WCG’s 2025 NFC North player rankings: Nos. 41-50

WCG’s 2025 NFC North player rankings: Nos. 41-50
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In the first article of a five-part roundtable series, the WCG staff ranks the top 50 players in the NFC North heading into 2025.

The 2025 NFL season is a few months away, and the anticipation for the start of the season is at an extremely high level.

As the NFL Network has done their player consensus Top 100 ranking each year, Windy City Gridiron’s staff has put together a roundtable over the last few seasons of the best players in the NFC North. With six contributors pitching in for this year’s roundtable, there was a strong diversity of opinions that provided for some entertaining rankings.

Before we get started, let’s set up the ground rules. Each WCG participant was asked to send their top 32 players in the NFC North. A player’s ranking determined how many points they would receive (32 points for first, 31 points for second, etc.), and the total points were added up to create the rankings.

Note: Tiebreakers will be broken by whichever player appeared on more ballots. If that total is the same, then the tiebreaker will go to whichever player received the highest ranking on an individual ballot. If that scenario also does not result in a clear winner, ballot organizer Jacob Infante will break the tie.

Players ranked last year who aren’t in this year

  • Keenan Allen (No. 8 in 2024, left division)
  • T.J. Edwards (No. 22 in 2024, regressed)
  • Cole Kmet (No. 24 in 2024, regressed)
  • Teven Jenkins (No. 27 in 2024, left division)
  • D.J. Reader (No. 31 in 2024, regressed)
  • D’Andre Swift (No. 33 in 2024, regressed)
  • Tremaine Edmunds (No. 36 in 2024, regressed)
  • Kevin Byard (No. 38 in 2024, pushed out)
  • Preston Smith (No. 41 in 2024, left division)
  • Carlton Davis (No. 44 in 2024, left division)
  • Dallas Turner (No. 45 in 2024, didn’t live up to rookie expectations)
  • Jalen Reeves-Maybin (No. 46 in 2024, left division)
  • Terrion Arnold (No. 47 in 2024, didn’t live up to rookie expectations)
  • J.J. McCarthy (No. 48 in 2024, missed season due to injury)
  • Nate Davis (No. 49 in 2024, left division)

No. 50: Bears OT Braxton Jones

Best: Honorable mention (Infante)

Low: N/A (everyone else)

Last year: No. 50

Jones ends up in the same spot he got ranked in last year, and an extension of honorable mentions from The Jakester secures his spot in the top 50. He finished with a 77.4 PFF grade and, though divisive in terms of being an extension candidate, has proven to be tremendous value for a fifth-round pick back in 2022.

No. 49: Vikings DT Javon Hargrave

Best: Honorable mention (Infante)

Low: N/A (everyone else)

Last year: NR

Hargrave had 25.5 sacks and two Pro Bowl appearances between 2021 and 2023, but his 2024 season was cut short after three games due to injury. That resulted in his release from the 49ers, but the Vikings are betting...