Ranking the NFL Divisions After the Russell Wilson and Carson Wentz Trades

A month ago, it seemed obvious that the NFC West was the best division in football. The Rams had just won the Super Bowl, the 49ers reached the NFC Championship and the Cardinals won 11 games. 

However, the NFC West may not have been as big of a frontrunner as many assumed. After all, there were three divisions with a trio of teams that won nine or more games (AFC East, AFC West and NFC West) and the AFC North was the only division in which each team won at least eight games.

While other divisions could make compelling cases, the NFC West was clearly on top. However, that reign was short-lived. There have been some blockbuster moves early in the NFL offseason and the power balance has shifted.

Here’s a look at how each of the NFL’s divisions stack up:

8. NFC South

There’s just too much up in the air in this division. The NFC South may be a fun division to watch as it’s wide open and multiple teams have a shot to win it, but no one is arguing that this is one of the best divisions in the league.

Who’s playing quarterback?

Kyle Trask is currently the only quarterback under contract on Tampa Bay’s roster while Taysom Hill and Ian Book are the only signal-callers the Saints have under contract. Sam Darnold started 11 games for the Panthers last season, but threw more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (9) and the team is reportedly listening to trade offers on Christian McCaffrey, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence that they expect to compete in 2022.

Why would the Falcons trade Matt Ryan? The NFC South has junk QB's. The NFC as a whole has two good QB's.

I think you can get to the post season with Ryan. Then once you get there you can beat Aaron Rodgers..because everyone does.

— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesShow) March 10, 2022

In Atlanta, Matt Ryan will be 37 when the season starts. He played all 17 games last season, but still threw for just 3,968 yards, his lowest output since 2010. Neither of those sentences are likely to get fans excited, but … it appears he’s easily the best quarterback in the division.

A crazy trade or free-agent signing could alter this list, but as of now, it’s hard to rank the NFC South anywhere else.

7. AFC South

Simply put, two teams are holding this division up and two are dragging it down. While there’s not an elite quarterback in this division, the Titans and Colts both possess solid rosters capable of winning 10 or more games.

The Titans have shown they can win with Ryan Tannenhill behind center and a healthy and rested Derrick Henry will be tough on defenses next season. The Colts are coming off a 9-8 campaign and could have easily won a few more games. 

Indianapolis certainly has the feel of a team that’s close to turning a corner — though that could have been said about this team for a couple years now. After trading Wentz to Washington, the Colts are now firmly in the quarterback market. The roster is ready and whoever ends up with this job will play a large part in determining how far the Colts go in 2022.

After those two teams, it’s easy to see why the AFC South is ranked low on this list. The Texans and Jaguars combined for just seven wins last season. Trevor Lawrence will likely improve next year as Jacksonville experiences a bit more stability, but the Jaguars still feel a couple years away.

6. NFC East

Going 0-2 in the playoffs didn’t help the NFC East’s reputation, which likely wasn’t that high in the first place. The Cowboys went 12-5 in the regular season and had stretches where they looked like one of the best teams in the league. However, going 6-0 against a weak division helped boost that record and the Cowboys are always going to be judged by what happens in the postseason.

Jalen Hurts has performed better in Philadelphia than some may have expected coming out of the draft, but he doesn’t feel like an elite quarterback, at least not yet. The Washington Commanders have a roster that may be better than most people realize, but it’s hard to win in the NFL without a quarterback and that’s where the Commanders have been of late. 

Acquiring Carson Wentz should help a little and it will be interesting to see if he’s able to elevate that offense. The Giants, at 4-13, finished last in the division and need to upgrade the roster in various forms, including at quarterback.

5. NFC North

Aaron Rodgers has dominated this division for more than a decade and will be favored to win it again in 2022 now that he’s decided to return to Green Bay. Rodgers, Davante Adams and the Packers are the primary reason this division is ranked where it is, but the rest of the teams aren’t exactly devoid of talent.

NFC North 2022 prediction
1) Packers
2) Bears
3) Vikings
4) Bayside Tigers
5) Michigan Panthers
6) Air Bud & The Buddies
7) Degrassi Junior High Panthers
8) Lions

— Jeremy Ross (@JeremyAdamRoss) March 9, 2022

Kirk Cousins, say what you want about his performance in primetime games, is a solid quarterback. The Vikings have a decent roster and should be playing meaningful games in the second half of the season. At 6-11 the Bears weren’t a huge threat last year, but if Justin Fields takes a step forward and gets closer to reaching his ceiling, then Chicago quickly becomes a much more formidable opponent.

