Caleb Williams Rising, J.J. McCarthy Reeling: A Tale of Two NFC North Rookie QBs
The Chicago Bears may have finally found their guy. Caleb Williams, taken No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has brought a jolt of energy to a franchise that’s been searching for a quarterback solution for decades. And while Bears fans are starting to believe they’ve got their long-term answer under center, things aren’t nearly as rosy up north in Minnesota.
The Vikings, who used the 10th overall pick in that same draft to select Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, are still trying to figure out what exactly they have in their young quarterback.
McCarthy entered the league fresh off leading the Wolverines to a national title, but an early injury wiped out his entire rookie season. That’s made 2025 his true on-field debut-and so far, it’s been a rollercoaster.
McCarthy has started seven games this season, and like most rookie QBs, he’s looked the part. There have been flashes, sure, but consistency has been hard to come by.
His NFL journey actually started on a high note, rallying the Vikings to a come-from-behind win over the Bears in Week 1. But by Week 11, the tables had turned-McCarthy threw two picks in a rematch against Chicago, and the narrative around him began to shift.
It’s been a tough stretch since then, and the national perception is starting to reflect it. This week, McCarthy landed dead last in a set of quarterback rankings-behind every other starter, backups who’ve been thrust into action, and even 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who recently returned to the league after a five-year retirement. Yes, that Philip Rivers.
It’s the kind of stat that stings, especially for a fan base that hoped it had found its next franchise cornerstone. McCarthy, just 22, is being ranked below a quarterback who last played meaningful football when McCarthy was still in college. That’s not the kind of company you want to keep as a young signal-caller trying to prove you belong.
What makes the situation even more surreal is that McCarthy is actually coming off the best game of his young career. He threw three touchdowns with zero interceptions in a dominant shutout win over Washington. And yet, despite that strong showing, he remained at the bottom of the rankings-still trailing Rivers, still surrounded by questions.
Meanwhile in Chicago, the Caleb Williams era is off to a promising start. Williams currently sits 10th in those same quarterback rankings, and while he’s had his rookie moments, the trajectory is clearly upward.
He’s shown poise, arm talent, and a knack for making plays when it matters. For a franchise that’s cycled through quarterbacks for years, that’s more than enough reason to be excited.
The contrast between the two rookie QBs-drafted just nine picks apart-is stark. The Bears may have hit the jackpot with Williams, while the Vikings are left wondering if McCarthy is the answer or just another name on the list of quarterbacks who couldn’t quite get it done in Minnesota.
For Bears fans, it’s hard not to enjoy the moment. Not only do they have a potential franchise quarterback, but they’re watching a division rival struggle to develop theirs. One draft, two quarterbacks, and two very different storylines unfolding in the NFC North.
If you’re a Bears fan, this might just feel like the best draft in recent memory.