All-NFC North defensive team rewards smart, physical play and reflects just how well-coached this entire division has become
The NFC North is an incredibly talented division across the board. When we took a look at putting together the all NFC North team, there were some slam dunks and contentious battles on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, it's no different. Among the defense and special teams positions, there were three that […]
The NFC North is an incredibly talented division across the board.
When we took a look at putting together the all NFC North team, there were some slam dunks and contentious battles on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, it's no different.
Among the defense and special teams positions, there were three that ended up unanimous. Here is our defensive team.
Our panel consists of all four beat writers:
- Chicago Bears: Kole Noble
- Detroit Lions: Mike Payton
- Green Bay Packers: Wendell Ferreira
- Minnesota Vikings: Tyler Forness
Defensive Tackle
- Lions' Alim McNeill: 4 votes
- Packers' Kenny Clark: 3 votes
This group was a pretty simple one to break down. Only three players got votes, but there are more talented players at the position, including three on the Vikings alone in Jonathan Allen, Harrison Phillips, and Javon Hargrave. The panel got this position right, as both McNeill and Clark are clearly the best two best in the division.
Clark is an interesting case. He's entering his 10th season in the NFL and doesn't turn 30 until October 4th. Clark has made the Pro Bowl three times and thrives in nearly every situation.
McNeill has thrived as well since being a third round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He can play at nose tackle and kick over to 3T. He's the engine behind the Lions' defensive line.
The only player to get a vote other than Clark and McNeill is Grady Jarrett, and he's got an interesting case.
"My final spot at the defensive tackle position came down two veterans in Grady Jarrett and Kenny Clark. Both players have been multi-time Pro Bowl selections and continue to be consistent starters year in and year out.
"Jarrett is a newcomer to the NFC North and I'm excited to see what kind of impact he will have in a new scheme going into Year 11. Age is obviously a concern, but it wasn't enough to deter Chicago from giving him a three-year deal after being released by Atlanta. The reason why is because Jarrett can still be a violent aggressor up-front in a rotational role.
"After signing with the team, he seems more rejuvenated and hungrier than ever to prove people wrong. I'll take a guy that kind of mindset paired with his refined skillset 9/10 times."-Bears beat writer Kole Noble
Other Votes:
- Bears' Grady Jarrett: 1 vote
Edge Rushers
- Vikings' Jonathan Greenard: 4 votes
- Lions' Aidan Hutchinson: 4 votes
We won't spend much time on the edge rusher group. There are some talented players who deserved consideration here. Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel, Packers' Rashan Gary, and Bears' Montez Sweat are all interesting players in their own right. In fact, Van Ginkel was a second-team All Pro last year after earning a career-high 11.5 sacks and two pick-sixes, with two other close calls on screen passes he jumped. However, he's not the best edge rusher on his team.
Greenard is a perfect fit for what Brian Flores likes to do. He thrives getting off the ball quickly with elite size and length (35.5" arms) and turned that into a 12.0 sack season. He was dominant not just as a pass rusher in all phases, but also as a run defender, where his ability really shines in more ways than one.
Hutchinson is self-explanatory at this point. In the next few years, don't be surprised if Dallas Turner of the Vikings works his way onto the list.
Other Votes:
- None
Off Ball Linebacker
- Lions' Jack Campbell: 3 votes
- Packers' Edgerrin Cooper: 2 votes
The most divisive position group on defense was at off-ball linebacker. Five players got votes with only one getting more than two. Campbell is the best linebacker in this group, but it might not be for long. What he does have is an elite combination of size, length, and athleticism. That's why the Lions picked him in the first round.
Of all the players in this position group, the real wild card is Cooper. He was a rookie last year and, while he was rough around the edges at times, figuring out how to maneuver in the NFL, he was a lightning rod. Cooper's athleticism, pass defense, and ability to shoot the gap are all excellent. He's far from a finished product, but there is a lot of excitement surrounding him.
The three other players who got votes are interesting. Anzalone likely got the nod due to his leadership and ability to stabilize that Lions' defense. The other two have a better argument.
"With Blake Cashman in the lineup, the Vikings only lost two games: the final two of the season against the Lions and Los Angeles Rams. The reason they were so good with him and struggled without him? His ability to do everything.
"Cashman wasn't just a good run defender, he was fantastic in drop zones, and an even better blitzer. He missed three games with a turf toe injury, and the defense struggled without him. Once he came back, the defense stabilized quickly and thrived across the board. Watch for Cashman to be on this list in the near future. He's that good."-Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness.
