All-NFC North offensive team for 2025 features stars from every team but one key name might surprise you

We have finally made it through the worst part of the calendar: the 5-6 weeks between mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp. As we get closer to the start of the NFL season, it's the perfect time to release our all NFC North team.Over the last few weeks, we have done over a […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 5, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) looks for an open receiver as he scrambles out of the pocket against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field.
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We have finally made it through the worst part of the calendar: the 5-6 weeks between mandatory minicamp and the start of training camp. As we get closer to the start of the NFL season, it's the perfect time to release our all NFC North team.

Over the last few weeks, we have done over a dozen roundtable articles discussing different storylines, players, coaches, and predictions about what will happen in the division. 

Our panel consists of all four beat writers:

Head coach

  • Green Bay Packers' Matt LaFleur: 2 votes

This one was arguably the most contentious fight among the four of us who voted for the team. LaFleur got the nod, as he's done the most with less over his tenure. Campbell has done a great job in his own right in establishing a tough, positive culture in Detroit, and O'Connell has elevated the Vikings to 34 wins across their three-year competitive rebuild.

Make no mistake, any of these would be a good choice, but LaFleur has the best and more consistent resume among the three.

Other votes: 

  • Minnesota Vikings' Kevin O'Connell: 1 vote
  • Detroit Lions' Dan Campbell: 1 vote

Quarterback

  • Packers' Jordan Love: 3 votes

The quarterbacks in this division are in a very weird place right now. Two of them were in the 2024 NFL Draft class in Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings. While Williams started all 17 games, McCarthy missed the entire season due to a torn meniscus. That leaves two realistic choices for the quarterback on this team: Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers and Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions.

Our panel voted for Love, but why the guy who has only started two seasons? It's not a simple answer.

"I fully understand that Jared Goff had better numbers than Love, so taking Goff at this point would be fair. At the same time, if the Packers called the Lions to trade one quarterback for the other, the Lions would probably accept the offer before the Packers had enough time to understand the mistake they were making. Love has the higher ceiling by far, and he realized that ceiling by the end of the 2023 season.

Last season, there wasn't actually an individual regression. There was an injury, which affected Love's performance for part of the year, and the wide receiver group with the highest number of mistakes, drops in particular, in the entire league.

Love has Matt LaFleur, but at the same time, Goff has only played well with Sean McVay and Ben Johnson calling plays. Under Rob Boras and Anthony Lynn, results weren't nearly as impressive, to say the least.

Put Goff on the 2024 Packers and Love on the 2024 Lions, and Detroit would most likely have had an even better performance. And I doubt Goff would have led the youngest roster in football to the playoffs twice in a row." – Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira

The argument for Love is a good one, but don't sleep on Goff either

"Here’s the thing: I think Jordan Love is all talk. It’s not the talk that comes from his mouth, but it’s the talk that surrounds him. He’s often compared to his predecessors as if he’s just as good as they are, and we have yet to really see that. He’s propped up by a solid outing against the Dallas Cowboys in the 2023 playoffs. Outside of that game, we have yet to really see the guy that everyone is talking about. Especially in the division where he played six of his worst games last year. 

Goff has consistently been good the last three seasons, and he’s shattered the idea that he’s still the 2020 version of himself. He’s helped the Lions win the big games in the big moments, and he’s been a huge part of their turnaround and success. 

You can say from a talent possibility spectrum that Love can jump Goff, but until he actually does, it’s just talk at this point. 

If you want to talk analytics, Goff has a better PFF grade, he’s above Love in EPA per Sports Info and Solutions, he’s more accurate on deep throws, and more accurate under pressure as well. Right now, he’s just better." – Lions beat writer Mike Payton

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At the end of the day, you can't make a bad choice, but the player with better traits gets the nod.

Other votes:

  • Lions' Jared Goff: 1 vote

Running Back

  • Packers' Josh Jacobs: 4 votes
  • Lions' Jahmyr Gibbs: 4 votes

This was the first unanimous group on the team. Gibbs and Jacobs aren't just the two best running backs in the division, they were two of the best in the entire National Football League last season.

There are some other talented running backs in the division. Aaron Jones was very good last year and David Montgomery is arguably just as important to the Lions' offense as Gibbs. However, these two separate themselves. Let's start with Jacobs.

"The running back was everything the Packers could hope for after the tough decision of signing him and releasing Aaron Jones, who's still a really good player on his own. The difference, and what drove the Packers' sequence of moves, is that Jacobs is more reliable to carry a heavier workload. In 2024, Jacobs had 337 touches, more than Jones has had at any season of his NFL career. Josh Jacobs finished his first season with the Green Bay Packers with 1,671 scrimmage yards and 16 total touchdowns.

Despite the workload and the pounding style, Jacobs was still pretty efficient. The only area where Jacobs isn't excellent is explosive plays. Beyond that, the Pro Bowler was eighth (3.45) in yards after contact per attempt, ahead of players like Jahmyr Gibbs (3.34), Saquon Barkley (3.17), and Aaron Jones (3.00). Jacobs was also fourth in missed forced tackles (67), only behind Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, and James Conner. Saquon had 44 more rushing attempts and forced five fewer missed tackles. He's reliable, efficient, and he generates more than what the offensive line gives him. It's everything Matt LaFleur wanted for his offensive scheme." – Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira

Other votes:

  • None

Wide Receiver

Wide receiver was one of the biggest disagreements when we set out to construct the NFC North team. Jefferson was an easy addition to the roster, as he's the best wide receiver in the NFL. St. Brown makes it unanimously as well after two All Pro appearances.

