I hope you are all well and safe in this contingency. The NFL season is still going on despite the difficult situation that we are living in with COVID-19 and therefore, we will continue to analyze each division! This week’s analysis is on a division filled with old rivalries, the NFC North!!!
Chicago Bears
Key Arrivals
QB Nick Foles, WR Ted Ginn, TE Jimmy Graham, OT/G Germain Ifedi, DE Robert Quinn, DE/OLB Barkevious Mingo, CB Artie Burns, S Tashaun Gipson.
Key Departures
QB Chase Daniel, WR Taylor Gabriel, TE Trey Burton, G Kyle Long, DT Nick Williams, DE/OLB Leonard Floyd, DE/OLB Aaron Lynch, LB Nick Kwiatkoski, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis.
Best Draft Picks
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame, TE (Rd 2)
Jaylon Johnson, Utah, CB (Rd 2)
Trevis Gipson, Tulsa, OLB (Rd 5)
Analysis
It seems that the Bears are losing confidence in Mitch Trubisky. They brought in Nick Foles to put pressure on Trubisky and to become a starter at some point, but even with Foles, the offense looks very weak.
The Bears’ greatest strength is their defense. Although they lost some key players from last season, they have replaced them with capable players.
The arrival of DE Robert Quinn is the best hiring so far. Quinn will give star Khalil Mack a breather by attracting double coverage towards him. Having Quinn and Mack on the D-line is scary. They both can cause pressure, which will give their opponents headaches.
Even with this defense, I don’t see Chicago last in the NFC North
2020 Projection: 7-9
Detroit Lions
Key Arrivals
QB Chase Daniel, WR Geronimo Allison, OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, DT Danny Shelton, LB Jamie Collins, CB Desmond Trufant, S Duron Harmon, S Jayron Kearse.
Key Departures
OT Ricky Wagner, G/C Graham Glasgow, DT Mike Daniels, DT Snacks Harrison, CB Rashaan Melvin.
Best Draft Picks
Jeff Okudah, Ohio State, CB (Rd 1)
D’Andre Swift, Georgia, RB (Rd 2)
Julian Okwara, Notre Dame, OLB (Rd3)
Jonah Jackson, Ohio State, OG (Rd3)
Analysis
Matt Patricia continues to bring former Patriots players to his defense, but the Lions are still unable to take off in the NFC North. The offense depends on Matthew Stafford staying healthy.
The Lions have very good WRs in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones and reinforced the RB position by drafting DeAndre Swift, who they expect to be a star in the NFL.
The defense is solid and was reinforced very well this offseason, especially with the arrival of ex-Patriots Danny Shelton and Jamie Collins. The Lions will be very competitive if Stafford stays healthy and plays at a good level. The Lions finally have a chance to get into the playoffs as their NFC North rivals don’t look as strong as in previous years.
2020 Projection: 9-7
Green Bay Packers
Key Arrivals
WR Devin Funchess, OT Ricky Wagner, LB Christian Kirksey.
Key Departures
WR Geronimo Allison, TE Jimmy Graham, OT Bryan Bulaga, LB Blake Martinez, LB B.J. Goodson, CB Tramon Williams.
Best Draft Picks
Jordan Love, Utah State, QB (Rd 1)
AJ Dillon, Boston College, RB (Rd 2)
Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati, TE (Rd 3)
Analysis
This season does not look good for the Packers. They lose very valuable elements on both sides of the ball, including two great leaders of the team, Brian Bulaga and Blake Martinez in free agency. Green Bay has made very few hires and in the draft, they did not draft players from the positions they needed the most, such as LB, WR, and OL. Instead with their first two selections, they took a QB and an RB, positions that have more than covered with Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones.
So again we have Rodgers with the same problem that he had with Mike McCarty, they do not give him the necessary weapons, they even selected a QB in the first round, which denotes that they already plan to replace him.
I think it will be an irregular season in GB, with Aaron Rodgers fighting not for the team, but to demonstrate his worth and then ask for a trade to a contending team next season.
2020 Projection: 9-7
Minnesota Vikings
Key Arrivals
WR Tajae Sharpe, DE Anthony Zettel, NT Michael Pierce.
Key Departures
WR Stefon Diggs, G Josh Kline, DT Linval Joseph, CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Mackensie Alexander, CB Trae Waynes, S Jayron Kearse.
Best Draft Picks
Justin Jefferson, LSU, WR (Rd 1)
Jeff Gladney, TCU, CB (Rd 1)
Ezra Cleveland, Boise State, OT (Rd 2)
Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State, CB (Rd 3)
Analysis
The Vikings are in a semi-reconstruction, as they lose many members of their defense, including the two starting CBs and two valuable members of their line such as Griffen and Joseph.
On offense, they traded WR Steffon Diggs to Buffalo, and Dalvin Cook says he will hold out unless he gets an extension.
On the other hand, they had a very good draft, both in quality and quantity. Minnesota had seven draft picks from rounds one to four. The Vikings look to fill some holes with the rookies they drafted, but not all rookies are solid starters in their first season.
So, I think it will be a difficult season for them, even so, I see them competing with Detriot and Green Bay for the NFC North championship, but I don’t see them repeating last season’s success.
2020 Projection: 9-7
See you next week with the analysis of the next division, cheer up, and take good care of yourselves!!!
