Looking at where Caleb Williams stands in the NFC provides a surprising answer when it comes to ranking the Chicago Bears quarterback. These rankings are taking into consideration career accomplishments, but mainly focus on what expectations are for the season ahead and whether or not you're trending in the right direction.
This leads us to ranking all 16 of the NFC starters with the teams still searching for a starting answer ranking firmly at the bottom of the conference.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Gardner Minshew/Jacoby Brissett/Carson Beck
Has there every been a more underwhelming trio of starting options? Arizona is either going to lean on a career backup or a player in Beck that has an incredibly concerning history of turnovers at the college level. There is simply no reason to maintain hope that the Cardinals are going to be competing for anything than the first overall pick and that starts with an awful quarterback situation.
15. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy/Kyler Murray
Chicago's division rival is attempting to keep McCarthy as a viable starting option, and that itself explains why this is the second-worst quarterback situation in the NFC. Even if Murray takes over, the undersized quarterback is injury-prone and is likely to give McCarthy a shot in the lineup. No matter which starter is in the lineup, it is a frustrating situation.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr./Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa gives the Falcons the edge when it comes teams that re facing uncertain quarterback situations. Among the teams having an open competition Tagovailoa is by far the most accomplished and proven starter even if there are clear turnover and health concerns. The Falcons are in a bad situation and simply don't have a clear answer.
13. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart
Dart appears to be gaining steam and popularity despite failing to play a full season and dealing with injury concerns. A love of running through a brick wall can be a winning trait if the Giants can rein it in enough for Dart to stay on the field and learn to protect the football. This isn't to say Dart's standing cannnot change, but right now there simply isn't enough tape.
12. Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young
The player that Chicago traded away by dealing their pick to Carolina setting up the selection of Caleb Williams. Young seems to be an expert at doing just enough to hold onto his starting job, but is unable to truly develop at an elite level. There simply is an incredibly limited ceiling with Young's size and clear limitations.
11. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough
Shough looked the part of a franchise quarterback despite being in a dumpster fire that was the New Orleans roster. The only thing holding Shough back from a top-ten spot is showing that last year's numbers have staying power. No one saw this performance coming leaving reason for the quarterback to need to put together another great season to earn a higher ranking.
10. Tampa Bay Bucs: Baker Mayfield
Baker is a fiery leader and an extremely talented arm talent, but there is an inability to get over the playoff hump. Years of playing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and yet the quarterback doesn't have much of a playoff resume. This pushes Mayfield back a bit further as well as injury and consistency concerns.
9. San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy
Purdy might have an impressive resume, but there is zero question that in a hypothetical redraft every signal caller ranked in front of the 49er gets selected first. Purdy needs a strong 2026 season after losing a number of playmakers to show he is more than being propped up by a great head coach and set of playmakers.
8. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels
Daniels is a difficult player to rank based on the fact in year one he made a run to the NFC Championship. However, the next season Daniels was injury-ravaged and missed a large portion of the year. Daniels having a slight frame and being able to take NFL-level punishment was a concern coming into the year and remains.
7. Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
Prescott is greatly accomplished in the regular season, but is yet to find consistent playoff wins. The veteran is truly an accomplished starter but doesn't have the top tier ceiling that is going to elevate the pieces around him.
6. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love
Love is incredibly talented by has one lone playoff win and Caleb Williams got the better of the starter in the playoffs this past season. Love remains an incredibly talented arm who simply hasn't been able to put together consistency deep into the season and allow Green Bay to make a January run.
5. Detroit Lions: Jared Goff
Goff is a great starting option and one of the last true pocket quarterbacks. If there is one division rival that deserves respect it is the Lions and Goff. The quarterback has played in a Super Bowl and has a handful of great playoff and regular season moments cementing him as an elite option.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold
Darnold is the defending Super Bowl champion, but has been rejected by a handful of teams and is one year removed from an epic collapse. The accomplishment and level of play deserves respect, but the total resume makes it difficult to say Darnold is clearly a better starting option than the elite talent of Williams.
3. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams
Williams is deserving of this ranking already having a playoff win and having an argument as the most complete quarterback in the NFC. This is going to become all the more clear when Williams takes another leap in the 2026 season and forces an argument as the top option on this list.
2. Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts
Hurts isn't as physically gifted as Williams when it comes to throwing the football, however, there is no denying the accomplishments of the quarterback. Playing in two Super Bowls and matching or outplaying Patrick Mahomes in both is incredibly noteworthy and leaves Hurts just a tiny bit ahead of Williams heading into the 2026 season.
1. Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford
Stafford is the defending MVP and has a loaded roster that makes the Rams clear favorites. There simply is no questioning a Super Bowl champion and one of the most talented throwers the league has seen. If Williams has the career of the defending MVP it will be a clear win for the Bears and cement him as the best in franchise history.
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