The unsung player at linebacker is T.J. Edwards, who some wouldn't consider to be the best linebacker on the Bears, but he got a vote over his counterpart Tremaine Edmunds.
"The linebacker position is quietly a loaded position in the NFC North, especially with some of the rising young stars. The decision to roll with T.J. Edwards comes from his ability to produce in more ways than one at the position while flying under the national radar.
"First of all, Edwards is a consistent tackling machine. Since arriving to the division in 2023, Edwards has totaled 284 tackles while starting all 34 games in that span. As a downhill player, Edwards is just as aggressive against the run and rushing the passer recording 20 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. He continues to be a criminally underrated defender because he's shadowed behind Tremaine Edmunds but his impact has been much more profound for the Bears' defense."-Bears beat writer Kole Noble
Other Votes
- Vikings' Blake Cashman: 1 vote
- Bears' T.J. Edwards: 1 vote
- Lions' Alex Anzalone: 1 vote
Cornerback
- Bears' Jaylon Johnson: 4 votes
- Vikings' Byron Murphy Jr.: 4 votes
- Lions' D.J. Reed: 2 votes
The two consensus players here aren't much of a surprise. Johnson is a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He's one of the few players that have given Justin Jefferson fits on the outside.
Murphy is a late bloomer so-to-speak, making his first Pro Bowl after six interceptions this past season, but he's only entering his age 27 season, making him in his prime. While he's shorter and smaller, playing on the outside is something he's more than capable of, but the Vikings love to kick him inside and play him in the slot, because of that versatility.
The last spot was split between three players. Reed was the right choice, as he was dominant on the outside for the New York Jets the past couple of years, and should provide that with the Lions. Gordon is an interesting player as well, especially since he's the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL. Branch isn't a cornerback by trade, but he does play in the slot and thrived there this past season. Whoever ended up on this team was going to be worthy of selection.
Other Votes
- Bears' Kyler Gordon: 1 vote
- Lions' Brian Branch: 1 vote
Safety
- Packers' Xavier McKinney: 3 votes
- Lions' Brian Branch: 2 votes
This was the toughest position that we had to judge. This division has both first-team All Pros from the 2024 season and a future Hall of Famer. Of those three, only one made the team in McKinney.
The Vikings have two really good players in Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus, but the duo only received one vote. They are really good under head coach Brian Flores, but this is a brutally tough group to crack.
The first-team All Pro who was left off the team was Kerby Joseph and that was due to losing a tiebreaker to Branch, who also got a vote at cornerback. That extra vote ended up landing him on the team.
"I know that Branch is primarily a safety, and that's where he tends to play more for the Lions moving forward. However, Xavier McKinney and Kerby Joseph were First-Team All-Pro players at safety last year. Initially, I had Branch out, but looking deeper, he played 272 snaps in the slot last year. That's way more than any type of benchmark for reasonable analysis, which led me to create a big nickel package to have the best possible defensive backfield without compromising a fair criteria."-Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira on voting for Branch at CB.
Like most of the positions, the Lions have multiple candidates, including a good argument to have both of their safeties on this team.
"The Lions have the best safety duo in the NFL. On one side, you have Kerby Joseph, who led the league in interceptions in 2024. When you watch the way he plays, you can see that this is not some sort of flash in the pan type thing. His anticipation and his tracking skills are elite. He has strong field vision as well. He’s going to continue to be this guy. Maybe he doesn’t lead the league in interceptions every year, but he hasn’t picked off his last pass. He was also first-team All-Pro and PFF’s highest graded safety.
"As for Branch, we’re talking about a guy who can play any position in the secondary and play it very well. He can tackle anyone in the league and often does. There is no better run defending safety in this league than Branch, and he’s a big part of why the Lions have been one of the best run-stopping teams in the league the last two years. He’s also a player who needs to be counted on to get after the quarterback as well. The Lions use him all over, and he shows up every time."-Lions beat writer Mike Payton
Other Votes
- Lions' Kerby Joseph: 2 votes
- Vikings' Harrison Smith: 1 vote
Kicker
- Lions' Jake Bates: 2 votes
Other Votes
- Packers' Brandon McManus: 2 votes
Punter
- Lions' Jack Fox: 4 votes
Other Votes
- None
Returner
- Packers' Keisean Nixon: 4 votes
Other Votes
- None
Team Representation By Number Of Players On Defense
- Detroit Lions: 7
- Green Bay Packers: 3
- Minnesota Vikings: 2
- Chicago Bears: 1
Total Representation Across The Entire Team
- Detroit Lions: 11
- Green Bay Packers: 7
- Minnesota Vikings: 5
- Chicago Bears: 3
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