The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are on a collision course in Week 1. It's a heavyweight battle between two teams with lofty ambitions in the NFC North.
Now, imagine Matt LaFleur and Kevin O'Connell joined forces and built a combined starting lineup with the two rosters. Which team would have the edge at each position?
They're surprisingly evenly matched. Only a tie separated the Packers and Vikings last season.
Green Bay fell apart late following injuries to Micah Parsons and Zach Bako-Bewele, while Minnesota made a late surge to overcome poor quarterback play from J.J. McCarthy. Much has changed for both teams after an eventful offseason.
Who makes the Packers-Vikings combined lineup?
Packers vs. Vikings: Picking the best player at every position
Quarterback: Jordan Love, Packers
Jordan Love's arrow is pointing directly up. With some more trust from his head coach and just enough protection from his line, Love can become a surprise name to enter the MVP conversation.
Matt LaFleur made the bold claim that Love is the best quarterback he's worked with when it comes to pre-snap adjustments – yes, even better than Aaron Rodgers – and it shows up in his play. Love has evolved beyond the risk-taking, turnover-prone quarterback we saw in Years 1 and 2, emerging as a highly efficient passer.
Love threw 23 touchdowns to just six interceptions in 15 games last season, earning a career-best 101.2 passer rating. He was also Pro Football Focus' No. 3-ranked quarterback. The efficiency is there, and his stock will soar if LaFleur makes Green Bay's offense more pass-happy.
Running back: Aaron Jones, Vikings
Jordan Mason might lead the Vikings in carries this season, but Aaron Jones still has unmatched explosiveness, even if his overall production and touches are in decline. Jones has never averaged fewer than 4.2 yards per carry over a full season, and his work as a receiver and underrated pass-protector makes him such a valuable piece of the Vikings' offense.
Both teams have questions at running back, but Jones is still a difference-maker entering his age-32 season.
Wide receiver: Justin Jefferson, Vikings
No overthinking needed here. Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in football. He still posted a 1,000-yard season in 2025 despite the Vikings' mess at quarterback. That takes his career tally to 8,480 yards and 42 touchdowns in just six seasons. Jefferson is on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Wide receiver: Jordan Addison, Vikings
Jordan Addison's numbers have declined each year, but he remains a dependable WR2 to Jefferson in Minnesota. Addison has caught 175 passes for 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns across three seasons, and his production should improve with better quarterback play this year. He also offers the inside/outside versatility that allows Kevin O'Connell to attack favorable matchups.
Wide receiver: Christian Watson, Packers
Christian Watson dominated in his return from a torn ACL last season, catching 35 passes for 611 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games. Watson is one of the most dangerous deep threats in the entire league, averaging 19.2 yards per catch since the start of 2024, and his presence on the field forces defensive coordinators to alter their game plan.
Watson needs to finally put together a fully healthy season, but the sky is the limit.
Tight end: Tucker Kraft, Packers
George Kittle put it best by saying Tucker Kraft was the No. 1 tight end in the league before getting hurt last season. Kraft's athleticism and speed make him a matchup nightmare for defenders, and he runs over tacklers like a bowling ball with his physicality after the catch.
Kraft was on track for an All-Pro year after catching 32 passes for 489 yards and six touchdowns in the Packers' opening 7.5 contests before suffering a torn ACL.
Left tackle: Christian Darrisaw, Vikings
Injuries limited Christian Darrisaw over the past two seasons, but make no mistake about it: when healthy, he's as dependable as they come at left tackle. Darrisaw has 56 career starts to his name and, over the past two seasons, he's allowed only four sacks on 556 pass-block snaps, per PFF.
The Vikings hope the veteran left tackle can put together a full 17-game season, but there's no denying his talent.
Left guard: Donovan Jackson, Vikings
Donovan Jackson showed real promise as a first-round rookie in 2025, starting 14 games for the Vikings. While his run blocking remains a work in progress, Jackson held up well in pass protection and allowed only two sacks. His arrow is pointing up entering Year 2.
Center: Sean Rhyan, Packers
Sean Rhyan makes the team by default, given the Vikings' uncertainty with Blake Brandel as their starting center. But Rhyan's resume is hardly a sparkling one, either. He struggled as the starting right guard last year before shifting to center after Elgton Jenkins' season-ending injury.
Rhyan gave the Packers an improvement in run blocking, but his PFF pass-blocking grade ranked last among 40 qualifying centers.
Right guard: Will Fries, Vikings
The Packers have a world of uncertainty at right guard, which hands Will Fries the spot here despite not exactly lighting it up in his first season with the Vikings. PFF graded Fries 42nd among 81 qualifying guards. But his 48 career starts give him a serious advantage over the Packers' inexperienced Jacob Monk.
Right tackle: Zach Bako-Bewele, Packers
It doesn't feel right leaving Brian O'Neill out of the combined lineup, but it just highlights how good Zach Bako-Bewele is. It's unclear whether he'll be available (or at 100 percent) in the season opener, but Bako-Bewele is one of the best right tackles in football.
