NFC North Projections:
Packers
2016 Season: 10-6, Lost in NFC Championship to the Atlanta Falcons
Draft Strategy
The Packers lost a few key starters in Free Agency, losing Pro Bowl Guard TJ Lang, HB Eddie Lacy, DE Julious Peppers, and CB Micah Hyde, all of whom were key starters for the Packers last season. While the only key addition in free agency was TE Martellus Bennett.
This free agency created a few holes to fill on the Packers which they didn't have before.
The Packers have the 29th pick in the First Round of the 2017 draft, meaning all of the elite players will most likely be gone. They have a number of different ways they could go with this:
1. Address the offensive line, TJ Lang leaving could turn this unit from top-tier into a middle of the road line, if Cam Robinson, Garrett Boles or Ryan Ramczyk fall to the 29th pick, it wouldn't be a bad idea to pick one of them.
2. Take one of the Running Backs, this is the best draft class for Running Backs in recent memory, and with teams not valuing the position anymore, one of either Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, or Christian McCaffrey could theoretically slip to #29.
3. Grab a Defensive End, in addition to being a great Running Back class, this draft is incredibly strong for Defensive Linemen. There coul theoretically be 10+ Defensive Linemen picked in the first round, so if one of those top-tier DEs slip to the Packers, they could pick one up.
4. Take a Cornerback. The Packers biggest weakness last year was probably their Cornerbacks last season, with Micah Hyde leaving, they will be even weaker in that area.
I say they should go with a CB here, the Packers entire defense suffered last season because they had to drop extra players back in coverage, meaning less creative blitzes and having to play conservatively the entire season. Barring a top player slipping to them at 29, this is where they should go with their first pick.
Projections for Next Season:
The Packers are honestly one of the harder teams to project for any season, on paper they always look ready to make a run for the Super Bowl but they always have stretches where they look like they're lost.
Regardless, the Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are always ready to compete in the playoffs and look like that's a trend that looks like it will continue as long as QB Aaron Rodgers is playing at the level he is.
I believe the offense will be improved with the Martellus Bennett addition, that will give Aaron Rodgers a much-needed reliable target that he's been lacking the past few seasons. The defense however is my main concern for this team, losing Julius Peppers and Micah Hyde might hurt a bit, as they were already weak in those areas. If former All-Pro LB Clay Matthews can realize his potential though, they could return to being a top Defense, but that doesn't look like it will happen.
All that being said, I still project the Packers to make it back to the playoffs and once again make a hard push for the Super Bowl.
2017 Projection: 12-4, NFC Champions
Bears
2016 Season: 3-13 Last in NFC North
Draft Strategy:
The Bears have the 3rd pick in the 2017 draft, and after they lost WR Alshon Jeffrey, who may have been the best player on their entire Roster, they really don't have a clear strength outside of RB Jordan Howard. Since they have so many holes on both sides of the ball, they'll either be looking to just draft the best player available, or possibly trade out of the pick if they get a good enough offer.
If they keep the pick though, they'll be looking at players like DEs Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas and Jonathan Allen, Safety Jamal Adams, or LB Reuben Foster.
I think picking up Safety Jamal Adams would be a smart move. The Bears are severely lacking in any play-makers on defense and Adams, an Ed Reed style, ball-hawking sideline to sideline style of play would help the Bears immensely.
Projections for Next Season:
The Bears don't look like they'll have a much improved season from their 3-13 record of last season. Mike Glennon looked like he could be an improvement over Jay Cutler, but there is a very small sample size to look at in Tampa Bay, where he had a much stronger supporting cast than the Bears give him.
If Mike Glennon DOES turn out to be the real deal, the Bears could actually have a very solid offense. WR Kevin White could finally realize his potential and have a breakout season and Jordan Howard could continue to develop into a top 5-10 Running Back.
I don't see their defense as having the same potential though, barring their first round draft pick being a major star in his first season, or an unexpected breakout season from somebody, they look like they may be destined to have a bottom 10 defense once again.
