Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will be gearing up for another run at a Super Bowl appearance one year after going a stupendous 13-3 ton win the NFC North while reaching the NFC Championship game. In Minnesota, the Vikings will also be looking to live up to their Super Bowl hopes in 2020 after going 10-6 a year ago and upsetting New Orleans (again) to reach the divisional round. In Chicago, the Bears are looking to rebound from an uninspiring 8-8 mark one year after they won the NFC North while Detroit is looking to get back to being at least competent following another dismal season in the Motor City. Now, let’s find out how all four teams in the NFC North fared in free agency with their NFL Odds and Super Bowl Odds Updated.

NFC North Free Agency Thoughts After Week 1

Green Bay Packers

Additions/players brought back:

• LB Christian Kirksey (signed for two years, $16 million)
• T Rick Wagner (signed for two years, $11 million)
• TE Marcedes Lewis (re-signed for one year, $2.25 million)

Losses:

• LB Blake Martinez
• T Bryan Bulaga
• CB Tramon Williams
• WR Geronimo Allison
• EDGE Kyler Fackrell
• TE Jimmy Graham

The Packers needed to address the underwhelming production they got at the wide receiver position a year ago, but they failed to do that in free agency as the only pass catcher they added was veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis. Green bay did sign linebacker Christian Kirksey and tackle Rick Wagner, but they also lost veteran tight end Jimmy Graham, cornerback Tramon Williams and linebacker Blake Martinez. Overall, Green Bay overpaid for Kirksey and they failed to add any wide receivers, making their free agent signing period a bit of a failure!

• Grade: D
• Odds to Win the NFC North: -110
• Odds to Win NFC: +480
• Odds to Win Super Bowl: +800

Minnesota Vikings 

Additions/players brought back:

• DI Michael Pierce (signed for three years, $28 million, $18 million guaranteed)
• S Anthony Harris (franchise tag)
• FB C.J. Ham (re-signed for four years, $12.25 million)
• LB Eric Wilson (second-round tender)
• 22nd overall pick (plus a fourth-, fifth- and sixth-round pick via trade with Buffalo)

Losses:

• WR Stefon Diggs (via trade)
• CB Trae Waynes
• EDGE Everson Griffen
• CB Mackensie Alexander
• DI Linval Joseph
• S Jayron Kearse
• S Andrew Sendejo
• CB Xavier Rhodes

The Vikings are apparently all in on Kirk Cousins after extended the mediocre veteran for two more years and $66 million. Minnesota also signed veteran interior defensive lineman Michael Pierce while putting the franchise tag on talented safety Anthony Harris. Unfortunately, the Vikes foolishly traded veteran Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Buffalo for just a fourth, fifth and sixth round picks. The additional losses of veterans like cornerback Trae Waynes, edge rusher Everson Griffen, interior d-lineman Linval Joseph and cornerback Mackensie Alexander means the NFC North title hopefuls failed to upgrade their roster during free agency.

• Grade: D-
• Odds to Win the NFC North: -110
• Odds to Win NFC: +480
• Odds to Win Super Bowl: +800

Chicago Bears

Additions/players brought back:

• QB Nick Foles (via trade)
• LB Danny Trevathan (re-signed for three years, $21.75 million base, $14 million guaranteed)
• EDGE Robert Quinn (signed for five years, $70 million, $30 million guaranteed)
• TE Jimmy Graham (signed for two years, $16 million)
• S Deon Bush (re-sign for one year)
• CB Artie Burns (signed for one year)
• S Jordan Lucas (signed for one year, $1 million)

Losses:

• CB Prince Amukamara (cut)
• WR Taylor Gabriel (cut)
• LB Nick Kwiatkoski
• EDGE Leonard Floyd (cut)
• LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
• QB Chase Daniel
• G Kyle Long (retired)
• S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

The Bears made a really smart move by trading for veteran quarterback Nick Foles who I expect to eventually supplant ineffective starter Mitch Trubisky. The additions of edge rusher Robert Quinn and re-signings of linebacker  Danny Trevathan and safety Deon Bush along with the addition of veteran tight end Jimmy Graham were upgrades over the players the Bears previously had. The loss of linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski will sting, but outside of that, the Bears get a passing grade if only because of the addition of Foles.

• Grade: B
• Odds to Win the NFC North: -110
• Odds to Win NFC: +480
• Odds to Win Super Bowl: +800

Detroit Lions

Additions/players brought back:

• CB Desmond Trufant (signed for two years, $21 million)
• S Jayron Kearse (signed for one year, $2.75 million)
• LB Jamie Collins Sr. (signed for three years, $30 million, $18 million guaranteed)
• QB Chase Daniel (signed for three years, $13 million)
• S Duron Harmon (via trade)
• DI Danny Shelton (signed for two years, $8 million)
• T Halapoulivaati Vaitai (signed for five years, $50 million)

Losses:

• CB Darius Slay (via trade)
• DI Mike Daniels
• G Graham Glasgow
• DI Damon Harrison Sr. (cut)
• DI A’Shawn Robinson
• EDGE Devon Kennard (cut)
• CB Rashaan Melvin

After going a pitiful 3-13 a year ago, the Lions signed veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant and veteran linebacker Jamie Collins as their top two free agent moves. Detroit also added veteran quarterback Chase Daniel to backup up starter Matthew Stafford after he missed virtually the entire season in 2019. The Lions did trade veteran cornerback Darius Slay to Philadelphia and they also lost fellow cornerback Rashaan Melvin, not to mention a trio of interior defensive linemen. Make no mistake about it. Detroit’s free agent signing period left a lot to be desire, just like the perennially pitiful franchise itself.

• Grade: D
• Odds to Win the NFC North: -110
• Odds to Win NFC: +480
• Odds to Win Super Bowl: +800