NFC North Roundtable: The division has a bevy of stars, but the underrated players separate them from the rest of the NFL
The NFC North is has a lot of high end talent throughout all four teams. From Justin Jefferson to Jordan Love, and Penei Sewell to Montez Sweat, all four teams have some really good players. This isn't about the stars, as there are plenty, but rather about those players who don't get nearly the attention […]
The NFC North is has a lot of high end talent throughout all four teams.
From Justin Jefferson to Jordan Love, and Penei Sewell to Montez Sweat, all four teams have some really good players. This isn't about the stars, as there are plenty, but rather about those players who don't get nearly the attention that they should.
Who are the most underrated players in the NFC North? Our beat writers weigh in with some varied results.
Minnesota Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness: Vikings WR Jordan Addison
When you think of the Vikings, having great receivers is one of the first thoughts. Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the National Football League, made ESPN's quarter century team, and has a realistic path to possibly being the greatest wide receiver of all-time. Pair Jefferson with the presence of T.J. Hockenson and you have a player who gets overlooked.
Addison has been hyper productive in his first two seasons with the Vikings, including outscoring Jefferson 19 touchdowns to 15. From a raw stats perspective, he's been excellent with two very producive seasons.
- 2023: 17 games, 70 catches, 911 yards, 10 touchdowns
- 2024: 15 games, 63 catches, 875 yards, 9 touchdowns
Addison is often the third option on his own team, not because of his talent, but rather the Vikings have an embarrasment of riches. He thrives in multiple areas for the Vikings, as his play style is very similar to that of Jefferson. Addison has proven to be a lethal deep threat, along with thriving in the red zone. Oh, and Addison has caught passes from five different quarterbacks in his first two seasons.
If Addison was on any other team in this division, he'd be getting a lot more attention. He's significantly outproduced his contemporary Jameson Williams, who the Vikings famously traded the 12th pick to the Detroit Lions for.
Green Bay Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira: Packers RT Zach Tom
He was third in All-Pro voting at right tackle last year, so he does receive some level of respect around the league. It's not enough, though. Tom was a fourth-round pick who was mostly perceived as a center coming out of college, but established himself as a truly elite right tackle over the past two years. There is a perception that the Packers offensive line has played at a higher level than its names would indicate, but that's not exactly true. And that happens because Zach Tom is underrated. Tom allowed just 24 pressures last season, and that's fewer than Penei Sewell (28). After three years in the NFL, he is now eligible to sign a contract extension, and the wide expectation is that the Packers will pull this trigger as soon as possible. The longer they wait, the more expensive it will get.
Chicago Bears beat writer Kole Noble: Bears LB T.J. Edwards
Even though T.J. Edwards finally got a well deserved payday this offseason, I still view him as a criminally underrated player at the linebacker position. This guy simply does it all. He’s a tackling machine that can get after the quarterback and can make some plays in coverage. In two years with the Bears, Edwards has totaled 284 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four interceptions, and 10 pass deflections. Another underrated factor in his game is that he never comes off the ball. Edwards played 97% of the defensive snaps in 2023 and 99% of the snaps in 2024 without ever complaining. He’s a true leader for this team that continues to be mentioned behind Tremaine Edmunds. Edwards is hardly ever out of position on any given play and should continue to be an impact player in Dennis Allen’s scheme.
Detroit Lions beat writer Mike Payton: Lions LB Alex Anzalone
When you’re talking about the best linebackers in the NFL, you never hear the name Alex Anzalone come up, and it’s understandable because he never makes the big Sportscenter type plays like Fred Warner or Roquan Smith, but in 2024, we learned how important Anzalone is to the Lions defense. There’s a very clear correlation between the Lions' defense being really good when he was healthy and then struggling after he broke his forearm. Then getting better again when he came back from the injury in the final weeks. He might never make a Pro Bowl or be an All-Pro, but he’s a key player in Detroit and nobody outside of the fanbase really seems to know that.
NFC North Roundtable: Division is wide open with three playoff teams and one stands out above the rest
The NFC North is primed for a great season
NFC North Roundtable: Division’s Most Valuable Player has a near consensus choice with young star ready to emerge
The answer may surprise you, especially based on the national perception
