The NFC North has a lot of exciting young talent.
Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy is coming off a dominant season and wide receiver Davante Adams has game breaking ability. Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate made the Pro Bowl last year and defensive lineman Ezekiel Ansah could have a breakout year. Chicago Bears rookie WR Kevin White has all the physical ability in the world. There are a lot of young playmakers in this division that could make some serious noise this season.
But who is the biggest rising star in the NFC North?
"I'm going to pick Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who finished last season with the seventh-highest passer rating and third-highest completion percentage by a rookie in NFL history," ESPN's Ben Goessling wrote. "Bridgewater did all that with a rickety offensive line and an ever-changing cast of skill-position players. With Adrian Peterson by his side, he'll have the weapons for an impressive second season. He seems to be in lockstep with the Vikings' coaches and he'll probably get even more control of the offense at the line of scrimmage as he matures."
Over the final five games of last season, Bridgewater completed more than 70 percent of his passes and showcased the type of impressive poise that made him a first-round pick. Getting Peterson back will force opposing defenses to stack more men in the box and open up one-on-one matchups on the outside for Bridgewater to exploit. Having deep threat Mike Wallace in town doesn't hurt either.
Some NFL observers believe Bridgewarter can lead the Vikings, who finished 7-9 last season, to the playoffs this year. While that might be a tall order for a second-year signal caller, there's no doubt that he has the talent and ability to make things interesting this season. The NFC North might have a new Pro Bowl caliber QB in 2015.
