Breaking down the NFC North key additions and losses in free agency, and seeing which teams improved.
With NFL free agency more or less over, it’s time to look at the teams that matter most to the Detroit Lions : their NFC North rivals. The Lions remain the division title holder for their second straight offseason, but the Chicago Bears , Green Bay Packers , and Minnesota Vikings all made some splash signings this free agency.
But factoring in the players they lost, are they actually improved? I broke down all of the NFC North teams’ key adds, losses, biggest needs, and whether they are improved.
Note: These free agency adds/losses lists aren’t exhaustive. Just noting the biggest moves.
Chicago Bears
Key free agency additions:
- QB Case Keenum — one year, $2.25 million
- WR Olamide Zaccheaus — one year, $1.2 million
- WR Devin Duvernay — one year, $1.5 million
- C Drew Dalman — three years, $42 million
- G Joe Thuney — TRADE — 2026 fourth-round pick
- G Jonah Jackson — TRADE — 2025 sixth-round pick
- EDGE Dayo Odeyingbo — three years, $48 million
- DT Grady Jarrett — three years, $43.5 million
Key losses:
- G Matt Pryor — Eagles — one year, $1.36 million
- G Coleman Shelton — Rams — two years, $12 million
- G Teven Jenkins — Browns — one year, $3.1 million
- RT Larry Borom — Dolphins — one year, $2.5 million
- EDGE Darrell Taylor — Texans — one year, $4.75 million
- EDGE Jacob Martin — Commanders — one year, $2.6 million
- LB Jack Sanborn — Cowboys — one year, $1.5 million
The Chicago Bears had a very obvious approach to free agency: overhaul the interior offensive line. They opted to move on from three of their starters and they added three new starters, including the best free agent center (Dalman), and a former All-Pro in Joe Thuney. The Jonah Jackson trade is the most boom/bust move of the Bears’ free agency. While Jackson didn’t cost much in draft capital, the Bears inherited a pretty big contract that includes a $14.75 million cap hit this year and another $7 million in dead cap if they cut ties next year—when another $8 million roster bonus is due and a $12.25 million salary awaits ($25 million cap hit if not cut).
Chicago also invested in their defensive line with two big splash signings: Odeyingbo and Jarrett. While Odeyingbo isn’t coming off his best year, he’s only 25 years old—a rare, young defensive end free agent. Jarrett, on the other hand, is about to turn 32 and is definitely in the downturn of his career. That looks like a bit of an overspend, but Chicago needs to improve their run defense this year (28th in 2024) and Jarrett should help.
The Bears didn’t lose any essential pieces from last year’s squad, so they undeniably got better overall. They still could use some help on the defensive front and with D’Andre Swift currently slated to start, many expect them to draft a running back this year.
Of course, their fate for 2025 rests in the hands of new head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Can they put it all together in Year 1?
Did they improve: Yes, greatly.
Green Bay Packers
Key free agency additions:
- WR Mecole Hardman — one year, $1.46 million
- G Aaron Banks — four years, $77 million
- CB Nate Hobbs — four years, $48 million
Key losses:
- RB A.J. Dillon — Eagles — one year, $1.2 million
- C Josh Myers — Jets — one year, $2 million
- DT Tedarrell Slaton — Bengals — two years, $14.1 million
- LB Eric Wilson — Vikings — one year, $2.6 million
- CB Corey Ballentine — Colts — one year, $1.3 million
- CB Erik Stokes — Raiders — one year, $3.5 million
While by the pure numbers, the Packers didn’t change much, they did make two “splash” free agent signings this year: guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. Green Bay will have at least two new starters on the offensive line, with Banks filling one of the guard spots and a roster battle to be determined at center after letting Josh Myers go. Veteran Elgton Jenkins is expected to slide over to center. Jenkins started one game at center last year and played several games there in 2020, but hadn’t started a single game there between the two.
The only other major change is at cornerback. While we all await the fate of Jaire Alexander, the Packers went out and added Hobbs—a versatile corner capable of playing on the outside and the slot. Given the size of his contract, it does seem like Alexander is almost certainly on his way out, but the Packers haven’t budged yet.
They head into the draft with needs on the defensive line after a struggling pass rush in 2024, and their wide receiver room could use an upgrade after that position disappointed last year. Their cornerback room is also very thin at the moment after losing a couple of depth players in free agency.
Did they improve: No, not really.
Minnesota Vikings
Key free agency additions:
- RB Jordan Mason — TRADE — 2025 fifth, 2026 sixth-round pick for Mason, 2025 sixth
- G Will Fries — five years, $87.7 million
- C Ryan Kelly — two years, $18 million
- DT Jonathan Allen — three years, $51 million
- DT Javon Hargrave — two years, $30 million
- LB Eric Wilson — one year, $2.6 million
- CB Isaiah Rodgers — two years, $11 million
- CB Jeff Okudah — one year, $2.4 million
Key losses:
- QB Nick Mullens — Jaguars — Two years, $4.5 million
- QB Daniel Jones — Colts — One year, $14 million
- QB Sam Darnold — Seahawks — Three years, $100.5 million
- RB Cam Akers — Unsigned
- TE Johnny Mundt — Jaguars — Two years, $5.5 million
- WR Trent Sherfield — Broncos — two years, $6 million
- G Ed Ingram — TRADE — 2026 sixth-round pick
- C Garrett Bradbury (cut) — Patriots — two years, $9.5 million
- OT Cam Robinson — Texans — Two years, $12 million
- DT Jerry Tillery — Chiefs — one year, $1.8 million
- EDGE Patrick Jones II — Panthers — Two years, $15 million
- CB Stephon Gilmore — Unsigned
- S Camryn Bynum — Colts — Four years, $60 million
For a team that was 14-3 last year, the Vikings had a very active offseason. Much like the Bears, their main focus was in the trenches—upgrading two interior offensive line spots with a pair of former Colts (Fries, Kelly), while adding a couple of interior defenders as well (Allen, Hargraves).
Quarterback is the other big story out of Minnesota. They let all three of their QBs hit free agency—most notably Sam Darnold—to give way to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. There still remains a very serious need for a backup—any backup—but it’s clear the Vikings are ready to hand over the keys to the former Wolverine.
Where the Vikings could be hurting moving forward is in their secondary. They lost a key piece in Camryn Bynum this offseason, and veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore remains unsigned. Adding Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah isn’t nearly enough.
Did they get better: Maybe a little, but everything relies upon essentially a rookie quarterback.