Chicago Bears: Three reasons the NFC North is wide open in 2020

1. The Vikings lost a lot of core pieces

Mackensie Alexander, Stefon Diggs, Linval Joseph, Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and the list seem to go on and on. Those are just a handful of the names that won’t be with the Vikings in 2020 after having been with the team since at least 2016.

For the Vikings, on defense, 2020 will be a year of transition. While head coach Mike Zimmer will still be calling the shots, there are some big shoes to fill. In an offseason where everything was virtual, the Vikings will need to hope that less experienced players are able to play like seasoned veterans.

On offense, the only major piece that was lost was Diggs, who was traded. Minnesota is hoping that running back Dalvin Cook and wide receiver Adam Thielen can continue to be playmakers for the offense.

Another thing worth noting is that under Zimmer, who’s heading into his eighth season with the Vikings, the Vikings have never made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. This is why 2020 is another interesting year for the Purple People Eaters.

Overall, the Vikings lost more than they added this offseason. The continuity they lost between players who’ve been with the team will eventually catch up to a team that will look to free-agent signings and draft picks to help fill the void.