With the conclusion of mandatory mini-camps, the NFL offseason is coming to a close. In just over a month, all 32 teams will report for training camp. While there will be a flurry of minor moves made heading into camp, most teams’ rosters are set heading into preseason action.
For the NFC North, a change of power might not be apparent, but it’s arguably the most competitive division in football. Plenty of changes were made throughout the division and because of that, we’ll take a deeper dive into each offensive unit and where they rank within the division.
Quarterback
1. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
It was a short stay for a Packers quarterback not being at the top of this list, wasn’t it? Going into last year, I regrettably had Love ranked as fourth. About mid-way through the season, I realized that was a mistake. By the end of last season, it was clear he would be QB1 in the NFC North if Kirk Cousins left. Heck, he might have been QB1 had Cousins stayed. At this point, the ceiling is still TBA for Love, but the floor is much better than most had originally anticipated. It helps to have a great core of offensive-minded coaches in the building, but Love’s development sitting behind Rodgers was incredible to see play out in 2023.
2. Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
Going into the offseason, it felt like we were finally going to get to see Goff without a stud offensive play-caller. Then Ben Johnson once again spurned the advancing of head coach-needy teams and re-upped with the Lions. Don’t get me wrong, the former Los Angeles Ram has proved to be a much better quarterback than I’d given him credit for. But I also cannot help but wonder how he’d look if he wasn’t in an offense designed by one of the top coaches in the league. First, it was Sean McVay, now Johnson. His physical limitations curb his ceiling, but for the better part of two seasons now, he’s been a Top 10 quarterback in most statistical categories. He’s gone from being viewed (by many) as a placeholder to a more-than-viable franchise-caliber quarterback who can lead his team to the playoffs.
3. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)
Spots three and four on this list are more of a pick your poison than anything else. Chicago gets the edge based on overall upside and draft positioning. For the most part, Williams was viewed as the consensus top quarterback in the 2024 draft class. His physical gifts are rare, and the mental side of his game is often overlooked. Williams has the ceiling to be a Top 3-5 quarterback in this league and has been set up for success right out of the gate. When was the last time Bears fans could say that confidently with a young quarterback under center?
4. Sam Darnold/JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings)
Count me out of the Darnold hype train. I know he had some good moments in Carolina, but for the better part of his career, he’s been a below-average quarterback. One year with Kyle Shanahan doesn’t change that for me. Clearly, the Vikings felt similar, or they wouldn’t have been studying this quarterback nearly as hard as teams in the Top 3. McCarthy’s entire projection is based on the unknown. For the most part, you either love him or hate him as a prospect. He didn’t throw many passes in college, but because he was in a winning college football program, the unknown presents much more like an upside than a calculated risk. Either way, the days of Cousins are gone, and it’s going to take Minnesota some time to adjust.
Running Back
1. Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Sione Vaki (Lions)
The one-two punch of Montgomery and Gibbs last year was transformative for the Detroit offense. It has been a long time since we’ve seen this type of potent rushing attack from the Lions. Dare I say, the Barry Sanders days were the last time they had a top NFL run game…? Montgomery proved to be worth his contract last year, after signing a three-year, $18 million deal. Gibbs was used sparingly early in the season but came on as the season went on. Both backs complement each other well, and this is one of the better rushing duos in the league. There’s no reason to believe they can’t replicate similar success in 2024.
2. Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, and MarShawn Lloyd (Packers)
There still feels like something I’m missing when it comes to Green Bay’s decision at running back in free agency during the middle of March. Aaron Jones has been one of the more explosive backs in the league, and it felt like he was their best option. Yet, they signed Jacobs and immediately cut ties with Jones. I’m sure financial reasons had something to do with the decision but I’d take Jones over Jacobs if all things were created equal. Dillon, despite testing the free agent market, came back on a cheap deal. Lloyd is an interesting name in this equation. I was a bigger fan of his than most at USC. It would not shock me to see him receiving the majority of reps by the end of 2024.
3. D’Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert, and Roschon Johnson (Bears)
The final two spots in this group were a bit of a coin flip. On one hand, I like Jones as a top option better than I like Swift. On the other, I like Chicago’s depth much better than Minnesota’s. That’s why I ended up with Chicago at three and Minnesota at four. Giving Swift a three-year, $24 million deal as the first free agent contract announced was an interesting choice by general manager Ryan Poles. This felt like a move to get offensive coordinator Shane Waldron one of his more important pieces. Unlike Luke Getsy, Waldron likes having a bell-cow back. That means fewer snaps for Herbert and Johnson, but it’s hard not to like the depth if Swift goes down.
4. Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu (Vikings)
Just one year after giving Alexander Mattison a contract extension, they cut ties and quickly signed Jones once he became available. Their depth still isn’t great, but Jones should provide good value for 2024, if not a little longer with an extension. Chandler filled in well last year when called upon, but this room needs more juice, especially if Jones goes down with an injury.
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Wide Receiver
1. D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Tyler Scott (Bears)
I never thought I’d live to see the day where I could objectively rank the Bears as having the best receiving corps in the division. To take it a step further, they have one of the Top 3 trios in the NFL right now. Of course, this is all on paper, but two of these players are proven contributors. Moore ranked sixth in the NFL in receiving yards (1,364), and Allen came in 11th (1,243). Even more impressive with Allen’s numbers: He missed the final four games of last season. He was ranked fourth in yards-per-game. Odunze– the No. 9 overall pick in this year’s draft– led college football in receiving yards with 1,640 yards. He also added 14 touchdowns to the mix. The depth behind their Top 3 is unproven, but Scott was well-thought-of coming out of last year’s draft, and Velus Jones Jr. should provide a higher level of special teams value with the new kickoff rules in 2024.
2. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Brandon Powell, and Jalen Nailor (Vikings)
If Minnesota had more depth outside of their Top two options, they might have knocked the Bears out of the top spot. Jefferson is the league’s best receiver, and Addison has already eclipsed my expectations for him coming out of college. Assuming both stay healthy, they are going to be an explosive duo that is hard to cover. Powell is a solid No. 3 option but nowhere near the caliber—again, on paper—of what Chicago offers with Odunze.
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, and Donovan Peoples-Jones (Lions)
For a few days, St. Brown was the highest-paid receiver in the league. Then along came AJ Brown to spoil the fun on draft night. Even so, what an outstanding find St. Brown ended up being as a fourth-round selection for Brad Holmes and his scouting staff. Williams has still yet to deliver on his No. 12 overall status from a few years ago but there have been signs that things might be starting to click. The depth after those two falls off pretty drastically. Peoples-Jones has yet to come close to his 2022 production and Raymond is a quality No. 3 or No. 4 option. If Williams doesn’t take a big step in 2024, the bulk of their production in this group is going to be on St. Brown.
4. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Bo Melton (Packers)
Some fans might look at this and wonder how I could have the Packers at the bottom of the list. This is far from an indictment on Green Bay’s group and far more of an indication of how deep this division’s receivers go. I love the upside of this group. Watson has star potential, but health is a big factor in this equation, too. Doubs might not be a true WR1 but he’s got high-end WR2 written all over him. Reed was outstanding in his rookie year, and Melton finally got his chance to shine. This is a diverse group, even if they are without that true No. 1 caliber player. They will allow Love to continue to distribute the ball wherever he wants, as long as they can stay healthy.
Tight End
1. T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver (Vikings)
Out of every positional group on the offensive side of the ball, this is the one I struggled with the most. An argument can be made for any one of these groups. Whether that’s based on upside, past production or even just being a well-rounded group. Detroit slots in at No. 1 for one simple reason: Hockenson is the best tight end in this group (as of now). Oliver is more of a blocking tight end but can catch the ball when called upon. Think of this list as a 1a.-1d. type of situation. Note: This does not account for Hockenson’s injury timeline coming back from a season-ending injury sustained at the end of last season.
2. Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright (Lions)
Long-term, I like LaPorta to project the best out of all of the starting tight ends. His rookie season was rare, and his skill set fits perfectly in Detroit. Couple that with their lack of proven options at receiver after their Top 2 and it’s easy to argue for them being the top group. Wright was a restricted free agent this offseason and received an offer sheet. Ultimately, Detroit matched because they like how well he complements their top option. This is a very good pairing overall.
3. Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett (Bears)
Over the past two seasons, Kmet has become one of the more consistent players in his position. Sure, the upside isn’t sky-high, but he’s reliable and has become a touchdown magnet. He’s a perfect fit as the Y in Waldron’s offense and offers more receiving upside than most would in that spot. Everett felt like a Plan B for Chicago if we’re being honest. Even so, he’s a good option and still just 29. Even better, he came at a reasonable price (two years, $12 million). Historically, Waldron loves using two tight end sets, but even if he’s one-and-done in Chicago, this is still a good pairing to use in this offensive scheme. The Bears also brought back 19-year veteran Marcedes Lewis in early June.
4. Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft (Packers)
Much like the receiver rankings, the Green Bay tight ends finding themselves last on the list is not exactly a negative. For the most part, these two positional groups are very close. Especially when comparing the tight ends. Both Musgrave and Kraft had nice rookie seasons. Musgrave’s opening campaign was slowed by injuries. This duo has the highest ceiling in the division but they must prove it to top the other three teams above them. That could happen early this season.
Offensive Line
1. Detroit Lions
Last year, the competition between the Top 2 spots was much more competitive on paper. Heading into 2024, Detroit is unquestionably at the top. Their starting five stacks up as one of the best in the league and their depth is not too far behind. They lost Jonah Jackson in the offseason but replaced him with Kevin Zeitler. In the short term, it’s easy to argue they upgraded for a cheaper price. Assuming everyone stays healthy, this is a Top 5 unit (or better).
2. Green Bay Packers
There’s been plenty of changes in the trenches for the Packers over the past few years. Despite losing some quality names, their ability to draft and develop talent stands out. David Bakhtiari was released and in his place steps first-round selection Jordan Morgan. How this group shakes out will be interesting. Especially with versatility being valued in this system. Even so, it’s hard to imagine Green Bay without a Top 10 unit when all is said and done.
3. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota has one of the better tackle duos in the league. They are both young, and neither ceiling has been met. The interior has a few more questions, but as a whole, this is an above-average unit with a quality ceiling. Dalton Risner was brought back, and Ed Ingram should be due for a second-year leap. This group might not be flashy, but it should be more than good enough to keep Darnold or (eventually) McCarthy upright.
4. Chicago Bears
While many Bears fans believed they’d make a bigger splash on the offense line, general manager Ryan Poles opted for competition at center and improved depth. While those objectives appear to be accomplished, health and overall upside remain the biggest question with this group. Chicago is hoping that Teven Jenkins will perform at a high level in a contract year. This could also be a make-or-break year for Nate Davis.
What are your thoughts on the rankings of these position groups?
