NFL futures: Our four favorite bets from the NFC

All week long we're diving into the NFL teams we like best to back in the futures market, and today we'll take a holistic look at which NFC squads seem best to back in a variety of ways.

For more on our favorite NFL teams, explore this week's breakdowns here:

• Our four favorite bets from the AFC
• Which NFC longshots have the best chance to surprise this season?
• Which AFC longshots have the best chance to surprise this season?

Our four favorite NFC futures right now

Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC (+700)

Philly has been our favorite pick for a few months now and nothing has changed. Jalen Hurts remains one of the best QBs in the NFL, and the Saquon Barkley forms an elite collection of skill-position players with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. The offensive line also remains a strength, so assuming health, this offense could be unstoppable.

One of the Eagles' biggest issues last year was their defense, and Vic Fangio has come in to fix it, and they've overhauled much of the unit. The secondary should be massively improved, with safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson back, plus Philly used their first two picks on corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. They also have suspended CB Isaiah Rodgers back who they picked up after he was cut from Indy due to gambling, and all reports suggest he has been shining in offseason camps.

They've been there before and should be favored to be one of the NFC Championship Game participants next January.

Green Bay Packers to win the NFC (+800)

We absolutely love the potential here from the Packers, and it of course starts with Jordan Love. Love proved a lot in Year One as a starter, displaying creativity in the pocket and a deep touch mixed with athleticism. He seems set to be an above-average QB in the NFC for the foreseeable future.

The true draw on Green Bay though is just how young its core is. They have 4-5 pass-catchers here who are all 25 or younger, and despite that, they won a playoff game and were on the brink of making the NFC Championship.

That core is only going to grow stronger together, and that is a problem for the rest of the conference. Factor in a strong defense and Green Bay has all the tools to make a run in 2024-25.

Chicago Bears to make the playoffs (-120)

Staying in the NFC North, we like investing in Chicago to make the playoffs. The Bears ended the season with one of the NFL's best defenses, and that unit has remained intact heading into this year.

The big upgrade is of course at QB, with top pick Caleb Williams walking into quite the enviable position. Williams has Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore, plus rookie Rome Odunze, who should be an impact WR from the get-go. This offense should make plays, and the defense should continue to stifle opponents.

With seven teams making it, Chicago is our pick to scoop up one of those wild-card spots in an NFC that is very top-heavy.

Atlanta Falcons to miss the playoffs (+200)

We have been anti-Atlanta for some time now, we just do not love what this organization does in any form from a team-building perspective, and there is no guarantee Kirk Cousins recovers from his Achilles injury to be the quarterback the Falcons are paying him to be.

We prefer the Bucs in the NFC South, and could even see a team like Carolina surprising (because expectations simply couldn't be lower). We're out on Atlanta this year, there are plenty of teams better than them this season.