"Make no mistake about it. Justin Jefferson isn't just the best wide receiver in the game, but you can make a sound argument that he's the best player in the National Football League if you take out positional value. Jefferson holds at least five NFL records, including most receiving yards with 96.5 per game, 9.0 yards per game higher than second place, who happens to rank one spot higher in these rankings Ja'Marr Chase.

When it comes to finding a way to get open, there isn't anyone better in the NFL, especially when you consider his route running acumen and how he doesn't have a dominant eye, which gives him a major advantage compared to any other receiver. His production also doesn't dip when a backup quarterback comes in, as he became the third wide receiver in NFL history to log 1,000 yards with 10 or less games played in a season. Putting him anywhere but one is disrespectful." – Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness

Where things really got interesting was that final roster spot. Both Jordan Addison and Jameson Williams got a single vote, but Moore received two to get him on the team. Why did he make it over those two?

"Since DJ Moore arrived in the NFC North playing for the Bears, we've really seen two different styles out of him. Going back to his first season in 2023 playing with quarterback Justin Fields, Moore was one of the top deep ball players in the league. That season, Moore ranked second behind Tyreek Hill in 20+ air yard receptions and third in yards, leading to a career-high 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns.

When the Bears drafted quarterback Caleb Williams, the usage of the team's top playmaker shifted to benefit a quicker pass offense. Of Moore's 98 receptions, 73 came from passes of 5 or fewer air yards and he still finished 34 yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards as a more of a catch-and-run style player. That kind of versatility within an offense speaks volumes when it comes to Moore's ability to produce at a high level.

Working with Ben Johnson in 2025, the creativity of how the Bears can use Moore's ability all over the field is really going to shine compared to what we saw during his first two years in Chicago." – Bears beat writer Kole Noble

Other votes:

  • Vikings' Jordan Addison: 1 vote
  • Lions' Jameson Williams: 1 vote

Tight End

  • Lions' Sam LaPorta: 3 votes

This is a really interesting position, as the two best players in the division will forever be linked.

The Lions traded T.J. Hockenson to the Vikings at the 2022 trade deadline, which prompted them to take LaPorta at 34th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was historically productive as a rookie and it took a step back partially due to the emergence of Williams on the outside.

When talking about who is better, Payton believes it comes down to one thing: yards after the catch.

"In terms of catching the ball, these two are on the same level, no doubt. I watched TJ Hockenson in Detroit, and I know what he’s capable of. He can make a big catch, I’ve seen him do it. The problem is, I’ve also seen him do nothing after that catch.

That was the big problem Lions fans had with Hockenson. He would consistently make a big catch and then fall down and get touched. That is why I have to take LaPorta over him because I know that when LaPorta makes a catch, he's going to make a play afterwards. He’s not going to be that one kid in gym class who laid out to make a catch even though he didn't have to lay out for it.

That goes a long way in the Lions' offense. Other than that, these guys are pretty on par." – Lions beat writer Mike Payton

Despite LaPorta getting three votes, it's a much more complex discussion.

"For my money, T.J. Hockenson is the best tight end in this division. When you look at everything he brings to the table. His production is very similar to LaPorta's in terms of efficiency and explosiveness. LaPorta has the edge in touchdowns, but a lot of that is random and I don't put a ton of stock into it.

Where things get interesting is in two different areas: blocking and play caller. Hockenson is a much better blocker than LaPorta and the latter's offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was a wizard at getting LaPorta wide open targets with room to run. Hockenson is asked to create his own space with choice routes significantly more than LaPorta. While LaPorta is very good, I think he is more a product of his surroundings and Hockenson has been consistently great no matter the situation." – Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness

Other votes:

  • Vikings' T.J. Hockenson: 1 vote

Offensive Line

  • Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw: 4 votes
  • Bears RG Joe Thuney: 4 votes
  • Packers C Elgton Jenkins: 4 votes
  • Vikings RG Will Fries: 3 votes
  • Lions RT Penei Sewell: 4 votes

This group really isn't much of a surprise. It was a consensus at four positions, and there are still some good players who play there who didn't even get consideration, as Ferreira explains.

"There are several good players not on the list. Zach Tom, Brian O'Neill, and Taylor Decker are some of the prime examples. However, the top of the group is so heavy that it was impossible to have any of them off. Christian Darrisaw, Joe Thuney, and Penei Sewell are amongst the best offensive linemen in football, not only in the division. At center, everyone went with Elgton Jenkins even though he's moving to his new position now after years at left guard. However, there is proof of concept. He's played 369 snaps at center throughout his NFL career, it was his primary position in college, and his pass block win rate in 2024 was higher at center (96.6) than at guard (92.4).

The most difficult decision was at right guard, with newest addition Will Fries making it. Tyler voted for Jonah Jackson, but his down year in 2024 for the Los Angeles Rams ultimately decided the majority of votes. Curiously, with Graham Glasgow and Sean Rhyan or Jordan Morgan, this is possibly the weakest link on the line for both the Lions and Packers." – Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira

Other votes:

  • Bears RG Jonah Jackson: 1 vote

Team Representation By Number Of Players

  • Detroit Lions: 4
  • Green Bay Packers: 4
  • Minnesota Vikings: 3
  • Chicago Bears: 2

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