Sports
An All NFC North Team Ahead of the 2026 NFL Season
Most think that the Minnesota Vikings will do poorly within the NFC North, a juggernaut of a division. Maybe that proves true.
What’s of interest here, though, is constructing the best possible team by using the talent across the division’s four teams: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The offense will be in 11 personnel and the defense in a 3-4 nickel formation. Check out what that fictional team could look like if we siphoned off the best players.
For whatever it’s worth, Dan Campbell would be the HC. Brian Flores would be the DC and Ben Johnson the OC.
The Best NFC North Team Ahead of 2026
Offense
| LT: Christian Darrisaw (MIN) | LG: Joe Thuney (CHI) | C: Gade Mays (DET) | RG: Jonah Jackson (CHI) | RT: Penei Sewell (DET) |
| QB: Caleb Williams (CHI) | ||||
| RB: Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | ||||
| WR: Justin Jefferson (MIN) | WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | TE: Colston Loveland (CHI) | WR: Jameson Williams (DET) |
Team Player Tally:
- Chicago Bears: 4
- Detroit Lions: 5
- Green Bay Packers: 0
- Minnesota Vikings: 2
Commentary and Quibbles:
It’s odd, isn’t it, when the Bears finish high in a thought exercise for strong talent on offense. Many will insist that Jordan Love deserves the QB spot. Maybe that’s true, but Caleb Williams is far more talented.
The best players are Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Justin Jefferson. Good luck with those three. Choosing a third receiver was tough since a lot of players are good without being truly great; Jameson Williams beat out Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden.
OT Zach Tom deserved a spot but didn’t get in ahead of the OTs included above.
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Defense
| EDGE: Micah Parsons (GB) | DT: Jalen Redmond (MIN) | DT: Alim McNeil (DET) | EDGE: Aidan Hutchinson (DET) | |
| LB: Jack Campbell (DET) | LB: Andrew Van Ginkel (MIN) | |||
| CB: Jaylon Johnson (CHI) | CB: Keisean Nixon (GB) | FS: Xavier McKinney (GB) | CB/S: Brian Branch (DET) | CB: DJ Reed (DET) |
Team Player Tally:
- Chicago Bears: 1
- Detroit Lions: 5
- Green Bay Packers: 3
- Minnesota Vikings: 2
Commentary and Quibbles:
The Lions and Packers lead the North for overall defenders. Micah Parsons is the single best defender and it’s not particularly close.
That being said, all of Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell, Xavier McKinney, and others flirt with elite. Andrew Van Ginkel got kicked to off-ball linebacker in this fictional scenario, but maybe Devin Bush should get that spot.
The secondary here would be elite. McKinney is a fantastic center fielder. The CB trio could fly under the radar but those are all excellent players. Maybe the weakest spot is at DT. Do the Vikings see Caleb Banks become a force be the end of 2026?
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
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