First up on the list are the boys from Titletown, the Green Bay Packers.
Cheesehead fans endured a season of somewhat mediocrity at Lambeau Field in the 2025-26 season, with a middle of the road record sitting at 9-7-1.
General manager Brian Gutekunst discussed their season:
"I did think there were moments where we played at a very, very high level, championship football type level, but it wasn't consistent enough."
So how are they shaping up for the upcoming year? They go into the 2026 NFL Draft with no first round pick this year after trading for superstar defensive end Micah Parsons.
Their first pick in the draft is the 52nd pick in the second round. "Mock draft expert" Field Yates has pegged them to select Lee Hunter, a defensive tackle. The "expert" said, "Green Bay will have some 3-4 elements under new coordinator Jonathan Gannon; Hunter has the right skill set to anchor a run defense."
Offensively, they did not set the world on fire, Pro Bowl quarterback Jordan Love had yet another efficient year; however, he did miss three games, throwing for a very efficient 23 touchdowns to only six interceptions.
Defensively, they bolstered their roster in-season with the blockbuster Parsons trade; as with their offense, it was a very middle-of-the-road roster.
However, the incoming defensive coordinator could change things. The prediction is yet again a very competitive Matt LaFleur-led team.
3. Chicago Bears
Next up is the Ben Johnson-led Chicago Bears, after one of the best seasons in the team's recent history, finishing with an 11-6 record, reclaiming the NFC North in dramatic fashion.
Their roster consists of one of the future faces of the National Football League, in Caleb Williams, throwing for almost four thousand yards and 27 touchdowns.
The Bears possess the 25th overall pick in this year's draft, draft analyst Mel Kiper has tipped the Bears to select Peter Woods. He said, "Best player available and checking off a need -- that's a win late in Round 1. At his best, Woods is a penetrating 3-technique who would help the Bears' run defense (5.0 yards allowed per carry, 29th) and pass rush (35 sacks, tied for 22nd)."
Defensively, the Bears will need to make some acquisitions at middle linebacker after releasing their tackle leader Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears will look to contend for years to come.
2. Detroit Lions
In second place, it is the Detroit Lions.
The Lions had by recent standards an underwhelming season, in which they finished 9-8, missing out on back to back division wins.
The Motor City fans have enjoyed high levels of success, which is rare for a team that has been a perennial loser historically. The Dan Campbell effect cannot be underestimated.
The Lions offense is led by Jared Goff, the five-time Pro Bowler had an outstanding season throwing for over 4,500 yards, as well as an outstanding 34 touchdowns.
Defensively they were led by Jack Campbell who had an overwhelming 176 total tackles and Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with 14.5 sacks.
With the coaching staff that the Lions possess, they will be contending for the foreseeable future.
1. Minnesota Vikings
Finally, it is what most analysts would describe as the underdogs of the North, the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings made the most underrated move of free agency, the signing of Kyler Murray to the league minimum contract. This is because he signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings worth about $1.3 million, while the Arizona Cardinals still pay roughly $35–36 million of his salary, making it a cheap, low-risk move for Minnesota.
The 2019 offensive rookie of the year has now been paired with a quarterback whisperer Kevin O'Connell who turned around the careers of Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones.
Overall, the salary cap constraints that affect most teams with a higher-level quarterback will not bother the Vikings, pair the cap space with all-star wide receiver Justin Jefferson and DC Brian Flores, SKOL nation are ones to watch.
