All NFC North team defense: Lions, Packers, Vikings, and Bears build a terrifying defensive super team
Detroit Lions landed several stars on our All-NFC North defensive team, but not every position was an easy decision. Some of the biggest debates came on defense.
We’ve already shown you the explosive offense that is our All-NFC North offense powered by players from the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears. Now it’s time to switch to the other side of the ball. Here’s our defense:
Our NFC North Staff
Edge 1: Micah Parsons, Packers
Parsons is likely the second best edge defender in the NFL, behind Myles Garrett. And he’s three years younger, a good indication that he can be the most valuable defensive player in the league over the next few years. Even though the ACL recovery is a concern to some extent, Parsons is wildly athletic and was productive from the get go after being acquired by Green Bay via trade. In 14 games, he generated 12.5 sacks, 79 pressures, and 28 stops. When Parsons is on the field, you feel it. And the opposing offense does, too.
Defensive Tackle 1: Jalen Redmond, Vikings
It’s crazy to think about Redmond being the best defensive tackle in the division this soon, but that’s the reality. After playing just 236 snaps as a first-year player in 2024, Redmond had a massive breakout in 2025. On 793 snaps, Redmond totaled 6.5 sacks and 35 pressures, while being a beacon of consistency across the defensive line.
Defensive Tackle 2: Alim McNeill, Lions
2025 was not his year at all, but we all agreed that he more than proved his worth in 2023 and 2024, and that 2025 felt like a blip and a guy who returned to the field a little too fast after a torn ACL at the end of the 2024 season. McNeill should return to form in 2026 after another year of rehab.
Edge 2: Aidan Hutchinson, Lions
Hutchinson was the Lions’ pass rush in 2025. He led the league in pressures and was in the top five in sacks. He was Pro Football Focus’ fourth-highest-graded edge rusher in 2025. He’s expected to once again have a monster season in 2026, only this time the hope is that they’ve given him some edges to take advantage of all the attention he gets.
Linebacker 1: Jack Campbell
This one was easy for everyone. Campbell was a first-team All-Pro in 2025 and just lit up the world on the field. 176 combined tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles, and was PFF’s second-highest-graded linebacker in the league. After all that, he got rewarded with a big contract that made him one of the highest-paid linebackers in the league. Campbell is going to be a massive piece of the Lions’ defense in 2026.
Linebacker 2: Edgerrin Cooper, Packers
Cooper is a versatile, athletic, and smart off-ball linebacker. He was more of a role player as a rookie, but became a full-time starter last year. He can cover reasonably for a linebacker, can read and react to stop run plays, and is great at blitzing (he’s had 23 pressures in the NFL). The Packers are banking on him to become a Pro Bowl-caliber player, and that’s in part why they moved on from Quay Walker and traded for Zaire Franklin, a veteran player who’s a better fit alongside Cooper.
Cornerback 1: Jaylon Johnson, Bears
Back in 2023, Jaylon Johnson looked like one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and earned a sizable pay day with the Bears as a result. He earned a second Pro Bowl nod in 2024 but things took a turn for the worst in 2025 when Johnson was forced to miss 10 games. When healthy, he can be a true lockdown defender on the outside and easily the top cornerback in this defense. The question is, can he return to that level again in 2026?
Cornerback 2: Byron Murphy Jr., Vikings
The Vikings love to have Murphy play inside, but he’s far from a slot cornerback. Murphy plays consistently on the outside, but his versatility to kick inside is perfect for Brian Flores’ defense. Over the last two seasons, Murphy has played 1,363 snaps at outside cornerback and 533 snaps in the slot. With condensed sets being a big part of the NFL, Murphy is the perfect cornerback.
Nickel: Josh Mettelus, Vikings
NFL defenses are evolving into a more versatile brand of football, which is why this position isn’t slot cornerback, but rather the nickel defender. It’s been on the rage across the league, with Nick Emmanwori being a major factor in the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl win. There isn’t a better fit in this division for that spot than Metellus, who continues to line up everywhere and makes an impact in a multitude of ways. He’s not going to be the elite athlete a player like Emmanwori is, but he’s among the best between the ears in the NFL, paired with being a good athlete.
Safety 1: Xavier McKinney, Packers
McKinney had eight interceptions in 2024, so teams simply stopped throwing the ball his way. And he’s still highly productive for the Packers. He was an All-Pro player in each of his first two years in Green Bay, allowing a 56.4 passer rating when targeted in 2024 and 60.1 in 2025. He has the mental and physical tools to be an all-around, versatile safety, and he’s one of the most talented defensive backs in the NFC.
Safety 2: Brian Branch, Lions
Branch can do everything that you want your safety to do. He can play inside, outside, and all around. He can stuff the run, and if you want him to rush the passer, he can do that too. He’s also been one of the league leaders in breaking up passes and just generally hitting receivers as hard as they can be hit. The Lions need to get him back as soon as possible.
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