Everywhere you look there are new faces. While the Vikings and Bears swapped their entire coaching staff straight away, the Lions are entering their second year under Dan Campbell. The only constant are the Green Bay Packers, who want to attack another year with Aaron Rodgers. Can one of the challengers pose a threat to the reigning MVP? TOUCHDOWN24 takes a look at the offseasons in the NFC North.
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Green Bay Packers
Effective Cap Space (laut OverTheCap, Stand: 14.04.): 9.1 Mio. Dollar
Draft Picks: 11
- 1st round: #22 + #28
- 2nd round: #53 + #59
- 3rd round: #92
- 4th round: #132 + #140
- 5th round: #171
- 7th round: #228 + #249 + #258
That has happened so far
The offseason in Wisconsin has been overshadowed by the departure of Davante Adams. After star quarterback Aaron Rodgers extended his contract on massive terms, everyone assumed that Adams would stay. But the relationship between what was considered by many to be the best wideout in the league and the franchise was so cold that Adams did not want to stay under any circumstances. The Raiders saw their chance and grabbed the 29-year-old for a first- and second-round pick in this year’s draft.
Adam Stenavich on Aaron Rodgers’ return: “That was the number one piece we wanted back this offseason.” #Packers
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) April 12, 2022
In the short term, Adams’ departure is hard for Green Bay to absorb, especially as two other receivers left the franchise in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and German-American EQ St. Brown. With Za’Darius Smith, the Packers also lost a pass rush presence, General Manager Brian Gutekunst still has to react here. Overall, the Green Bays roster is significantly weaker than in previous years, which begs the question: Can Rodgers once again carry the team on his shoulders?
Green Bay still has to address these needs
1. Wide Receiver
Adams and Valdes scantling are gone, and with EQ a depth option has also been lost. There is no substitute for the bloodletting in the wide receiver room, so we have to assume that the Packers will take the position early in the draft. After the Adams trade, Green Bay has at least two picks towards the end of the first round. A Chris Olave (Ohio State) or George Pickens (Georgia) would suit the team well.
2. Interior Offensive Line
The Packers have lost two versatile O-liners in free agency in Billy Turner and Lucas Patrick, while Elgton Jenkins is still recovering from an ACL injury. With his eleven (!) picks in the draft, Gutekunst will definitely go for the position, probably even in a double pack. It would be the third straight year the Packers have drafted at least two O-liners.
Minnesota Vikings
Effective Cap Space (laut OverTheCap, Stand: 14.04.): 7.9 Mio. Dollar
Draft Picks: 8
- 1st round: #12
- 2nd round: #46
- 3rd round: #77
- 5th round: #156
- 6th round: #184 + #191 + #192
- 7th round: #250
That has happened so far
The Mike Zimmer era is over in Minneapolis after eight years. After another disappointing season, the head coach had to pack up. Now Kevin O’Connell is supposed to breathe new life into the franchise, especially offensively. The Los Angeles Super Bowl champion’s former offensive coordinator has an arsenal of weapons centered around quarterback Kirk Cousins. It will be exciting to see what he does with this potential.
Kevin O’Connell on the #Vikings offense and what his philosophy will be moving forward pic.twitter.com/aZRN4eTTZJ
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 2, 2022
In terms of player-level departures and arrivals, things were rather quiet around the Vikings. Za’Darius Smith was the free agency king’s signing from rivals from Green Bay, who, along with Harrison Phillips (from Buffalo), is set to lead the Vikings’ D-line back to its former glory. With Jordan Hicks there was also a new linebacker from Arizona.
Minnesota has yet to address these needs
1. Cornerback
Patrick Peterson returns to the Vikings for another year, but the depth of the roster is lacking behind the superstar. Newcomer Chandon Sullivan will probably play in the slot. That leaves only Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd and Harrison Hand, who were weak last year. Not enough in a league that is increasingly characterized by passing. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if the Vikings tackle their biggest need right in the first round of the draft.
