What a blast this offseason has been. The 2022 offseason has been a completely different story than last year’s for the Chicago Bears, and it’s all thanks to general manager Ryan Poles.
The second-year GM can do no wrong right now, as he’s gone out and made significant moves to improve this roster and, believe it or not, the Bears look much, much better than they did just 12 short months ago.
We haven’t even gotten to the 2023 NFL Draft just yet, and Poles has been hearing his praises all around NFL media outlets. Speaking of the draft, we have a long way to go before the bulk of the offseason drama is over.
And, as if the offseason couldn’t get any more dramatic, there is a lot left to figure out within the NFC North. For the Bears, there’s not much drama going on. The first overall pick was traded, and beyond that, there aren’t many polarizing stories. As for the rest of the North? Oh, it’s just getting started.
Potentially-chaotic storylines for the Chicago Bears to continue watching within the NFC North: The Detroit Lions and their no. 6 pick
The Lions have a pair of first-round picks this year, but the first one comes at no. 6 overall. With Jared Goff enjoying one of the best years of his career last season, do the Lions really need to go after a quarterback? There are four first-round quarterbacks this year, and all of them could end up going in the top seven or eight picks.
Do the Lions join that party? It would be quite the scene if they snagged either Anthony Richardson or Will Levis.
On the other hand, the Lions could very well see Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter drop to no. 6. Regardless of your opinion on his off-field incident, Carter is a scary, talented player. Adding him to a Lions defense that’s on the rise might just put Detroit over the top and transform them into NFC North favorites.
Did I just write that? Yikes, that sounded just as bad as it felt to type.
No matter what Detroit does at six, they have the ability to add a tremendous talent and possibly flip the division if they play their cards right.
Potentially-chaotic storylines for the Chicago Bears to continue watching within the NFC North: Lamar Jackson becoming a Viking
Wednesday, the Lamar Jackson situation took an interesting turn when ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler gave us all an update live on Sportscenter. Fowler stated that there were two teams linked to Jackson right now, and said to keep an eye on the Minnesota Vikings as more of a wild card type of team.
There is a long way to go within the Jackson/Ravens drama, but if it gets to the point where neither side is willing to budge, then something has to happen. The Ravens will need a quarterback for 2023, and obviously they could roll with Tyler Huntley. But, a trade with Minnesota would at least net them Kirk Cousins.
Jackson in Minnesota, combined with the likes of Justin Jefferson and (maybe) Dalvin Cook, assuming the team doesn’t cut ties with the star running back, would be a terrifying offensive trio. You take the league’s top running quarterback over the last few years and give him arguably the best wide receiver in football, and watch what happens.
If a deal like this were to come about, Bears fans would be less than thrilled. However, watching Jackson versus Justin Fields twice a year could end up being some of the most exciting football we get to see all season long.
Potentially-chaotic storylines for the Chicago Bears to continue watching within the NFC North: Aaron Rodgers leaving Green Bay?
Just what exactly is going on between the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets? Is Aaron Rodgers ever going to be traded? What happens if he isn’t traded?
Heck, there was even a rumor recently that another team has entered the Rodgers conversation, but that’s a conversation for another day.
One of the most hilarious and disastrous outcomes that could happen in this situation is if the Packers and Jets don’t agree on trade compensation. If a deal doesn’t get done, and the Jets opt to go a different direction at quarterback — whatever that may be — then where does that leave Rodgers and the Packers?
Knowing Rodgers and his ego, he very well could choose to either sit out the season or hang up the cleats. Wouldn’t that be something, if Rodgers just decided to retire instead of playing another year in Green Bay?
I can tell you one thing: Bears fans would not only be thrilled by that outcome, but quite frankly, most would agree that it would have been the best possible outcome anyone could have imagined. Not only would Rodgers be out of the division, but he’d be out of the league completely — finally.