Keep your best friends close, but your enemies closer.. Exactly why I started this blog with Kelley, and exactly why I am going to start off talking about my least favorite teams (in reverse chronological order) – the NFC North.

Minnesota Vikings

Record Last Season: 8-9

Division: 2nd @ 4-2

• Key Departures: C Mason Cole (69.5 PFF), S Xavier Woods (66.1 PF), TE Tyler Conklin (66.6 PFF), LB Anthony Barr (64.8 PFF), IDL Michael Pierce (78.5 PFF), IDL Sheldon Richardson (65.6 PFF)
• Key Additions: EDGE Za’Darius Smith (58.9) , LB Jordan Hicks (64.7), IDL Harrison Philips (77.4) , IDL Jonathan Bullard (56.7), CB Chandon Sullivan (55.0)
• Key Draft Picks: S Lewis Cine, CB Andrew Booth Jr, G Ed Ingram, LB Brian Asamoah, CB Akayleb Evans, RB Ty Chandler

An exciting younger new GM and an innovative younger new HC, yet the same Kirk Cousins coming back making over $31M against the cap.

Was he the best option this offseason? Probably, but it doesn’t exactly scream fresh start for a team that has been average for the greater part of my lifetime. They’re always going to be a tough opponent, but they’ll never be a true threat due to the innate gag reflex they have in big moments.

I don’t get their offseason, they played it as if they were a playoff team coming back to retool for another kick at the can when in reality this team isn’t it. The dominant Vikings defense that was once feared in the mid 2010s is depleted, and with one of the worst O-Lines in the league last season this team will need to take major steps to become a contender again. None of which adjustments were made to the roster this offseason.

The draft was solid, but giving a number one WR to two division rivals wasn’t ideal (Trading 12 to the Lions for Jameson Williams & 35 to the Packers for Christian Watson). For as solid as the Vikings drafted, I have it ranked as 3rd in the division and third for the entire offseason as a whole. They may easily find themselves in that same division standings spot at season’s end. This season and the future rides on the back of high potential coach Kevin O’Connell (so jealous) and the QB play of Kirk Cousins (not so jealous).

I do not see this team being a double digit win team, but the 6th and 7th Wild Card spots are realistically attainable for the squad.

Offseason Grade: C+

• Ceiling: 9-8
• Floor: 6-11

Green Bay Packers

Record Last Season: 13-4

Division: 1st @ 4-2

• Key Departures: WR DeVante Adams (92.7), EDGE Za’Darius Smith (58.9), OT Billy Turner (66.2), OT Dennis Kelly (70.4), OL Lucas Patrick (57.2), CB Chandon Sullivan (55.0), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (66.1)
• Key Additions: IDL Jarran Reed (46.7), WR Sammy Watkins (66.3)
• Key Draft Picks: LB Quay Walker, DL Devonte Wyatt, WR Christian Watson, OL Sean Rhyan, WR Romeo Doubs, OL Zach Tom, EDGE Kingsley Enagbare

A perfect 8-0 at Lambeau last season.

I think they continue that streak this year too. A strange offseason for the Packers. They kept the HOF QB everyone thought they’d lose and lost the HOF WR everyone thought they’d keep. For that very reason I was hesitant on my initial draft offseason grade – then I remembered, they have the HOF QB coming back.

No signs of slowing down, and a division full of anything but road blocks the NFC North opponents are not what will hold Green Bay back this upcoming season. Once again, it will be inferior matchups and only themselves standing in the way of the Lombardi.

Now the first place people want to look is the WR Corp, and that’s (unoriginally) where I will look to pick as well. After nearly 50% of the teams targets last year, almost 30% coming from (in my opinion) the NFL’s top WR Devante Adams who was traded (yes, traded) to the LV Raiders this offseason.

But Aaron’s gonna Aaron and like it or not. Aaron is a perennial MVP Candidate, but losing Adams, MVS, and ESB will certainly hurt. While keeping Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and most importantly RB Tandem Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon is a plus the team only then added Sammy Watkins, Christian Watkins, and Romeo Doubs. Is it enough? For 28 other teams, yes. For Aaron Rodgers and the Packers? I’m not sold. They’ll be okay – for the regular season at least especially in a garbage division, but their goal should be beyond that and I’m not sure they have enough.

As far as the draft went, the Packers day one had one of the lowest grades, but overall – one of the highest. How? I feel they had a HUGE reach in Quay Walker, and Wyatt being 24 as a rookie is tough, but Christian Watson has elite potential, OL Rhyan and Tom are great prospects, and the value for Eragbare and Doubs was fantastic. Overall I gave them a high B+, and they’ll be ready to join an already dangerous group on another championship run.

Bottom Line – If the O Line can stay healthy this team will be dangerous come winter time, but if not then it’ll be just another Packer division title and bust.

