The NFC North tight end rooms are absolutely loaded, and honestly, it feels a little unfair. We're talking about a division where it's not even a stretch to say every single team boasts a top-10 tight end in the entire NFL. Our latest podcast episode dove deep into the tight ends, offensive lines, and defensive lines for the 2026 season, and the insight on the TEs alone is wild. Sam LaPorta, Colston Loveland, Tucker Kraft, and T.J. Hockenson all snagged top-10 votes in ESPN's recent survey. That's serious talent right there.
Are These TEs Really Unstoppable?
While the talent is undeniable, there are some big questions for a couple of these guys. We have to wait and see how Kraft looks coming back from his injury. And Hockenson, who's still somehow only 29 years old, needs a big rebound after dealing with traumatic leg injuries last year. The podcast crew pegs LaPorta as the best of the bunch, no real debate there. But even with LaPorta leading the pack, could Chicago's deeper tight end room actually give them the overall edge in the division? That's a debate that deserves some real thought.The Trenches Are a M.E.S.S.
Moving away from the loaded tight ends, the offensive lines across the NFC North are a completely different story, riddled with serious questions. The Bears are looking at being without their starting left tackle for most, if not all, of the season, plus a sudden center retirement hit them hard. The Vikings are rolling with a completely new center and need several young players to make some big jumps. The Packers are bringing back their 2025 crew, which was not a very good unit, plain and simple. Even the Lions have a new center and tackle, and there's an open battle for left guard. The debate on where the Lions' line actually stands could come down to which team has the fewest problems. A similar conversation is happening with the defensive lines, where there is simply no real standout unit anywhere. The Packers are going to be without Micah Parsons for around half a season. The Vikings let Jonathan Greenard walk this offseason. The Bears had one of the worst defensive fronts last year, and they barely invested anything in it this offseason. So, honestly, the Lions might end up with the best defensive line in the NFC North by default, which tells you everything you need to know about the state of these units. The podcast episode dives into all these debates, including whether the Lions made a mistake extending Alim McNeill and some Penei Sewell nonsense with faulty advanced statistics. If you want to see all the breakdowns and find out what went down during "accountability week" where Ryan Mathews attempted to eat 100 chicken nuggets and I tried 100 up-downs, you'll have to watch the episode. It's a must-see for all the chaos!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.