NFC North Roundtable: Big training camp battles highlight the best division in the National Football League

The NFC North is the deepest division in the National Football League, and there are going to be some really interesting battles to watch.Those battles aren't just going to come from the teams playing each other across the 12 games they will play against each other. Within each of the four teams, there will be […]

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike (91) rushes the quarterback as Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) blocks on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Lions won the game, 24-14.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The NFC North is the deepest division in the National Football League, and there are going to be some really interesting battles to watch.

Those battles aren't just going to come from the teams playing each other across the 12 games they will play against each other. Within each of the four teams, there will be a lot of battles when it comes to building up the rosters.

What are the biggest training camp battles going to be for each team? For some, those will be higher profile than others, but there are going to be some really interesting ones to watch.

Minnesota Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness: CB2

The cornerback position is one that the Vikings have been lauded for not doing a better job to improve over the course of the offseason. The Vikings were honest throughout the offseason that they were confident in their cornerback room, especially the addition of Isaiah Rodgers, who consistently received praise from the coaching staff, especially defensive coordinator Brian Flores.

Even so, not having any credible veteran to push him for the job is a tough sell for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. His biggest competition for the spot is third-year Mekhi Blackmon coming off of a torn ACL suffered in last year's training camp and Jeff Okudah, who's been an often injured bust after being selected third overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. If Rodgers doesn't win the job, it will be telling in more ways than one for this group.

Green Bay Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira: Left Tackle

Left tackle Rasheed Walker has been a solid starter since the Packers definitively lost David Bakhtiari, but he does have a limited ceiling and is entering the final year of his rookie deal. For Green Bay's short- and especially long-term plans, it would be much better if last year's first-round pick Jordan Morgan can beat him during training camp. During OTAs, they rotated with Walker usually having the first reps, but Morgan spent the entire mandatory minicamp with the ones—first as part of the rotation, then because Walker missed a day due to injury. If Morgan proves he can be a left tackle at the NFL level despite his relatively short arms, the Packers would have a much better outlook for the future along the offensive line—and even better if second-round rookie Anthony Belton can eventually become a reliable swing tackle or starting right guard.

Chicago Bears beat writer Kole Noble: Left Tackle

Finding who will be protecting the blindside for Caleb Williams will be a major storyline throughout training camp. During OTAs and minicamp, second-year tackle Kiran Amegadjie rotated in and out of the starting lineup with second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo. Head coach Ben Johnson noted he wasn’t focused on the competition just yet, and that’s because fourth-year incumbent starter Braxton Jones is still working his way back onto the field coming off a fractured fibula.

Once Jones is cleared at some point in camp, this battle will really start to take form. It’ll be interesting to see if Trapilo, the hulking rookie standout, can keep pushing for the starting gig or if Jones can reclaim his starting position going into a critical contract year.

Detroit Lions beat writer Mike Payton: RB3

The one I’m really keeping my eye on is the RB3 battle between Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki. I think the Lions see Vaki as a potential David Montgomery replacement at some point, and this year we’re going to find out if they plan to move ahead with that growth now or if they want to have Reynolds there for one more year. IMO, it's time to go with the young guy and let him grow more before he moves into that RB2 spot in the coming years. 

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