-
NFL NationESPN
Following the 2021 season, the NFC North balance of power was in balance Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron RodgersHe pondered his options: Would he retire, return to Green Bay or try to forge a trade?
The Rodgers are not necessary. Minnesota VikingsRodgers would have been the favorite to win the division. Rodgers ended all speculation on March 15, signing a lucrative extension.
The Packers still have no All-Pro receiver Davante AdamsHe was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. And the receiver Marquez Valdes-ScantlingSigned a deal as a free agent with the Kansas City ChiefsThe Packers’ receiver corps was left thin by this.
Is Green Bay’s position at the top of the division vulnerable to change? Can you Kirk CousinsTake advantage of the Vikings’ offensive power to overtake the Packers. Is either the Lions or Bears in a position to make a Bengals-style jump from worst to best?
Courtney Cronin, Eric Woodyard (Lions), Rob Demovsky and Rob Seifert (NFC North) look at the offseason successes and concerns of each team. They also make predictions as the draft nears.
The best offseason moveSigning ex-Packers center Lucas PatrickChicago has taken the first step in rebuilding its offensive line, which allowed a league record 58 sacks in 2021. Although not all sacks are due to poor blocking, it is important to improve the protection around the quarterback. Justin Fieldsimportant for the Bears’ offensive growth. Patrick is an experienced leader and has the ability to bring a lot of leadership to an offensive team that is going through a reboot.
This area remains a source of concern.: The offensive line is not in good shape. Unproven players are scheduled to start at both the tackle spots, while a career backup will be at right guard. The Bears don’t have enough receivers to be confident Fields is able to develop into a franchise quarterback in year 2. In terms of Chicago adding offensive talent to their roster, the offseason was slow. The team chose not to spend money on free agents with a faster return and appears to be focused on filling multiple holes in the draft.
The first pick makes no sense.: Skyy MooreAvailable at No. 39 (Chicago currently does not have a first-round selection), the Bears should add Western Michigan’s top receiver. He’s smaller (5-foot-10,195 pounds), but he looks just like Chicago wideouts. Darnell Mooney Byron PringleA second-round receiver is more likely than an offensive lineman project the Bears might be interested in to make an impact at that position.
If:It’s unlikely that Matt Nagy, the coach of the Bears, can achieve the same miracle rise as Matt Eberflus in his first season in Chicago. To win the NFC North, this team would need many things. It seems like Chicago will finish third to fourth in the division, if not for Green Bay’s nosedive in 2022. The franchise is embarking on a rebuild.
Too bold a prediction: Tight end Cole KmetFields’ security blanket, Fields receives over 800 yards and scores six touchdowns. After Jimmy Graham’s departure, the Bears will be able to make the third-year tight end an explosive part of their passing game. He will finally have his chance to shine in red zone. –Cronin
The best offseason move yetSigning former Jacksonville JaguarsWide receiver DJ CharkChark signed a one-year contract. Chark, a 6-4 receiver for the Lions, was needed to compliment rising star. Amon-Ra St. BrownChark is only 25 years old and still has much to prove after an injury-plagued 2021, when he missed 13 games because of an ankle injury. Chark hopes to return to the form that earned him a Pro Bowl appearance this year.
This area remains a source of concern.: Wide receivers St. Brown, Chark and Josh ReynoldsIt seems like a good unit, but it may not have enough wide receivers to support a quarterback. Jared GoffThe skill set. Detroit’s secondary could also be in need of a boost.
The first pick makes no sense.: An edge rusher. The No. 2 pick is the Lions’ best bet. 2 pick. They need a game-changer. It would be most sensible to upgrade defensively if Michigan has. Aidan HutchinsonOregon has it. Kayvon Thibodeaux.
If the division is won by the Lions,They’re unlikely to win the division. The Bengals moved from last to first in the division last season. However, they have a superstar wide receiver and a quarterback who is a franchise, along with other elite players. The Lions do not appear to be ready for that leap. They would need a perfect draft. Goff must play his best ball and all the stars must align.
