NFC North stock up, down at midpoint: Which teammate did Lions QB Jared Goff compare to Aaron Donald?

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St. Brown is also turning heads in the locker room, garnering wild comparisons from his quarterback.

“The way that he is, in the weight room and on the field are very similar to my experience with Aaron Donald,” Goff told Eric Woodyard of ESPN. “Like, it is business, business, business. He works harder than everybody.” 

Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings defensive end: The three-time Pro Bowler has been on a tear nearing the midway point of the season. After posting 18 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles, he was named Defensive Player of the Month for October. However, Hunter has been producing all season long for the Vikings. 

Hunter leads the NFL in sacks (10) and tackles for loss (11). Meanwhile, his three forced fumbles are second to only Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett, who has four. 

The 29-year-old’s performance thus far has seriously upped the asking price for his services long term. Hunter is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and can’t be franchise-tagged. 

Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers edge rusher: One of the bright spots in an otherwise dim season for the Packers, Gary has shined in his fifth year. So much so that the team locked him up, inking Gary to a four-year, $107 million extension recently. 

Gary has shown no ill effects recovering from a torn ACL suffered in 2022 and seems to be moving better than ever. Through seven games and only three starts, Gary has recorded 28 pressures, 19 hurries and 4.5 sacks. Only Garrett (26.3) has a better win percentage against opposing blockers than Gary (25.2) through eight weeks. 

Stock Down 

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers quarterback: In his first year as the Packers’ undisputed starter, Love has struggled. Green Bay boasts the 25th-ranked offense in the NFL (287 YPG), and while that’s not all on Love’s shoulders, his play certainly hasn’t helped. 

Love posted a 118.7 passer rating through Week 1 and 2, throwing six touchdowns with zero interceptions, but his game has taken a steep decline since. Over the last five games, Love has a 66.6 passer rating with five touchdowns and eight interceptions. Through eight weeks, only Las Vegas Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo (nine) has thrown more interceptions than Love’s eight. Meanwhile, Love ranks 25th in yards per attempt (6.4), 27th in passer rating (78.2) and last in completion percentage (57.7) among 31 qualified QBs. 

Love doesn’t have a lot of pieces around him to optimize his talents, and there are questions about the offense’s approach. However, the lack of any signs of consistency or growth from Love and the Packers’ woeful offense is a bit alarming. 

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings running back: Filling the shoes of Dalvin Cook was going to take a lot of work. However, Mattison has fallen incredibly short of expectations in his first season as the lead back. 

Heading into Week 9, Mattison ranks 28th in yards per carry (3.7) and 29th in yards per game (48.8). Meanwhile, no other running back in the NFL has more carries (106) without recording a touchdown this season. 

 In 2022, Mattison registered 283 rushing yards and five scores off only 74 touches. Through eight games, Mattison has only 390 yards on 32 more carries. Furthermore, backup Cam Akers found the end zone before Mattison, having carried the ball only 30 times over five games. 

Chicago Bears front office: Despite standing at 2-6, the Bears were buyers at the trade deadline, acquiring former first-round pick Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders for a 2024 second-round pick. Trading for the standout edge rusher isn’t bad on the surface, but considering where the Bears are in the hierarchy of the NFL, it left many scratching their heads. 

Clearly, the Bears wanted to get ahead of the market and avoid competing with opposing teams in free agency for a premiere pass rusher like Sweat, but they’re risking a lot. Sweat will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and the Bears could lose him for nothing, having spent a high draft choice on a nine-game rental during a lost season. 

With no new deal in place, the Bears have also created a situation where Sweat has all the leverage. The Bears and general manager Ryan Poles can’t possibly let him walk, so if you’re Sweat, why not ask for the moon? Recent history says Bears fans should be worried. At the 2022 deadline, Poles inexplicably added wideout Chase Claypool for a second-round pick. The Bears got 10 games, 18 receptions and one touchdown out of Claypool before dealing him to the Miami Dolphins along with a 2025 seventh-rounder in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round choice.

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