The NFL offseason has lulled us to sleep. But the NFL combine begins this week and free agency and the new league year is less than a month away. This is a perfect time to look at holes (insert your mother joke), pending free agents and cap space for each NFC North team.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have a shiny new head coach who is very good at calling plays in Ben Johnson (sobs). The Bears also made a good move to nab Dennis Allen for their defensive coordinator. Their coaching holes might/may be filled but now they have to build a team around Caleb Williams.
Offense
Bears slot WR Keenan Allen (and backup DeAndre Carter) is a free agent. Allen could return to work with Johnson but slot WR is a hole for now. Carter was their kick and punt returner so that is a hole for now too.
Offensive line is their biggest hole fo sho. Center Coleman Shelton, Guard Teven Jenkins, Guard Matt Pryor and backup OT Larry Borom are free agents and weren’t that great or got injured. Darnell Wright is developing at RT but the Bears should very much try to upgrade from Braxton Jones at left tackle. Rookie Kiran Amegadjie might be able to but he is very developmental at LT. Ryan Bates is oft injured and is more guard depth. Bears need a LT, two guards and a center. Blocking tight end could use an upgrade over impending FA Marcedes Lewis too. Woof.
Bears are probably fine at running back with DeAndre Swift, Roschon Johnson and Travis Homer but until they get a good offensive line, we really won’t know those backs potential. I am sure Ben Johnson will be looking to find a game changer like Jahmyr Gibbs.
Defense
Bears defense will be interesting with Allen now in charge. They still should run a 4-3 though and have Sweat, Billings, Dexter, Demarcus Walker, TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds all back. They could use an upgrade over Walker and maybe Dexter too.
Bears secondary is young with Jaylon Johnson (re-signed), Tyrique Stephenson (head case and performed sub-par) and Kyler Gordon in the slot. Bears need Jaquan Brisker healthy and Kevin Byard is fine at SS for another year.
Bears have less needs but you can never have enough corners, Brisker is an injury risk and Byard is old. Secondary less of a need but a need.
Green Bay Packers
Offense
The Packers need a number 1 WR. They have none. Watson is oft-injured and now Doubs is an injury risk with his head injuries. Packers might need two WRS. Reed is very good in the slot.
Center Josh Myers is a free agent but Packers will surely try to upgrade over him. Rookie Jordan Morgan got hurt and is battling with Sean Rhyan at RG. Rasheed Walker they could upgrade if they got a stud but unlikely after drafting Morgan last year. Andre Dillard is a free agent as well but Morgan could be the depth at LT. Dillon is a free agent after being hurt all year and rookie Marshawn Lloyd was hurt and had fumble issues. Emmanuel Wilson stepped up a bit though but a need RB 2 would be in the cards if a stud was available on day 2. WR 1 (X and Z) and center are the big needs.
Jordan Love was inconsistent and folded in big games but he is your guy. Willis is a very good backup. They did lose QB guru Tom Clements though to help development.
Defense
TJ Slaton at nose is a FA and Isiah McDuffie/Eric Wilson at ILB. Packers will need a DT with Wyatt not stepping up and needing a rotation with Kenny Clark and Wyatt. Slaton could be a re-sign though. Wilson and McDuffie could be brough back cheaply I think though but Quay, Cooper and Hopper are enough.
Cornerback is the Packers big issue. Jaire Alexander has a chronic injury problem and Eric Stokes is a UFA. McKinnie, Evan Williams and nickel Javon Bullard are very good and locked in long term. Nixon, Ballentine and Valentine are solid depth at CB. CB1 depending on Jaire and CB2 are big needs for Green Bay. So nose tackle, CB and LB depth is the final answer for holes.
Minnesota Vikings
Offense
Sam Darnold is the big name after a good season where he folded at the end. The Vikings have JJ McCarthy though and if the price isn’t right, Darnold would be gone. McCarthy is coming off an injury and has no experience so it could be a rough transition.
Aaron Jones is a FA but the Vikings moved his contract void to right before free agency. They could look at re-signing him as he was a key cog in their offense. Backup Cam Akers is also a free agent. RB is a big need.
