We’ve reached the first week of the NFL season, and the Green Bay Packers have generated quite the preseason buzz with the trade for former Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons. But does that make them a favorite in the NFC, or even the NFC North?
Here’s a look at where national outlets positioned the Packers heading into the 2025 campaign:
NFL.com puts the Packers sixth, behind a divisional foe
Eric Edholm moved the Packers up two spots to No. 6 in the NFL, but not ahead of the Lions, still ranked fifth. As you might imagine, Edholm was enamored with the Packers’ ability to add Parsons and draft a receiver in the first round.
“These are some very uncharacteristic moves for this franchise that have the feel of a confident front office. You make moves such as these when the picture is nearing completion — and when the competition is thickest, as it is in the NFC North. And boy, that puts the target squarely on Jordan Love. But it’s hard not to love what Green Bay has suddenly assembled if a few things come together. Losing Kenny Clark is tough, but Parsons is a singular defender who will elevate the team, possibly even in Reggie White-like fashion, as long as his back injury doesn’t become a problem.”
ESPN also ranks the Packers No. 6
The Packers were given high marks by ESPN’s writers, too, but again not better than the fourth-ranked Lions.
The “bold prediction” for the Packers involved Seth Walder foreseeing Edgerrin Cooper becoming a first- or second-team All-Pro.
ESPN also simulated the season, a result that had some bad news for the Packers, who did not even make the playoffs and finished 8-9 — last in the division. Yikes!
Sports Illustrated puts the Packers 11th
Not everyone is treating the Packers as a top-10 team. Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated has them 11th.
“The Packers surged up my rankings after securing Micah Parsons, a transformational pass rusher who answers some of the team’s questions on defense, albeit not the ones the team had with stopping the run. Still, he is a math changer, which was very much necessary for a team that finished 2024 with 11 wins but came into this season with more questions than the year prior.”
CBS predicts an NFC North title for the Packers
Not only does John Breech have the Packers winning the division at 11-6, he has them winning by a full two games.
He then has the Packers winning a playoff game before falling to the Eagles in a rematch from last year’s playoffs.
The Ringer puts the Packers at No. 5
In Diante Lee’s preseason power rankings, he has the Packers as the top finisher in the NFC North, at No. 5.
“I’m drinking all the green and yellow Kool-Aid this year. Green Bay got through 2024 with a quarterback who never seemed truly healthy and a defense that often performed like a contender despite lacking any true difference makers. Now that edge rusher Micah Parsons is in the fold, this team is in line to take a major leap this year.
“Their schedule will be a beast this year, with nine games against teams favored to make the playoffs, so it’s still possible that their regular-season record won’t reflect the team’s actual quality. Head coach Matt LaFleur has earned my trust, though, and I expect the Packers to have a huge influence on how the NFC shakes out.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Are Packers seen as divisional favorites now that they have Micah Parsons? Here’s what national outlets think
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
