Ranking AFC East QBs: Aaron Rodgers or Bills' Josh Allen 'King of the Castle'?
Excuse Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills if they're not ready to bow down at the feet of the newest quarterback in the AFC East.
While the rest of the NFL fawns over Aaron Rodgers joining the New York Jets after his trade from the Green Bay Packers was finally consummated Monday, Allen should use the perceived disrespect as motivation in 2023 and beyond. There might be a new - um, old - sheriff in town, but the incumbent is younger, more durable and has played in the same number of Super Bowls over the last 12 seasons: 0.
The consensus among most TV talking heads is that by acquiring the four-time MVP the Jets are immediately Super Bowl contenders. New York sported a Top 5 defense and Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson last season, and was only held back by the pathetic play of quarterback Zach Wilson.
But shouldn't the Jets and their quarterback who will turn 40 during the season be a smidge concerned about first winning their own division? The Bills - led by their star quarterback who will turn 27 next month - have won the last three AFC East titles and four playoff games in knocking on the Super Bowl door.
Rodgers, who won his lone Super Bowl appearance in 2010, has lost four conference championship games since and is coming off the least productive season of his career. And now, if we're reading this right, Rodgers in New York will be asked to save a franchise while Allen in Buffalo will be asked to actually throttle down his usage rate.
"Aaron is great, but Josh Allen is still king of the castle in the AFC East," ESPN's Dan Orlovsky said Tuesday morning. "Josh is just going into the prime of his career. When used properly, he's still the most indefensible player in the NFL."
Our AFC East QB Rankings
1. Josh Allen, Bills - Coming off a "down" season of 4,283 passing yards and 42 combined touchdowns.
2. Aaron Rodgers, Jets - Joe Namath was 25 when he led the Jets to their lone Super Bowl; he'll turn 40 in December.
3. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins - Embarrassment of offensive riches tempered by last season's multiple concussions and off-season retirement contemplation.
4. Mac Jones, Patriots - A far cry from Tom Brady, going 16-15 as a starter and struggling to hold off rookie Bailey Zappe for his job last season.
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