Too bold a predictionDetroit will win seven of their remaining games. Since 2017, the Lions have not had a winning record. They won three games last year, but lost some close ones. They could double their win total if they catch some breaks and add a few more pieces. –Woodyard
Green Bay Packers
Favorite offseason move thus far: It’s clearly getting Aaron Rodgers back. They’d be in Bears and Lions territory without him (ok, maybe not so bad). Rich Bisaccia may be the most important thing that they did, even if you look beyond the obvious. The Packers have finally hired a former NFL special-teams coordinator, who should have been considered more strongly for the head-coaching job after his performance last year in an interim capacity with the Packers. Las Vegas Raiders.
This area remains a source of concern.Rodgers will throw to who? Not Davante Adams. Not Marquez Valdes-Scantling. And they didn’t add a receiver till signing Sammy WatkinsTo a one-year dealThursday They also have a tight top target. Robert TonyanAfter tearing his ACL Oct. 28, he might not be ready to go for the opener. They might find a way for them to run back. Aaron Jones AJ DillonEven though they are more involved in passing, eventually they’ll have to add receivers.
Who can make sense of the first choice?Everybody who gets the ball. This year almost seems to be the year that the Packers end their long-standing streak of not picking a receiver in round one, which began with Javon Walker in 2002. They loved it two years ago. Justin JeffersonHowever, they were unable to get in position to take him. With two picks in the first round (Nos. 22 and 28, and two second-rounders, Nos. 53 and 59) were available if they wanted to make a move to, say, Ohio State. Chris Olave. If they don’t, Penn State’s will. Jahan DotsonCould be the right fit.
The Packers win the division ifThey continue to do what they did the past three years under Matt LaFleur who has won 13 games each year since becoming the head coach in 2019. Rodgers and LaFleur have everything figured out, and defense seems more reliable. They’ve won the NFC North despite all their special teams problems.
Too bold a prediction: The Packers are going to break their streak with 13 consecutive wins…by winning 14. The Bears, Lions, and Vikings are almost invulnerable. The Commanders, Giants Eagles Commanders and Jets are nearly certain things. They can win 4-3 against their rest of the schedule, which is double-digit wins. — Demovsky
Minnesota Vikings
The best offseason move yet: Signing linebacker Jordan Hicks. It can be costly and inefficient to switch defensive schemes. Hicks was a reliable, durable player and a strong leader to fill the Vikings’ inside linebacker role. Eric KendricksIn their new base 3-4 set. His contract requires him to contribute $3.5 million towards the 2022 salary cap.
This is a problem area. The second. The Vikings signed a cornerback Patrick PetersonAdd an additional agent for no cost Chandon Sullivan. They are not big signings, and add $4.9million to the cap. However, opponents were able to overcome deficits in 2022 through the passing game. The Vikings allowed 4,300 yards passing, ranking fifth in the league. They need more help.
The first pick makes no sense.LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.Stingley’s inclusion would not only address the concern but also add an athletic player who may one day remind Peterson fans. Stingley’s foot injury cost him most of his 2021 season. However, all NFL teams are currently investigating it. If he is healthy, he would make a great addition.
Vikings win division ifTheir offense scores higher than the Packers’. This is not as crazy as it sounds. While the Packers have an advantage at quarterback over any NFC North team except for Justin Jefferson, the Vikings boast a skill set around Cousins. Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook Irv SmithIt is deeper than the Packers. They have a chance.
Too bold a predictionAfter challenging for the NFC North title, one of the NFC’s wild-card berths will be earned by the Vikings. While it is true that the team is in transition to a new coach and front office, it’s also true that sometimes it takes a year before things start to work. However, Kevin O’Connell inherits a talented roster, which is a far cry from what most new coaches are used to. The NFC seems wide open following an offseason talent switch to the AFC. While there aren’t many teams in the NFC playoff race that can be considered out, the Vikings could enter the season as the most likely to win a spot. – Seifert