NFC North Power Rankings: Post-Draft Edition

With all the major free agent signings over, and the three-day NFL draft concluded, we can finally begin sorting through the NFC North looking forward to the 2010-2011 season.

The division sent two teams to the playoffs last season, but I think it'd be safe to say the talent level in the division has increased significantly since last season. So how will the NFC North stack up? Let's take a look at the post-draft power rankings in seemingly one of the best divisions in the NFL.

1. Minnesota Vikings, 12-4 in 2009

Tough to take the defending division champs off the top spot--just as long as that Favre guy decides to come back--as the Vikings have the most talent in the division and were within one stupid penalty from making it to the Super Bowl.

However, Brett Favre is probably the biggest question mark looking ahead to next season. Will he be able to hold up for another year at age 41 (turns 41 on October 10th of this year)? Could he possibly have another season even close to his 2009 (107.2 rating, 33 touchdowns, only 7 interceptions)? A lot of the Vikings' success in 2010 will depend on how Favre answers these questions throughout the course of the year.

And while the Vikings did sign cornerback Lito Sheppard and drafted backups Toby Gerhart and Chris Cook, Minnesota will look very similar to the team that won 12 games last season. The Vikings return all 22 starters.

Overall, Minnesota is probably the most talented team in the NFC. Barring any serious injuries to their stars, the Vikings should make the playoffs as one of the top seeds in the conference.

2. Green Bay Packers, 11-5

As much as the Chicago Bears might have improved themselves over the offseason, it is still the Packers who represent the strongest challenger to the Vikings' rein on top of the North.

With a multitude of offensive weapons at the helm of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and an ever-improving defensive unit under defensive coordinator Dom Capers, Green Bay will again make a serious run at the playoffs.

The Packers addressed their offensive line issues that plagued their 2009 campaign by resigning Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, and drafting Brian Buluga in the first round of the NFL draft. With improved offensive line play, I think it'd be safe to predict that Rodgers will be a legitimate MVP candidate next season.

However, keep a close eye on the Packers defensive secondary next season. While 2009 NFL Defensive MVP Charles Woodson anchors the unit, it was exposed against elite passing offenses last season. Cornerback Al Harris is still recovering from ACL surgery, and the only major addition Green Bay made to the unit was drafting safety Morgan Burnett.

That said, the Packers will be in the running for the NFC North crown, and should also make the playoffs. This team is too talented for it to slip too far off its 2009 pace.

3. Chicago Bears, 7-9

The Bears made all the biggest splashes in the North's offseason. Chicago snagged free agency's  biggest prize in defensive end Julius Peppers, and added running back Chester Taylor to an already talented offensive back field.

The Monsters of the Midway will go into the season with several question marks, however. To begin, Chicago has to have better seasons from quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte then they got in '09. The Bears offense lacked explosiveness, but they hope the addition of offensive guru Mike Martz can revitalize Cutler and Forte.

The defense is far from fixed as well. Their secondary is still a mess, with most likely two new starters at safety, and the front seven has proved to be injury prone.

Head coach Lovie Smith will be on the hot seat from day one of the 2010 season, but I'm not fully convinced the Bears have enough talent to compete for the top spot in the division. Chicago is destined for a .500 season, which probably won't be enough to save Smith's job past this season.

4. Detroit Lions, 2-14

Lost in the rest of the division's news is actually how much better the Detroit Lions have made themselves in the Jim Schwartz era. In just this offseason, the Lions have added Tony Scheffler, Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and Nate Burleson--not to mention drafting both Ndamukung Suh and Jahvid Best in the first round.

There is no question the Lions have built a solid base for success in the future, but what does that mean for 2010? For starters, Detroit still is not a very good football team. There is holes all over the roster, from the offensive line to linebacker to the defensive secondary, and those deficiencies will be hard for the Lions to cover up.

But is it completely out of the question for the Lions to win four or five football games next season? If second-year quarterback Matthew Stafford continues his progression, and the defense plays even remotely better then '09 (Lions gave up 494 points, over 30 per game), then Detroit has an outstanding chance of improving by two or three wins in 2010.

Way Too Early 2010 All-NFC North Team

Offense

QB Aaron Rodgers (GB), RB Adrian Peterson (MIN), RB Ryan Grant (GB), WR Sidney Rice (MIN), WR Greg Jennings (GB), WR Calvin Johnson (DET), TE JerMichael Finley (GB), TE Visanthe Shiancoe (MIN), OT Bryant McKinnie (MIN), OG Steve Hutchinson (MIN), C Olin Kruetz (CHI), OT Mark Tauscher (GB), OT Phil Loadholt (MIN), OT Jeff Backus (DET)

Defense

DE Jared Allen (MIN), DT Kevin Williams (MIN), DT Ndamkung Suh (DET), DE Cullen Jenkins (GB), LB Clay Matthews (GB), LB Lance Briggs (CHI), LB Chad Greenway (MIN), CB Charles Woodson (GB), CB Antoine Winfield (MIN), S Nick Collins (GB), S Louis Delmas (DET)

Special Teams

K Ryan Longwell (MIN), P Chris Kluwe (MIN), KR Percy Harvin (MIN), PR Devin Hester (CHI)

Fearless 2010 NFC North Predictions

1. Green Bay's JerMichael Finley will be the NFC starter at tight end in the 2010 Pro Bowl.

2. The Lions will win five games and at least two in the division.

3. It's hard to bet against the game's ultimate iron man, but Brett Favre will miss his first career game in 2010. The luck runs out for grandpa Favre.

4. Chicago's Matt Forte will have a bounce back season. Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz should have him watching piles and piles of film on how he used Marshall Faulk during his time in St. Louis.

5. Fans in Chicago will have a love-hate relationship with Julius Peppers. He's going to show up huge for you in some games, and he's going to disappear in some too.

6. The Packers offensive line will be much improved, and Aaron Rodgers will be a top three finisher in the NFL MVP voting.

7. The Vikings Toby Gerhart will struggle replacing Chester Taylor as the third down back, but he's going to surprise most with a solid season as Minnesota's second back.

8. Chicago's Lovie Smith will be fired at the conclusion of the season. He's been given his last opportunity, and his Bears just aren't at the same talent level as the Vikings and Packers.

9. A team from the North will represent the NFC in the 2010 Super Bowl. Most likely either the Vikings or Packers, but you can't sleep on the Bears either.

10. And lastly, that the chances of the previous nine items you read being wrong are very high. Don't take any of these to Vegas, please.

Countdown to the NFC North's opening training camp (July 31): 3 months, 4 days