With Aaron Rodgers gone, the NFC North throne is up for grabs.
The surging Lions are well positioned to rule the division for years, but will their reign begin in 2023? First, the Lions will need to prove the offseason hype was warranted before being taken seriously in a division they haven’t won since 1993.
The Lions have the spotlight, but the Vikings are the defending NFC North champions. Minnesota has a chance to repeat with star wideout Justin Jefferson on its roster and a few offseason acquisitions such as DE Marcus Davenport and CB Byron Murphy Jr.
The Bears will probably put up a fight this season, and could be in the mix in the foreseeable future with the many offseason moves they made this season.
The Packers no longer have Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets, but they have plenty of trust in quarterback Jordan Love, their 2020 first-round pick. If the Lions don’t step up, the Packers could be the team to beat in the NFC North.
Let’s take a closer look at the division by grading the offseason moves by the Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings.
Chicago Bears
Key additions: OG Nate Davis, DT Gervon Dexter Sr., LB Tremaine Edmunds, LB T.J. Edwards, RB D’Onta Foreman, RB Roschon Johnson, WR DJ Moore, DT Zacch Pickens, CB Tyrique Stevenson, TE Robert Tonyan, OT Darnell Wright
Key subtractions: RB David Montgomery, OT Riley Reiff
Where they stand: After a rocky 2022 season to repair the salary cap, the Bears have filled various roster holes to field a competitive team this season. The Bears opened the offseason by signing two off-ball linebackers (Edmunds and Edwards) in free agency, which didn’t make sense to those on the outside, but it made plenty of sense for what coach Matt Eberflus wants to do defensively. Chicago then traded the No. 1 pick in the draft to the Panthers to add a top wide receiver (Moore) for quarterback Justin Fields and stockpiling draft picks to provide much-needed help to both sides of the trenches. Wright, the team’s first-round pick, could develop into a standout right tackle, and Day 2 picks Dexter and Pickens should help improve the run defense. Davis, Foreman and Johnson will also aid Fields in the running game, possibly leading to less carries and hits for the 2021 first-round QB. Tonyan could be a productive red-zone target after recording 17 total touchdowns for the Packers the past five seasons.
Projected win total: 7.5
Odds to win the NFC North: +341
Final grade: A-
The Bears might be a year away from being considered a playoff contender, which is a great sign for GM Ryan Poles, who took on a daunting rebuild project last year. The wins probably won’t arrive this year, but expect to see plenty of results on the field from the many cornerstone pieces added by Poles this offseason. Fields will get an opportunity to showcase himself as a potential franchise quarterback with Moore as his No. 1 target and with reliable protection from Wright and Davis. The Bears still need help on the offensive line, and the interior of the defensive line might remain an issue, but Poles will likely continue to prioritize the trenches next year after a successful 2023 offseason.
Detroit Lions
Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports
Key additions: DB Brian Branch, LB Jack Campbell, DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson, RB Jahmyr Gibbs, OG Graham Glasgow, QB Hendon Hooker, WR Marvin Jones Jr., TE Sam LaPorta, RB David Montgomery, CB Emmanuel Moseley, CB Cameron Sutton
Key subtractions: CB Jeff Okudah, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Jamaal Williams
Where they stand: Lions coach Dan Campbell recently told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer that the secondary was easily the most improved position on the roster this offseason. It’s easy to see why after listing Branch, Gardner-Johnson, Moseley and Sutton under “key additions.” Many questioned the Lions’ decision to use a first-round pick on Campbell, and perhaps it was a reach to take him there, but he’ll likely be an immediate playmaker in the middle of the defense after stacking 271 total tackles the past two seasons at Iowa. On the offensive side, the Lions essentially swapped Swift and Williams for Gibbs, the team’s first pick, and Montgomery, a free-agent addition. If the new backfield duo stays healthy, that might be enough for Detroit to say it made the right call on revamping the position. The Lions also planned for the future with the third-round selection of Hooker—although, the team continues to remain high on quarterback Jared Goff after a standout 2022 season. But the Lions’ offseason hype took a hit after wide receiver Jameson Williams was suspended the first six games of the season for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Projected win total: 9.5
Odds to win the NFC North: +132
Final grade: B
The Lions made a few questionable decisions, especially in the draft, but they did plenty right by improving the secondary and adding immediate help at other positions with Gibbs, Campbell and LaPorta, the tight end chosen one spot ahead of Raiders tight end Michael Mayer. Perhaps that trio will prove the Lions right, but by reaching for those three players, the team neglected adding help on the defensive front. The Lions lack depth on the interior of the defensive line and Aidan Hutchinson, the 2022 No. 2 pick, might be the lone quality pass rusher on the roster. Losing Williams for six games will hurt, but Detroit made enough offseason moves to contend for the NFC North crown.
