Pride of Detroit
Let’s take a look at the NFC North offseason outlook, and what it may mean for the 2025 divisional rankings.
At this point in the offseason, nobody knows anything about what will happen in 2025. We can pretend we have a pretty good idea based on current rosters and 2025 opponents, but there is so much change in an offseason that the outlook now could be drastically different come August and September.
But what else are we supposed to do for the next six months but speculate?
The NFC North had a historic regular season in 2024. Not only did three teams have at least 11 wins, but even with the 5-12 Chicago Bears, the 2024 NFC North is the winningest division in NFL history by win percentage. And it’s not unreasonable to believe the division could be even better in 2025.
The Packers had the youngest roster in the NFL last year, and if their players can take a step in development, they could challenge for the title again. The Lions are not set to lose many key free agents (if any), and they have plenty of offseason resources to add to the team. The Chicago Bears have amassed a strong-looking coaching staff, and given that they appeared—in my opinion—to underperform to their talent level last year, it’s reasonable to think they make a jump to at least .500.
The Vikings are the only team that may suffer a clear step back in 2025. They had the oldest roster in 2024, and their free agent list is massive and full of contributors. And while their salary cap is in a healthy spot, they only have three draft picks (a first and two fifths—although they’re expected to earn a third-round compensatory pick). On top of that, they’re likely headed for a quarterback change, with J.J. McCarthy expected to start next year.
One thing to consider for all four teams is the schedule. This year, the NFC North will play the potentially difficult NFC East (Cowboys, Commanders, Giants, Eagles) and AFC North (Ravens, Steelers, Bengals, Browns). So I think it’s possible every team wins fewer games than they did in 2025.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
My answer: Oddly, this outlook feel eerily similar to where things were at last year.
On the surface, it looks like the Lions and Packers have the best shot at the division, while the Vikings look like they’re due to regress. Meanwhile, the Bears remain the biggest wildcard, with both a fairly high ceiling and a pretty low floor. These were my exact expectations for the division last year—and then the Vikings surprised everyone with an incredible regular season run in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. So I’m not really counting them out this year, even if they’re starting a brand-new quarterback.
Still, I’m going to have them third in the division. My way-too-early rankings are:
