The NFC North division, as a whole, has not been among the best in football. The Lions have become one of the most surprising teams in the NFL and have a sizeable lead with only a few weeks to go. Meanwhile, the Bears are again one of the league’s worst teams and are likely headed for a top-five pick. The Vikings and Packers both have some optimism but, as a whole, neither team is fit to make a run.
This division is not devoid of talent whatsoever. However, there are a few players within the division who just are not playing to their potential or expectations.
NFC North Players Who Have Massively Underperformed
Chase Claypool
The Chicago Bears have made a number of trades over the last few years. Trading back from the first-overall pick last year was a great move because it netted them D.J. Moore, Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, a 2024 1st and 2024 4th. That first-round pick in 2024 could very well be first overall. Before that, they traded away their second-round pick in 2023 for Chase Claypool, the self-avowed top-three receiver.
According to Chicago Athletic Clubs, regular people need to hone their craft in ways that help them and Claypool has not done so. When a team trades away a second-round pick (the 33rd pick, mind you), they expect that person to be WR1. It was thanks to his poor performance that the Bears felt comfortable enough trading for Moore.
After posting 191 yards and just one touchdown in five games (three in 2023), the Bears sold him off to the Dolphins for a sixth-round pick. Can’t get much more disappointing than trading a near-first for a sixth just over a year later.
Christian Watson
With the 34th pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Packers selected Christian Watson out of North Dakota State. The talented receiver fell to the Packers due to some uncertainty regarding his skill due to the competition he played against. Nevertheless, Green Bay thought they had a new WR1.
This year, Watson has been plagued by injuries and drops. In 2023, Watson has played in just nine games and he’s recorded just 28 receptions for 422 yards and five touchdowns. His catch percentage dropped to 52.8% (28 catches on 53 targets) and his yards per target fell to 8.0.
He did score twice in the win over the Chiefs but Watson has yet to eclipse 100 yards in 2023 after doing so three times last year (also while playing in just 14/17 games).
With a nagging hamstring injury, it’s unlikely that Watson will live up to the hype in 2023.
Aidan Hutchinson
It’s not to say Aidan Hutchinson has been bad in 2023, far from it, actually. However, as the second-overall pick, there are lofty expectations. Like Defensive Player of the Year expectations.
Last year, Hutchinson finished second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. That placement was well-earned, of course. He broke out with 9.5 sacks, 52 tackles, and three interceptions.
This year, Hutchinson hasn’t taken a step forward as many would have expected. He should be challenging T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, and Nick Bosa as the top edge rusher.
Instead, he’s posted six sacks, 38 tackles, and one interception. The one area where he’s improved is that he’s forced two fumbles thus far.
As an impact player, Hutchinson is a good edge rusher. But he’s not the take-over-the-game-type of edge rusher as the aforementioned studs. There is still time for Hutchinson to get hot but if he continues this year, it will be a good-not-great season for the former second-overall pick.
Main Image: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
