As NFL training camps ramp up and preseason games approach, no division will have as much quarterback scrutiny as the NFC North. The four teams in that division are all in unique situations with their signal callers, and the eyes of the NFL will be on those players in the coming weeks.
In Detroit, the defending division champions open a new campaign with legitimate expectations for the first time in decades. The Lions advanced to the NFC championship game last season and rewarded quarterback Jared Goff with a four-year, $212 million extension with $170 million guaranteed back in May.
Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, took the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018. After two sub-par seasons, he was traded to the Lions in March 2021 with multiple draft picks in exchange for Matthew Stafford, who not only got the Rams back to the Super Bowl but won the whole thing.
After coming up just three points shy of leading the Lions to the Super Bowl last year, and with a huge new contract, Goff is expected to improve on some of the best numbers of his career. He threw for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns—both the best marks of his time in Detroit—and led the Lions on three game-winning drives during a regular season in which the team finished 12–5 and on top of the North. How he handles the new pressure on the roster will be a huge factor in the coming season.
The story in Green Bay lies on the opposite end of the spectrum. After the Packers selected Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, he became the heir apparent to the quarterback position. It took two more years for Aaron Rodgers to leave for the Jets, officially handing the full-time starting job to Love.
Love showed incredibly well in his first full season as the starter, throwing for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns. He, too, led three game-winning drives last season. But the Packers finished 9–8, far below their fans’ expectations.
Now, Love and the Packers are dealing with a contract dispute early in training camp. Understandably, the player wants to be compensated for his strong play. But the Packers haven’t met his demands yet, and there’s some concern that the two sides may not see eye-to-eye soon enough for him to comfortably get into camp and start working with his offensive teammates.
The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings each drafted their future quarterbacks this spring, but began their training camps in very different situations. Both Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy signed their rookie contracts just as training camp was starting this past week, but their roles will not be mirrors.
The Vikings brought in veteran Sam Darnold and have Nick Mullens on the roster, so they don’t need to give the ball to McCarthy immediately. Minnesota was more concerned with giving their elite No. 1 receiver, Justin Jefferson, a big payday this offseason. Having him in the fold will make starting an easier job.
But the Vikings will also add a new running back this season to help their quarterbacks. Aaron Jones left Love and Green Bay for the money in Minnesota. At the start of camp, McCarthy was second on their depth chart behind Darnold, but it’s only a matter of time before the rookie takes over. After winning a national championship at Michigan, the hopes are that McCarthy brings that same success to Minneapolis soon.
In Chicago, the Bears have no veteran to help Williams get used to the NFL grind. He’s being thrown directly into the top offense; he was named the starter during OTAs and has stayed with the first group as training camp opens.
The other significant factor in Chicago is the improved group of skill position players around Williams and the overhauled offensive line in front of him. The Bears have a new offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, who left Seattle for the Windy City in January. He’ll have a collection of talent that might be among the best in the entire NFL around Williams as he begins his NFL career.
The Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but they had that pick from a trade with Carolina the year prior. Chicago’s defense figures to be very good, so Williams might not have to score a lot of points to win games. But the expectations placed on any quarterback selected No. 1 overall are high—just ask Goff.
As training camps continue, the quarterback playing on these four teams will be a focus of fans everywhere. How soon will the Packers get a deal done with Love? How quickly will Williams get comfortable against NFL defenses? How long will it take for McCarthy to take over in Minnesota? And can Goff improve on his stellar season from a year ago and win one—or two—more games this season for the Lions?
