Windy City Gridiron
With the 2026 NFL offseason winding down, the focus on the season is taking shape as we inch closer to the start of training camps across the league. The lull between the draft and training camp can feel like an eternity for some, but it’s a great time to take a step back and zoom out on the offseason that was. In the NFC North, a tight four-team race promises to rekindle, even if none of the four teams within the division experienced high-impact acquisitions.
In 2025, the NFC North was the lone division in football to finish with all four teams above .500, and while that is not an easy feat, it speaks to the highly competitive nature of this group. Each offseason brings changes, and while none of these teams made headlines during the acquisition period, there’s still plenty to evaluate heading into the season.
With the table set, let’s dive into the first of our two-part series, ranking each offensive group within the NFC North.
1. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
The Packers have the top quarterback in the division again? Say it ain’t so…
Unlike previous iterations of quarterback rankings with the likes of Aaron Rodgers, this race is much closer at all four spots. That said, Love has proven to have enough remaining upside (and established production) to be considered the top quarterback in the division. Following somewhat of a static year in 2024, Love returned to form in 2025, even if his numbers don’t reflect a big jump.
Continued, albeit minor, injuries have somewhat limited the ability to see the full picture. Still, at his best, Love has enough of an established track record combined with physical upside to be a Top 7-10 quarterback in this league yearly. Most impressive, his turnover-worthy throws continue to take a dip, and even without an elite offensive line in front of him, he’s still not taking many sacks. Love isn’t Rodgers or Brett Favre, and for that, some will knock him. Yet, when it all boils down, the 27-year-old has still provided more than enough to keep the Packers offense in the Top 10 conversation.
2. Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
Although it might be hard to believe, Goff will be entering 11th at the age of 31. For such an experienced player, he’s still in the prime of his career, even if his athletic profile doesn’t exactly need it. Here’s the reality with Goff: he’s a good, not great, player who has now thrown for 4,000 yards in four straight seasons. He has averaged close to a 2.5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, while averaging over 30 touchdown passes per season since 2022. By all accounts, he has far exceeded the expectations for most after essentially being dumped in Detroit during the trade of Matthew Stafford.
While it’s true that Goff needs more “help” than any other quarterback on this list, his production has been steadier than any quarterback in the division since the departure of Rodgers. Similar...
