NFC North Quarterback power rankings: Detroit Lions near the top
By Ash Thompson
The NFL is a passing league, so it is said. A team’s record is laid at the quarterback’s feet whether it is justified or not. Here is where the Detroit Lions quarterback group fits into the NFC North.
The four teams of the NFC North have very different makeups. I will be going position group by position group and ranking the teams of the division before training camp begins. First up, will be the quarterbacks. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings could not have more different signal callers. Backups do not matter in this ranking. Any team that loses their starter immediately drops to last.
Every archetype is covered in the division. The new kid looking to prove himself is represented. There is the rocket-armed record-setting franchise savior who is dangerous because he can get the ball anywhere in an instant. We have a wily veteran who wills his team to victory and covers so many of their flaws with his breathtaking play. Finally, the day three pick who climbed higher than anyone expected and has finally cashed in long-term just came to the division to make his mark.
Power rankings are subjective. Clearly, they are entirely opinion based, but I will do my best not to descend into homerism. There are clear tiers within these position groups and also grey areas. It is often not the best or the worst teams that are difficult to pin down. It is deciding between number two and three that presents challenges. Quarterbacks are no exception. The number one player is so obvious it almost doesn’t even need to be typed. The bottom ranking is also fairly clear. It is in the middle that the quagmire exists.
Here is my ranking of the NFC North’s quarterback groups.