Our 2024 NFL division preview transitions to the NFC North, where Quarterbacks are all the rage as the Lions and Packers gave their respective starters lucrative paydays, while the Bears and Vikings welcome what they hope will become transformative franchise passers. No longer the hunters, how will Detroit handle the role the hunted? Will Green Bay reach another level? Will either Chicago or Minnesota advance to the playoffs? Things appear to be heating up in the north, ladies and gentlemen…
Chicago Bears
Key Additions: D’Andre Swift (RB), Keenan Allen (WR), Kevin Byard (S), Caleb Williams (QB), Rome Odunze (WR), Shane Waldron (OC)
Key Departures: Justin Fields (QB), Cody Whitehair (OG), Yannick Ngakoue (Edge), Eddie Jackson (S), D’Onta Foreman (RB),
Season Outlook: My, oh my, has fortune shined down on the Bears. A year after finishing with the worst record in the NFL (3-14) and having the guts to actually trade well out of that spot, Chicago overcame a slow start and improved by 4 wins, only to find themselves selecting first overall thanks to the ineptitude of the team that they had originally traded places with a year ago, the Panthers. As a result, the Windy City is finally welcoming a generational talent at Quarterback, as (Head Coach) Matt Eberflus and (General Manager) Ryan Poles strutted to the podium on draft night to select Williams, the 2022 Heisman-winner out of USC. Needless to say, BIG things are expected from this kid, particularly when you consider that he possesses all of the natural tools and intangibles to make an immediate impact. Of course, credit Eberflus and Poles for going out and assembling an intriguing supporting cast for their new QB, adding the likes of Swift, Allen, and Odunze, the latter of which was selected 8 picks after Williams, fresh off All-Amerca honors as Washington competed in the National Championship Game. Furthermore, (former Seahawks’ Offensive Coordinator) Waldron was hired to put all of these pieces together in an attempt to improve upon that struggled mightily through the air, ranking 27th in passing yards (201.2), 25th in net yards per attempt (5.5), 23rd in touchdowns (19), and 21st in interceptions (15). Simply put, the Bears haven’t had a true Franchise QB since the days of Sid Luckman, which means if this offense manages to click around Williams, then this could very well be a playoff team come January, particularly if the defense continues its growth under Eberflus.
Detroit Lions
Key Additions: Amik Robertson (CB), Carlton Davis (CB), Kevin Zeitler (OG), Terrion Arnold (CB), Ennis Rakestraw (CB)
Key Departures: Josh Reynolds (WR), Jonah Jackson (OG), Benito Jones (DT), C.J. Gardner-Johnson (DB), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (OG)
Season Outlook: After decades of looking up at the competition in the NFC North, the hunters have finally become the hunted as the Lions laid claim to their first division crown since 1993, while also reaching the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. An explosive offense complemented by an opportunistic defense led to a 12-5 finish, as Detroit actually held a shocking 24-7 halftime lead over the 49ers in that affair, before ultimately succumbing to a narrow 34-31 defeat. And it is with that said that 2024 is all about unfinished business for (Head Coach) Dan Campbell & Co, who managed to keep the gang together for at least one more season. Offensive and Defensive Coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn were in high demand during the annual hiring cycle, though nonetheless opted to remain in Motown, while (Genral Manager) Brad Holmes extended (veteran Quarterback) Jared Goff’s deal to the tune of 4 years and $134 million, including $113 million in full guarantees. A reclamation project when they acquired him along with a pair of first-round picks in the fateful deal that sent Matthew Stafford to the Rams, Goff has made good on the Lions’ faith in him, completing a career-best 67.3% of his passes for 4,575 yards on 6.89 net yards per attempt, with 30 touchdowns opposed to 12 interceptions. Furthermore, (Sophomores) Jahmyr Gibbs (1,261 yards from scrimmage), Sam LaPorta (10 receiving touchdowns), and Jameson Williams (14.8 yards per catch) each enjoyed varying degrees of success as rookies and are thus expected to play an even greater role in the attack. It will be interesting to see how much the pass defense can improve, for that appears to be the final step between where they are now and becoming a legitimate championship contender. Injuries plagued the Secondary last Fall, as Detroit ranked 27th in both passing yards (247.4) and touchdowns (28) allowed, along with 29th in net yards per attempt given up (6.7). Campbell and Holmes attacked the need for Defensive Backs in the offseason, adding (slot extraordinaire) Amik Robertson in free agency and (Cornerbacks) Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw in the draft.
