The Green Bay Packers were not good against their NFC North rivals in 2024. They went 1-5 in division play and were a Karl Brooks fingertip away from being completely winless. That didn’t stop them from making the playoffs, however. Despite their struggles in the division, they secured the No. 7 seed and headed to Philadelphia, where they faced the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles.
The Lions and Vikings each finished with 14 wins and enjoyed outstanding regular seasons, but both were also eliminated in their first postseason game. It’s rare for a team to win 11 games and still finish third in their division, but that’s exactly what happened to the Packers—proof they were a step behind Detroit and Minnesota in 2024.
What about 2025? Did the Lions and Vikings do enough to stay ahead of Green Bay? And what about the Bears, who’ve spent the last few years in the division’s basement? Let’s break down each team’s key additions and losses to assess who improved and who took a step back.
Chicago Bears-
Notable Additions: HC Ben Johnson, OL Jonah Jackson, OL Joe Thuney, C Drew Dalman, DL Grady Jarrett, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Colston Loveland
Notable Departures: WR Keenan Allen, OL Teven Jenkins, DL DeMarcus Walker
GM Ryan Poles had a clear mission this offseason: protect Caleb Williams at all costs. The rookie quarterback was sacked a whopping 68 times in 2024—third-most in NFL history. No team can expect consistent success while allowing that much pressure on its franchise QB.
The most impactful move may have been hiring head coach Ben Johnson. After leading the Lions’ high-powered offense, he finally took a head coaching job that suits him. In Chicago, he inherits a promising young quarterback, ascending pass catchers, and a revamped offensive line.
The losses include a 33-year-old Keenan Allen who had clearly lost a step, and former first round pick Teven Jenkins, who couldn’t stay on the field. It’s hard not to conclude that the Bears got better.
Minnesota Vikings-
Notable Additions: QB Sam Howell, DT Jonathan Allen, OL Will Fries, DT Javon Hargrave, LB Eric Wilson, CB Jeff Okudah, C Ryan Kelly
Notable Departures: QB Sam Darnold, S Camryn Bynum, C Garrett Bradbury, G Ed Ingram, QB Daniel Jones
The Vikings’ 2025 season hinges on one question: Did they make the right decision at quarterback? Rather than re-sign Sam Darnold, they handed the reins to rookie J.J. McCarthy. If Minnesota misses the playoffs, McCarthy’s performance will likely be the reason. It’s a high-risk, high-reward gamble—if it pays off, they have a young, cost-controlled QB to build around. But if Darnold thrives in Seattle, it’ll be a tough pill to swallow.
Defensively, they improved. Already a solid unit under Brian Flores, the defense now features proven disruptors like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Ryan Kelly should also be an upgrade over Bradbury, long the weak link on the offensive line.
Still, due to the uncertainty at quarterback, I believe the Vikings got slightly worse.
Detroit Lions-
Notable Additions: CB D.J. Reed, DL Roy Lopez, TE Kenny Yeboah, LB Grant Stuard
Notable Departures: C Frank Ragnow, DE Za’Darius Smith, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, CB Carlton Davis, OC Ben Johnson, DC Aaron Glenn
I’m firmly in the camp that believes the defending NFC North champions took a step back this offseason.
Losing both of their highly respected coordinators—Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn—is massive. Replacing even one coordinator is difficult; replacing two could lead to a rocky transition. It may take half the season for the Lions to regain their rhythm on either or both sides of the ball. Dan Campbell is a great head coach, but not so much an X’s and O’s guy so his coordinators better be.
Then there’s the surprise retirement of Frank Ragnow—the heart and soul of their offensive line and locker room. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time second-team All-Pro, Ragnow was still in his prime at 29. His loss is going to be tough to overcome for their offense.
While signing D.J. Reed helps in the secondary, he essentially replaces the departed Carlton Davis. Za’Darius Smith remains unsigned but could still return. Even so, I don’t believe that move shifts the balance much. The Lions took a step back.
Green Bay Packers-
Notable Additions: CB Nate Hobbs, OL Aaron Banks, WR Matthew Golden, WR Mecole Hardman
Notable Departures: CB Jaire Alexander, LB Eric Wilson, C Josh Myers, CB Eric Stokes, RB A.J. Dillon
Along with the Bears, the Packers are the other NFC North team that clearly got better.
Yes, they released All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander, but given his repeated injuries and missed games, the impact is more reputational than practical. Nate Hobbs brings versatility and reliability to the secondary. Rookie Matthew Golden adds speed to the receiver room—particularly valuable while Christian Watson recovers—and Mecole Hardman offers elite punt-return ability, freeing up Keisean Nixon to focus more on his defensive responsibilities in a post Jaire world.
Even if the Packers don’t sign Aaron Banks to play guard and move Elgton Jenkins to center and would have rolled with a Jacob Monk, I’d still say the offensive line is improved by not re-signing Josh Myers. Myers at times last season was clearly the worst player along the offensive line. With Aaron Banks added to the mix, this unit should excel in the run game, helping Josh Jacobs and company cook all season long.
The Packers got better—and I believe they’ll win the North in 2025.