Dalton Risner is a UFA at RG and backup Ed Ingram ain’t it. RG is a hole. WR depth is a hole with Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield as FAS but the starters are studs. Could they upgrade from Nailor in the slot? Yes
Blake Brendel could be upgraded at LG but was solid. Stud LT Christian Darrisaw is coming off a major injury. Backup OT depth is a must with Cam Robinson and David Quesenberry as UFAs. Robinson will get starter money from another team.
Defense
Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery are UFAS on the Dline but could be upgraded. Backup OLB not really an issue with Ward and Pat Jones hitting UFA. Turner, Bullard and Van Ginkel are definitely plenty there.
The secondary is where the holes are for the Vikings defense. Byron Murphy is a huge UFA coming off a strong year and could be paid. Cam Bynum is a free agent and Hitman has flirted with retirement. Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin were also on one year deals and become UFAs.
Mehki Blackmon should be back from his August ACL injury for one starting CB spot. Metellus is solid in the slot too. Vikings need to re-sign Murphy and probably draft another young CB that can start, and hope Harrison Smith doesn’t retire. Safety still a need with Bynum hitting the market. With Flores still in Minnesota, they could entice the vets back on a team friendly deal too.
Detroit Lions
Offense
Replacing their coordinators is the big one here of course. John Morton was a good hire (helped build the offense in 2022) and Kelvin Shephard a good internal promotion to DC. Lions have plenty of cap space (8th most) so can fill any small holes.
Kevin Zeitler is the biggest one and they are working on bringing him back. Christian Mahogany filled in well as a rookie but Zeitler back keeps a strength a strength for Detroit. Backup OT a question with Dan Skipper a FA and Giovanni Manu very developmental. Sign Zeitler please.
Tim Patrick is a FA as the WR-X. He did a solid job for the Lions in that 3rd WR role. Worth a re-sign as well but if not the Lions have some WR-X option in the draft.
Everything else is set on offense besides RG and WR-X.
Defense
Marcus Davenport injury risk didn’t pay off and John Cominsky is a UFA too (after being hurt all year). DT an issue too with Levi Onwuzurike a UFA after a solid year (at EDGE and DT) and Kyle Peko (hurt most of year) a UFA. Peko is worth bringing back but somebody will probably overpay for Onwuzurike given his second round talent. McNeil will be recovering from a torn ACL so 3-tech DT is worth an add to give McNeil time to heal. Hutch will be back and Zadarius Smith still there (but probably cut). The Lions need to add a good consistent DE opposite Hutch. Paschal ain’t it but he is a solid 3rd man.
SAM LB Derrick Barnes was hurt most of the year but is a UFA. He had a good 2023 and worth a look at the right price. Trevor Nowaske was fine replacing him though. LB depth with Malcom Rodriguez in final year and recovering from torn ACL. SAM LB the biggest need though.
In the secondary, Carlton Davis is a UFA and the Lions should look to re-signing him for sure. He played well until he broke his jaw. Terrion Arnold still at CB2 and Ennie Rakestraw a chance to develop in the slot. Amik Robertson is back but coming off a gruesome elbow injury. Moseley (always injured) and Vildor are UFAS as well. Lions could add a CB and re-sign Davis. Can’t get enough corners.
Starting Safety is set with all pro Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Joseph in final year of his deal and the Lions will surely look to lock him down long term. Backup safety Ife Melifonwu is a UFA and was been oft injured. Lions could look to add a healthy, reliable 3rd safety.
Lions defense needs EDGE opposite Hutch, backup 3-tech, backup nose tackle, CB1 and safety depth.
CAP SPACE
Bears have 6th most in league with 64.8 million in space
Vikings 7th most in league with 61.1 million in space
Lions 8th most in league with 56.7 million in space
Packers 14th most in league with 44.5 million space
There you have it. Lions are still clearly the best team in the North and the rest will try to catch them. 3peat North champ Lions and this time they execute in the playoffs and win it all.