NFC North Rankings for The 2024 Season
As the 2023 NFL Season comes to an end, it is time to look at the future of the NFC North. All teams are in different positions right now and after the Detroit Lions won the Division for the first time in 30 years, it is safe to say anything is possible for the future. Green Bay seems to have found their third franchise quarterback in Jordan Love. The Vikings have a great young coach while having some questions at quarterback, and the Chicago Bears have the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Lions have a ton of cap space and will have to start paying some of their players. Each team has it’s own qualities and struggles, and with some offseason moves, we should see some teams performing better this upcoming season.
1. Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions had an amazing run this season by winning their division and making it to the NFC Championship Game. Their rookie class was a crucial part of their success. Players like Jackson Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam Laporta were playmakers for this team. Looking ahead into next season, the Lions are looking like the best team because of the culture they have built and the talent they will retain. Brad Holmes is widely agreed as a top general manager in the NFL and with another draft, there will be more young talent in Detroit. Along with the draft, Detroit will most likely extend Goff’s contract as he proved to be a consistent quarterback who can make the throws this team needs. Although Detroit will most likely lose their Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson to a head coaching position, they seem to do a good job finding coaching talent. It is hard to be at the top of a division, but if Detroit puts the work in this offseason, they should find themselves as first in the NFC North again.
Photo Credit: Lauren Leigh Bacho
2. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers found their rhythm in the second half of the 2023 Regular Season and carried that into the Playoffs. Jordan Love showed what he is capable of and will continue to be a great quarterback next season. With their receiving core being young and talented, their chemistry will only improve. Matt LaFleur is a great offensive-minded coach and can challenge great defenses with his play-calling. After the Packers fired their Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry, they will look to find someone to improve their secondary and pass rush. The Packers have the offensive talent and could use a couple of pieces on defense, but they are not far behind Detroit at all. With how explosive Jordan Love and Green Bay’s offense gets, if they are hot, they could make a run in the Playoffs next season. Look for the Packers’ defense to improve and their offensive chemistry to fully click next season.
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher, USA Today
3. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. No matter the questions surrounding Justin Fields, it is safe to say Caleb Williams will be a Chicago Bear in April. The way Fields played at the end of the season showed that he is a capable quarterback, just not for the Bears. They have tried with him, and they must move on and restart at the quarterback position. The two reasons it is a good idea to move off Fields are because they won’t have to pay him and can start fresh with Williams. They will also be getting the number one quarterback prospect that we have seen in a while. Chicago has a great wide receiver in DJ Moore and a solid tight end in Cole Kmet. With some offensive firepower and their new Defensive Coordinator Brian Burns, the Chicago Bears should be a much better team than they were last year.
Photo Credit: Brad Mills, USA Today
4. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are up in the air with what they should do next season. Is it time to rebuild or should they try to keep quarterback Kirk Cousins and run it back? They have great wide receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. They also have a great tight end in T.J. Hockenson. Although Hockenson tore his ACL and MCL, he should look to be back next season. There is no doubt Minnesota has offensive weapons, but where they will struggle is finding someone they can trust at quarterback. The Vikings’ defense has been great under Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores, but without being able to score, the defense can only do so much. Their best pass rusher Danielle Hunter is a free agent as well and this leaves Minnesota with some big decisions before the start of next season. Minnesota has some great players on their team, but this game requires everyone to be included. Their young Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has done a great job with the hand he’s been dealt, but that will be extremely difficult to maintain if they lose key players on both sides of the ball.
Photo Credit: David Berding
The future looks especially bright for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. They both have the coach and quarterback right which will bring them success for this upcoming season. The Bears and Vikings both have some decisions regarding their quarterback. The Bears have offensive playmakers, and their defense has potential under their new coordinator. The Vikings could lose key players this offseason which could lead them to a rebuilding year. Any team could come out hot, but ultimately, where there is a good quarterback and coach, there should be success. Especially with the talent in Detroit’s run game and Green Bay’s wide receivers.
