Most important player for each NFL team in 2020

Chicago Bears: David Montgomery, RB

Chicago’s quarterback controversy is expected to capture most of the team’s headlines in the preseason. Similar attention should be paid to the question of who will become the team’s No. 1 running back.

Tarik Cohen may have the inside track at the moment, but the Bears need Montomgery to step up and fulfill his potential. He struggled mightily as a rookie, but there’s still a lot of talent to be utilized there.

Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB

The Lions secondary wasn’t good last season and they traded Darius Slay away. That puts enormous pressure on Okudah to play well as a rookie.

He has to emerge as the team’s No. 1 cover corner for the Lions to have any hopes of sneaking into the playoffs. That’s probably too much to ask of him as a rookie, but it’s the situation that Okudah’s been dealt.

Green Bay Packers: Davante Adams, WR

Much has been written about Green Bay’s shocking decision not to add a wide receiver in the draft. Everyone understands the effect that has on Aaron Rodgers. It may be just as challenging for Adams.

He’s going to be double-teamed the vast majority of the time due to the lack of supporting talent around him. Adams succeeded despite that reality in 2019, but asking him to do it for a second season may put a strain on him that the receiver can’t bare. If he falters, the Packers are done for.

Minnesota Vikings: Justin Jefferson, WR

Jefferson is the player who Minnesota is counting on to fill Stefon Diggs’ shoes. He doesn’t need to give the Vikings every bit of the production Diggs did during his time with the franchise, but he must emerge as a high-quality starter right away.

Look for Jefferson to get a ton of work in the slot early on. That’s where a lot of his production at LSU came from. Kirk Cousins may not have Joe Burrow’s arm talent, but it’s still a good situation for Jefferson to find himself in as a rookie.