How many times have you seen a Lions fan lose it this week and tweet a position group comp between the Packers and Lions with the Lions having the advantage in almost every group? Even worse, have you seen the ones where the Lions fan has fantasy football as the first thing in their Twitter bio? Let's go over some realistic position group rankings for the division. 

QB

1. Jordan Love

2. Jared Goff

3. Caleb Williams/JJ McCarthy

The most insane part of these comps is the people who put Jared Goff over Jordan Love. Sure, Goff can hit some wide open receivers when he is perfectly protected, but get some pressure on him and he falls apart. Last season, Jordan Love had 15 big time throws and 10 turnover worthy plays when under pressure, this includes the very meh first 9 or so weeks of the season. Goff had 5 big time throws to 15 turnover worthy ones. 

The Lions have a great o-line, as we'll discuss in a minute, but once you pay your QB and number one WR $83mm per year combined while often using first round picks on positions like running back or linebacker, you're gonna run out of room to keep the o-line good. The Lions already had to let star guard Jonah Jackson leave in free agency, replacing him with Kevin Zietler who played for the Badgers 15 years ago. 

In the end, why don't we let the Shanahan/McVay coaching tree that dominating the league decide. One of its members discarded Goff, knowing he couldn't win a super bowl with him; another hand picked Jordan Love. 

RB

1. Lions
2. Packers
3. Vikings
4. Bears

OK, now that the eavesdropping Lions fans have left in disgust, I can reveal my controversial opinion - I'd take the Lions' running back situation over the Packers. I think Gibbs has higher upside than Jacobs this season and Howard is clearly more productive than Dillon. Of course, Jacobs returning to the 2022 version of himself and MarShawn Lloyd being good right away could quickly tilt the field in favor of the Packers. 

The Vikings are obviously better off with Aaron Jones than they were last season but his injury history and their lack of depth puts them pretty far off Green Bay and Detroit. It is hilarious that the Bears are in last place when they made the first move of free agency to tie down D'Andre Swift.

WR

1. Vikings
2. Bears
3. Packers
4. Lions

Wide receiver is an interesting position to look at. You could put these four teams in almost any order and I'd be OK with it. If you're more of a number 1 receiver guy, the Vikings would be first, if you're more of a receiver corps as a basketball team kind of guy, then the Packers are probably more your cup of tea. 

For now, I think you have to put the Vikings first, since they have the clear best receiver in the NFL. Next, the Bears just have the most depth. If Odunze is as good as we think and Keenan Allen still has a little in the tank, they probably have the best three-man corps in the league. 

Finally, you may put the Lions ahead of the Packers at first glance, they do have a $30mm per year receiver and a top-10 pick, but I think you have to give the Packers the edge. Sure, the Sun God is the best receiver on either team, but there's a strong argument the next three best receivers are Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks. And Romeo Doubs has better career stats than Jameson Williams. Personally, I think the Packers will be the front runners at this spot by season end, but for now, they're certainly better than at least one other NFC North team. 

TE

1. Vikings
2. Packers
3. Bears
4. Lions

I know, shocking. Sam LaPorta probably had the best ever rookie tight end season last year. He has a good case as the best tight end in the division. TJ Hockenson probably gets that title.

Meanwhile, the Vikings, Bears and Packers all have two very strong tight ends. The Vikings have Hockenson and Josh Oliver who is the league's best run blocking tight end. The Bears just gave Cole Kmet a nice extension and signed Gerald Everett, a veteran pass catching tight end. The Packers have two tight ends, Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave, who may have put up Sam LaPorta type numbers had they been injury free and had Sam LaPorta type opportunity. The Lions have LaPorta and no one else in PFF's top-65 tight ends.

In a league where injuries run rampant and more and more teams are going back to 12 personnel, I'll take the depth. 

Offensive Line

1. Lions
2. Packers
3. Vikings
4. Bears 

No way around it here. The aforementioned Zeitler is the only member of the Lions' line who isn't top-ten at his position. And he is probably still top-15. 

Next is the Packers and Vikings. The Vikings have Christian Darrisaw who is elite, but the next four best are probably Packers (Tom, Walker, Jenkins, and Morgan). This one is close and I wouldn't argue putting Brian O'Neill (a journeyman tackle who had his best year in 2022) above Rasheed Walker or Jordan Morgan but the Vikings interior three are so horrific, there's no way you can give them second place. They are still clearly better than the Bears.