The Green Bay Packers are the favorites to win the NFC North division, per the best legal sportsbooks. The Packers selected Jordan Love as the 26th overall pick in the first round of the draft. The message is clear; Aaron Rodgers starting days in green and gold are numbered, though not yet over. Unless he demands to be traded, of course. As Rodgers nears retirement, Green Bay is transitioning into a defense-oriented and run-based team.
Green Bay Packers
In addition to Love, GB drafted three interior offensive linemen, a running back, and a tight end who will be used as a modern fullback. Moreover, the Packs have spent more $100 million this offseason to bolster a defense that was good against the pass but terrible against the run last season. Finally, Green Bay chose not to select any wide receivers. Rodgers is not the has-been they’re trying to make it out to be. Nor is Love as good as the hype around him. At this point though, it may not even matter who starts under center. Even the best online sportsbooks can make mistakes. And favoring the Packers to win the NFC North is a, as Julia Roberts would say, “big mistake! Big! Huge!”
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikes lost wide receiver extraordinaire Stefon Diggs, now a Buffalo Bill. Minnesota will attempt to fill the void with Justin Jefferson, who they took as the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the draft. Coincidentally, the Vikings obtained that selection as part of the trade that sent Diggs to Buffalo. Jefferson finished his junior year with 1540 yards and 18 TDs on 111 receptions. “He’s one of the best receivers that I’ve ever studied in 40-plus years,” an anonymous NFL coach said. “He can do it all and has no fear and can play slot or outside. … He’s a baller who is much better than he’s been credited. Trust me. The kid is a baller.”
Odds to win the NFC North
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | +140 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +180 |
| Chicago Bears | +275 |
| Detroit Lions | +700 |
Chicago Bears
Farther down the line at the best legal sportsbooks are da Bears. Chicago’s offense was one of the worst in the league last year. As a consequence, several heads rolled. Namely, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, tight ends coach Kevin M. Gilbride, and assistant special teams coach Brock Olivo. The Bears did not pick a QB this draft, passing on the likes of Jalen Hurts and Jake Fromm. On the one hand, general manager Ryan Pace might just have postponed the ineludible. But on the other, the Mitch Trubisky question wasn’t, at least this time around, as important as addressing positions of need. Which Pace did with such picks as Cole Kmet and Jaylon Johnson.
Detroit Lions
The Lions first five picks, cornerback Jeff Okudah, running back D’Andre Swift, edge defender Julian Okwara, and guards Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg should be valuable newcomers. Especially Okudah and Swift. The former is a receiver’s nightmare; he had 17 pass breakups over the past two seasons and intercepted three passes last year. And the latter is nominally a running back, but he is as versatile as they come. Both are top-five candidates for rookie of the year. Furthermore, some consider Swift to be the best running back in the draft.
Our Pick: Aaron Rodgers is the kind of guy who can be given shit and make shinola. However, the Packers are all but making it impossible for him to do what he does. Since the best legal sportsbooks favor them, I’m going to have to fade Green Bay and go with the Vikings.
