NFC North Roundup: How the Lions’ division foes are looking after roster cuts

Scouting the opposition is always important for a team’s success, especially when it comes to division foes.

With NFL cutdown day now behind us and practice squads getting settled, let’s take a look at the state of the NFC North and the Detroit Lions’ main competitors heading into the new season.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers went 9-8 last season to claim the final NFC wild card spot, then nearly made a run to the NFC Championship Game. Ultimately, they lost to San Francisco by three points in the divisional round after defeating second-seeded Dallas in the wild card round.

This offseason, Green Bay added 11 draft picks — including five in the first three rounds — to its young roster, then signed former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs to replace Aaron Jones and former Giants safety Xavier McKinney to shore up the secondary.

Overall, the Packers’ offensive line looks strong, their young group of wide receivers, while still somewhat unproven, look ready to take a step forward from last year’s strong showing, quarterback Jordan Love has another year of experience under his belt and a huge extension locked in, and Jacobs adds another weapon to Matt LaFleur’s offense.

On the other side, they still have big Kenny Clark in the middle of the D-line with Preston Smith, 2023 first-rounder Lukas Van Ness, Rashan Gary and Kingley Enagbare off the edges. Their pressure combined with healthy seasons from Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes — who played a combined 10 games in 2023 — and the addition of McKinney should result in a vastly improved passing defense. The only other change is at linebacker, where De’Vondre Campbell is gone, although Quay Walker, Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie have already had large roles in Green Bay over the past couple seasons.

Their lone big loss was running back AJ Dillon, the big bruiser, who was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday and will miss the entire season. That could leave the Packers in some trouble if Jacobs is injured, although they’ll also rely on rookie MarShawn Lloyd, out of USC, who flashed in training camp but has been hurt basically all preseason.

The Packers may not have as many top-100 players as the Lions but their group of young, ascending talent with good coaching and scheming should again make them a playoff contender.

They’ll get tested right away when they open the season on Sept. 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.

Chicago Bears

Da Bears started last season 0-4 and looked awful the entire first half of the season but started showing progress late. They went 5-3 from Week 10 on, which is a week after they added defensive end Montez Sweat, then completely retooled the offense this offseason.

Justin Fields is gone, replaced by No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, who didn’t play much in the preseason but still flashed his playmaking ability and crazy arm talent. In addition to DJ Moore, the Bears added former Chargers’ two-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen and highly touted University of Washington wideout Rome Odunze, veteran tight end Gerald Everett and running back D’Andre Swift. Velus Jones, the athletic former third-round pick who has struggled to catch on at wide receiver, also shifted to running back in the preseason and flashed, possibly adding another dangerous element to Chicago’s offense. The offensive line still has talented youngsters Darnell Wright, Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins, with veterans Coleman Shelton, Ryan Bates and a healthy Nate Davis hoping to stabilize the rest of the unit, but that is still the main question mark on Chicago’s offense.

Related: Chicago Bears

On defense, it’s mostly the same group that finished strongly last season. There has been hype this summer around defensive tackle Gervon Dexter’s remade body possibly leading to a breakout, while veteran safety Kevin Byard should help stabilize the secondary. There are still question marks around how much pressure the defensive line will create and whether the young secondary will take a step forward like Jaylon Johnson last season. However, the depth has improved and the potential is high, like it is for Chicago’s offense.

Overall, the Bears legitimately have the talent to compete for a playoff spot, if not more. Their season will come down to the offensive line’s play, how well all of the new pieces on offense mesh and whether the defense build’s on last season’s late surge. Even if not, they won’t be a bottom-feeder again in 2024.

They’ll kick off the new campaign on Sept. 8 in Chicago against the Tennessee Titans.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings seem to be in a transitional phase this season, although they do still have good potential.

After losing quarterback Kirk Cousins to an Achilles tear in the middle of last year and limping to a 7-10 finish, the franchise started a youth movement this offseason, moving on from Cousins, star edge rusher Danielle Hunter and some other key role players.

They added quarterback J.J. McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner in the first round of the draft, but McCarthy is already out for the season after tearing his meniscus in the first preseason game, leaving former third overall pick Sam Darnold as the starter. The team’s best corner last year, rookie Mekhi Blackmon, also tore his ACL on the first day of training camp, sidelining him for the season. So who is left?

Related: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings did add reinforcements in former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin at cornerback, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel off the edge, Blake Cashman at linebacker and some young guys with pass-rushing upside along the defensive line. Offensively, they added former Packers star running back Aaron Jones, who looks motivated for a big season, and are optimistic about a young group of receivers, including superstar Justin Jefferson, 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison and 2022 draft pick Jalen Nailor, who is finally healthy and turned heads this summer.

Overall, defensive coordinator Brian Flores helped turn the Vikings defense into a solid unit last year and they look poised for an even bigger season in 2024. The offense, however, is where most of the questions lie. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has proven to be a great offensive mind and schemer, but can he really elevate Darnold that much? Will the receivers beside Jefferson step up? Can an offensive line that has struggled the past few years, particularly on the interior, hold up with mainly the same guys? And who will step up while star tight end T.J. Hockenson finishes recovering from a torn ACL, which will keep him out at least the first four weeks?

It’s hard to believe the Vikings can be contenders this year but they also don’t seem likely to be an easy matchup. Most likely, they’ll hover around .500 this season.

They open the season on Sept. 8 on the road against the New York Giants.

The Lions clearly look like the superior team and are the favorites for a reason. That said, the NFC North looks like it could be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL so it won’t be easy.

Detroit will kick off the new season on Sunday Night Football, Sept. 8, against the Los Angeles Rams.