It's fun to say "we have the best offensive line in the division," or to brag about having the best QB in the division for just about every year in my lifetime. Let's break it down for each position group.
QB
JJ McCarthy is out. And I think Caleb Williams is too. He had some flashes but didn't show enough.
That leads Goff and Love. Goff had a pro-bowl type year with about the best supporting cast plus play caller in the NFL last season, while Love played most of the year hurt with wide receivers who averaged about 1.6 hands each. I think we need to give the nod to Love here. Goff still crumbled under pressure last year, and he's getting older and now he's lost part of his o-line and the play caller. Love is trending up while Goff is an unknown.
Verdict: Packers
RB
I think this one is an easy win for the Lions. The Bears and Vikings aren't close and David Montgomery is significantly better than whoever the Packers are throwing out after Josh Jacobs. We don't need a second paragraph on this one.
Verdict: Lions
WR
Despite the sh** I talked about Jordan Addison last year, the Vikings wide receiver corps is as good as the Lions' RBs. Justin Jefferson has been the best in the NFL at times over the past few seasons and Addison is better than anyone on the Bears or Packers. Certainly better than Jameson Williams.
Verdict: Vikings
O-Line
This is another hard one and for the first time in a long time, every team in the division has a case.
The Vikings have the best pair of tackles and added Ryan Kelly at center.
The Bears did a total overhaul in free agency and already had great young tackles.
The Lions have the best overall lineman in the divison, Penei Sewell, and don't win this outright only because Frank Ragnow retired.
The Packers may have the best center in the league (assuming Elgton actually plays) and best up-and-coming right tackle in Zach Tom.
Each of the lines also has issues. The Vikings guards are a mystery and Brian O'Neil could fall off. The Bears are the Bears. The Lions quickly went from maybe best o-line in the NFL to probably the worst interior line in the division. And the Packers don't even know who two fo their starters will be right now.
I think I'm going to give this one to the Vikings, for now. The Packers and Lions could easily take this over by like week three.
Verdict: Vikings
D-Line
I think you have to take the Packers out here right away. Maybe the new coach will build them up but they were clearly bad last year.
The Lions are probably the best if Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil are healthy but we're a long way from that being true. The Bears would be the best if each of their guys were 10% more consistent.
So, again, we give it to the Vikings. Especially if you count Van Ginkel as d-line, which he effectively is. They have the best pass rusher in the division (excepting healthy Aidian Hutchinson) with Jonathan Greenard. Two veteran penetrators who will likely be used to the best fo their ability by Brian Flores and a vet run stuffe rin Harrison Phillips. It's not an exciting choice, but I think it's the right one for now. Of course, this is another one that I would quickly be willing to change my mind.
Linebackers
This was in the subhead and is crazy but I think it's the Packers. I'd take Cooper over Jack Campbell, who is the other promising young player. And Quay Walker, for all his faults, has far more upside and explosive play ability than Alex Anzalone or whoever.
The Bears guys should be the best in the division and are paid like they are, but Edmunds has never been good and Edwards had a down year plus is slow to begin with. The Vikings are good with Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. but I view both of them as sort of one-trick ponies.
Verdict: Packers
Secondary
I'll stick with Xavier McKinney as the best overall defensive back in the division but losing Jaire Alexander means the Packers just don't have the firepower to stand up here. Likewise, the Bears' Jaylon Johnson is great but Jaquan Brisker is off and on and Kevin Byard is old.
The Vikings actually may have the worst secondary in the division. Both of their safeties are just guys at this point. Byron Murphy had a breakout, prove-it year and Isaiah Rodgers was almost certainly overpaid in free agency.
That leaves the Lions. Both Lions safeties were Pro Bowl-level players last year, Terrion Arnold was at least a recent first-round pick and DJ reed was one of the best corners in the league over the past few years with Robert Saleh.
Verdict: Lions
Special Teams
Come on.
Verdict: No one cares