The NFC North quarterback debate will only heighten this year.
Green Bay Packers fans know how good Jordan Love is, even if the national narrative hasn't fully caught up yet. Caleb Williams showed flashes of stardom that will terrify the rest of the division, while Jared Goff is still doing Jared Goff things. Now, Kyler Murray joins the mix, assuming he wins the competition with J.J. McCarthy this summer.
A lot can change in the months ahead, but here's our swing at the NFC North quarterback rankings before training camp.
All four NFC North starting quarterbacks, ranked
4. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Murray technically hasn't won the starting job yet, but that's only a matter of time, right?! The veteran gives the Vikings a significant upgrade at the position and perhaps makes them more dangerous than many realize.
His ranking at No. 4 says more about the quarterback quality in the division than anything else.
Murray is also coming off a bizarre season in Arizona. He only played five games due to injury, but the Cardinals' offense seemed to find more rhythm with Jacoby Brissett running the show. It would appear Arizona believed so, as Brissett is the full-time starter in 2026. Murray threw for 962 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions in the games he played, with the Cardinals going 2-3.
But if the 2019 first overall pick is fully healthy, he could be in line for a serious bounce-back season. Kevin O'Connell has an excellent track record of bringing the best out of quarterbacks, while Murray is a game-changer on the ground. His 3,193 career rushing yards and 32 touchdowns are enough to give any defensive coordinator a nightmare.
3. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
At times last season, Caleb Williams looked like the next Aaron Rodgers. At others, he could be mistaken for Tim Boyle.
OK, that second point is an exaggeration, but you get my point. When Williams got hot (typically in the fourth quarter), he became unplayable. The Packers know this better than anyone.
How about this for a stat? When the Bears led, or the game was tied, Williams completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 1,768 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions for an 81.9 passer rating. When the Bears trailed, Williams completed 60.3 percent of his passes for 2,174 yards, 18 touchdowns, and four picks, good for a 97.8 rating.
This tells us two things. One, Williams became more efficient when the Bears were trailing. Two, the Bears were losing games far more often than they were winning. That falls on Williams. He led a league-best six fourth-quarter comebacks, but the reason he had to do that was in part because of his pedestrian stats early in games.
The magical moments are there. Williams can make any throw. Off platform? With both feet in the air? Falling away? Yes, yes, and yes. It was like watching Rodgers at times. But he also ranked 32nd for completion percentage at just 58.1 percent. Only J.J. McCarthy posted a worse number. Even Williams' adjusted completion percentage, which factors in drops, ranked 39th (per PFF).
If he can improve that part of his game and become more consistent, look out. Williams has the star power to win a game single-handedly. He just needs to get it right earlier in games.
2. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff remained his efficient self last season, and he's one of the best in the league when he can play in rhythm. That wasn't always the case last year, as the Lions' dominant offensive line fell apart due to injuries, along with Frank Ragnow's retirement.
Per PFF, when kept clean, Goff completed a ridiculous 75.9 percent of his passes for 3,275 yards, 32 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Goff has elite accuracy, but he can struggle when the offense isn't humming smoothly around him. When under pressure last season, Goff completed only 50.8 percent of his passes for 1,289 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Of course, every quarterback's numbers look far worse under pressure than when kept clean, but Goff lacks some of the off-script magic that the other three quarterbacks in the division have.
Murray can take off and avoid sacks. Williams is elite at throwing off-platform and completing a jaw-dropping pass he has no business making. Love is one of the best at avoiding sacks and has the arm talent to make throws even with poor footwork.
Goff is an elite quarterback when the offense around him is working. That will continue if Detroit's new-look offensive line holds up.
1. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love took a giant leap in his third season as a starter. The ability to make explosive plays has always been there, but in previous years, Love could get into trouble when he'd roll the dice too often and take low-percentage risks.
Love had 11 interceptions in each of his first two seasons as the starting QB, but only six in 2025. By PFF's count, he registered a career-low 15 turnover-worthy plays, while maintaining an impressive 30 big-time throws. It helped him rank No. 3 among all quarterbacks in PFF grade. Only Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow ranked ahead of Love.
He also turned up in clutch moments. Love had a four-touchdown performance in the playoffs, despite the Packers losing at Soldier Field. His four fourth-quarter comebacks ranked sixth in the NFL. Love had a passer rating of 107.0 in the fourth quarter of one-score games, and a passer rating of 120.3 on fourth downs. No moment was too big.
But he wasn't perfect, either. How can Love ascend to the next level and join the MVP race? It begins with more passing volume. Matt LaFleur tends to focus on balance between the run and pass, and the Packers' slow tempo has limited Love's opportunities to throw.
Love has thrown only six interceptions in his previous 22 regular-season games, a phenomenal record. But when he does throw a pick, it's often a head-scratching decision and, at times, a truly unforced error.
MVP quarterbacks find ways to win even when everything is going against them. When the offense gets bogged down, so, too, can Love. He also doesn't use his legs nearly enough. Love has the tools to get there.
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