NFC North Free Agency Recap: A Wild Ride so Far
It has been a wild ride for the NFL as free agency is almost upon is, the NFC North in particular has seen some big names set to join its division. With that in mind, here are all the free agent transactions for in the NFC North from the past day.
Reminder, the NFL free agency officially begins on March 13, the start of the new league year. There is a two-day negotiating period where teams may sign players beforehand. Trades do not become official until March 13.
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Chicago Bears
Kevin Byard
The Chicago Bears had a wild start to free agency this past day. To start off yesterday, the team signed former pro bowl safety for the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles in Kevin Byard. The team announced his signing for a two-year, $15 million contract. While he did regress a bit during his time with the Eagles, he brings veteran experience and overall is one of the best ballhawk safeties in the league. Just a few years ago, he had repeated a five interception season with a four interception season. The Bears upgrade their secondary and now focus on other key needs after the departure of former S Eddie Jackson.
D’Andre Swift
While running back wasn’t the largest need for the Bears, it is never wrong to upgrade. With uncertainties about potentially bringing back running back D’Onta Foreman, management decided to go out and get an upgrade.
Earlier today, barely even 20 minutes after the two-day negotiating period began, General Manager Ryan Poles signed former Detroit Lions and Eagles RB D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million deal with $15.3 million of that deal guaranteed. While Swift didn’t have the greatest years with the Lions, mainly due to injury, he always showed promise as a duel-threat back as a threat in both the run and passing game. In this past year with the Eagles, Swift had a career high 1,049 rushing yards along with five touchdowns while also being named to the pro bowl.
Gerald Everett
While this position was not exactly a huge need for the Bears, the team signed former Los Angeles Charger and Seattle Seahawks tight end Gerald Everett to a two-year, $12 million deal, with $6.1 million of that deal guaranteed.
This past season with the Chargers, Everett had 411 yards and three touchdowns on the season. This came after he had a career year the previous year with 555 yards and four touchdowns that year. He immediately brings a boost to the Bears receiving corps after the departure of TE Robert Tonyan.
Other Signings
As previously reported, the Bears recently traded a fifth-round pick for Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Ryan Bates. The team also extended cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76 million deal. The only other move made by the Bears was the re-signing of long snapper Patrick Scales to a one-year deal with over $1 million in guaranteed money.
Detroit Lions
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Graham Glasgow
While the Lions losing offensive guard Jonah Jackson to the Los Angeles Rams, the team needed to secure another part of their stout offensive line.
Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Lions extended OG Graham Glasgow to a three-year, $20 million deal with $9.5 million being guaranteed. With him returning, the Lions prevent themselves from losing any more key offensive lineman to free agency.
Marcus Davenport
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With uncertainties at who’s the opposite EDGE rusher to defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions need someone to fill that void.
The Lions signed former Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints DE Marcus Davenport to fill that role. Davenport was signed to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The exact details are still not yet known.
Carlton Davis III
With how CB Cameron Sutton struggled last season in Detroit, that leaves possible questions at that position. That no longer seems to be the case.
Per NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero, the Detroit Lions traded a 2024 third-round pick in exchange for Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Carlton Davis III, and two sixth-round picks in 2024 and 2025.
Davis had a solid previous season with the Buccaneers, locking down parts of the field and coming away with two interceptions, nine pass deflections, and 52 total tackles. He comes into the Motor City and immediately boosts the Lions secondary.
Jaylen Reeves-Maybin
Besides being named as the new President of the NFLPA, linebacker Jaylen Reeves-Maybin was recently extended by the Lions to a two-year deal worth up to $8 million, with $5.245 million guaranteed.
Other Signings
The Detroit Lions also recently re-signed CB Emmanuel Moseley and kicker Michael Badgley each to one-year deals for undisclosed amounts.
Minnesota Vikings
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Jonathan Greenard
With the inevitable departure of DE Danielle Hunter, and the departure of Davenport, the Vikings are in need of a star pass rusher. They found the perfect replacement.
Per Ian Rapoport, the Vikings have signed former Houston Texans DE Jonathan Greenard to a four-year, $76 million deal. Until this past year, Greenard had an up-and-down career with the Texans, his best season coming in 2021 when he had eight sacks.
Under first-time head coach DeMeco Ryans, Greenard had his best statistical season of his career. He logged 12.5 sacks this season and immediately gets paid to become the new star pass rusher in a Vikings defense that has struggled over the years.
Andrew Van Ginkel
Besides Greenard, the Vikings weren’t done upgrading their defensive line. Per Adam Schefter, the team also signed former Miami Dolphins LB Andrew Van Ginkel to a two-year, $20 million deal with $14 million guaranteed. The team decided to continue their dismantling and repairing of their defense.
This past year with the Dolphins, Van Ginkel had a career high of six sacks, while also logging an interception returned for a touchdown and eight pass deflections.
Blake Cashman
We’re not done here when it comes to the Vikings rebuilding their defense. Per Tom Pelissero, the Vikings signed former Texans LB Blake Cashman to a three-year contract worth up to $25.5 million. Under Ryans, Cashman had a career year with the Texans. He had 109 tackles, two sacks, and five pass deflections this past season and now comes to a Vikings defense on the rise, ready to raid the rest of the NFC North.
Other Signings
While their most notable signings were on the defensive side, the Vikings made a few under the radar moves on the offense. Per Tom Pelissero, the Vikings extended TE Johnny Mundt to a deal worth $2.5 million for an unspecified length. The team also re-signed offensive tackle David Quessenberry.
Green Bay Packers
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Josh Jacobs
In one of the biggest bombshells of the offseason, the Green Bay Packers decided to sign former Las Vegas Raiders RB Josh Jacobs to a four-year, $48 million deal. The deal also includes a $12.5 million signing bonus.
Fans thought the Packers had the best rushing duo in the NFC, but shortly after the signing, the team announced they were releasing RB Aaron Jones. Jones had previously taken a pay cut, and it seems the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement on a restructured deal. With the loss of RB A.J. Dillon as well, Jacobs now remains the clear RB for the team. Jacobs is one of the best backs in the league and has multiple 1,000 yard campaigns and a career high 1,653 rushing yards just two years ago.
Xavier McKinney
The other big move made by the Packers was the signing of former New York Giants S Xavier McKinney. Per Ian Rapoport, the Packers signed McKinney to a four-year, $68 million deal. He comes in to replace the departing S Darnell Savage who left to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This past season with the Giants, McKinney had a great season with 116 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and three interceptions in an amazing season. He immediately boosts a Packers defense that has been on the rise for the better part of a couple years now.
That is every major and even minor signing by each NFC North team so far. There are likely more to come for all four teams.
