NFL: Building the best 2021 roster from NFC North teams

Ultimate 2021 NFC North Interior Defensive Line: Kenny Clark (GB), Akeim Hicks (CHI)

When you traditionally think of the NFC North, you think of play on the line of scrimmage. While the interior line has some good players, the defensive line is nothing to scoff at either.

Nose tackles are often thought of as big two-gapping linemen who eat blocks and are dominant in the run game. Plenty of players fit that mold, even in the NFC North, but Packers star Kenny Clark is more than just a run stuffer.

Clark came into the NFL out of UCLA as an athletic nose tackle who had plenty of potential. Green Bay ended up snagging Clark at the end of the first round. He had a good rookie year, but Clark took a major jump in terms of play thereafter as he was a nightmare for any center or guard trying to block him as he was a threat as a run-stopper as well as a dominant pass-rusher.

While Clark is a great interior lineman and the best one in the division, there is another quality defensive lineman in Chicago named Akiem Hicks. While Clark is a threat in both the run game as well as a pass rusher, Hicks can’t quite match the dual-threat ability. Hicks is not a good pass-rusher, but he makes up for the lack of pass-rushing skill by being a dominant run-stopper.