2. Tight End
Tyler Conklin is now relocating to New York with the Jets, leaving the Vikings in a bad spot tight end. The only valid option in the squad is Irv Smith Jr., who didn’t play at all last year due to injuries. Johnny Mundt (10 catches in five NFL seasons) and Zach Davidson (Practice Squad) will not matter.
Chicago Bears
Effective Cap Space (laut OverTheCap, Stand: 14.04.): 12 Mio. Dollar
Draft Picks: 6
- 2nd round: #39 + #48
- 3rd round: #71
- 5th round: #148 + #150
- 6th round: #186
That has happened so far
Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace are in Windy City history – finally, some Bears fans may have thought. It’s now up to new head coach Matt Eberflus, who came from Indianapolis, and general manager Ryan Poles to build their young franchise quarterback around. Justin Fields is the future of Chicago, we should really see that for the first time this year.
Allen Robinson’s departure from free agency was predictable, the relationship between the star wideout and the franchise was too torn. The loss of Khalil Mack to the Chargers is painful from a short-term perspective, after all, the Bears have an additional second-round pick in the draft. They swallowed $ 24 million dead cap this year, but shoveled $ 28.5 million for 2023.
Chicago still has to address these needs
1. Wide Receiver
As understandable as the separation from Robinson was, the gap left by the receiver in the roster is just as big. With Byron Pringle and EQ St. Brown came two cheap depth options in free agency, but to get the most out of fields, Poles should give the 23-year-old another pass alongside Darnell Mooney. The ideal would be Chris Olave in the draft, reuniting with his old college quarterback. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase showed us just how well this can work.
I think there’s a 1% chance Chris Olave falls to the #Bears at No. 39.
But man, Olave and Justin Fields reuniting in Chicago would be so much fun. pic.twitter.com/CdiE8jRPt9
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) February 19, 2022
2. Cornerback
Since Chicago did next to nothing in free agency to bolster the cornerback room, we have to assume the Bears have been drafting here all along. Chicago’s pass defenders allowed the best opposing passer rating in coverage (103.3) last year and were somewhat supported by the strong pass rush. Without Mack up front, the focus in 2022 will be even more on cornerbacks.
Detroit Lions
Effective Cap Space (laut OverTheCap, Stand: 14.04.): 7,8 Mio. Dollar
Draft Picks: 9
- 1st round: #2 + #32
- 2nd round: #34
- 3rd round: #66 + #97
- 5th round: #177
- 6th round: #181 + #217
- 7th round: #234
That has happened so far
It was a quiet offseason in the Motor City, with general manager Brad Holmes focusing early on extending with his own free agents. With Charles Harris, Tracy Walker and Kalif Raymond, this leaves some pillars in the roster, while only five new players have been brought in. “King transfer” is arguably Jacksonville wide receiver DJ Chark (one year, $10m).
The strategy makes perfect sense. Throwing money around in free agency is only effective if the roster seems poised to win. The Lions are at least a year away from that, precisely because of the quarterback position. Instead, Detroit wants to lay the foundation to be competitive again in a few seasons. The trend is definitely going in the right direction.
Here’s my one-tweet take on the #Lions offseason.
The Lions are using free agency to build depth, and hoping competition and culture can get the most out of fringe-starter talent.
The foundational pieces come in the draft at this point in the rebuild.
That’s it.
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) March 26, 2022
Detroit still has to address these needs
1. Wide Receiver
Apart from Amon-Ra St. Brown, no one in the Lions’ receiving corps was really convincing last year – by the way, we conducted an extensive interview with the German-American for our next print issue and my colleague Moritz Wollert also spoke to St .Brown’s success in Detroit. Chark is a first step, but the Lions need more guns around their quarterback. One of the two first-round picks is a good option for this.
2. Quarterback
When it comes to quarterback, the Lions are in a bit of a dilemma: franchises can rarely pick high in the draft without giving up massive draft capital, and Detroit has a clear need for quarterback. Unlike many years before, the 2022 draft doesn’t have one top prospect that shouldn’t be missed. That leaves the question: will the Lions go for a player like Malik Willis (Liberty) early on or will they wait another year and stay with Jared Goff?
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