The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, meaning teams have mostly completed their most significant roster moves for the season. With that in mind, here’s a look at the most and least upgraded position groups for each NFC North team.
Chicago Bears | Last season’s record: 7-10
Most improved position group: Quarterback
The Bears made a significant change at the most important position on the field, swapping Justin Fields for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, but some might underestimate its significance.
Regardless of the circumstances, Fields struggled as the team’s starter over his three seasons at the helm (10-28). The former No. 11 overall choice came in last among the 17 quarterbacks who started at least 38 games between 2021 and 2023 in terms of completion % (60.3), passer rating (82.3), yards per game (166.9), and touchdowns (40), according to Stathead.
In the meantime, Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, just finished a stellar collegiate career with the Trojans, garnering the best grade of 93.6 from Pro Football Focus out of all quarterbacks in the previous three seasons. Williams, who is praised for his exceptional arm, athleticism, and improvisational skills, appears to have the tools to be a game-changer right away, which might turn the Bears’ quarterback situation from one of the worst in the NFL to one of the greatest over night.
Least improved position group: Defensive line
The Bears’ first priority going into the offseason was improving the defensive line. But as of about a week following the 2024 NFL Draft, they haven’t really made any progress at the position.
Veteran nose tackle Andrew Billings and second-year tackle Gervon Dexter lead the depth chart after the Arizona Cardinals lost Justin Jones in free agency. Zacch Pickens, a 2023 third-round choice, may be headed for a more significant role. The trio combined for 16 QB hits and three sacks during the previous season.
The Bears still have time to add players through free agency, but the options are limited when it comes to defensive tackles. It would be unexpected, though, if the position group remained the same from now until Week 1.
Detroit Lions | Last season’s record: 12-5
Most improved position group: Cornerback
After failing to adequately address the team’s weak secondary before the 2023 season, the Lions tried again this offseason. Only, this time, they may have pulled it off.
First, Detroit signed free agent Amik Robertson and traded for Carlton Davis III, adding much-needed cornerback depth both within and outside the slot. Subsequently, the Lions traded up to select Terrion Arnold, a former Alabama standout, with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They also selected Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw, who many analysts had ranked as a first-round pick, with the 61st overall pick.
The Lions were 27th in the NFL last season against the pass, but with Robertson, Davis III, Arnold, and Rakestraw in place of Cameron Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, and Khalil Dorsey, there’s good reason to think that the position group will advance significantly in 2024.
Least improved position group: Edge-rusher
Heading into this offseason, it seemed all but assured that the Lions would go searching for a running mate across from world-class edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson. However, the team’s depth at the position has remained essentially constant as May approaches.
Marcus Davenport, a free agency and former first-round pick, was signed by Detroit to a one-year contract. However, it is uncertain how effective the 27-year-old veteran will be after suffering an ankle injury that ended his 2023 campaign with just two sacks. In the meanwhile, the Lions made the decision not to select an edge-rusher with one of their six draft selections in 2024.
Hutchinson was responsible for 11.5 of the team’s 41 sacks in 2023; no other player had more than five sacks in a single season. To put it plainly, Davenport is probably not the solution for Detroit if it wants to strengthen their pass-rush near the edge.
Green Bay Packers | Last season’s record: 9-8
Most improved: Safety
The Packers will have a fresh start at safety in 2024 after making a major overhaul at the position this offseason, in free agency and the draft. Gone are Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens and Rudy Ford, while Xavier McKinney and rookie Javon Bullard are in.
Last season, the Packers’ safety trio struggled, with only Ford (69.9) graded among the top 50 safeties in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, McKinney was arguably the best safety available on the market and finished with the fourth-highest grade (87.8) in 2023 after recording career highs in tackles (116) and pass defenses (11). He offers incredible versatility, with the ability to play in the box or slot while having the skill set to cover receivers deep.
Bullard’s impact is still to be determined, but after starring for one of the country’s best defenses in Georgia, the transition to the pros shouldn’t be too difficult. While he’s not the ideal size (5-foot-10, 198 pounds) his well-rounded game and high football IQ make him an immediate upgrade for the Packers, especially with McKinney also in the mix.
Least improved: Cornerback
The Packers addressed most of their needs in this year’s draft, adding to the offensive line, linebacker and safety positions. The lack of changes at cornerback was a bit surprising, though.
Green Bay does have veteran Jaire Alexander and slot-defender Keisean Nixon, who are solid options. But beyond that, they’re relying on a pretty inexperienced group, including Corey Ballentine and Robert Rochell. The Packers did draft two cornerbacks in Kitan Oladapo (No. 169) and Kalen King (No. 255), but it’s unrealistic to expect either late-round pick to contribute much in 2024.
After a reasonably solid offseason and draft, highlighting the depth at cornerback might seem like nitpicking. However, it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where an injury to one of their starters throws the whole position into chaos.
Minnesota Vikings | Last season’s record: 7-10
Most improved: Edge-rusher
Aside from quarterback, perhaps the Vikings’ most significant need was at pass-rusher. Not only did they address the position, but they practically knocked it out of the park.
Along with signing former Houston Texans defensive end Jonathan Greenard and ex-Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, the Packers drafted former Alabama standout Dallas Turner, who many rated as the best edge rusher available in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After losing four-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter and former first-round pick Marcus Davenport, the Vikings seemed destined to struggle on the edges in 2024. After investing plenty of cash and a high draft pick, though, edge-rusher is now team’s most-solid positions on the team.
Least improved: Interior offensive line
The Vikings are seemingly set at tackle, with Christian Darrisaw on the left side and Brian O’Neill on the right, but with the 2024 NFL Draft in the rearview, Minnesota still faces questions at guard.
The team’s starting line-up currently consists of Blake Brandel (LG) and Ed Ingram (RG). Ingram, a 2022 second-round selection, has started 32 games in his two seasons with the Vikings and improved his pass protection last season, though PFF still has him ranked 34th among guards. Brandel, on the other hand, has only made five starts in his three Vikings seasons.
The Vikings did allocate two draft picks to offensive linemen: Walter Rouse of Oklahoma (number 177 overall) and Michael Jurgens of Wake Forest (number 230 overall). But Rouse, a lineman, will probably cover Darrisaw, while Jurgens, a center, will be the backup to starting quarterback Garrett Bradbury.
