NFC North Roundtable: Lions Offseason Needs, Cap Casualties

The first NFC North Roundtable of the offseason focuses on the roster needs and looming cap casualties of the four NFC North teams.

With the 2022 season now officially over, the four NFC North publishers at FanNation discussed the offseason needs, looming roster decisions and available salary cap of their respective organizations.

Here is the first NFC North Roundtable of the offseason.

1.) What is your team's biggest need?

Gene Chamberlain (Bears): Defensive linemen and linebackers. The Bears need tackles, ends and linebackers of all types. They were last in sacks (were led in sacks by safety Jaquan Brisker with four), and finished 31st defending the run. So, there's not much going on for them in their front seven, besides defensive tackle Justin Jones and backup linebacker Jack Sanborn, who was an undrafted rookie and projects as a backup. They need multiple players at each position.

Bill Huber (Packers): The Packers have a lot of holes, which is why they went 8-9. On offense, top tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis are set to hit free agency. A strong draft class awaits at that position – a real rarity. Defensively, again, it’s the free agents, with Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry on the line and Adrian Amos and key backup Rudy Ford at safety. Rashan Gary’s torn ACL exposed the shortcomings at outside linebacker.

John Maakaron (Lions): The Detroit Lions need to focus on retooling their defense this offseason. It is expected the team will bring in one-to-two new cornerbacks to aid the secondary. While the defense overall improved in the second half of the season, the team needs to upgrade its talent in order to limit opposing wideouts in the NFC North.

Will Ragatz (Vikings): Defense, defense, defense. Landing Brian Flores as coordinator should help the Vikings improve their abysmal defense, but change needs to happen on the personnel side, as well. Cornerback stands out as the single biggest need, as all three starters are hitting free agency and last year's top two draft picks at the position got hurt in their rookie years. The defensive line could also use reinforcements.

2.) Is your team likely to address its top needs in the draft or free agency this year?

Chamberlain: The Bears will use both for each of those needs, because the deficiency is so great. The only linebacker under contract among their first four is Sanborn. They had 6,5 sacks total from every defensive end they had on the roster last year, so they'll look to fill that spot. The three-technique tackle needs to be a player more dominant in this scheme than Jones, who is fine as a backup. Jalen Carter is made for the Bears' defense. Meanwhile, Will Anderson Jr. might not be the type of EDGE rusher who fits the scheme.

More: Buccaneers Interview Scottie Montgomery

Huber: I’d guess quite a bit like last year, when general manager Brian Gutekunst made some real solid budget signings – with Reed, Ford and cornerback/kick returner Keisean Nixon among them. But, the big moves were made in the draft. There just isn’t the money to make any big splashes in free agency. Really, if the Packers are going to return to the playoffs, it’s going to be because of a promising 2022 draft class.

Maakaron: Sitting with the No. 6 pick, it would not be surprising if the Lions invested a top pick in a cornerback. Several of the early mock drafts have the Lions selecting cornerback Devon Witherspoon out of Illinois. I don't see the Lions making a big splash in free agency, as they are building through the draft.

Ragatz: Both, of course! But, for a team that's in win-now mode until proven otherwise, free agency is the best place to find instant contributors. A cornerback like Byron Murphy Jr., Cameron Sutton or Jonathan Jones could really help in 2023. Offensively, Kevin O'Connell's group could use quality veterans at wide receiver and guard. The Vikings only have five current draft picks and no second-rounder, because of the T.J. Hockenson trade. So, there's a lot riding on their pick at No. 23 overall. That might be a corner, too.

3.) What is the toughest roster decision looming?

Chamberlain: Giving a contract to running back David Montgomery. He pours his soul into each run, is always among the league leaders breaking tackles and contributes as a pass blocker and receiver. But, it's questionable whether the Bears project a fifth-year running back, who is the slowest one on their roster, as a fit for their future. Even though they say they love him, the offense seems now to be more about speed or speed and power, and Montgomery is not a breakaway back.

Huber: Well, this is the most obvious answer in the history of sports journalism. Does Aaron Rodgers want to play in 2023, or is he going to retire? If he wants to play, will it be with the Packers? Or will he be traded and the baton be passed to 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love? If the Packers go with Love, Gutekunst might let just about every free agent walk.

Maakaron: I think the toughest decision facing Lions general manager Brad Holmes is whether or not to bring back wideout DJ Chark. He signed for $10 million last offseason, but it is uncertain whether he would accept a pay cut to return to Detroit. While productive when healthy, the talented wideout still missed six games in his first campaign in Motown.

Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA TODAY NETWORK

Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA TODAY NETWORK

Ragatz: Broadly, it's what to do with the expensive veteran talent on this roster. Adam Thielen, Harrison Smith, Dalvin Cook, and Eric Kendricks are all beloved household names in Minnesota who have been around since at least 2017. But, they're getting older, and have cap hits in the $11-$20 million range next season. All four of those guys can still play to some extent. But, are they worth their prices? Some tough decisions lie ahead.

4. ) How is your team's salary-cap situation? 

Chamberlain: There are no teams in the league set up better for spending money than the Bears, which have a league-high $85.6 million in effective cap space available as of Super Bowl Sunday. It's about $34 million more than anyone else. It was almost comical when GM Ryan Poles suggested at his postseason press conference that he wasn't about to spend wildly in free agency. The obvious response: And why not?

Huber: According to OverTheCap.com, the Packers are about $20.4 million over the cap. If they trade Rodgers, they will be about $29 million on the wrong side of the ledger. There are plenty of levers to pull in terms of contract restructures, though that’s just the equivalent of whipping out a new credit card to pay off the old one.

Maakaron: The Lions have more cap space than last offseason to re-sign their own free agents. Currently, the team has approximately $14 million in cap space, but could easily add $20 million in additional space by moving on from veterans like Michael Brockers, Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Romeo Okwara. Their current cap number available ranks 13th in the NFL.

Ragatz: The reason why the Vikings may move on from some expensive mainstays is that they're near the bottom of the NFL in salary-cap space, needing to clear over $20 million before the start of the league year. There are tons of ways to create cap space, so the Vikings will be able to add some impact free agents still. However, they don't have nearly the financial flexibility of a team like the Bears. Also, a market-setting extension for Justin Jefferson is likely coming this offseason. Can they afford to extend Kirk Cousins again, alongside Jefferson's upcoming big contract?