Continuing to roll through the NFC after starting in the East, we now shift to the NFC North. Considered the strongest NFC division from top to bottom, every team here could realistically enter 2026 as a playoff contender. With that in mind, you’d expect aggressive moves across the board.
Instead, the division delivered a surprisingly uneven offseason. There were puzzling decisions throughout the North, with a mix of draft reaches and free agency passivity affecting multiple teams. A few moves improved rosters, and there were some legitimate steals, but it’s still disappointing this division is not entering the summer stronger overall.
Let’s take a look at each NFC North team and give our evaluation.
Chicago Bears
Key Additions:
WR: Kalif Raymond (Free Agency)
C: Logan Jones (Round 2)
LB: Devin Bush (Free Agency)
NT: Neville Gallimore (Free Agency)
S: Coby Bryant (Free Agency)
S: Dillon Thieneman (Round 1)
S: Jalen Thompson (Free Agency)
Key Departures:
WR: DJ Moore (Traded to Bills)
WR: Olamide Zaccheaus (Falcons)
C: Drew Dalman (Retired)
LB: Tremaine Edmunds (Giants)
CB: Nahshon Wright (Jets)
S: Kevin Byard (Patriots)
The Bears had a massive 2025, blowing past expectations as Ben Johnson’s group repeatedly found ways to win close games. While the Cinderella run was fun, it also changed expectations heading into 2026. Now, the goal is no longer just making the playoffs. It’s reaching the Super Bowl.
Viewing the offseason as a whole, it’s hard to tell whether Chicago actually improved. The additions of Coby Bryant and Devin Bush should immediately help the defense, with Bush looking like a solid replacement for Tremaine Edmunds.
On top of that, the Bears may have landed the biggest steal of the draft with Dillon Thieneman late in the first round. He can play deep, work in the box, disrupt passes, and tackle consistently. Losing Nahshon Wright hurts, but Chicago likely came out ahead overall defensively.
The offense is a different story.
Trading DJ Moore makes sense financially and should allow Rome Odunze and Luther Burden to take on larger roles. But the offensive line already needed help, and right now it arguably appears worse than it did before the offseason started.
Drew Dalman’s retirement was unexpected, and the Bears scrambled for answers by bringing in Garrett Bradbury and drafting Logan Jones in the second round. Bradbury feels more like a temporary solution, meaning Chicago will likely need Jones to emerge quickly.
The Bears should field a better defense in 2026, but Caleb Williams will need both the offensive line and his young receivers to develop fast if Chicago wants to take another step.
Grade: B
Detroit Lions
Key Additions:
RB: Isiah Pacheco (Free Agency)
WR: Greg Dortch (Free Agency)
C: Cade Mays (Free Agency)
OT: Blake Miller (Round 1)
EDGE: Derrick Moore (Round 2)
CB: Roger McCreary (Free Agency)
CB: Keith Abney II (Round 5)
Key Departures:
RB: David Montgomery (Traded to Texans)
WR: Kalif Raymond (Bears)
OT: Taylor Decker (Current Free Agent)
OL: Graham Glasgow (Current Free Agent)
LB: Alex Anzalone (Buccaneers)
DT: D.J. Reader (Giants)
EDGE: Marcus Davenport (Current Free Agent)
CB: Amik Robertson (Commanders)
Detroit’s 2025 season went rougher than expected, and some weaknesses that were masked during the Ben Johnson/Aaron Glenn era became more obvious as the year progressed. Aidan Hutchinson’s injury highlighted the need for another legitimate pass rusher, while the offensive line clearly needed to get younger.
The Lions couldn’t find much pass-rush help in free agency, instead using a second-round pick on Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore. He was productive in college, though not especially impressive during the pre-draft process. With Hutchinson back commanding attention, Moore will have opportunities to contribute immediately, though there’s definitely some boom-or-bust potential to his game.
Unfortunately for Detroit, the defense lost more proven talent than it added.
Alex Anzalone and Amik Robertson are significant departures, especially considering the uncertainty behind Jack Campbell at linebacker. Keith Abney slipping to the fifth round could end up being a nice value pick, but expecting him to immediately replace Robertson may be asking too much.
Then there’s the offensive line.
Allowing both Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker to walk created major holes. Cade Mays should help, but Blake Miller felt like a slight reach in the first round, and it’s fair to question whether he’s ready to start immediately at a high level.
