The NFC North has quickly developed into one of the league’s deepest quarterback groups.
You’ve got the Chicago Bears leaning into the electrifying rise of Caleb Williams, the Detroit Lions riding the steady, high-efficiency command of Jared Goff, and the Green Bay Packers watching Jordan Love fully step into his own in the post-Aaron Rodgers era.
It’s a division defined by contrasting styles, where the throne feels up for grabs every season.
Yet, on Wednesday’s “Get Up,” ESPN analyst Bart Scott may have delivered his boldest take yet.
Scott predicted that by the end of the 2026 season, the Minnesota Vikings’ new quarterback, Kyler Murray, could emerge as the best signal-caller in the entire division.
“At the end of this season, I think we may say that Kyler Murray is the most talented quarterback within that division,” Scott said. “You pair him with Kevin O’Connell. With the weapons that he has. A tight end in T.J. Hockenson. You have (Justin) Jefferson. You have (Jordan) Addison. They go out and get a gritty guy like Jauan Jennings. I think the sky’s the limit for Kyler Murray.”
It’s an intriguing take not only because of how competitive the division is at the position, but also because Murray hasn’t officially secured the starting job in Minnesota yet, with the Vikings still treating it as a full QB competition with J.J. McCarthy.
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The 2019 No. 1 overall pick, Heisman winner at Oklahoma, and 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Murray quickly became one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers.
He spent his first seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, enjoying his best year in 2020, where he threw for 3,971 yards and 26 touchdowns, completing 67.2% of his passes, while rushing for another 819 yards and 11 TDs.
However, since then, he’s been streaky, battling injuries and inconsistency that eventually led to his release from Arizona before landing a one-year deal with Minnesota in March.
On the flip side, you have J.J. McCarthy, whose 2025 season was also uneven, marked by turnovers and growing pains, though the Vikings clearly still see some long-term developmental upside.
Now, 2026 is shaping up as a legitimate competition.
It’s widely believed that O’Connell will lean toward Murray’s experience and mobility, especially with an offense built to win right now. But recent reports indicate that the Vikings “envision it being a true competition” between Murray and McCarthy.
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However, if Murray wins the job and stays healthy, Minnesota arguably offers the cleanest “reboot environment” in the NFC North.
Unlike Arizona’s instability, the Vikings present a structure that can make any quarterback look good, highlighted by elite pass-catching talent in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings, and a coaching staff known for maximizing the position.
The path is certainly there for Murray to win out and again prove to be one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, even if the NFC North is one of the least forgiving divisions in football.
