1. Detroit Lions

Lessons were learned from last season and the secondary has been shored up. Time to see if they can take it all the way to a Super Bowl.

2. Green Bay Packers

They were one bad half away from getting to the NFC Championship game. Can QB Jordan Love repeat what he accomplished last season in his first year as the starter?

3. Chicago Bears

The reset button has been pushed at quarterback in Chicago once again. For their sake they better have gotten this one right.

4. Minnesota Vikings

We’ll have to wait until next year to see how rookie QB J.J. McCarthy does in Minnesota. For the time being QB Sam Darnold will be the replacement for the departed Kirk Cousins.

Head Coach: Dan Campbell

Key Position: Secondary

This was the biggest problem for the Lions the last two seasons. They were susceptible to big plays from opposing quarterbacks and receivers. Acquiring Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson was a good start to the offseason. Then they drafted Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with their first two picks. Davis and Arnold should form a solid duo at the cornerback position. Brian Branch made his impact immediately known during his rookie season. Injuries derailed his progress, but he can be put all over the field.

Key Acquisitions: DE Marcus Davenport (Minnesota Vikings), CB Carlton Davis (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DT DJ Reader (Cincinnati Bengals), CB Amik Robertson (Las Vegas Raiders), OL Kevin Zeitler (Baltimore Ravens)

Key Rookies: CB Terrion Arnold, CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Head Coach: Matt LaFleur

Key Position: Offense

QB Jordan Love’s impact was immediately felt and was getting even better later in the season. Green Bay gave him a massive extension in the offseason and while there is some risk in doing that after only one full season, they don’t believe it is a mistake. Head coach Matt LaFleur has been maximizing the depth at wide receiver with Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson all having the potential to be a number one receiver. Reed and Doubs have the edge on that with their chemistry with Love. Watson when healthy is the big play threat the offense needs. TE Luke Musgrave is a breakout candidate if he can stay healthy. Green Bay decided to splurge in free agency and brought in RB Josh Jacobs to be the new workhorse at running back. It was interesting to see them make a change after RB Aaron Jones’ performance in the playoffs.

Key Acquisitions: OT Andre Dillard (Tennessee Titans), RB Josh Jacobs (Las Vegas Raiders), DB Xavier McKinney (NY Giants), QB Malik Willis (Tennessee Titans)

Key Rookies: OL Jordan Morgan, LB Edgerrin Cooper, DB Javon Bullard, RB MarShawn Lloyd, LB Ty’Ron Hopper

Head Coach: Matt Eberflus

Key Position: Offense

Yes, it’s not often you get the number one overall pick. And when you do, if a quarterback is available to take, you draft him. That’s what happened for Chicago even though they already had a first round pick in QB Justin Fields. It was quickly becoming apparent that his time was up and now QB Caleb Williams will take the reins. The former Heisman trophy winner at the University of Southern California, Williams brings a passing prowess that Chicago hasn’t had for quite some time. It’s interesting that the Bears now surrounded their quarterback with a multitude of targets. WR Keenan Allen will be a difference maker, especially on third downs. Drafting WR Rome Odunze was a perfect pairing for Williams. WR D.J. Moore will have even more room to operate with his new teammates arrival. RB D’Andre Swift will have plenty of space in this offense to find a gap and exploit it.

Key Acquisitions: WR Keenan Allen (LA Chargers), OL Ryan Bates (Buffalo Bills), DB Kevin Byard III (Philadelphia Eagles), TE Gerald Everett (LA Chargers), DB Jonathan Owens (Green Bay Packers), RB D’Andre Swift (Philadelphia Eagles)

Key Rookies: QB Caleb Williams, WR Rome Odunze

Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell

Key Position: Quarterback

The time had come to move on from Kirk Cousins. When the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy there was some surprise, but he has the makeup of a champion having just won a national title at the University of Michigan. You put him in an offense with the likes of WRs Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, plus a healthy TE T.J. Hockenson and the Vikings have all the confidence in their first round quarterback. The sad part is he suffered a MCL tear and his rookie season was over before it started. Sam Darnold was brought it be a backup or a stopgap at minimum. Now he will be counted on to keep Minnesota’s ship afloat. He was a former top-3 pick, but has never lived up to that billing. Maybe that will change with the targets he has to throw to?

Key Acquisitions: LB Blake Cashman (Houston Texans), QB Sam Darnold (San Francisco 49ers), OL Dan Feeney (Chicago Bears), CB Stephon Gilmore (Dallas Cowboys), DE/LB Jonathan Greenard (Houston Texans), CB Shaq Griffin (Carolina Panthers), RB Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers), CB Fabian Moreau (Denver Broncos), DT Jerry Tillery (Las Vegas Raiders), DE/LB Andrew Van Ginkel (Miami Dolphins), DE/LB Jihad Ward (NY Giants)

Key Rookies: QB J.J. McCarthy, LB Dallas Turner