Projecting NFC North starting rosters

Teams have been through the draft and the majority of free agency. So we should be able to see the fruits of their offseason labour.

There are still quality free agents available which will end up somewhere, and camp battles to be won. This is the last division in this series where we take a look at what each team’s starting line-up should look like for the season. Are these teams any better? Let’s find out in the latest instalment of this series. 

The NFC North has been dominated by the Packers, well since it became the NFC North, and can anyone seriously imagine another team winning this division this year? Maybe some hardcore Vikings fans, maybe. However as long as the reigning MVP Rodgers plays the whole season this is their division to lose. 

The other teams have made improvements,  there is a lot of excitement during camp, and we have a team set to capture our hearts through Hard Knocks. Let’s take a look at the possible starting rosters in the NFC North. 

Green Bay Packers

Alright, let’s start with one of the greatest QBs of this generation. Aaron Rodgers! Yes he will be without Devonte Adams this year, yes the pass catchers could be a concern, but when you have the back-to-back MVP throwing the ball you just trust they will make plays.

Sure the team should do more to bring in additional bona fide pass catching weapons each year, and the decisions not to might haunt them if there isn’t another Super Bowl in the cabinet when Rodgers retires in the future, but this team, this year, did enough to be in contention again.

Down the hallway, the RB room looks loaded, so the team could lean on the tantalising running back duo of AJ DIllon and Aaron Jones to run the ball at will. However the attack will probably change week to week depending on what the teams are doing, and you know Rodgers will be carving defenses apart at some point. Tonyan should reclaim the TE spot after recovering from a major knee injury, if he struggles then Marcedes Lewis is as reliable as they come.

The line also has some injury concerns, in particular Bakhtiari and Jenkins. I want to be hopeful that both will return and play the majority of snaps in the season, which is why I listed them here, but this is a major concern and there is a strong possibility one, or both, don’t.

In this case, Yosh Nijman and some rookies will have to step up. Before we move onto the defense, I don’t think I have said enough about how good Rodgers is. Just to be clear – he is damn good.

There is a reason why so many fans want tickets to see the Packers play in London, the chance to see one of the greatest doing outrageous things in real life. Yes please! 

Two time pro-bowler Kenny Clark is a beast upfront and this year he is joined by rookie Wyatt. At the time Wyatt was drafted the fans were calling for a WR to be picked, but Wyatt looks like he could contribute right away and show he was the right choice.

Rashan Gary has proven to be a decent player after initial questions on him coming out of the draft, last year he led the team with 9.5 sacks. The Packers also added Quay Walker with their first selection in this year’s first round. Walker should start next to De’Vondre Campbell who became the Packers first All Pro at inside linebacker since Hall of Famer Ray Nitschke.

Jaire Alexander was injured early last year but looks set to return to form. He has been one of the best corners currently playing the game in recent years and is the standout player on this side of the ball for the Packers. That isn’t because the rest of the players aren’t great, this is a loaded defense, but Alexander is just another level.

The Packers have focussed on defense in recent drafts and I count seven former first round picks starting here. Not all first round picks are the same, and it doesn’t necessarily mean they are all great players, but it does feel like for this team it is an indication of their talent. If everyone can turn all this potential into production, then this team should be pretty unstoppable. 

Minnesota Vikings

The offense is largely unchanged from last year, with the only predicted change coming at RG where there is a camp battle between Jesse Davis, who came over from the Dolphins, and Ed Ingram, who the team drafted 59th overall this year.

I’m giving the nod to Davis at this point, but wouldn’t be shocked if Ingram was starting from week four onwards. Undoubtedly the biggest change here is the coaching, so it should be really easy to see what impact Kevin O’Connell has on the offense by the end of the season.

The big focus should be on improving Kirk Cousins’s play. For the past few years Cousins has been the most infuriating QB in the league. He has been really good, and let’s be clear, he is a much better player than you or I could have ever been – unless you’re an elite QB reading this, and welcome if you are – but he hasn’t been fantastic.

He hasn’t been the guy to take you all the way to the big game, and in big moments he just seems to come short. He is clearly a good QB, and a much better starter than others have at the moment, but he needs to show he can take another step if the Vikings are going to make a push for this division.

I mean I don’t feel bad for the guy, he has earned more money as a pro football player than my entire family tree has earned throughout their lives combined.

Dalvin Cook is a really great back and should be a decent fantasy football pickup this year. Irv Smith Jr could add another dimension to the offense, after missing all of last season with a knee injury he has just 676 yards in his career so far, however reports from camp show his potential to be a top tight end.

The WR group is fantastic, this is another year to watch Jefferson and Thielen work their magic together. Overall this is a good group, and you can see why huge changes were not made.

However, if the team are underwhelming again this year there is no way that will happen again next year. 

This is a good looking defense with a potentially dominant pass rush. Injury setbacks are becoming a common theme for Danielle Hunter, who is easily one of the best pass-rushers in the league when healthy.

He missed all of 2020 with a knee injury, then injured again for most of the 2021 season with a torn pectoral muscle. Vikings are hoping he can stay healthy and form a terrifying one-two punch with former Green Bay Packer Za’Darius Smith.

Smith also has injury issues after missing nearly all of last season with back injuries. However, both Pro Bowl pass-rushers have been on the field and competing in training camp, so everything looks ready for the new pass-rushing tandem. The linebackers look solid, with some early camp buzz around 3rd round rookie Asamoah who will feature this year.