Green Bay Packers
Key additions: TE Tucker Kraft, TE Luke Musgrave, S Jonathan Owens, WR Jayden Reed, DL Lukas Van Ness
Key subtractions: WR Randall Cobb, WR Allen Lazard, DL Dean Lowry, DT Jarran Reed, QB Aaron Rodgers, TE Robert Tonyan
Where they stand: The Packers officially started the Love era after trading Rodgers to the Jets days before the draft. They followed by adding three playmakers for Love during Day 2 of the draft, selecting Musgrave, Reed and Kraft. Drafting two tight ends that early was unique, but it might help Love get comfortable in the intermediate game, and they’ll provide extra protection out of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends and two receivers). Green Bay could have improved the offensive line in the first round, but favored Van Ness’s upside as a versatile defensive lineman who can rush from inside and on the edge. (Van Ness recorded 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season at Iowa.) Now the Packers might have the best pass-rushing group in the division with Van Ness, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary. With Rodgers in New York, Green Bay said goodbye to a handful of offensive veterans, including Cobb, Lazard and Tonyan. But the defensive core remains intact with linebacker De’Vondre Cambpell and Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Projected win total: 7.5
Odds to win the NFC North: +430
Final grade: C+
The Packers’ grade ranks third in the division mainly because they traded a legendary quarterback this offseason, but they made enough quality moves to help Love. Despite the lack of playing time, Love has learned the past three seasons under Rodgers and flashed his high upside against the Eagles last season. Love might already have chemistry with second-year wideouts Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, and will now help with the development of Reed, Musgrave and Kraft. Green Bay’s offensive line could be an issue, but the pieces are there for Love and the Packers to be a surprise team in the division, especially with a veteran-filled defense.
Minnesota Vikings
Key additions: WR Jordan Addison, CB Mekhi Blackmon, DE Marcus Davenport, DL Dean Lowry, CB Byron Murphy Jr., TE Josh Oliver, S Jay Ward
Key subtractions: LB Eric Kendricks, CB Patrick Peterson, WR Adam Thielen, TE Irv Smith Jr., DE Za’Darius Smith, DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Where they stand: The Vikings are in the midst of trying to get younger and cleaning up their cap situation. After trading Smith to the Browns and not committing to quarterback Kirk Cousins after this season, the Vikings might have realized that this core group isn’t a Super Bowl contender and last year was a fluke season with 11 one-score victories. While the Vikings prioritized fixing their salary cap, they made enough moves this season to possibly remain relevant in the division. Minnesota’s secondary should improve after a disastrous 2022 season with the arrivals of Murphy, Blackmon and Ward. Davenport, the 2018 first-round pick of the Saints, will take over for Smith as the team’s No. 2 edge rusher and form a quality duo with Danielle Hunter. The defense, however, remains thin in the trenches with Smith and Tomlinson now playing in Cleveland. The Vikings swapped Thielen for Addison as the new No. 2 wideout behind Jefferson. Oliver, who left Baltimore in free agency, is a standout blocker and will give the team personnel flexibility with starting tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Projected win total: 8.5
Odds to win the NFC North: +301
The Vikings’ offseason report card seems incomplete with the pending dilemma of running back Dalvin Cook, who will likely be a post-June 1 cut to give the team around $9 million in cap space, according to OvertheCap.com. Losing Cook, who rushed for 1,173 rushing yards last season, would give this roster another hit. Also, it’s not likely the Vikings will be able to go unbeaten in one-score games in the regular season, and might find themselves near the bottom of the division standings after the 2023 season. But the duo of Jefferson and Addison should be fun to watch during Cousins’s potential final season in Minnesota. It appears the Vikings are sacrificing the short term to possibly make a splash next offseason.
