Lunchbreak: 5 Vikings Make CBS Sports' All-NFC North Preseason Team

[Viktor]

The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused the cancelation of preseason games, but it didn't stop evaluation of teams as they stand less than three weeks from the season opener.


CBS Sports is rolling out its annual all-division teams, and Jared Dubin recently posted his All-NFC North squad, which included five Vikings. He started with offensive skill positions, where Dalvin Cook claimed one of two running back spots (Green Bay's Aaron Jones) and Kyle Rudolph one of two tight ends (Detroit's T.J. Hockenson).


Dubin also said the division has "three really good candidates for the quarterback spot" in Minnesota's Kirk Cousins, Detroit's Matthew Stafford and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, but he ultimately gave the honor to Rodgers.


Three Vikings showed up on the defensive side of the ball. Danielle Hunter joined Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack, Eric Kendricks joined fellow linebackers Roquan Smith (Bears) and Jamie Collins (Lions), and Harrison Smith was tabbed for the safety spot along with Chicago's Eddie Jackson. Dubin wrote:


Hunter transitioned over the past few years from sub-package star to all-around superstar, and he remains one of the best edge players in the league. Count me among those skeptical that he is going to suddenly fall off without Everson Griffen rushing across from him. Mack was not as dominant last season as he was during his first year with the Bears, but he is still an electric pass rusher and very strong run defender. It physically pained me to leave Za'Darius Smith off this roster, but I'm not sure how to justify taking him over either Hunter or Mack.


Dubin said that Kendricks is "just fantastic in coverage."


He's one of the most athletic linebackers in the league, and he makes life monumentally tough on opposing tight ends and running backs.


And as for Smith, Dubin had nothing but praise for the five-time Pro Bowler entering his ninth season with the Vikings.


If it [wasn't] for guys like Earl Thomas and Jamal Adams, both safeties on our list would get discussed more often in "best safety in the league" conversations. Both Jackson and Smith are aces in coverage, with Jackson playing more of a deep role and Smith coming down into the short and intermediate ranges more often. They are also both tremendous run support players, Smith in particular. They're flat-out stars.