IDP Depth Chart Evaluations: NFC North
Even though the NFL season just ended, free agency will be here before we know it. For dynasty leagues it’s important to know what each teams’ depth chart looks like because all it takes is for one free agent to leave town for an opportunity for a lesser known player. We’re going to go through each division and evaluate each team before free agency. Today our focus is the NFC North.
Chicago Bears
Key free agents: C.J. Wilson, defensive line, Sam Acho, edge rusher
Weakness: The Bears are wafer thin at the cornerback position as they trot out Tracy Porter as their top option. They have practically nothing behind him after seemingly souring on former 14th overall selection Kyle Fuller. Furthermore, he’s coming off a lost 2016 season which he missed due to an August knee scope. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio even went as far to question Fuller’s desire to play the game.
Fangio is a great defensive coordinator but still lacks the pieces to succeed in the Windy City. Losing inside linebacker Danny Trevathan to a torn patellar tendon in November was a critical blow to this unit. He’s likely to start 2017 on the physically unable to perform list. I’d be shocked if we see him before this November, if at all.
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Strength: There aren’t a lot of strengths on this unit as is. Their defensive line is ok. They seem to have a solid football player in second year linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski who filled in very well after Trevathan’s injury. He’ll join Jerrell Freeman on the inside until Trevathan returns and at which point might actually slide into Freeman’s gig. They also have a couple of serviceable safeties in Harold Jones-Quartey and Adrian Amos who finished second and fourth on the team in total tackles, respectively.
Priority Free Agents: The Bears are a team of transition and don’t currently have a defensive player they absolutely have to re-sign. With quarterback Jay Cutler’s future up in the air and the seemingly imminent departure of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery on offense, I have no clue where this team will focus its money in free agency.
Detroit Lions
Key free agents: Josh Bynes, linebacker, Devin Taylor, defensive line
Weakness: As sure as the sun rises, the Lions have a need at the cornerback position. I honestly can’t remember the last time this team’s corners weren’t a liability. Darius Slay is the team’s top corner but has zero help behind him. I expect this team to address this in both free agency and the draft.
Strength: Much like the Bears unit, this team lacks an overall strength on defense. They have a few pieces to build around with defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who is coming off a dreadful campaign, linebacker Tahir Whitehead, defensive linemen Haloti Ngata, Kerry Hyder and A’Shawn Robinson and possibly linebacker DeAndre Levy if he can ever get healthy.
Priority Free Agents: Even though Devin Taylor performed a disappearing act in 2016 I expect the Lions to push to re-sign him. He was a prime breakout candidate entering 2016 as a first time starter but regressed mightily. His sack total dipped from eight to 4.5 as he was badly outplayed by the aforementioned Kerry Hyder. Unless someone overpays for potential, which often happens with pass rushers, Taylor should be back in the Motor City.
Green Bay Packers
Key free agents: Nick Perry, edge rusher, Julius Peppers, edge rusher, Micah Hyde, cornerback, Datone Jones, edge rusher
Weakness: The Packers are weak at outside linebacker and at the corner position. With Perry, Peppers and Jones all set to hit free agency the Packers will find themselves in all too familiar territory with just Clay Matthews trying to generate a pass rush. The Green Bay cornerbacks are a big question mark entering 2017 with Ladarius Gunter currently sitting atop the depth chart with Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins providing depth.
Strength: They have three linebackers who all played well but also struggled at times in 2016 in Jake Ryan, Blake Martinez and Joe Thomas. The depth here should allow Clay Matthews to spend his time rushing off the edge and not worrying about having to play inside so much. The real strength of this defense though is at the safety position with Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. These guys are one of the top three safety tandems in the entire league and cover a lot of holes for the Packers.
Priority Free Agents: Nick Perry is coming off a career year with 11 sacks, his previous career high was four, and will undoubtedly get paid by someone. Like I said earlier, people will overpay for a pass rusher. Whether or not he gets his money from Ted Thompson and the Packers remains to be seen, but they would be smart to bring him back. Micah Hyde should also be a high priority for the Packers. A high octane offense puts a lot of pressure on its secondary because it often forces teams into a shootout. Without an effective pass rusher these corners will be toast!
Minnesota Vikings
Key free agents: Terence Newman, cornerback, Captain Munnerlyn, cornerback, Chad Greenway, linebacker
Weakness: Somehow a Mike Zimmer defense is struggling to get maximum output from its linebacker group. Eric Kendricks has all the makings of a prototypical Zimmer dominator and led the team with 109 total tackles but the rest of the group was sorry. Anthony Barr seems like a lost soul in this defense and may not be around much longer. Chad Greenway’s star has been fading and isn’t a difference maker anymore. I don’t expect Zimmer to sit on his hands here and I believe he’ll ultimately find “his” guys.
Strength: The strength of this defense is without a doubt the defensive line led by Everson Griffen, Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph and Brian Robison. Griffen, Hunter and Robison combined for 28 sacks in 2016, 12.5 by Hunter. Getting Sharrif Floyd back after missing 15 games last year will only help.
Priority Free Agents: Even though Terence Newman is 100 years old (not really, he’ll be 39 before week one) he still played at a serviceable level for the Vikings last year on a one year, $2.5 million deal. Signing a similar deal might make sense for both sides. Captain Munnerlyn will probably get a richer deal elsewhere but I’m sure the Vikings would take him back at the right price.
Follow me on Twitter @OlingerIDP
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