The AFC is loaded with elite quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, among others.

But, to hear one Super Bowl-winning league executive tell it, they are all chasing Patrick Mahomes in large part because of the Kansas City Chiefs' Lombardi Trophies.

"It is all about rings for the QBs," the executive said in a Tuesday story by Jeff Howe of The Athletic. "To be considered one of the greats, you need at least one (Super Bowl victory) on your resume to be in that elite group. Allen, Lamar and Burrow are outstanding, but without a ring -- or two or three -- they'll never approach the level of Brady and Mahomes."

Jackson, Allen and Burrow are all chasing their first title, although they've all come close.

Burrow led the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl during the 2021 season but lost to the Los Angeles Rams. Allen's Buffalo Bills and Jackson's Baltimore Ravens have also advanced to the AFC Championship Game during the last five seasons with Baltimore's appearance coming last year.

By comparison, Mahomes has three Super Bowl titles and four Super Bowl appearances. What's more, he has never failed to reach at least the AFC Championship Game since taking over as the full-time starter during the 2018 campaign.

He has also been a roadblock for the other signal-callers.

Allen's Bills lost to the Chiefs in the playoffs of the 2020, 2021 and 2023 seasons, while Jackson's Ravens were eliminated by Mahomes and Co. in last season's AFC Championship Game.

While Burrow defeated the Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl, Kansas City got revenge in the AFC Championship Game the following season. The Chiefs have also beaten the Bengals in each of the last two regular seasons.

Until the other quarterbacks start stacking up rings to go with their impressive individual performances, Mahomes will remain the gold standard of comparison.