Ranking the North: How Does the Division Stack up at QB?
Josh Frey
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With training camp approaching and the offseason beginning to wind down, we are getting closer to knowing what each NFL team’s roster will look like going into the 2022 season. Because of that, it’s only natural to glance around the NFC North and figure out what they’re working with compared to what the Minnesota Vikings possess. Over the next couple weeks, we will be taking a look at where the Vikings stack up against the rest of the division. In order to start things off right, we’ll be looking at the quarterback position.
1. Green Bay Packers
After yet another offseason of uncertainty surrounding the Green Bay Packers starting QB, it turns out Aaron Rodgers will return to the Green and Gold once again in 2022 and beyond, signing a three-year, $150 million contract.
The back-to-back MVP by himself puts Green Bay at the top of this list, but he has some decent help behind him. Jordan Love appeared in six games last year, including a start against the Kansas City Chiefs. He struggled through much of that game, but any experience in an actual game helps in this division as you will see.
2. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings quarterback position is a bit of a touchy subject across the fandom. Whether it’s Kirk Cousins and his new extension, or the fact that Kellen Mond went through a number of growing pains during his tumultuous rookie season, it’s tough to talk about this position in Minnesota and not end up in an argument.
That said, it’s hard to deny that Cousins and Co. do not make up the second-best QB room in the division. Cousins is consistently the best QB in the division outside of Rodgers, of course. The gap between he and Fields/Goff is vast going into 2022.
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3. Chicago Bears
Rookie QBs go through their ups and downs when they are thrown into the starting lineup, and that was most certainly the case for Justin Fields in 2021. However, now that he’s got some new weapons on the offense, Fields could be ready to make a turn for the better in Year Two.
On top of that, the Bears have the most capable backup in the division with Trevor Siemian. The former New Orleans Saint was the third-stringer in 2021 for the Big Easy, but he was quickly thrust into the starting lineup after both Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill went down with injuries. He did about as well as he could have, including getting a victory over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
4. Detroit Lions
Assuming the Lions aren’t one of the biggest surprise stories this year, QB will likely be their position of choice with their top-10 pick. Put simply, the current room isn’t going to be turning too many heads. Jared Goff had many troubles in the Lions offense in his first year since being part of the Matthew Stafford trade. It’s unlikely that much changes in 2022.
Like Siemian in Chicago though, Tim Boyle is one of the more proven backup QBs in the division. He started three games in 2021, but the Lions did go 0-3 in those games. Not great, but it’s hard to put the entirety of the blame on Boyle for that.
