The Chicago Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams first overall in the 2024 NFL draft. His rookie year had plenty of ups and downs, but the talent is there to believe he’s going to be a star.
Last season, the NFC North was arguably the best in the NFL. Outside of the Bears going 5-12, the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers all made the postseason (although they had early playoff exits).
What is it that made all of these teams strong in 2024? Well, there are a lot of variables. One of the most important is the fact that each team had a starting quarterback who played well enough to win double-digit games.
The Lions won the division with Jared Goff, who’s seen a resurrection of his career in Detroit. The former No. 1 overall pick has turned himself into one of the best in the league. But will that continue without Ben Johnson, who’s now coaching Williams in Chicago? Only time will tell.
The Packers made the playoffs once again with Jordan Love, who’s entering his third season as starter, while the Vikings are set to hand the reins off to second-year pro J.J. McCarthy (who missed his entire rookie season due ton injury) following Sam Darnold leaving for the Seattle Seahawks.
But are the Bears set up the best at the position in the long term? Goff and Love have established themselves as starting quarterbacks in the NFL while Williams showed promise. Meanwhile, McCarthy missed his entire rookie season due to injury, so we don’t know what to expect.
While Williams might be the third-best quarterback in the NFC North right now, there’s hope for him to develop into the division’s best in the long term, especially with Johnson calling the shots. If there’s anyone who can maximize a quarterback’s potential, it’s Johnson, who reinvented Goff in Detroit.
With that said, the Bears would not trade Williams for any quarterback in the division. Lots of teams around the NFL would rather have him and his potential over their current situation. The floor is where he’s at right now. His ceiling is one of the best players in the league.
It’s a good position to be in. Having Johnson, a proven offensive guru, could be the missing ingredient for Williams to become a legit superstar. He could make Chicago football better than the rest of the NFC North for a long time.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Are Bears the best in NFC North at QB in the long term?