We’re deep into the offseason lull now, so it’s only right that we take some time to hand out some flowers across the league. We talk about NFL players a lot – obviously – and use terms like “best in the league” or “elite” frequently, but rarely do we actually quantify who the best players on each team are. Until now.
The criteria is pretty simple. We’re not projecting ahead and thinking long-term. This is strictly: who is the best player on each team right now? Today, we’re digging into the NFC North – starting with the Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears: D.J. Moore, Wide Receiver
The Bears are in the early stages of acquiring talent that can help the team improve long-term, so the pool of players to choose from is slim. It was a toss-up between Tremaine Edmunds – whose play has been up and down but might be the perfect linebacker for the Bears’ defense in 2023 – Jaylon Johnson, who might just be one or two years away from being truly considered elite, and D.J. Moore.
As the subheading suggests, we’ve picked Moore. After five largely successful seasons in Carolina where he racked up 5201 yards and 21 touchdowns off 364 catches, Moore was an integral part of the deal that saw the Panthers trade for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. His presence on the Bears’ offense gives Justin Fields a true No. 1 wideout as someone who can consistently separate at all three levels of the field and make plays with the ball in his hand.
Moore has undoubtedly been one of the surest wide receivers in the NFL for a few years now, in spite of some disastrous quarterback play.
Detroit Lions: Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle
The Lions’ young core was at the heart of their late-season resurgence in 2022, resulting in them finishing with a 9-8 record and only missing out on the playoffs in the final week of the season. It was their first winning season since 2017 and for the first time since long before then, there’s real hope in Detroit. In part because of some of the incredible talent this team has in its ranks.
Frank Ragnow and Amon-Ra St. Brown both have a rightful claim to this spot – and we’ll give a shout-out to Jonah Jackson as well – but Penei Sewell is the rightful recipient. Since being drafted in 2021, Sewell has been an elite offensive tackle. He played left tackle in college before making the switch to right tackle with the Lions and hasn’t looked back. He moves like a man half of his size and holds up extremely well in pass protection. He’s a cornerstone of what could be an impressive project in Detroit for the next few years.
Green Bay Packers: David Bakhtiari, Offensive Tackle
Aaron Rodgers is gone and the landscape in Green Bay looks…different. Jordan Love now has the reins and expectations are all over the map heading into 2023. Love could be the fresh feel the Packers need or a total disaster. What we do know is that the Packers’ front office has put a strong team in front of Love – especially along the offensive line.
Elgton Jenkins has proven to be one of the more versatile offensive linemen in the NFL over the last few years, playing at tackle, guard, and center whenever needed. And he’s done it all at an extremely high level. But we still have to go with David Bakhtiari, though the case is extremely difficult to make. Not because Bakhtiari has declined. He’s still one of the best left tackles in the league when he’s on the field. But he’s missed some serious time through injuries over the last three seasons.
He’s only played in 24 games across the last three seasons and is now almost 32. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because his on-field resume is bettered only by Trent Williams among left tackles, but availability is the best ability.
Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, Wide Receiver
There can be no doubts about the best player on the Minnesota Vikings. If Bakhtiari’s play is only better by one player at his position, then what about Justin Jefferson? Well, he’s probably the best wide receiver in the NFL right now. And that’s saying something considering the depth of talent at the position. Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Ja’Marr Chase all have a claim to be the top receiver in the league, but Jefferson currently wears the crown.
Obviously, that automatically makes him the best player on the Vikings roster. He’s a true X receiver who does his best work on digs and out routes thanks to his smooth cuts and incredible route running, but he can do it all. He can beat any cornerback in one on one, beat press coverage with ease, and everything in between. He’s a joy to watch, and he’s still only 24.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.