2024 NFC North Position Rankings: Quarterbacks

Now that the 2024 NFL Draft is over and the first few waves of free agency are too, most rosters have been largely finalized. There’ll be some movement at the bottom of depth charts, but by now, I’d say every team in the league generally knows who their 22 starters will be.

That makes this a good time to examine each Chicago Bears position group and how they compare to the rest of the NFC North. This will be an ongoing series, and it begins with the position everyone loves to talk about: quarterbacks.

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker, and Nate Sudfeld

The defending NFC North champions are running it back with the same quarterback room as last year, led by former first-overall pick Jared Goff. He’s coming off another career year in which he finished with the second-most passing yards (4,575), fourth-most touchdowns (30), and 11th-best QBR (60.3). His first year in Detroit may have been a disaster, but since then, he’s been a reliably above-average quarterback who doesn’t make too many mistakes.

The rest of Detroit’s quarterback room is a complete unknown. Hooker is entering his second year in the NFL but has never taken a snap, while Sudfeld has attempted just 37 passes in four years in the NFL.

Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall

The Vikings look to be the only team in the division that will have a true quarterback battle in training camp. Darnold is listed atop the depth chart for now, owing to several years’ experience in the NFL, but 10th overall draft pick J.J. McCarthy is right behind him. McCarthy is going to be QB1 in Minnesota eventually, it’s just a question of how soon.

Between Mullens and Hall, one of these guys will seek a new team this summer. If I had to guess, I’d say Mullens sticks around as another mentor for McCarthy.

JJ McCarthy Rose Bowl highlights pic.twitter.com/qzUmeHEJNJ

— JD ?? (@MGoJDBlue) January 3, 2024

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, Sean Clifford, Michael Pratt

The Packers once again roll into training camp with very little NFL experience in the quarterback room. Love had himself quite the welcoming party in his first year as the starter. It had its ups and downs, but by the end of the year, Love looked like yet another 15-year starter in Green Bay. It’s up to him to take his game to the next level instead of falling victim to a sophomore slump.

Clifford, though a fan favorite in training camp, is a fifth-round pick from last year, and Michael Pratt will be a seventh-round rookie. They did have former USFL MVP Alex McGough, but he’s been converted into a wide receiver. If Love misses any games in 2024, you can almost guarantee those will be losses.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Wiliams, Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien, Austin Reed

Williams, the first quarterback this franchise has ever drafted first overall, is the undisputed QB1 of the Chicago Bears. He has sky-high potential and will be asked to deliver in spades immediately. The future is never certain, but the hype surrounding Williams seems genuine. GM Ryan Poles has done a commendable job setting him up to succeed, most notably by selecting stud wide receiver Rome Odunze just eight selections after Williams was drafted.

Bagent returns as QB2 after a successful rookie year. Despite being an undrafted free agent from a Division II school, Bagent unseated the veteran quarterbacks ahead of him in training camp last year to gain the backup job. He went 2-2 in four starts and kept the Bears’ playoff hopes alive.

Rypien joins the Bears as a veteran advisor to the young Williams and Bagent and as someone familiar with new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense. Reed, like Bagent before him, is an undrafted free agent, but unlike Bagent, I don’t think he’ll make the roster.

Detroit Lions and Jared Goff are best in NFC North … for now

Picking the best QB room in the division was tough, but I’m giving it to Detroit by a hair. Goff is just too steady of a veteran to put anyone over him right now, and Detroit has done a great job tailoring their offense to his strengths. However, love is right behind him, and the only thing that keeps him there is his limited resume.

Chicago claims third place in the division for now. If Williams is everything he’s been billed to be, he will be the best in the division by a mile. Which leaves the Vikings in last place. McCarthy was QB4 in his draft and is probably the best quarterback on their roster, even as a rookie. That’s not a great situation on paper.