Kansas City Chiefs: Ranking AFC West quarterbacks in 2019

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers shake hands after the game at StubHub Center on September 9, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

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Joe Flacco #5 of the Denver Broncos (Photo by Joe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

The AFC West saw both the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers make it to the playoffs last year. Both teams had great quarterbacks, but what would the rankings look like for the division when it comes to the position?

The AFC West is no stranger to good quarterback play. For several years, it was Peyton Manning’s world and the rest of the division was just living in it. Now, however, it’s Patrick Mahomes‘ world and Kansas City Chiefs fans are loving it.

Mahomes won the MVP last year after completing his first full season as a starter. While he’s arguably the best quarterback in the division, it’s not a cakewalk to some, as Philip Rivers is still rocking and rolling at age 37 and about to head into his 16th NFL season.

The other two AFC West quarterbacks aren’t even in the running for best in the division, but why don’t we take the time to rank all four starting quarterbacks in the AFC West? We’ll go from worst to first.

RANKING AFC WEST QUARTERBACKS

NUMBER 4: JOE FLACCO

Numbers three and four could have gone either way, but I decided to put Joe Flacco as the fourth best (or worst) quarterback in the AFC West. This is Flacco’s first year in the division, after he spent the first 11 years of his career in Baltimore.

Lamar Jackson wowed everyone as a rookie last year and that made Flacco expendable. Were it not for an injury that sidelined Flacco, Jackson doesn’t have the opportunities to prove his worth, and maybe Flacco is still a Raven. That’s not what happened though.

Flacco was traded to Denver over the offseason and he’ll now takeover a Broncos offense that has had some serious quarterback woes since Sheriff Manning retired after the 2015 season. Oh, and similar to last year, he’ll have a rookie lighting a fire under his butt, as Missouri’s own Drew Lock joined the Broncos via the draft this year.

While Flacco has a Super Bowl title under his belt, he’s 34 years old and was banged up last year. He started nine games, though probably could have returned for the end of the season had Jackson not been playing well. He might not be the long-term answer in Denver, but the Broncos could do much worse.

The former Raven threw for 2,465 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 2018.

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