The Lions are still feeling the effects of losing Johnson and Glenn last year, and they simply didn’t address enough concerns entering training camp.
Grade: C+
Green Bay Packers
Key Additions:
QB: Tyrod Taylor (Free Agency)
WR: Skyy Moore (Free Agency)
LB: Zaire Franklin (Trade)
DL: Javon Hargrave (Free Agency)
NT: Chris McClellan (Round 3)
CB: Benjamin St-Juste (Free Agency)
CB: Brandon Cisse (Round 2)
DC: Jonathan Gannon
K: Trey Smack (Round 6)
Key Departures:
WR: Romeo Doubs (Patriots)
WR: Dontayvion Wicks (Traded to Eagles)
OT: Rasheed Walker (Panthers)
OL: Elgton Jenkins (Browns)
QB: Malik Willis (Dolphins)
EDGE: Rashan Gary (Traded to Cowboys)
LB: Quay Walker (Raiders)
CB: Nate Hobbs (49ers)
How much should the Micah Parsons trade impact the way we evaluate Green Bay’s grade?
The Packers entered the offseason with roster concerns already present, and not having a first-round pick made things significantly tougher. Parsons’ value can’t be overstated, but it also doesn’t change the reality that Green Bay felt boxed in from the start.
Walker and Jenkins leave major holes along the offensive line, and there aren’t obvious answers currently on the roster. Jordan Love is also coming off a 2025 season filled with injury concerns. If protection becomes an issue, Matt LaFleur could be dealing with another difficult year offensively.
Defensively, losing Quay Walker hurts, though bringing in Zaire Franklin should soften the blow. The Rashan Gary return was less impressive. A fourth-round pick isn’t ideal, but the Packers didn’t have much leverage once it became clear they likely couldn’t keep him long term.
Overall, the additions simply don’t feel impactful enough.
Brandon Cisse is an intriguing second-round talent, and if he develops quickly, Green Bay’s secondary could improve significantly. Outside of that, though, it’s difficult to identify a position group that clearly improved from last season.
Well, other than kicker. Good luck, Trey Smack.
Grade: D
Minnesota Vikings
Key Additions:
QB: Kyler Murray (Free Agency)
WR: Jauan Jennings (Free Agency)
OT: Ryan Van Demark (Free Agency)
DT: Caleb Banks (Round 1)
NT: Domonique Orange (Round 3)
LB: Jake Golday (Round 2)
CB: James Pierre (Free Agency)
Key Departures:
C: Ryan Kelly (Retired)
RB: Ty Chandler (Saints)
WR: Jalen Nailor (Raiders)
FB: CJ Ham (Retired)
DL: Javon Hargrave (Packers)
DL: Jonathan Allen (Bengals)
EDGE: Jonathan Greenard (Traded to Eagles)
S: Harrison Smith (Retired)
I’ve already said plenty about Minnesota’s 2026 draft, so I’ll keep this simple: the Vikings’ best selection came in the third round, and he’s probably a two-down player.
Moving past that disaster, the franchise did make a handful of smart free agency moves that could help the team regain some of its 2024 form.
And nothing changes a team faster than finding competent quarterback play.
JJ McCarthy hasn’t looked like someone capable of staying healthy or consistently performing at a high level. Minnesota needed real competition in camp, either to push McCarthy forward or force a change. Kyler Murray gives them exactly that.
Kevin O’Connell has earned a reputation as a quarterback fixer after reviving Sam Darnold’s career, and Murray could benefit from that environment. If Murray arrives motivated, he probably wins the starting job outright. His athletic ability changes the offense entirely and could push Justin Jefferson back into the conversation as the league’s most dangerous receiver.
If Jordan Addison stays healthy and Jauan Jennings transitions smoothly from San Francisco, this passing attack could explode in 2026.
The defense is less convincing.
Outside of the draft, James Pierre is the only addition expected to significantly affect the depth chart, and he profiles more as a replacement-level corner than a true difference-maker. Minnesota will need Caleb Banks to stay focused and healthy, while Jake Golday has to outperform the developmental label attached to him entering the draft.
Ultimately, finding a legitimate starting-caliber quarterback salvages this offseason for the Vikes, even if the overall body of work still lands closer to average than impressive.
Grade: C+
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