Is Matt Patricia Setup for Brilliance or Disaster? NFC North Offseason Outlook
We just wrapped up one of the most talented divisions in football, the NFC West. The talent pool does not drop here as we continue into the North of the NFC where we saw two playoff teams. This team by team analysis is what fans can expect each of these teams to do going forward in the offseason with a significant emphasis on the draft. This is where some front offices struggle to make critical decisions to improve their football team. This breakdown goes into the different circumstances and strategies that each team will maneuver around come April 23rd…
Detroit Lions
Outlook
The Detroit Lions started off 2019 a lot different than how it ended. They tied the Cardinals in week one and had wins against the Chargers and Eagles in weeks two and three landing them at 2–0–1. Then they played eventual the Super Bowl champion Chiefs extremely tough, narrowly being defeated 34–30 and then a heartbreaker to Green Bay 22–23. That is where the good news ends as they finished the season on 1–12 run leaving many to question the roster, front office, and coaches. With the seat about as hot as it can get for a coach GM combination, the Lions are tasked if turning the ship around in a single offseason with fans unsure how many more chances they could be given and if it is time to just blow up the roster.
Key Departures: Darius Slay, Devon Kennard, A’Shawn Robinson, Rashaan Melvin, Rick Wagner, Damon Harrison Sr.
Additions: Desmond Trufant, Jayron Kearse, Danny Shelton, Chase Daniel, Jamie Collins, Duron Harmon, Nick Williams.
Team Cap Space: $30,917,554
Needs: Edge, OL, RB, QB?
Picks: Round 1: Pick 3 Round 2: 35th Round 3: 67th & 85th Round 4: 109th Round 5 149 & 166 & 172 Round 6: 182nd Round 7: 235
Draft Day Strategy
The Lions are a team flush with cap space and the third overall pick. Sounds like an attractive situation, right? Well not so fast. The Lions have an abundance of holes to fill and an aging quarterback who has never won a playoff game. Stafford was the first overall pick back in 2009, fast-forward over ten years later and he has been largely unsuccessful on a consistently underperforming roster. Matt Patricia is going into his third year as head coach of the Lions and has a woeful 9–22–1 record with his most recent season locking up the third overall draft pick. Patricia has been given another life to continue developing the seemingly,” Patriot-lite,” culture by surrounding his young players with former New England Patriot veterans.
Matt Patricia cannot afford to blow up the roster, draft Tua Tagovailoa, and wait until 2021 to develop a winner with their new franchise QB. Unfortunately, Patricia and Quinn might not get that kind of time so they need to reload their roster with young players who can contribute from day one. It would be wise of them to trade back, accumulate draft picks and add talent to a Swiss cheese roster, allowing a team like the Chargers to take the chance on Tua. Adding multiple picks would be the best thing for the front office and their roster. Should they decide to stay at 3, the Lions will probably select Jeff Okudah, Isaiah Simmons, or Derrick Brown. If they move back from anywhere between 6–10, expect them to add to their lines both offensive and defensive. The best fit being Derrick Brown from Auburn with that first pick. With rumors that the Lions are working to bring in Julian Edelman, the Lions need to develop their culture quickly, or many people will be searching for a new job.
Green Bay Packers
Outlook
One of the more controversial teams in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers are coming off a 13–3 season with a first-year head coach in Matt LaFleur. This is a feat that only one other head coach has ever completed. Jim Harbaugh also went 13–3 with a 49ers team that oozed with talent in a conference championship loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants. Matt LaFleur making history with the Packers is an excellent start to his tenure alongside Aaron Rodgers one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Critics have called the Packers a fluke and a non-elite team after being embarrassed against the 49ers early in the season and another noncompetitive game in the NFC Conference Championship. Some moves will need to be made to bridge the cap from pretender to contender.
Key Departures: Bryan Bulaga, Blake Martinez, Jimmy Graham, Danny Vitale, Kyler Fackrell, BJ Goodson.
Additions: Christian Kirksey, Rick Wagner, Devin Funchess,
Team Cap Space: $10,935,385
Needs: OT, DB, WR, LB, TE, — — Playmaker
Picks: Round 1: 30th Round 2: 62nd Round 3: 94th Round 4: 136 Round 5: 175th 6th Round: 192nd & 208th Round 7th: 236th & 242nd.
