As the 2017 NFL season inches closer with the start of training camps, let's take a look at the quarterback situation in the AFC South.
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One of the youngest groups of quarterbacks in any division of football, the AFC South, barring injuries, won't see a starting quarterback over the age of 28 this fall.
But how do the young guns rank? Check out the list:
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4. Deshaun Watson/Tom Savage, Houston Texans
There's definitely going to be a quarterback battle in training camp for the starting job in Houston, but regardless of who wins the gig, they will come in at No. 4 in the AFC South QB rankings.
Let's start with the "incumbent" Tom Savage.
The 4th-year quarterback has played in just five games (starting two) in the past three seasons, completing 56 of 92 passes for 588 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He's led the Texans to a win and a loss in his two starts.
Meanwhile, the Texans moved up 13 spots in the 2017 NFL Draft to select Deshaun Watson with the 12th overall pick, making him their presumed quarterback of the future.
That doesn't mean he won't start all or most of the 2017 season if he's ready to go. Considering what he acomplished at Clemson, it's easy to imagine he could be NFL-ready come week one.
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3. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
No. 3 in the division belongs to Blake Bortles, and it's not really that close of a competition. Bortles simply hasn't done anything to warrant his third overall selection in the 2014 NFL Draft.
In three seasons Bortles has amassed a win-loss record of 11-34, and has led the Jaguars to just two road victories (against non-division opponents Baltimore and Chicago).
Bortles regressed in the touchdown department last season, throwing just 23 in 2016 after 35 the year prior. He threw two fewer interceptions last season, though (16), and was sacked 15 fewer times (34) than in 2015.
Bortles is inconsistent and has yet to prove he's a long-term starter. The Jaguars recently picked up his fifth-year option, but Bortles needs to show inmprovement if he wants Jacksonville to invest in him long-term.
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2. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Marcus Mariota is emerging as one of the best young stars in the game. In just two seasons of play he's proved to be a capable starting quarterback with the potential to be much more.
After throwing for 2,818 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a rookie, Mariota stepped his game up in his second season with 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns and just nine interceptions last year. He was sacked 15 fewer times (23) in 2016, and led the Titans to eight wins in 15 games after going 3-9 in the 12 games he started as a rookie.
Add in 600 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons, and Mariota's career is off to a promising start.
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1. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck's five-year career reads like two separate stories. His first three seasons saw the Colts go 11-5 each year, peaking with a 4,761-yard, 40-touchdown 2014 campaign. Luck was a Pro Bowler each of the first three seasons of his career.
The last two years, however have been filled with injuries and disappointment. In 2015 Luck started just seven games as he dealt with injuries (the Colts went 2-7 in those games) and last year he led Indy to eight wins in 15 games played (missed one game with a concussion).
Luck is on his way back from that dismal 2015 year. He threw 12 interceptions in those seven games, but last year threw just 13 in 15 games. The biggest issue with his 2016 season? He couldn't stay on his feet. Luck was sacked 41 times, tied with Russell Wilson and Andy Dalton for second-most in the NFL, one sack behind Tyrod Taylor's 42.
Those struggles aside, Luck is the best quarterback in the division, hands-down. Mariota is and up-and-coming star, but Luck is simply the established presence and has the ability to perform like an MVP.
He needs to protect the ball better and take "better" sacks when the situation presents itself, but 2017 should be a bounce-back year as Luck looks to get back into the same form as earlier in his career.
