Since Aaron Rodgers got traded from the Green Bay Packers to the New York Jets, there's not a clear answer to who the best quarterback in the NFC North is. By the start of the season, Kirk Cousins would be the standard answer.
But when the topic includes the future, it becomes even murkier. If you had to start an NFL franchise right now, which NFC North quarterback would you choose?
It's an interesting topic of discussion, and it has several layers. Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff probably present the higher floors. Jordan Love and Justin Fields present the higher ceiling. It's a matter of philosophy, but also of how much you trust these players to lead a team.
So we decided to make an NFC North roundtable to get perspectives from reporters who cover these teams on a daily basis. They have their particular points of view for covering these quarterbacks, but also because they are familiar with all four.
It has to be Jordan Love. While Jared Goff has been fantastic since being traded to Detroit, I'm concerned about how his level of play will look without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson next season. Love's progression as a passer in the NFL has consistently gotten better on a weekly basis and he's well on his way toward being one of the top names at the position. Chicago and Minnesota will have some tough decisions to make at the position this offseason, which will completely alter the direction of both franchises.
This is a hard question to answer because there's really not much happening quarterback-wise in this division. Justin Fields is probably about to be out of here and there's a shot that Kirk Cousins could be too. Jordan Love has shown some flashes here and there, but I don't know if I look at him and think that he's a guy I'd like to build around. Maybe he can be someday. I don't see it right now. The only guy in this division that's had a proven track record of success is Jared Goff. He led a team to a Super Bowl, he's a multi-time Pro Bowler and up until a couple weeks ago, he was Pro Football Focus' highest graded quarterback. Don't get me wrong, if Patrick Mahomes were in this division, I'd take him. But Goff is really the most stable guy in the NFC North at the moment. Even if he's coming off two unstable games in a row. I'll give him leniency because it's been a long while since he's been unstable.
It's a tough question because it depends on what you value more. If I valued a solid baseline of play, Jared Goff would be my answer, considering Cousins' age and injury. But I tend to think you have to look for the ceiling when picking your quarterback of the future, so the decision goes in another direction to me. I liked Justin Fields better as a prospect, but he's been in the NFL for three years and hasn't shown any capacity to be a high-level, consistent passer. They built a decent offensive line this year, and the WR group is not bad with DJ Moore. Jordan Love has already been a better passer even playing with a lot of young guys in Green Bay, and to me he has the highest ceiling. He is the only one who can still be an elite QB, so he is my choice.
I still believe Justin Fields can be an above-average quarterback in the right system. If I'm building a team around Fields, I'd make it a priority to have an elite offensive line and at least one great receiver. I like Fields' mobility and he's completing more passes than ever in 2023.
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