The backfield is really versatile, which is one of the reasons why first round rookie Lewis Cine should just fit in so seamlessly. There are also quality depth not listed here, Chandon Sullivan should be the nickel and Bynum played fantastic as a rookie so both will see plenty of the field. Peterson is not the same as he once was, but still can play to a high level when healthy.

The future’s looking bright for this team but will they be good enough to overcome the Packers this year? It’s a big ask, but maybe. 

Chicago Bears

The strength of the Bears’ offense is in its running attack. This is led by Justin Fields ability to tuck and run, but David Montgomery returns to lead a strong group of running backs with rising star Khalil Herbert also in the mix.

The Bears have so much depth at wide receiver with ten guys on the roster heading into training camp. The problem is the talent just doesn’t appear to be there. Darnell Mooney is the WR1, former Kansas City Chiefs WR4, Byron Pringle is likely the Bears WR2. And everyone else is fighting for WR3 or a spot on the roster. Harry looks like most likely to emerge as the number three.

He is a former first round draft pick so the team will want to see if the change of teams can unlock his potential.

It’s the kind of low cost addition that could pay big dividends I like. Lucas Patrick is a centre more familiar with the system than the QB, and as a result is being asked to do alot from the line which should help take some mental pressure away from Fields during games while he learns.

The Bears upgraded their line dramatically with the additions of veteran guard Michael Schofield and tackle Riley Reiff, the two combining for roughly 250 games across the league. However, neither are long term answers.

Four picks on day three of the draft were on the line, so the plan appears to be to develop these players with the hope that at least two emerge as starters by the end of the season for future years. Overall this year looks to be a case of hoping for players to develop and take big steps forward and the real test for Fields will be next year. 

Robert Quinn is still a decent player, and currently trading him appears to be a hot topic. Personally I wouldnt take the trade and let him lead this team again. If he is traded, Trevis Gipson looks set to step up into the starting line.

Talking of trades, Roquan Smith has been another topic for trade conversation but this simply is not going to happen. Matt Eberflus has confirmed that Roquan Smith will start at weak side linebacker, which means newcomer Nicholas Morrow will be the middle linebacker.

Matthew Adams will likely be the strong side linebacker although there is early camp buzz about undrafted rookie Jack Sanborn. Jaylon Johnson will play with a talented teammate in Kyler Gordon who was drafted in the second round. At safety, the other second round draft pick, Jaquan Brisker should claim the starting spot opposite Eddie Jackson once the contract issues has been sorted out.

In free agency, the Bears also picked up veteran slot corner Tavon Young who will play nickel, so overall there has been a big improvement to their secondary.

Detroit Lions

There’s no question that Goff, as long as he’s healthy, will be the team’s starter behind center. He finished relatively strong in 2021 and reports suggest he has been making strides under new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. It feels like this will be the last year as Goff as a starter, but the inevitable competition isn’t on the roster this season.

The Lions added four rookie receivers to the room, with the biggest hopes for 12th overall pick Jameson Williams. Williams suffered an ACL injury in January during the National Championship game but should return early in the season.

There is no sense rushing him back for a few extra games this year if it jeopardises his long term health, this is a team smack bang in the middle of a rebuild. St. Brown was one of the feel good stories emininating from the team last year.

His phenomenal second half led to breaking the team record for receiving yards by a rookie. Chark is the team’s top free agent addition who should an additional dimension. Like most teams across the league, the Lions have a 1a and 1b running back room. Swift will likely get more touches, but both he and Jamaal Williams will play significant roles.

The Lions returned 11 offensive linemen from last season, so they clearly have big faith in the unit. I expect this means there are plans for someone to push for starting time from the starters, but we will just have to wait to see who it is.

They also added some competition to the room, so while it won’t impact the starters necessarily there should be plenty of battles taking place throughout the preseason. Hopefully our upcoming hard knocks favourite is someone who makes the team!

The Lions heavily invested in edge players this draft, a necessity considering they were 24th against the pass, 30th in sacks and had the second worst pass-rush win rate in the league. By selecting Hutchinson the hometown hero with the second overall pick and Paschal in round two they hope to improve that.

Hutchinson figures to start right away, with Paschal playing in rotation when he returns from injury. Okwara is also returning from an Achilles injury so might miss some playing time early but has big expectations now playing opposite Hutchinson.

The linebackers are up in the air at the moment, and probably will be throughout the season while the team finds the preferred group. Anzalone was brought back after coming to Detroitl in 2021 and is a favorite due to his experience.

The second spot I’m predicting will land with Board. I love stories like his, so that might be why, but I do think he has a real shot. He began his career as a special teamer but with each year as a Raven he increased his role on their defense. If he can lock in a starting spot it will be another inspirational story of hard work and determination. Okudah has been disappointing as the 3rd overall pick in 2020, and this might be his last season to prove he belongs in the starting lineup.

Oruwariye emerged last season as the team’s top CB and he should be counted on to cover opponents top receivers. The team extended Walker as he has become a leader of the defense and someone with high hopes of being on the team when they become a winner.

Alongside him is Elliott, another former Raven who has had injury issues, but has been good when available. The addition of Joseph in the third round adds competition, and while I’m not projecting him to start he should see the field plenty in sub-packages from Day 1.