NFL personnel staffers like to categorize the cream of the crop of NFL players as blue-chippers. The more blue-chippers you have on a team, the better your chances of going far in the playoffs. Blue-chippers are players like Aaron Jones, Jaire Alexander, and Rashan Gary. A good way to approximate how good teams are is by counting their number of blue-chippers. Let's go through the Packers' NFC North rivals and count how many blue chip players each has (leaning heavily on PFF's rankings since I can't personally evaluate offensive line or any other position play). 

Chicago Bears

We'll start with the Bears because it's the easiest: none. 

They certainly have plenty of players who are former blue-chippers (like Eddie Jackson), potential future blue-chippers (Teven Jenkins), and borderline guys (Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, D.J. Moore) so we may as well discuss some of them.

Jackson peaked with a few spectacular years under Vic Fangio, got the highest safety contract in the league, and then fell back to earth. Coincidentally, his fall happened right when Adrian Amos left town. He may have the talent, but it seems like he's a fairly scheme-specific player. 

Edmunds and Edwards are interesting. They're sort of opposite players. Edmunds is the generational athlete who was taken high in the draft and really only performed well in his contract year. Edwards (former Badger) fell out of the draft altogether because of his lack of athleticism and improved in every season with the Eagles until last when he ranked 6th in the position per PFF. I think we need to see both of these guys out of their comfort zones to really evaluate them as players. Edmunds had his best season while playing for a contract surrounded by blue-chip guys in Buffalo. Edwards did well with one of the top three defensive lines in football holding off blockers in front of him. 

Jenkins switched positions last year (in his second season) and still had some trade rumors this off-season and D.J. Moore had a down year. Both could grab the blue chipper title this season. 

The Bears' lack of blue-chip players is unsurprising. They're rebuilding and have been for over a decade. If these players can evolve to blue-chip level, the team will take the next step in the rebuild. 

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings have three clear blue-chippers: Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, and Danielle Hunter. Let's start with Hunter, who is probably the most controversial. 

The edge rusher has been plagued by injuries over the past few seasons and has seen his own share of trade rumors this off-season. But when he's on, he's a no-doubt top-ten player at the position. The Athletic NFL podcast put him in the top ten even with his injury concerns. There's no doubt in my mind that he is a blue-chip player and I'd guess there will be no doubt in Zach Tom's mind later this season. 

Darrisaw is next, he is definitely not as heralded as Jefferson, but actually had a higher PFF grade last season (coming in second among left tackles). Darrisaw, unfortunately for us, looks like he could be a top-5 blindside protector for the next 15 years for the Vikings. 

Jefferson is easy. He's probably the best wide receiver in the NFL and he hasn't even signed his second contract yet. 

The Vikings have a few other guys who are former Blue Chippers (Harrison Smith), potential future blue-chippers (Marcus Davenport, Brian O'Neil), and blue-chippers in their fan's minds to make up for trading for him (T.J. Hockenson). You can see that they are substantially more talented than the Bears. 

Detroit Lions

We'll finish with the most surprising team. You could argue that the Lions have no blue-chip players. I'd probably argue with you, but the fact that arguing about it is an option is surprising given the media love this team has gotten over the off-season. 

The obvious one is Penei Sewell. He's had a slower start to his career than you'd like from someone as touted as him coming into the draft but that's because he was made to play right tackle. He's already a top guy at that position and if he ever moves to the left side will likely be a top 3 left tackle. 

After Sewell it gets harder. The Sun God is right on the brink and if you said he was absolutely a blue chip player, I'd accept that. Aidan Hutchinson is young but he showed in flashes that he'll get there last season. Frank Ragnow is PFF's 5th-ranked center which makes you wonder, how many centers in the NFL can really be categorized as blue-chippers? Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is a blue-chip trash talker for sure. 

It brings me back to an argument I've been making for a while in this spot: the Lions look like a team headed toward regression this season. They obviously have more talent than the Bears, but it's arguable that they are close to what the Vikings or Packers have, as far as top-end talent goes. Of course, they could make me look like a fool if four or five guys really took the leap this year. Especially if it happened on the defense where they were among the worst teams in the league last year.