Offseason Grade: B

• Ceiling: 14-3
• Floor: 9-8

Detroit Lions

Record Last Season: 3-13-1

Division: 4th @ 2-4

• Key Departures: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (55.8), S Dean Marlowe (61.0), EDGE Trey Flowers (63.2), OT Tyrell Crosby
• Key Additions: WR DJ Chark (65.9), LB Jarrad Davis (28.6), S DeShon Elliott (65.6), CB Mike Hughes (79.6)
• Key Draft Picks: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, WR Jameson Williams, S Kerby Joseph, TE James Mitchell

For years the Lions were the laughing stock of the NFL, though I don’t think you realize how bad it’s been. But Barry Sanders! Calvin Johnson! Yeah, there’s not too much else there.

To put it into perspective how bad the Lions have been, in the past 65 years the Lions have 1 playoff win. One.

The Lions have a 1-12 playoff record in the Super Bowl Era. The Jacksonville Jaguars (who joined the league in 1995) have a 7-7 playoff record in the Super Bowl Era. I do not how a single human is a devout Lions fan, but then again it takes a special type of person to voluntarily live in Michigan.

Nevertheless, I feel a change. Not as promising as the Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson change, but still a change. The Quarterback question has not been solved in the long term, but Jared Goff is set to turn 28 this fall and has a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl appearance under his belt. I think it is tough to find a better bridge QB than Goff.

St. Brown has shown flashes, Chark is talented on a prove-it deal, and Williams is the fresh new rook looking to prove his trade up value. Swift is a stud, Hock is a stud, and Michigan’s own Aiden Hutchinson might be the star that finally moves the needle for the other side of the football in Detroit.

It’s the Motor City, it’s rugged and tough. There is nothing pretty about Detroit besides the cars it’s forged, but it’s that hard work blue collar mentality that Dan Campbell is trying to instill in this young, dare I say, up and coming team.

I hate Detroit, but I love Detroit. And I respect the hell out of the tough Northern Midwesterners that live and die Lions football. They are on the right track as a franchise but they aren’t quite there yet. Hard Knocks this fall will be the precursor to the future of Lions football, and because of that I could see this team breaking the .500 mark.

The NFC is trash, and the Lions are on the rise. I would not be surprised if they make it into a Wild Card game. While they’re at the same level as the Vikings may be right now, I see them on the rise whereas Minnesota seems to have many more lingering questions for the future. Still being a year or two off, I could also see similar hardships. They will not be the worst team in the league, and I do not think they’ll be the worst team in what is an abysmal division (my Bears take is next, just wait).

Offseason Grade: B

• Ceiling: 9-8
• Floor: 5-12

Chicago Bears

Record Last Season: 6-11

Division: 3rd @ 2-4

• Key Departures: EDGE Khalil Mack, IDL Aikeem Hicks, IDL Eddie Goldman, LB Danny Trevathan, WR Allen Robinson, WR Jakeem Grant, IOL James Daniels, RB Tarik Cohen, QB Andy Dalton, QB Nick Foles
• Key Additions: IDL Justin Jones, QB Trevor Siemian, IOL Lucas Patrick, WR Byron Pringle
• Key Draft Picks: CB Kyler Gordon, S Jaquan Brisker, WR Velus Jones

Last, and most certainly least… The Chicago Bears.

I honestly do not know where to start. As a die hard Chicago sports fan the Bears are like that girl you really like that finally becomes single but then immediately gets bangs. Just deflating, exhausting, and quite frankly a little bit relieving because you know there is no chance of getting hurt. That is how I feel about the Bears right now.

If we set out to get more draft picks in 2022, 2023 and/or future drafts, did we accomplish this? No, because 5 picks in the 7th round don’t count. (Comp picks we fucked up – don’t get me started)

If we set out to help Justin Fields, did we accomplish this? No we hired a Defensive minded HC and got rid of our best WR and O-Lineman.

If we set out to get younger, did we accomplish this? NO, the average age of FAs added was 28, with the lone sub-26 year old being 3rd string RB Darrynton Evans – who going into his 3rd year is younger than rookie WR (and perennial College gadget) Velus Jones.

IF we set out to change the culture.. well only time will tell if we truly accomplished this. This is, I repeat this is the only thing I can logically talk myself into what the Bears did this offseason. Change the culture, and have as much spending money for next season. Though, it is not the best look that your first player signed fails his physical and the second player signed gets arrested no more than a week later. HOT START Ryan Poles.. Hot Start.

I also I appreciated getting me all excited for these comp picks just for you to sign a bunch of depth guys to start and have us have to watch a bottom tier team miss out on extra picks and waste another precious contract year of Justin Fields – AGH! I promised myself I wouldn’t do it, but here I am.

But despite all this.. I love em. and I have talked myself into the Bears shocking the world and making the playoffs on the BACK of our QB! Justin Fucking Fields Baby! Let’s Go!!!

Offseason Grade: D-

• Ceiling: 9-8
• Floor: 0-17