Meanwhile, the Lions have finished in last place in this division for four straight years and it’s looking like 2022 will make it five in a row.

4. AFC East

The division that Tom Brady feasted on for the better part of two decades in New England has been trending up over the past few seasons. The Josh Allen-led Bills have taken over the throne from the Patriots, but New England isn’t far behind. Mac Jones may not have the ceiling of some of the league’s top-tier quarterbacks, but, when placed in the right system, he has a solid floor.

The Dolphins have won 19 games over the past two seasons and if new head coach Mike McDaniel can get the most out of Tua Tagovailoa, Miami could take another step forward. McDaniel’s offensive acumen and creativity was on display during his tenure with the 49ers and the combination of Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle could be an exciting duo if everything clicks.

As for the Jets, Zach Wilson has shown flashes, but overall the team still feels a couple years away, especially when considering they face the tough AFC North this season.

3. AFC North

There’s a lot to like here — the AFC North was the only division in which all four teams won eight or more games — but it still seems like something is missing to push this division into that upper echelon. Yes, the Bengals won the AFC and pushed the Rams to the brink in the Super Bowl, but Cincinnati was a 10-7 team during the regular season and played several one-possession games. Factor in a bad offensive line and would anyone truly be shocked if we saw some regression from the Bengals in 2022?

The Steelers squeaked into the playoffs last season and could be a team to watch in 2022 depending on who they get at quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo seems to be a good fit in Pittsburgh as he’d pair well with a strong running game and an elite defense. It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the Steelers win an extremely competitive AFC North next season.

As for the other two teams in the division, it comes down to the quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and played in just 12 games last season. However, he’s already proven he’s capable of leading a team to the postseason and if he manages to stay healthy next season, the Ravens will be in good shape.

The Browns are an interesting case as the roster has plenty of talent, but Baker Mayfield has been unable to get the team to the next level. The AFC North features four physical teams and Mayfield has had trouble holding up in each of the past couple seasons. Is Mayfield a competent NFL quarterback? Yes. Is that enough to help the Browns reach their ceiling? So far, the answer has been no. 

2. NFC West

Losing Russell Wilson to the AFC West dropped the overall strength of this division, but not by much. The Rams roster is still loaded and the 49ers, despite a question mark at quarterback, are filled with a plethora of returning talent. 

The Cardinals faltered down the stretch last season, but Kyler Murray is still one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the league and the Cardinals have improved in each of the past three seasons.

Seattle, without Wilson, will take a step back, though the top of this division remains tough. You often hear of a Super Bowl hangover, but it’s hard to imagine the Rams falling off too much and an argument could be made that Stafford will be better in his second season under Sean McVay. If Murray and Kliff Kingsbury figure out what has plagued them late in each of the past two seasons, the Cardinals will once again be factors late in the season.

Hahaha. Russ just left the NFC West. One great division to another. He will embrace the competition. Denver will be just fine. https://t.co/71FgAy3sHq

— ChadinPortland 🎙 (@ChadinRipCity) March 9, 2022

The 49ers are a bit of a wild card as we wait and see who their quarterback is going to be. However, Kyle Shanahan has a knack for getting the most out of his players and that roster is built to win with defense and a strong rushing attack. The quarterback will likely determine San Francisco’s ceiling, but that team’s floor is very high and it seems likely they’ll be fighting for a playoff berth.

1. AFC West

The collection of quarterbacks in this division is insane. Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Russell Wilson and Derek Carr have combined for 17 Pro Bowl appearances and have won two Super Bowl rings, an MVP Award and an Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. No division has a better collection of quarterbacks than the AFC West and it’s not particularly close.

While quarterbacks are certainly a big part of a football team, the four signal-callers are not the only reason the AFC West tops this list. The AFC West went a combined 38-30 last season, just two games back of the NFC West’s mark of 40-28, which led the NFL. 

The Chiefs are coming off a 12-win season and reached the AFC Championship game for the fourth time in as many years. The Raiders won 10 games and clinched a playoff berth and the Chargers also finished above .500 at 9-8. The Broncos, at 7-10, were the only team in the division with a losing record and they just upgraded from Teddy Bridgewater to Russell Wilson.

It’s likely someone takes a step back in 2022 and all four teams won’t finish above .500, but entering this season it’s hard to argue against this collection of quarterbacks. And you’ve got to feel bad for the defensive coordinators and secondaries in the division.