Green Bay Packers
Key Arrivals: Josh Jacobs (RB), Andre Dillard (OT), Xavier McKinney (S), Jordan Morgan (OT), Jeff Hafley (DC)
Key Departures: Aaron Jones (RB), De’Vondre Campbell (LB), Jonathan Owens (S), David Bakhtiari (OT), Jon Runyan Jr. (OG), Darnell Savage (S),
Season Outlook: What for all intents and purposes was expected to be a rebuilding campaign following the departure of (longtime Quarterback) Aaron Rodgers turned into a welcome surprise for the Packers, who in finishing 9-8 not only qualified for the playoffs, but embarrassed the heavily favored Cowboys in a 48-32 shocker at AT&T Stadium, before giving the 49ers everything they could handle in a narrow 24-21 defeat a week later. After sitting patiently behind Rodgers for three years, Jordan Love emerged as a budding star at QB over the final 8 games, completing 70.2% of his passes for 268.8 yards, 18 touchdowns and just 1 interception, as Green Bay won six of those contests en route to qualifying for the postseason. How pleased were the cheeseheads with his performance, you ask? The franchise gave him a lucrative contract worth a maximum of $220 million, including $160.3 million in guarantees, clocking in at a staggering $55 million in annual salary, which stands as the highest figure in NFL history. Coming into 2024, (Head Coach) Matt LaFleur & Co are hellbent on making sure that last season was no fluke, as the offense prepares for liftoff with arguably the deepest Receiving Corps in the NFL, coupled with the arrival of (2022 Rushing Champion) Josh Jacobs, who should bounce back from a down year now that he’s surrounded by so many weapons. As for the defense, Hafley was a surprising choice to take over as Defensive Coordinator after spending the last 3 seasons as Head Coach of Boston College. Hafley sighted the struggles of remaining relevant amidst the ever-changing landscape of college football, instead welcoming the often-rigid structure of the NFL. He’ll be overseeing a unit that has seen plenty of investment over the last decade though has nonetheless left us wanting more; Green Bay ranked 10th in points allowed (20.6), 17th in total defense (335.1), 23rd in takeaways (18), 25th on third down (41.1%), and 28th against the run (128.3) last season.
Minnesota Vikings
Key Arrivals: Aaron Jones (RB), Sam Darnold (QB), J.J. McCarthy (QB), Jerry Tillery (DE), Jonathan Greenard (Edge) Andrew Van Ginkel (LB), Dallas Turner (Edge)
Key Departures: Kirk Cousins (QB), Alexander Mattison (RB), K.J. Osborn (WR), Danielle Hunter (Edge), D.J. Wonnum (Edge)
Season Outlook: After winning the division in 2022 despite actually being outscored by their opponents over the totality of the campaign, the Vikings regressed to middle of the pack last Fall, finishing last in the NFC North with a 7-10 record. Injuries played a MAJOR role this downward spiral, as (2022 Receiving Champion) Justin Jefferson missed 7 straight games due to a hamstring strain, while the Quarterback position was completely decimated with 4 different passers starting multiple games, (Pro-Bowler) Kirk Cousins lasted eight contests before tearing his Achilles, while Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, and Josh Dobbs all gave it their best. With that in mind, Minnesota sought a long-term solution at the game’s most important position, opting against re-signing the aging Cousins in free agency, in turn dipping into a QB-rich draft. (Head Coach) Kevin O’Connel and (General Manager) Kwesi Odofo-Mensah maneuvered their way up to the 10th overall pick, where they selected Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, fresh off of leading the Wolverines to their first National Championship since 1997. Gifted with all of the tools and intangibles needed to succeed in the NFL, the only downside is that this kid likely won’t be ready right away, which is fine as the northmen found a solid bridge option in the form of Darnold. O’Connell and Odofo-Mensah also did an admirable job of replacing a number of outgoing players, acquiring the services of (former Packers Tailback) Jones in free agency, while bringing in Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Turner in place of the outgoing duo of Hunter and Wonnum (combined for 24.5 sacks). Of course, keeping (Defensive Coordinator) Brian Flores in house should be considered a coup for the Vikings, as the venerable tactician was desired by plenty of teams during the annual hiring cycle.