Next up is the NFC North, a division loaded with talent but littered with holes.
Chicago Bears
Most Improved Position Group: Safety
The Bears had one of the best safety rooms in the league last year with Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard and Chauncy Gardner-Johnson. The trio left in free agency after combining for 11 forced turnovers as a unit. It’s hard to replace that kind of productivity and versatility each player had, but general manager Ryan Poles found a way.
Chicago brought in free-agent and former Seattle Seahawks Coby Bryant as well as drafting Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. Bryant finished 2026 with 66 total tackles and four interceptions. He can slide right into the free safety role with Thieneman taking over the strong safety/box role. The Bears’ pass defense ranked 15th in the NFL according to EPA/Pass. That number can improve with the type of athlete and the versatility Thieneman brings to the table.
Position needing improvement: Edge rusher
This is one area I would’ve locked in on Chicago addressing before this season. The team’s current starters are Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo, who aren’t bad on paper, but the unit could’ve used another body. The pass rush as a whole ranked last in the NFL in terms of pass rush get-off with 0.93 seconds and 22nd in the league in terms of sacks with 35.
Sweat had over 60 pressures last season, and Odeyingbo had 10 according to Pro Football Focus. It’s not Odeyingbo’s fault his number is lower as he tore his Achilles in Week 9, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. Chicago hopes he can get back on track to the type of player he was in 2025, when he had over 40 quarterback pressures. That’s why adding another body to the room could’ve been beneficial for Chicago, but the team felt comfortable not doing so.
Green Bay Packers
Most improved position group: Interior defensive line
This was a harder decision, as the Green Bay Packers didn’t make any immediate roster upgrades. They did trade for Zaire Franklin to help fill the hole Quay Walker left, but the moves at defensive tackle feel more impactful. The team lost long-time starting defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys in the trade for Micah Parsons, leaving a major hole in the middle of the defense for Green Bay.
The loss was felt because Green Bay had a 15.1 run-stuff percentage, ranking 22nd in the NFL. The team went out and signed former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who previously was with new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia. Green Bay drafted Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan in the third round of the draft, giving some upside in the pass rush game. For a room that was thin going into the offseason, the Packers added some youth, but veteran leadership that looks to make a major impact this upcoming season.
Position needing improvement: Corner
The Packers’ cornerback room was light heading into last year, and it’s the same going into this next season. The team didn’t re-sign Trevon Diggs and cut Nate Hobbs. The projected starters are Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Javon Bullard in the slot. The team had one of the highest pressure rates last year and the 11th-best pass defense in the league by yardage allowed per game, but in crunch time of the playoffs, it gave up 352 yards in the air.
Green Bay made some additions, adding Benjamin St-Juste and drafting Brandon Cisses, but neither of those moves immediately makes an impact. Cisse is more of a developmental corner, but could be a starter this season with adequate coaching. If the pass rush struggles to get going this year, it may be a long year for Packers fans.
Minnesota Vikings
Most improved position group: Quarterback
We’re not going to get into J.J. McCarthy, but he wasn’t the best last year. This is a Vikings roster that is poised and ready to win in 2026. They needed a signal caller to help them reach the heights they’re aiming for. The team went out and signed former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray in free agency, raising the ceiling of its quarterback room.
At his best, Murray was an MVP candidate in this league and went No. 1 overall in the 2019 draft. He hasn’t been able to stay consistent, nor healthy, throughout his time in the NFL, but if there’s one coach who can help him get back on track, it’s Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. Murray hasn’t run the type of system O’Connell likes, but with weapons like Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison, it should be an easy adjustment.
Position needing improvement: Edge rusher
Minnesota added to its defense this offseason, drafting Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jake Golday and Charles Demmings, but could have used some help at pass rusher. The Vikings had major cap problems going into this offseason and had to alleviate them by getting rid of players. One of those players was Johnathan Greenard.
Greenard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2026 NFL draft and had 131 pressures in his time with Minnesota. The hope is for 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner and Andrew Van Ginkel to be the duo this season, and it’s not bad, but another body could’ve been used. With defensive coordinator Brian Flores calling plays, the need for an edge rusher may not be that obvious, as the team loves to blitz. They had the highest blitz percentage in the NFL last year with 46.3.
Detriot Lions
Most improved position group: Offensive tackle
The Detroit Lions lost Taylor Decker this offseason after he requested a release. The team still had All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell, but needed someone opposite him. Head coach Dan Campbell said Sewell was open to moving to left tackle, as he’s played the position before. It opened the door for the Lions to draft just about anybody in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The team opted for Clemson’s right tackle, Blake Miller, who is ready to start for the team on day one. He has over 3,500 snaps in college and has barely missed time throughout his career. The entire league knew the Lions were going to draft a tackle in Round 1; it was just a matter of who.
Position needing improvement: Edge rusher depth
Looking at the roster, this team doesn’t really have any holes. They have quality starters throughout and adequate depth across the board. One spot they could use more depth in is the edge rusher opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. The team drafted Michigan edge rusher Derrick Moore in the second round of the draft, as well as adding DJ Wonnum and Patyon Turner in free agency.
It’ll be a solid rotation on paper, but if the unit doesn’t put up adequate numbers, then fans will surely ask why more impact players weren’t added in the offseason. Once again, this is a team that doesn’t have many holes; depth is really the only thing they could use in certain areas.
