagree with them. However, I'd like to make a modest proposal that the Texans' entire QB room is the second-best in the division, whether Stroud should be re-evaluated as an individual or not.

Davis Mills went undefeated as a starter while leading the Texans through Stroud's three-game absence. One of these wins included a thrilling comeback against the Jaguars to save Houston's season. The Stanford alum's victory against Jacksonville contributed to his franchise's position in the AFC South standings once the final week of the regular season started.

Like Ward, Mills' play style at the NFL level isn't awe-inspiring. He's a solid veteran who puts the ball in the right place and doesn't lose games on his own. The former third-round pick oversaw wins against two division rivals (Jax and Tennessee) and a major upset over the Buffalo Bills.

Yes, the Texans' pass rush was otherworldly. And, yes, DeMeco Ryans turned in the best coaching performance of his career. None of that diminishes Mills' ability to be ready at all times when his number was called upon in 2025.

While this article isn't ranking every QB in this division, Mills' excellence in relief is a variable that can't go uncredited. For that, Houston, as a whole, earns the second spot.

Trevor Lawrence won the division, got a few nominations, and changed the narrative surrounding the Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence struck out at the NFL Honors, but the message was sent to the rest of the division and the league as a whole.

The 2021 draftee gradually improved throughout the regular season and hit a monstrous tear at the end of the year that led to dominant wins over the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, and other feisty AFC franchises.

These wins were critical, as the Jags needed every in-conference victory they could muster to get the edge over Houston in the end. Lawrence performed so well that guys got paid, coordinators got interviewed for head coaching jobs, and Liam Coen got three votes away from becoming the AP Coach of the Year.

It takes a village, and Shad Khan moved mountains to overhaul the entire football side of his franchise. Lawrence's play in 2025 validated Khan's investments and showed that he's the best quarterback in the AFC South until somebody takes the crown from him.