Another NFL season has come and gone and now we are just left to count down the days until training camp starts in July. The Kansas City Chiefs will look to make NFL history next season as they will strive for their third straight Super Bowl championship. Each team will take a long, hard look at their roster over the next few months as they try to improve their standing and land a big-time free agent or strike it rich in the draft. Here are the 2024 NFC North Team Needs. All Cap Space amounts are per Over the Cap as of February 2024.
Minnesota Vikings
- Biggest Needs: DT, QB, EDGE, RB, WR
- Cap Space: $24.6 million
The Vikings had a tumultuous year in 2023 with a bad start toppled by a Kirk Cousins season-ending injury. There is a chance they bring back Cousins, but he could gain interest elsewhere and it may be beneficial to split. With lots of offensive needs, I think Tony Pollard would be a nice fit in the offense. With the 11th pick, they likely address the defensive line and then take a stab at a deep wide receiver class in free agency. Their future really hinges on what happens with Cousins and then they can go from there.
Green Bay Packers
- Biggest Needs: S, OG, T, CB
- Cap Space: -$5.2 million
The Packers were a bad drive away from playing in the NFC Championship in their first year with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback. This is an offense that is stacked with young, great wide receiver talent and two capable running backs. The focus on offense is the line while there are massive holes in the secondary for this team. There isn’t money to spend so building through the draft is imperative. The Packers could look at Ennis Rakestraw Jr. or Cooper DeJean based on where they are drafting for a cornerback.
Chicago Bears
- Biggest Needs: QB, WR, EDGE, C, CB
- Cap Space: $66.9 million
The Bears have a bad football team but might be in the best position this offseason to quickly turn themselves into a winner. They are expected to trade Justin Fields and receive a pretty good pick for the young QB while selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the draft. They pick again at 9 and will have the pick from Fields as well. I would invest in a top talent at the wide receiver position with a guy like Tee Higgins and shore up the secondary by making sure they re-sign Jaylon Johnson. The Bears could have the most fun offseason of any team in the NFL.
Detroit Lions
- Biggest Needs: CB, EDGE, DT, WR
- Cap Space: $50.3 million
I still feel bad for the Lions who were so close to the Super Bowl but suffered the same fate as the Packers and couldn’t fend off the 49ers in the 4th quarter. The Lions are in great shape with $50 million to spend and not a ton of holes for them to fill. They have a ton of playmakers on offense, so defense will be their main focus. They draft 29th and will likely go cornerback or defensive line. They need a book end rusher to free up Aidan Hutchinson and turn him into more of a monster than he already is.