Constructing an All NFC North Team
The NFC North has a ton of talent. While the four teams find themselves in different stages – Chicago & Detroit rebuilding, Minnesota & Green Bay trying to compete – all four have players who’d work their way onto a team of the division’s best.
Of course, this task is a subjective one. Many will disagree with the decisions that have been made, and I’m sure there are all of kinds of articles that participate in a similar endeavor. By no means is this idea new. Rather, it’s a thought exercise that can help shine a light on where certain teams have talent.
To help me choose players, I’ve largely relied on ESPN, PFF, and PFR. The stats and roster info allowed me to further refine my understanding of the players included. After publishing this piece, I’ll likely turn to a follow-up article or two to further unpack the team.
One more thing. I’m leaning toward 11 personnel on offense and a 3-4 defense that’s in nickel. The reasons are simply because of the recent trends in the NFL and, indeed, the division itself.
I’m omitting special teams simply because I don’t have the requisite knowledge to really distinguish between the various positions. I know when a long snapper is really bad, but I can’t really dissect the difference between solid starters. All I’ll say is that if there was a specials section, Kene Nwangwu would be the kick returner.
My main objective is simply to put together what I believe would be the strongest team for the 2022 season. Which collection of players will give my hypothetical team the greatest chance of climbing Mount Lombardi? Below are the 22 men whom I’d choose to pursue that Super Bowl trophy.
The NFC North Team
Offense:
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Aaron Jones
WR: Justin Jefferson
WR: Adam Thielen
WR: Jameson Williams
TE: T.J. Hockenson
LT: David Bakhtiari
LG: Ezra Cleveland
C: Frank Ragnow
RG: Elgton Jenkins
RT: Brian O’Neill
Defense:
EDGE: Rashan Gary
iDL: Kenny Clark
iDL: Dalvin Tomlinson
EDGE: Danielle Hunter
MLB: De’Vondre Campbell
MLB: Eric Kendricks
CB: Jaire Alexander
CB: Jaylon Johnson
CB: Cameron Dantzler
ST: Harrison Smith
ST: Adrian Amos
Final Team Tally:
Minnesota: 9
Green Bay: 9
Detroit: 3
Chicago: 1
Purple PTSD Also Read: How Adam Thielen Earned His Spot in Minnesota
Quick Thoughts
There’s plenty of room for disagreement with this one.
Truth be told, I was surprised to see the Vikings tie for top spot in terms of total players. It’s very likely that my purple bias is showing in some of these selections. Does Cameron Dantzler really deserve one of the three corner spots? Not one, but two Minnesota offensive linemen? Why the seemingly injury-prone Hunter over Preston Smith or Robert Quinn?
Plus, it’s possible that I haven’t given Detroit or Chicago enough credit. Both teams really are lacking in high-end talent, so this was bound to be a team made up of mostly Vikings and Packers players. Should they still get more credit, though?
One final thought. The offensive line debate was surprisingly tricky. Putting Bakhtiari at LT is about as easy of a decision as one will get. Ragnow missed a lot of last season, but he’s an excellent center. O’Neill at RT might lead some to disagree, but I’m taking Minnesota’s best offensive lineman. The issue was at guard. The division doesn’t have a ton of talent here. Jenkins has some experience at guard. I took a few liberties by putting him in at RG so that Cleveland could then hop into the LG opening.
Purple PTSD Also Read: Justin Jefferson Has a Simple Goal in Year Three
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