*With the NFL draft in the rearview mirror, Around the NFL will project starting lineups with tasty position battle nuggets for all 32 teams. The NFC North is below. *
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings Projected Starters
Offense
RB: Adrian Peterson
WR1: Stefon Diggs
WR2: Laquon Treadwell
WR3: Jarius Wright
TE: Kyle Rudolph
LT: Matt Kalil
LG: Alex Boone
RG: Brandon Fusco
RT: Andre Smith
Defense
DE: Everson Griffen
DT: Linval Joseph
DT: Sharrif Floyd
DE: Brian Robison
LB: Anthony Barr
LB: Eric Kendricks
CB1: Xavier Rhodes
CB2: Trae Waynes
CB3: Captain Munnerlyn
» First-round pick Laquon Treadwell should replace the departed Mike Wallace as a starter, but the rest of the receiver group remains mostly unchanged. That's why we don't expect Cordarrelle Patterson to get cut. He is still helpful on special teams. Charles Johnson lingers on the fringes.
» This exercise is a prediction of what will happen, not a snapshot of the current depth chart. Last year's No. 11 overall pick Trae Waynes is definitely behind Terence Newman at the moment, but Newman is 38 years old. Waynes came along slowly last year but this isn't out of the ordinary for coach Mike Zimmer and cornerbacks. It's time for Wayne to play.
» Zimmer's history of slow-playing rookies is why I kept second-round cornerback Mackensie Alexander behind Captain Munnerlyn at the nickel cornerback role.
» Zimmer entered the offseason wanting competition on the offensive line, and he's got it. Second year pro T.J. Clemmings will challenge Matt Kalil at left tackle. Andre Smith and Phil Loadholt will battle at right tackle. We give Smith the edge because Loadholt is coming off a serious injury.
» We moved Hunter into a starting job over incumbent Brian Robison. Hunter flashed serious skills as a rookie and Robinson could be more effective in a situational role at 33 years old.
» Long a problem spot for the Vikings, the team is suddenly looking good at linebacker. Anthony Barr is an ascendent Top 100 player. Chad Greenway and Emmanuel Lamur figure to battle for snaps, but won't play every down. Eric Kendricks played well at middle linebacker but could also move outside. The return of Audie Cole and the drafting of Kentrell Brothers in the fifth round gives Minnesota great depth.
Green Bay Packers
Packers Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB: Eddie Lacy
WR1: Jordy Nelson
WR2: Randall Cobb
WR3: Jeff Janis
TE1: Jared Cook
LT: David Bakhtiari
LG: Josh Sitton
RG: T.J. Lang
RT: Bryan Bulaga
Defense
DE: Datone Jones
NT: Kenny Clark
DE: Mike Daniels
OLB: Clay Matthews
ILB: Blake Martinez
ILB: Sam Barrington
OLB: Julius Peppers
CB1: Sam Shields
CB2: Damarious Randall
» Leaving Jeff Janis on the bench is a mistake coach Mike McCarthy won't keep making -- we think. Jordy Nelson's return and Janis' ascent could leave Davante Adams struggling for snaps and possibly a roster spot. The Packers also have Ty Montgomery returning at a crowded position.
» Second-round pick Jason Spriggs looks like a swing tackle, but it wouldn't be a shock if he challenged David Bakhtiari for a starting job eventually.
» Rookie linebacker Blake Martinez might wind up earning starter snaps replacing Barrington on passing downs. The fourth-round pick has more of a passing down skill set than Jake Ryan or Sam Barrington.
» The Packers plan to move Clay Matthews back to the outside, certainly on passing downs. That doesn't mean he'll be just lining up at the same spot every play, because that's wasting his impressive versatility.
» Drafting Kenny Clark in the first round was a huge need for general manager Ted Thompson. After B.J. Raji's retirement and Mike Pennel's suspension, they needed someone that could play right away.
Detroit Lions
Lions Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Matthew Stafford
RB: Ameer Abdullah
WR1: Golden Tate
WR2: Marvin Jones
WR3: T.J. Jones
TE1: Eric Ebron
LT: Taylor Decker
LG: Laken Tomlinson
RG: Larry Warford
RT: Riley Reiff
Defense
DE: Ezekiel Ansah
DT: Haloti Ngata
DT: Tyrunn Walker
DE: Devin Taylor
MLB: Tahir Whitehead
LB: DeAndre Levy
LB: Josh Bynes
CB1: Darius Slay
CB2: Nevin Lawson
S: Glover Quin
S: Rafael Bush
» The more I looked at this roster, the worse it looks. You can argue that no position groups are above league average. There are some great star players (Ezekiel Ansah, Golden Tate, DeAndre Levy, Darius Slay) but there are huge roster roles. Defensive end is very thin. Cornerback and safety are worse; each position has one reliable player. There are big questions at tackle and running back.
» The Lions' brass likes Nevin Lawson, a fourth-round pick from last year who got plenty of snaps as a rookie. But it was still surprising to see the position so ignored this offseason. Rafael Bush has been injury prone and one dimensional in his career and is on his third team in as many years. Fourth-round rookie Miles Killebrew could wind up starting.
» First-round pick Taylor Decker and Riley Reiff should start at the two offensive tackle spots. It's up to Decker to show that he is a better option on the blind side, which would push Reiff to the right.
» T.J. Jones and Jeremy Kerley will battle for the No. 3 receiver spot. Even at receiver, where the Lions have two quality starters, there are a lot of question marks.
Chicago Bears
Bears Projected Starters
Offense
QB: Jay Cutler
RB: Jeremy Langford
WR1: Alshon Jeffery
WR2: Kevin White
WR3: Eddie Royal
TE: Zach Miller
LT: Charles Leno
LG: Cody Whitehair
RG: Kyle Long
RT: Bobby Massie
Defense
DE: Mitch Unrein
NT: Eddie Goldman
DE: Akiem Hicks
OLB: Pernell McPhee
ILB: Danny Trevathan
ILB: Jerrell Freeman
OLB: Lamarr Houston
CB: Tracy Porter
CB: Kyle Fuller
S: Adrian Amos
» Jeremy Langford is a solid bet to start at running back, but he doesn't have the profile of a primary running back. Fifth-round pick Jordan Howard is a sleeper to get a lot of snaps.
» The Bears were the anti-Lions in this exercise. The more I looked at their roster, the more I liked it. If Kevin White is healthy, the Bears have a terrific wideout corps. The offensive line makes more sense with Kyle Long at guard and the team added pieces on the interior with a key draft pick (Cody Whitehair) and free-agent pickups for depth.
» The defense was among the league's youngest last year and looks much deeper now. No. 9 overall pick Leonard Floyd isn't listed as a starter, but he should play a ton on passing downs. Lamarr Houston can move inside on those downs for flexibility. Third-round pick Jonathan Bullard could also get in the pass-rushing mix. Eddie Goldman and Danny Trevathan are all underrated starters. Pernell McPhee is a quiet star.
» If the Bears have a fatal flaw, it would be in the secondary. They are relying too much on Tracy Porter to repeat a surprising 2015 season and the safety position is very inexperienced.
