The NFC North has recently been owned by the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. They have combined to win ten of the last 11 division crowns (Chicago Bears won in the 2019 season). The Detroit Lions have not won the division since 1991 (was known as the NFC Central).

According to CBS Sports, Las Vegas lists the Vikings at -260 and the Packers at -170 to make the playoffs this season (meaning that much has to be wagered to win $100). The Lions are at +260, and the Bears are at +450 (meaning that much is won on a $100 wager).

Here are the key additions and subtractions in team personnel for each NFC North team in the offseason.

Chicago Bears

  • Key additions: Bennie Fowler, WR (signed), Earl Watford, OT (signed), Taylor Gabriel, WR (signed), Trey Burton, TE (signed), Allen Robinson, WR (signed), Cody Parkey, K (signed), Roquan Smith, LB (first round), James Daniels, C (second round), and Anthony Miller, WR (second round).
  • Key losses: Jerrell Freeman, LB (retired), Mitch Unrein, DE (Buccaneers), Kendall Wright, WR (Vikings), Josh Sitton, G (Dolphins), Cameron Meredith, WR (Saints), Pernell McPhee, LB (Redskins), and Christian Jones, LB (Lions).

The Bears ranked dead-last in 2017 with 2,811 passing yards and were tied for last with the Colts with just 13 touchdown passes. Chicago’s offseason was largely spent on improving the arsenal for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, the second overall pick last year.

Their big-ticket signing was former Jaguars wide receiver, Allen Robinson. He caught 153 passes for 2,283 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2015-16, but he tore his ACL in last year’s season opener. CBS Sports reports that Robinson is expected to be ready to practice when training camp opens on July 19.

Second round pick Anthony Miller put up video game numbers in his sophomore and junior seasons at Memphis.

In his last two years there, he combined to have 191 receptions for 2,896 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Detroit Lions

  • Key additions: Wesley Johnson, C (signed), Levine Toilolo, TE (signed), Luke Willson, TE (signed), LeGarrette Blount, RB (signed), Kenny Wiggins, G (signed), Devon Kennard, LB (signed), Christian Jones, LB (signed), Deshawn Shead, CB (signed), Frank Ragnow, C (first round), Kerryon Johnson, RB (second round), and Tracy Walker, S (third round).
  • Key losses: DJ Hayden, CB (Jaguars), Eric Ebron, TE (Colts), Travis Swanson, C (Jets), Darren Fells, TE (Browns), Greg Robinson, OT (Browns), Tahir Whitehead, LB (Raiders), Haloti Ngata, DT (Eagles), and Paul Worrilow, LB (Eagles).

In the last three seasons, not one player on the Lions has ended the year with at least 600 rushing yards.

They finished last in 2017 in both total rushing yards (1,221) and yards per carry (3.4).

Detroit is looking to buck that trend and establish more of a well-rounded offense. They signed LeGarrette Blount from the Eagles who has averaged 59.8 yards per game on the ground over the last three seasons.

In the second round of this year’s draft, they selected Kerryon Johnson out of Auburn. He finished ninth in Heisman voting last year, a season in which he ran for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Green Bay Packers

  • Key additions: Marcedes Lewis, TE (signed), Tramon Williams, CB (signed), Jimmy Graham, TE (signed), Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (signed), DeShone Kizer, QB (trade), Jaire Alexander, CB (first round), Josh Jackson, CB (second round), and Oren Burks, LB (third round).
  • Key losses: Damarious Randall, CB (Browns), Richard Rodgers, TE (Eagles), Morgan Burnett, S (Steelers), and Jordy Nelson, WR (Raiders).

With quarterback Aaron Rodgers making just seven starts in 2017, the Packers failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2008.

While Rodgers remaining healthy is crucial for the team to have a successful season, Green Bay also knew they had to improve what was a lackluster secondary. Last year, they allowed 3,789 yards and 30 touchdowns in the air.

That is why they spent their first two draft picks on cornerbacks: Jaire Alexander out of Louisville and Josh Jackson out of Iowa.

Minnesota Vikings

  • Key additions: Kendall Wright, WR (signed), Tom Compton, G (signed), Sheldon Richardson, DT (signed), Kirk Cousins, QB (signed), Mike Hughes, CB (first round), and Brian O’Neill, OT (second round).
  • Key losses: Joe Berger, G (retired), Jarius Wright, WR (Panthers), Sam Bradford, QB (Cardinals), Tom Johnson, DT (Seahawks), Case Keenum, QB (Broncos), and Jerrick McKinnon, RB (49ers).

The Vikings fell just one game short last season of reaching their first Super Bowl since the 1976 season.

They bring back a lot of star power as seven of the players included on the NFL's list of 'Top 100 Players of 2018' play for Minnesota.

While quarterback Case Keenum was phenomenal for them last season, he never had much previous success so it remains to be seen as to if he can sustain his high play.

Minnesota didn’t want to take that chance and instead signed former Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins to an enormous deal. Washington decided to move on from their former starter under center and made a trade with the Chiefs to acquire Alex Smith. Over the last three seasons, Cousins has averaged 4,392 passing yards and 27 touchdowns.

Joining the Vikings, Cousins will now have much better receivers to throw the ball to than he did in Washington. Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs combined to catch 157 passes for 2,125 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2017.
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