NFC North: One Upgrade Every Team Can Benefit From

 Before going into each NFC team and an upgrade I think they need that will help their teams. I want you to be aware that I will being doing one of these for each division and each team. Keep in mind these are my personal opinion as a casual sometime more than casual football enthusiast. However I do believe that in most cases most of you would agree with me. With that being said I will add that in this division as it stands moves do need to be made to free up cap space. So as of writing this post these teams are projected to be in the negative in cap space. However there are moves they can make to free a decent amount. So enough of the chit chat let's get into it. 

Chicago Bears: 

A big surprise if you ask me last season. This team stepped up and went 11-6 number one in their division winning the NFC North title. But with everything they did right and all the talent they had on their team there's a few things going on at least at this moment that makes you wonder if they will get better or worse. One Tremaine Edmunds is looking to leave the windy city, if you want more of my thoughts on this possible trade just click here. But getting back to the point here. If Edmunds leave that'll leave somewhat of a hole in the middle of their defense. Yet, they can probably get away with it as good as they were last season. 

But there are three positions in my opinion that can use an upgrade. And the one I'm leaning more on will probably surprise you. Before I do share my personal main one. I think the D-Line needs help getting another edge rusher or defensive tackle would only help that defense. Being in the bottom in the NFL in ranked defensive line at 26 via Pro Football Focus. Adding another stud on that line can only help. Another position that could use an upgrade which I think would help them offensively is at running back. Swift is ranked 14th in PFF and their backup Kyle Monangai is ranked at 29 as a rookie. However adding a stud in the backfield would help this offense get to the next level offensively. 

Okay with those out of the way now I'm going to share the position I think they need to upgrade. Well they don't need to but I think would benefit the offense in a much better way. See normally in a offense having either a stud receiver or running back helps the whole offense. Why? Because if you have to stack the box more often due to a great running back or above average running back. You'll eventually get more one on one coverages against your receivers. Which means if you have a decent one and a good tight end. The team can do some actually damage any game. Whether throwing or running the ball. Also vice versa, if you have a top talent at wide receiver and a quarterback that isn't afraid to throw his way. Defenses are going to be less likely to stack the box. 

This leads me to the position that I think should be upgraded. I think DJ Moore is a really good wide receiver. I however won't dare to say he is elite. Ranking in at 19 in PFF with a grade of 89.5 he's a starter for sure. I don't think however he is a legit number one. I think if the Bears go into free agency or look for a trade to get a top wide out. It would bring their team to a higher level. Rome Odunze ranking 33 in PFF is good and Luther Burden III ranked 18th in the slot isn't bad. But imagine getting a legit number one wide out that puts the fear in DB's. That would open so much more in the running game and even the screen game. I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy for sharing this thought. Still I don't think it's a far fetched idea or opinion. 

Green Bay Packers:

Before I get into this one I must say that this team is strange. They are consistently winning in the regular season and haven't had a losing season under Matt LaFleur well if you want to count his 8-9 season in 2022 be my guest (just kidding it is a losing season.). The thing is this team if you ask me hasn't really been built well. They do have a few stars or at least had a few stars on the team. Still I would dare to say that the team talent wise during LaFleur's time there has been okay to above average at points during his time coaching.

This leads me to say they need to upgrade the whole team (kidding! But not all the way.). We can simply say the quarterback can be upgrade the offensive line can be upgraded. But with this team I'll do a little less chattering and get straight to the point. Their cornerbacks are what we call in spanish "no bueno" ranking 41st and 43rd is Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine. With their slot corner Nate Hobbs not even ranked and allowing a 125.3 passer rating with 14.1 yards per completion. If you ask me that is no good. 

The Packers need to upgrade their secondary if they want to continue their winning ways. Also to make sure that they aren't playing from behind. Because though their offense seemed to be more consistent than their defense in most cases. Their offense also had moments it blew away. Having better cornerbacks can truly help the team overall. Allowing more time for the D-Line to get to the quarterback especially having a beast like Parsons on the team now. This position I would dare to say is the most important to upgrade this off-season for sure.

Minnesota Vikings:

Honestly, this one I don't think I have to get super deep into. I think this team if I'm being honest. If they had resigned Sam Darnold whether to a 2 year team friendly deal or another one year prove me you can do it again kind of deal. I think this team would've been in the Superbowl and possibly even had won it. The team overall has talent and are very well coached. The issue that plagued them was obvious from the beginning of the season. 

Letting Sam Darnold walk and clearly giving their hoping to be franchise quarterback JJ McCarthy another shot of being just that was the plan all along. Who would've thought Sam Darnold could've repeated the 2024 season but better? Yet, if we're looking at it as we as fans of the game always do. I think we could agree that keeping Sam and having McCarthy sit for another season or two wouldn't have been a bad idea. Now look where they are now. 

There's rumors that Kyler Murray may find his way to the Vikings. Do I think the Murray is a better quarterback than Darnold? If we're only accounting the last two seasons I would dare to say nope not at all. Now, would it be an upgrade from JJ McCarthy? I would say so, to be quite honest I think even Wentz was an upgrade before he had gotten hurt was sidelined for the rest of the season. So as you can see an upgrade to the quarterback position will do this team very well! 

Detroit Lions:

Last of the NFC North teams we have the beloved and surprisingly underwhelming Lions. And before Detroit fans try to take my head off I'm talking only about last season under Dan Campbell. The team wasn't terrible, but you can surely see that there was help needed. If as an offensive coordinator your striped of your power to call plays mid-season. You can tell there was issues. Yet, we're talking about positions and upgrading at least one to make their team better than their 9-8 record of last season. 

I think we can all see where I'm possibly going to go with. When I talk about upgrading at least one position on this team. But before I do I will say they do need some help in other positions as well like edge rusher. So makes sense when you hear the rumors and the wants of a player like Aidan Hutchinson wanting or even dreaming of having Max Crosby join the Lions. But a lot would have to happen for that to happen alone since cap space is a problem. Which I think would eventually get fixed with so maneuvering of contracts and so on. 

Also getting some help for the cornerback position isn't too far off either. But coming to the biggest I think upgrade I think they need is at the center position. When I think about this Lions team I think good defense and above average offense. That wasn't the case this season. Let's be honest here, we love talking about the fun positions like quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and so on. Yet the non-sexy positions are the positions that allow everything to work. Having a strong O-Line is like having a strong D-Line. It makes everybody else's jobs easier. You rush the passer and put lots of pressure, the DB's and LB's can have a field day. The same is true with the O-Line. Protect the quarter back and open gaps for the running game, beautiful things can happen. 

Glasgow did everything he could at the center position. But having an overall of 56.8 ranking 33rd at the position is just God awful. He needs to go back to his actual position as a guard and Detroit needs to bring a natural center in to help solidify their offensive line. The fact that Detroit wasn't terrible last season offensively based on rankings. 

But had dropped down the most in rushing yards per game; from 3rd in 2024 to 14th in 2025 should speak for itself. I'm not saying this team is doomed. Or that the offensive line is the worst in the league. But when you have a huge weak link. The only thing that will happen is that it'll get exposed by great teams. And that was just the case last season for the Lions. I think upgrading their center position would help immensely, and they will see the difference almost immediately as well. 

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