The NFC North is once again shaping up to be one of the most intriguing divisions in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. But there’s something to be said about its tendency to generate regular-season hype, only to fall flat when the stakes are high.
Last year, all three playoff teams (Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers) were bounced in their first postseason games. This offseason the spotlight falls most heavily on the Vikings and J.J. McCarthy, who ESPN’s Rob Demovsky listed as the quarterback with the “most to prove” in the division.
McCarthy’s rise to the starting role in Minnesota has been surprising to many. Despite never having taken a regular-season NFL snap, the Vikings handed him the keys to the offense.
Where McCarthy Stands Compared To NFC North QBs
The NFC North has no shortage of compelling quarterback storylines heading into the season. The Detroit Lions, favored to win the division, and still have a polished gunslinger in Jared Goff.
The Chicago Bears, who enter their first year with head coach Ben Johnson, and are building heavily around Caleb Williams for a redemption Year 2. Then, the Green Bay Packers with Jordan Love, entering his third full campaign as the team’s starter.
“The national narrative has been that Love regressed in Year 2 as a starter — something both Love and Packers coach Matt LaFleur have pushed back on this offseason — but he’s probably No. 3 on the NFC North quarterback prove-it list behind McCarthy and the Bears’ Caleb Williams,” Demovsky wrote Monday.
“It seems like the expectation is that the coaching change in Chicago will mean Williams flips the switch, but the reality is there’s a grace period there with a new coach, so give that time.
But McCarthy should be at the top of this list because the Vikings have been — and are expected to remain — a playoff team despite turning to a quarterback who hasn’t played an NFL snap yet.”
Vikings’ Offseason Moves Have Been Encouraging
A key part of the Vikings’ strategy to support McCarthy has been upgrading the offensive line. The team signed veteran center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries from the Indianapolis Colts and selected Donovan Jackson, a powerful left guard, in the first round of the draft.
In addition to bolstering the line, the Vikings also strengthened their backfield by adding Jordan Mason as a dependable No. 2 running back behind Aaron Jones. And having Josh McCown as QB coach, who is quickly becoming one of the NFL’s most respected young coaches, will bode well for his progress during training camp.
The Vikings have done everything possible to set McCarthy up for success. But unlike the three other quarterbacks in the division, he has only brief preseason exposure, coupled with concerning injury history.
There will be instant pressure on the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the team is clearly committed to giving him the best opportunity to succeed. The rest of this offseason will continue to tell the tale.
