Eight NFC North players with the most to prove in 2023

Whether it’s a young player who has yet to live up to expectations or a veteran who hasn’t matched the level of his contract, several players every year have much more to prove than others.

Here are the players with the most to prove on offense and defense for each team in the NFC North.

Chicago Bears 

Offense: Braxton Jones, left tackle | One of the surprises of the NFL in 2022, Jones played every offensive snap for the Bears as a fifth-round rookie, ranking 19th among tackles, per Pro Football Focus. There are many other Bears with a lot to prove in 2023, but only Jones has the crucial job of protecting quarterback Justin Fields’ blindside. If Jones trends downward or even treads water this season, the Bears may opt to use one of two 2024 first-round picks on a more sure thing. 

Defense: Jaylon Johnson, cornerback | The 2023 campaign is pivotal for Johnson, who is entering the final season of his rookie deal. A second-round pick in 2020, Johnson — who displays solid coverage skills and versatility — has emerged as the team’s top corner. However, he has yet to play a full season as a pro, and he lacks the sexy statistics that pop off a stat sheet. He has only one interception over three years in the NFL. 

Barring a breakout season for Johnson, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bears decide against allocating funds to keep the cornerback around. That’s especially true because they have options. Chicago is armed with $95M in cap space and six draft selections inside the top 128 picks in 2024. 

Detroit Lions

Offense: Jared Goff, quarterback | With Detroit’s window opening, it’s Goff’s time to step up. He is coming off one of his most efficient seasons, posting the best touchdown (29) to interception (seven) ratio of his career. However, consistency has been a bugaboo over Goff’s seven seasons in the NFL He must overcome that for the Lions to get to the postseason for the first time since the 2015 season. 

The Lions have Goff locked up for the next two seasons. Still, with rookie Hendon Hooker waiting in the wings, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick has everything to prove heading into one of the most highly anticipated seasons in the franchise’s history.

Defense: Jack Campbell, linebacker | Trading down from No. 6 in this year’s draft, the Lions seemed primed to shore up their leaky secondary with at least one of their two first-rounders. Instead, the Lions surprised at pick 18, selecting Iowa’s Campbell, who many mock drafts predicted going closer to the end of the first round.

Some questioned the pick because off-the-ball linebackers, much like running backs, aren’t as valued as other positions around the NFL. (ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had Campbell rated the 58th-best prospect in the draft.) Detroit is betting Campbell — who’s 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds — will buck the trend. 

Green Bay Packers

Offense: Jordan Love, quarterback | Surprisingly, in a division featuring Fields, Goff and Kirk Cousins, Love may be under the biggest microscope heading into 2023. The 24-year-old will enter the season as a starter, but after agreeing to a one-year extension in May, he’s essentially locked into a two-year tryout for the starting role. 

In small sample sizes, Love showed flashes of what he could be for Green Bay as it embarks on a new era at quarterback. However, looking to prove worthy of filling Aaron Rodgers’ cleats, Love may not be afforded the same time and leeway as other QBs. But, no pressure, kid. 

Defense: Darnell Savage, safety | Savage has been up and down over four seasons with the Packers, but few would argue that he hasn’t performed at the level expected of a first-round pick. Unfortunately for Savage, he saw a decline in production last season, forcing only one turnover. 

Savage signed a four-year, $76.4M extension in 2022 but restructured his contract in May, making the 2023 season the final year of the agreement. This means it’s likely now or never for Savage to persuade the Packers to keep him around. 

Minnesota Vikings

Offense: Alexander Mattison, running back | After standing in Dalvin Cook’s shadow the past four seasons, Mattison is in the white-hot glare of the spotlight as the starter with Cook gone. He looked to be blooming into a dynamic option in 2020 and 2021, posting 477 rushing yards and five touchdowns over six starts.

In 2022, though, Mattison’s attempts per game (4.4) and yards per game (16.6) dipped to career lows. Now the lead back in Minnesota, Mattison will have a more significant workload. He must prove he can produce enough to warrant being a three-down back. 

Defense: Brian Asamoah, linebacker | As a rookie in 2022, Asamoah saw action predominantly on special teams and played in only 11 percent of the defensive snaps. However, when Asamoah saw the field, he displayed sideline-to-sideline range. Asamoah (6-foot, 227 pounds) is stepping in for veteran Eric Kendricks, who is now with the Chargers. The 23-year-old is slotted to start on the left side at inside linebacker in what could be a sink-or-swim year for the former third-round pick.