Draft Day Strategy:
The Packers need to add a few young, inexpensive players to their starting lineup in order to get over the hump against the elite teams in the league. Their wide receiver room is filled with Devante Adams and several inexperienced WRs whom they hope to take a few leaps forward this season. The pass rush is a strength of theirs with Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, so it is unlikely they use pick 30 on a pass rusher. They lost Bryan Bulaga in free agency so there is an immediate need at tackle. The roster which features a top quarterback, wide receiver, and running back is somehow, still in the need for playmakers. The Packers are still missing a serious playmaker on defense and have no experience at receiver behind Adams. This team would be so much different if it added a Patrick Peterson-type or a speedster WR like Henry Ruggs. Ruggs probably will not be there at 30 and no one is trading their star corners for cheap right now. Expect the Packers to go best player available here whether that is, Noah Igbinoghene, Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, or offensive lineman Caesar Ruiz. Those four guys will be high on their draft board and will be argued about in the “War (Video Chat) Room” the whole first round.
Chicago Bears
Outlook
Coming into the season, many people had the Bears as a favorite in the NFC North with a staunch defensive line and a quarterback ready to take the next step. This did not align the way coach Matt Nagy expected as Mitch Trubisky actually regressed, dramatically, this past season leaving questions about whether he is the future at QB in Chicago. The Bears offensive line has been an issue for a few seasons now and must be addressed in this draft if they want to supersede the Packers and Vikings. They did find some strong playmakers who should help either Trubisky or Foles be successful. The deadline to activate Trubisky’s 5th year option is upcoming in May so the draft decisions that they make are going to be directly linked to how they feel about their quarterback position.
Key Departures: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Chase Daniel, Cornellus Lucas III, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Nick Williams,
Additions: Nick Foles, Robert Quinn, Jimmy Graham, Artie Burns, Germain Ifedi, Jordan Lucas, Barkevious Mingo
Team Cap Space: $11,412,754
Needs: OL, Secondary, QB?
Picks: Round 2: 43 & 50, Round 4: 140 Round 5: 163 Round 6: 196 & 200 Round 7: 226 & 233
Draft Day Strategy:
The Bears are still feeling the effects of the Khalil Mack trade from two years ago. The Raiders were annihilated by fans and media alike for a poor trade for a pass rusher that was a major position of need. Now, the Bears are trending downward in desperate need of those picks, and the Raiders have rebuilt their roster with young talent and surprisingly stable TV personality, turned head coach and General Manager. The Bears still feature Khalil Mack as their staple on defense who helps bail them out a porous secondary which is now without Ha-Ha Clinton-Dix. With no first-round pick, the top offensive lineman will be off the board but that should not stop the Bears. They need to complete their line and keep their QB(s) upright. Expect the Bears to hope for offensive line support players like, Tyler Biadasz, Ben Bredeson, or Austin Jackson are still on the board when they take the podium at pick 43.
Minnesota Vikings
Outlook
“The Purple People Eaters” as they were once called, had one of, if not the most, talented roster in the NFL last season. The Vikings were in a major cap bind throughout the season with a lot of players prepared to entire free agency. Kirk Cousins was going into the last year of his fully guaranteed contract with the Vikings and needed to restructure it to give the Vikings much needed cap relief. After a playoff win last season, the Vikings are looking to take their next step forward. They moved on from two crucial members of the secondary and one of their top playmakers in Stefon Diggs. They got a very strong return from Diggs so that should help them build up their roster with young, talented players who are ready to contribute.
Key Departures: Everson Griffin, Stefon Diggs, Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Jayron Kearse, Andrew Sendejo.
Additions: Michael Pierce
Team Cap Space: $12,256,302
Needs: WR, CB, DL
Picks: Round 1: 22 & 25 Round 2: 58 Round 3: 89 & 105 Round 4: 132 Round 5: 155 Round 6: 201 & 205 Round 7: 219, 249, & 253
Draft Day Strategy:
There are a lot of losses to overcome here in Minnesota and there is little cap space to make a splash in free agency. The Vikings will have to draft very well this season to make the step forward past the divisional round. The move away from Stefon Diggs shows that the Vikings are going to be very committed to Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison to control the pace on the ground. Getting the first-round pick in return allows them to enjoy some flexibility at the backend of the draft. The Vikings should have a long list of player evaluations to get them prepared for all scenarios. Wide Receivers like Justin Jefferson, Denzel Mims, and Tre Higgins will all be on the table to replace Diggs. If they do not go receiver, they will need to bolster the defensive front and secondary. Antoine Winfield seems to be a strong fit to replace Sendejo and AJ Espensa would be a good fit on the defensive line. If K’Lavon Chaisson is still sitting there in the early 20s expect the Vikings to pounce on the LSU product who would be a nice fit in Mike Zimmer’s defense.
- Next up is the NFC South which is now oddly competitive. Follow me on Twitter @HuggingLines if you haven’t already. I plan on doing a giveaway in the next few weeks, probably a jersey. If you have other ideas feel free to DM me they are open. Thanks for reading leave any comments below or DM me on Twitter.
