Most of the NFC North commentary this off-season has been unreasonably anti-Packers (and pro-Lions). If you just listened to a mainstream NFL podcast, you'd think the Lions had already wrapped up the division and the Packers were on their way to a top-10 pick. In reality, I think it will be more likely a 3-team race for first with Bears fans wishing their team would get out of Chicago already. Last time, I wrote about the blue chippers in the division to illustrate the relative talent levels; today, I'll nominate who I think would be on a preseason All-NFC North team. 

Offense

QB - Kirk Cousins

RB - Aaron Jones

WR - Justin Jefferson

WR - Amon-Ra St. Brown

WR - DJ Moore

TE - TJ Hockenson

T - David Bakhtiari

T - Christian Darrisaw

G - Elgton Jenkins

G - Teven Jenkins

C - Frank Ragnow

Quarterback was probably the hardest position for me. Do you go with the QB who played the best last year (Cousins)? Do you go with the QB in the best situation all things considered (Goff)? Do you go with QB with the most potential (Fields)? Do you take Jordan Love to piss off the Lions fans who comment on every article? 

I chose Cousins because for all his faults he's just the best option right now out of the 4 QBs. Goff is bad too often and any time he isn't in a perfect situation, Fields is just bad all the time (throwing), and Love has to have an incomplete grade. I don't like having Cousins as QB, but it's the clear option.

Running back and Wide Receiver are both easy. You could maybe make an argument for David Montgomery over Jones, but Montgomery had the 44th-best RB grade, per PFF, last season, and the team used a top-15 pick on a RB right after signing him. I'll take Jones. As far as wide receiver goes, I wouldn't be surprised if Watson is in this conversation halfway through the season, but these three are all-star-level receivers right now. 

Tight end is almost grosser than QB. Hockenson has to be the pick, but outside of maybe half the season last year, he's been a bust. It's hard to know what player you can count on being there from week to week. There is a lot of young talent in the division, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, and Sam La Porta could all flash this season and Cole Kmet is someone who exists. 

Offensive line is mostly just PFF grades and it has the most potential snubs. Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Braxton Jones, Nate Davis, Brian O'Neill, and Jon Runyan have all at least had stretches of great play. I just don't think any of those players quite hit the level of the five who I picked. And because I'm sure the Lions fans will hate the Bakhtiari over Sewell pick but Bakhtiari is a hall of famer, he's on this list until his play actually drops off (it hasn't) and Sewell isn't even playing the correct position.

Defense

Edge - Rahsan Gary

Edge - Danielle Hunter

iDL - Kenny Clark

iDL - Alim McNeill

LB - Tremaine Edmunds

LB - TJ Edwards

CB - Jaire Alexander

CB - Rasul Douglas

DB - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

S - Eddie Jackson

S - Harrison Smith

This division is definitely full of trash defenses.  Edge was easy, Rash Gary and Danielle Hunter are the only pro-bowl-level players in the division at edge. Aidan Hutchinson might get there, he just isn't at that level yet. For example, when Rashan Gary got hurt last season, he had 10 more pressures, 1 more sack (and that includes a semi-flukey 3-sack game from Hutchinson), and 10 more hurries than Hutchinson.  

Interior d-line is real bad. Kenny Clark has had a rough couple of years as the Packers systematically removed any help from the d-line and he's still far and away the best defensive tackle in the division. We'll throw the Lions fans a bone by putting the up and coming McNeill at the other spot. 

Both linebackers are new to the division and both were overpaid by the Bears. Quay Walker or Jack Campbell could take over in one of these spots with a good season. 

Corner looks homerish, but Jaire is the only blue chip corner in the division and the competition for the other corner spot is Rasul Douglas, Cam Sutton, or Jaylon Johnson. Sutton and Douglas are basically the same guy and Douglas was far better in 2021. Johnson had a very promising start to his career and then Davante Adams murdered him in 2021 and he hasn't recovered. It would be nice for Packers fans if Eric Stokes had a good comeback season and was knocking on the door of this list next year. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the best slot corner in the division. 

Finally, safety is almost as bad as interior d-line. Eddie Jackson had one or two amazing seasons with Adrian Amos and Vic Fangio and has been just-a-guy since. He did look better last season so that's enough to make the list. Smith is older than me and is mostly an honorary selection to the list. Look for Jaquan Brisker, Kerby Jospeh, or maybe his teammate Lewis Cine to knock him off the list. The Packers depressingly have about 17 safeties who are all apparently good on special teams and none of them have a chance at making this weak list. Sigh. 

Conclusion

Based on my very scientific, expert, list the Packers have 7 all-NFC North players, the Bears have 5, the Vikings have 6, and God's gift to football, the Lions, have 4. I will say the Lions have the most guys snubbed from the list or knocking on the door. Sewell, Hutchinson, Joseph, LaPorta, and Gibbs could make it next year with a breakout season.