The Bears could potentially make a push for the playoffs... But I don't see it happening, too many things would have to go right for that to happen. I see them once again being at the bottom of the NFC North.
2017 Projection: 5-11
Lions
2016 Season: 9-7, Lost in Wild Card round to the Seattle Seahawks
Draft Strategy:
The Lions, despite starting the season very strong and making the playoffs, have a lot of weak spots on their team. Their only real strong points on their team is QB Matt Stafford, and their defensive backfield. In a way, that's great news, they have so much room for improvement despite already being a playoff team.
They have the 21st pick in the draft, a spot that looks like it could still be loaded with talent. With all the flaws on this team they'll be able to draft the best player available. If Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook or Christian McCaffrey are available, they could beef up their running back situation and have a top 5 or top 10 offense potentially, or they could pick one of the many Defensive Ends and add a much-needed pass rusher to their already solid defense, or if one of the play-making safeties drop to this spot, that could completely help this defense that struggled to force turnovers.
Whichever way they go, they really want to make the right choice with this pick. The Lions are desperate for a playoff run at this point, and if they hit with this pick, this could finally be their time.
Projections for Next Season:
The Lions surprised everyone last season when they started the year 9-4 with a three game lead in the NFC North. But alas, they became the Lions that we've come to expect, losing the final three games of the season and losing in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite this, I think things are still looking up for the Lions, Matt Stafford seems like the real deal at Quarterback, they just added pro bowl guard TJ Lang to an already solid offensive line, they have a lot of solid young starters on their defense, and they still have a lot of room for improvement.
The Lions main problem (outside of their horrible inconsistency) is their running game, and their inability to create turnovers on the defensive side of the ball, which seem like things that could be easily fixed with one or two players or just a little bit of coaching.
They just need to stay consistent and focused, the late season collapse last season could trickle down into this season if players start losing hope after so many seasons of disappointment, but I think the coaching staff is strong enough to make another push at the playoffs. The Lions could be a sleeper team next season.
2017 Projection: 10-6 Divisional Round Loss
Vikings
2016 Season: 8-8
Draft Strategy:
The Vikings couldn't have picked a worse time to lose their first round draft pick, as they desperately need another young star, they have a lot of rising stars on offense and one of the top defenses in the league, with the 14th pick they would be virtually guaranteed to get one of the top 3 running backs in this draft, which would help aide the loss of Adrian Peterson, one of the best running backs in the 21st century.
But alas, they traded it away for Sam Bradford, who did have an awesome season last year replacing the injured Teddy Bridgewater. So as far as I see it, they have two solid yet injury prone quarterbacks, which means if they can find a team willing to trade for one of them, they should do it. A high draft pick in this years draft will be much more valuable to them than a backup quarterback.
With all of the talent on this team, they need to win quick, everybody knows you have a very small window when it comes to contending before losing your best players in free agency, there's no way to avoid it (unless you're the Patriots). I say they make the trade while the quarterback market is still so friendly.
If they manage the trade, they should pull the trigger on a Running Back, it would bring them to contention if their Quarterbacks can stay healthy.
Projections for Next Season:
Like I said in the Draft Strategy section above... The Vikings have a ton of talent on their roster, if they manage to get a running back they can contend, but if they can't and are forced to play the 2017 season with Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon as their running backs then their offense is in trouble since I don't believe Teddy Bridgewater has the skills to lead an offense by himself.
Their defense is stellar which will help, they have Pro Bowlers on their defensive line, linebacking core and in their defensive backfield. They also have Cordarrelle Patterson, one of the top return men in the NFL on special teams. So again.... IF they manage to get a Running Back... They could be dangerous.
It's too early for me to make a solid projection on their next season since I don't know what trades they'll make... But for the sake of the article, I will make this prediction assuming they don't address the running back situation and go forward with Asiata and McKinnon. I think their defense is good enough to allow Teddy Bridgewater to play to his strengths and not take too many chances, and that should be enough to be a middle of the road team.
2017 Projection: 8-8
