The AFC has been established as the dominant conference, and a big reason why is because of the quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are the three favorites to win MVP, Lamar Jackson became the highest-paid player in NFL history this offseason and the conference has a couple of rookies to keep an eye on like C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.
It will be tough to make the playoffs in the loaded AFC this season, and some of these quarterbacks are under more pressure than others. Below, we will break down five AFC signal-callers that are under the most pressure in 2023 — for one reason or another.
The world was split on Tua entering 2022. Even after a career year, you can’t definitively say everyone is sold on him being the guy moving forward in Miami. The Dolphins appear to be, however, as they picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
Last year, Tagovailoa became the first Dolphins quarterback to lead the NFL in passer rating since Dan Marino did so in 1984. Miami averaged 6.5 yards per play with Tagovailoa as the starter, which were the most by any starting quarterback in the league last season (min. 10 starts). Yes, even more than Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. So why is Tagovailoa under pressure in 2023? Well, as head coach Mike McDaniel so eloquently put it at the NFL Combine, last year he had to convince everyone Tagovailoa was good. Now, he has to convince everyone he’s healthy.
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