Packers are apparently the worst team in the NFC North

Mike McCarthy used to say that the Green Bay Packers were "nobody's underdog."

But everywhere you look this offseason, Matt LaFleur's Packers are being written off. A team without Aaron Rodgers isn't being given much hope.

It's understandable. The Packers went 8-9 last season with Rodgers. It becomes much harder without their four-time MVP leading the offense. But it seems many have forgotten how much talent this team still has.

"This is an all-out rebuild, regardless of what the Packers want to call it," wrote Rob Demovsky in ESPN's latest NFL power rankings, in which Green Bay sits 20th.

Demovsky added: "That doesn't mean they won't be better at some spots by the end of the season, but you can't be better right now at quarterback going from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, or at receiver after losing Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, or at tight end after losing Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis."

Really? The Packers can't be better at wide receiver because Lazard and Cobb are gone? They can't improve at tight end without Tonyan and Lewis?

Lazard is a solid complementary receiver, but irreplaceable? No. Cobb had 62 catches for 792 yards and five touchdowns across 25 games the past two seasons. The Packers can't improve without Cobb entering his age-33 season?

Tonyan averaged a career-low 8.9 yards per catch and found the end zone just twice last year. The Packers will miss Lewis, especially his leadership, but he is entering his age-39 season. The Packers drafted two of the best tight end prospects in the class, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.

Packers are getting completely overlooked this season

Are we sure they can't improve?

Where are the Packers most improved? "Nowhere," according to the ESPN power rankings. Unfortunately, it's not just these power rankings overlooking the Packers this season.

Apparently, the Packers are the worst team in the NFC North.

ESPN's Mike Clay gave Green Bay the worst win projection in the division at 7.6. PFF ranked every roster in the league, with the Packers at No. 27, well below their division rivals.

Matt LaFleur should embrace the underdog narrative. Everyone wants to write off the Packers because they have moved on from several veterans. But they are forgetting the talent the team does have.

How about All-Pros and Pro Bowlers like Jaire Alexander, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, Elgton Jenkins, and Kenny Clark? Or rising stars like Christian Watson and Rashan Gary. Then there is AJ Dillon, De'Vondre Campbell, Rasul Douglas, and Keisean Nixon.

The Packers drafted 13 players. They are bound to get some instant contributions from some of their early picks, like Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave, or Jayden Reed.

Not to mention that Jordan Love looked great in the limited game time he had last season. He won't be MVP Aaron Rodgers, but can he beat 2022 Rodgers? Sure.

Rodgers put up pedestrian numbers by his standards, throwing for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Green Bay still nearly made the playoffs at 8-9.

The Packers aren't Super Bowl contenders. They may not make the playoffs. But they are also not the worst team in the NFC North. This is a talented roster that could far exceed expectations this season.

McCarthy was right. The Packers are nobody's underdog.

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