Per PFF, he allowed zero sacks and just one quarterback hit on 334 pass-block snaps last season. Over his four-year NFL career, Bako-Bewele has surrendered only seven sacks and nine hits on 1,950 pass-block snaps.
Edge rusher: Dallas Turner, Vikings
Micah Parsons isn't available for at least four games, so he isn't part of this Week 1 combined lineup.
Dallas Turner more than deserves his spot. The Vikings' 2024 first-round pick enjoyed a second-year jump last season, making eight sacks and 15 quarterback hits, and he only started 10 games. That should change now, with Turner leading the way for a potentially underrated Vikings pass rush.
Defensive tackle: Jalen Redmond, Vikings
In 2024, Jalen Redmond played for the Dallas Renegades in the UFL. He's now a key starter on the Vikings' defensive line. Redmond was dominant against the run last season while also chipping in with six sacks. He could give the Packers' questionable interior offensive line some big problems in Week 1.
Defensive tackle: Devonte Wyatt, Packers
Devonte Wyatt was headed for a career year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in November. He was on pace for seven sacks and 12 quarterback hits after forming an excellent 1-2 punch with Micah Parsons, especially when they lined up together on the inside. Assuming Wyatt is fully healthy, he could be set for a big season.
Edge rusher: Andrew Van Ginkel, Vikings
Andrew Van Ginkel doesn't get talked about enough. He was a playmaker for the Miami Dolphins and has reached new heights in two seasons with the Vikings, recording 18.5 sacks, 32 quarterback hits, 29 tackles for loss, 16 pass defenses, and three interceptions (with two pick-sixes) in 29 games.
Van Ginkel received Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2024, but it's still hard to believe he doesn't get more national praise.
Linebacker: Edgerrin Cooper, Packers
Edgerrin Cooper didn't quite live up to expectations in Year 2, but he by no means played poorly. Cooper is still one of the most exciting young linebackers in football because he can do it all. He uses his speed and athleticism to fly to the football, and it also makes him an effective blitzer (just look at his eight sacks at Texas A&M in 2023).
PFF ranked Cooper 16th among all linebackers last season, including 38th in run defense, 35th in pass rush, and seventh in coverage. The best is still yet to come.
Linebacker: Blake Cashman, Vikings
It felt like a missed opportunity when the Packers didn't sign Blake Cashman in free agency two years ago, and he's proven why with the Vikings. While his second season in Minnesota was disappointing compared to his first, there's no denying his talent. In 2024, Cashman posted 112 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and eight pass defenses. He's a quality starter.
Nickel corner: Javon Bullard, Packers
Javon Bullard adds energy to the Packers' defense. He flies to the ball and loves to make plays in run defense. Despite his inconsistencies in coverage, Bullard only gave up one touchdown last season, per Pro Football Reference. Playing nickel is a thankless task, but he stepped into that role admirably and is an ascending player.
Cornerback: Byron Murphy Jr., Vikings
A Pro Bowler in 2024, Byron Murphy Jr. has been a reliable piece of Minnesota's defensive backfield. Per Pro Football Reference, over the past two seasons, quarterbacks have completed 63.1 percent of passes in Murphy's coverage for 1,300 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions for an ugly passer rating of 77.3.
Cornerback: Isaiah Rodgers, Vikings
Isaiah Rodgers started more games for the Vikings last year than he had with the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles in the previous five seasons combined. And he made the most of it. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers allowed only two touchdowns in his coverage all season, and he scored one of his own on a pick-six against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Safety: Xavier McKinney, Packers
In 2024, the Packers believed they were signing an ascending player on the verge of breaking out, and Xavier McKinney has proved them right. In two seasons, McKinney has made a Pro Bowl and two All-Pro teams, recording 10 interceptions and 21 pass defenses. Quarterbacks were more reluctant to throw his way last season, and who could blame them?
Safety: Harrison Smith, Vikings
It doesn't matter that Harrison Smith is 37 years old. He's back for one more season and can still play at a high level. A six-time Pro Bowler with 39 career interceptions (including six against the Packers), Smith is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
Kicker: Will Reichard, Vikings
The Packers have high hopes for Trey Smack, but he has a long way to go to catch first-team All-Pro Will Reichard.
Reichard was phenomenal last season. He only missed two of his 35 field-goal attempts, both from 50-plus yards, and one of them appeared to have deflected off a camera wire. Reichard ranked second in FanSided's Kick Value Added (KVA) metric after making an incredible 11 kicks from beyond 50 yards.
Punter: Daniel Whelan, Packers
The Vikings have the advantage at kicker, but the Packers may have the best punter in football. Daniel Whelan received PFF's highest grade at the position last season after posting a league-best average of 51.7 yards per punt. Whelan has a booming leg, and he could solidify his spot as an All-Pro contender if he can improve the number of times he can pin opponents inside the 20-yard line.
Returner: Skyy Moore, Packers
Skyy Moore gives Green Bay a notable upgrade on special teams. His 11.6-yard punt-return average ranked 10th in the league last season, giving him the edge over Myles Price, who averaged 9.9 yards per return, ranking 22nd.
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