As Lions' roster talent holds steady, here's what division foes and other NFC contenders have done this offseason
If you're here, you likely have a good sense of what the Detroit Lions have accomplished so far this offseason.
To recap, the team has heavily invested in retaining its own free agents, re-signing key contributors such as Derrick Barnes, Levi Onwuzurike and Tim Patrick. They made one splash addition, bringing in cornerback D.J. Reed to replace the departing Carlton Davis III, then supplemented the depth chart with several more signings, including Roy Lopez, Grant Stuard, Avonte Maddox and Kenny Yeboah.
The Lions have lost some players in free agency, too, but none that were unexpected. Kevin Zeitler and Ifeatu Melifonwu joined Davis on the departures list. Zeitler leaving would sting more if the team didn't have Christian Mahogany waiting in the wings for a starting job. Additionally, the team declined the option on Za'Darius Smith's contract, opting instead to run it back with Marcus Davenport at a fraction of the cost.
All in all, the Lions are treading water with the roster following last year's 15-2 season, banking on better health as the needed improvement to counteract a challenging schedule as the franchise pursues its first Super Bowl.
Of course, the other teams in the division and contenders across the NFC are gunning for the same prize. In case you haven't been paying attention to what's been going on across the conference, let's explore the shifting landscape ahead of next month's draft.
We'll start with the three division foes before evaluating the other five contenders, which we've generously defined as teams with Super Bowl odds of 30-to-1 or better.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Before making any roster moves, the Bears completed their biggest offseason decision, hiring Ben Johnson away from Detroit to serve as the franchise's next head coach. He's going to call plays for an offense that finished 28th in scoring last year, and he brought on experienced and respected coordinator Dennis Allen to elevate the team's defense.
In terms of personnel, general manager Ryan Poles wasted little time re-shaping Chicago's trenches for the new coaching staff. Notable efforts were made to improve an offensive line that allowed a league-high 68 sacks last season. Poles picked up guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in trades and signed Drew Dalman, widely believed to be the best center available in free agency.
The other changes on offense have been modest. Wide receiver Keenan Allen, 32, remains a free agent after catching 70 passes for 744 yards last season. The team added a couple of cheaper alternatives in Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay to round out a corps headlined by D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze, a first-round pick from a year ago.
Defensively, Chicago spent big to bolster its defensive front, inking defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo to three-year deals, both valued north of $40 million.
Assuming Johnson can work similar magic to when he took over a dreadful Detroit offense in 2022, turning the unit into a perennial top-five performer, Chicago should easily improve on its five wins from a year ago. The team holds the No. 10 pick in April's draft and could use the selection to continue building up its offensive line, or to snag a top running back like Boise State's Ashton Jeanty to further mimic how Johnson had success in Detroit.
Verdict: Improved
Green Bay Packers
After signing a pair of impact performers in safety Xavier McKinney (first-team All-Pro) and running back Josh Jacobs (Pro Bowler) in 2024, the Packers have been more conservative in free agency this offseason.