As the NFL visits Indianapolis for the NFL Combine this week, the Detroit Lions can look around the NFC North and see plenty of questions.
The Detroit Lions only hired a new general manager and head coach a little over a year ago. But they now have the second-longest tenured peope in those positions in the NFC North, as the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears made changes after disappointing 2021 seasons.
The Lions’ organization is gaining respect around the league, as head coach Dan Campbell had his players playing hard throughout a 3-13-1 season that saw Detroit go 3-3 in their last six games and 3-1 in quarterback Jared Goff’s final four starts.
As the NFL convenes in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine this week, the Lions can look around their division and see plenty of question marks. Let’s take a team-by-team look at the other teams in the NFC North.
Detroit Lions can look around and see plenty of questions in the NFC North
Chicago Bears
The Bears fired general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, with Ryan Poles and former Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus hired in their respective places.
No. 1 on the agenda for Chicago’s new “Ryan and Matt” pairing at the top of the organization is the development of quarterback Justin Fields. To that end, Luke Getsy was brought in from the rival Packers to be the new offensive coordinator.
The range of outcomes feels wide for the Bears in 2022, but that may be nothing compared to the next team.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are waiting on what Aaron Rodgers decides about his future. His decision–to retire, ask for a trade or stay, will impact what’s done with free agent wide receiver Davante Adams.
The handling of Rodgers and Adams is only the tip of proverbial iceberg for the Packers. They have salary cap issues, and some tough cuts will have to be made beyond the contract restructures they’ve already done.
It all starts with Rodgers. Will the Packers be all-in again for 2022? Or will they be entering a rebuild, and seeing what 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love can do as the full-time starter under center?
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings fired general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer. Kwesi Odofo-Mensah replaced Spielman, and Kevin O’Connell was officially hired as head coach after completing his Super Bowl run as Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator.
The first big decision for the new regime in Minnesota is regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins. There may be a trade market for him, or they can extend his contract another year or two to reduce a $45 million cap hit for 2022. Or they could let him play out the final year of his contract. It’s clear Cousins won’t be doing them any financial favors, in maintenance of his status as the quintessential capitalist quarterback.
The Lions were pretty competitive against their division brethren last season, with wins over the Vikings and Packers and final play field goal losses to the Vikings and Bears. Now, as free agency looms, the Lions can take comfort in having very few big questions compared to their division rivals as they look to keep building a winning roster.