NFC North Predictions

[Heyjoe4]

Yeah, I thought the same thing but it's just not worth giving up the draft capital and the money you have to pay them for two or three years of declining production no thank you.......

Agreed. Trades like this are all about paying for past performance. They are expensive in terms of draft capital required, as well as $$$. Hendrickson likely wants Garret and Watt money, $40 mil per. No thanks.

If it is required to plug a hole for a SB run (the Rams did this by acquiring Stafford), then it's probably worth it. Unfortunately, the Packers have been more than one player away from a serious SB run. Has that changed this offseason? I don't think so. I hope I'm wrong.

The Packers did this with Reggie White and later with Charles Woodson, and won SBs both times. Although those were FA signings, not trades.

After the infamous trade for John Hadl, the Packers' organization should be rightfully cautious of big trades. OMG just thinking of that trade causes pain. Two firsts, two seconds and a third round pick. Five very valuable draft spot for a Once v good but then washed up QB. Ouch, indeed.

Did the Bears acquire Khalil Mack in FA or was that a trade? Don't recall. At least Mack had several good years left in him. I think he's still playing in San Diego.

 

[Half Empty]

They whacked their DL coach and hired a new guy. Their names escape me.

And with all the talent on that line, someone had to get whacked. I truly hope better coaching can get first-round guys to play like first-round guys - specifically - Wyatt, Walker, and LVN, although Walker is a LB.

And this will be Hafley's second season. He did a great job last year, with the exception of putting pressure on opposing QBs and getting sacks. I expect that will improve.

All the coaches

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Covington did come from NE. I thought he served a year or two as a DC somewhere. Can anyone confirm or deny? Thanks all.

His resume:

He previously served as an assistant coach at the New England Patriots, Eastern Illinois University, the University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

DeMarcus Covington - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Schultz]

I do too. And they had a good defense last year.

They had a good defense 2 years ago. Last year not so much.

 

[OldSchool101]

They had a good defense 2 years ago. Last year not so much.

Yep. If you recall last year Chicago started strong on Defense. Matter of fact we were like 6-8 games in and all 4 NFC N Defenses were Rockin’. Don’t quote me but something similarly ranked
#4,#6,#7,#9

I didn’t follow Chicago as much down the later stretch because they sorta fell irrelevant past mid season. They obviously dropped to #13 in scoring while GB rose to #6 scoring.

The North Defenses as a combined unit were incredibly good though.
#4,#5,#6,#13. When #13 is lagging far behind the entire Division I’d call that remarkable.

I really don’t see much of a drop off in any of our Defenses we’re just loaded with talent as a group.

 

[OldSchool101]

That’s another thing to consider. The Packers were fortunate to keep all 4 primary Coaching positions intact.
HC, OC, DC, STC… Fluidity and continuity is a key to success imo. Matter of fact I think we got an upgrade at DL from the Patriots Coaching tree. The only remotely concerning departure was Tom Clements replaced by Mannion. Although he was there long enough to form a solid foundation and Mannion is already stressing better footwork for Love. So sometimes those position Coaches can give a better perspective on improving areas of weakness.

Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota all have changes with at least 1 (or Multiple positions)of HC, DC, OC, Teams Coordinator.

Advantage > Green Bay

 

[El Guapo]

I loved Tom Clements - and maybe I said this once before - but it's possible he doesn't connect with the young players as well as he used to do. Even though Mannion may not be the same level of QB whisperer, he may be able to get inside a young QB's ear.

 

[gopkrs]

They had a good defense 2 years ago. Last year not so much.

You probably know better than me. It's tough to be really good when you are getting tired in the 4th quarter though. I hope you are right. I don't think they did a lot in the off season for that side of the ball.

 

[OldSchool101]

I loved Tom Clements - and maybe I said this once before - but it's possible he doesn't connect with the young players as well as he used to do. Even though Mannion may not be the same level of QB whisperer, he may be able to get inside a young QB's ear.

I agree.
Hes got Football Pedigree. His Dad was a College Scout and Sean would travel with his Dad and actually started taking notes on players at the ripe old age of 7yrs! (True Story)
Sean went on to play QB in HS and College. Eventually he was good enough to get signed and played as a career backup for 6 seasons. So he’s played the QB position for over 10 years at HS, College and Pro level.

Mannion is going to have some fresh perspective as a multi season player backup for Seattle, LA and most recently Minnesota (2019,2021) He was Cousins backup.

 

[El Guapo]

I always feel that those QBs who had the mind but not the skill to be an starter, they end up being great coaches. They worked on perfecting the mechanics and their minds, trying to deal with their shortcomings.

 

[OldSchool101]

Put Hendrickson out of your mind. He's going on 31 (December) and wants $30+mil/yr, in addition to draft picks headed to Cincy. WAY too rich for an aging player.

I know but a man can dream!

 

[Thirteen Below]

GB still sits comfortably with $29mil Cap in real time tied for #10 best position. While we want to use that to resign futures, so does every team.

We need to make use of that while we can, because apparently the math gets a lot tougher in 26.

The Packers are well over the 2026 salary cap projection

Green Bay will need to get creative or off of contracts next offseason

www.acmepackingcompany.com

 

[Pkrjones]

Alexander ($27mil cap#, $17.494 savings if cut) & Jenkins ($24.8mil cap#, $20mil savings if cut) are 2 contracts that'll easily flip GB's situation. There are others, such as Gary (2yr, $25mil?? extension to reduce his cap#); or cut/extension of Clark depending on wear/tear & performance.

 

[gopkrs]

Alexander ($27mil cap#, $17.494 savings if cut) & Jenkins ($24.8mil cap#, $20mil savings if cut) are 2 contracts that'll easily flip GB's situation. There are others, such as Gary (2yr, $25mil?? extension to reduce his cap#); or cut/extension of Clark depending on wear/tear & performance.

Some of them will also affect our performance

 

[Thirteen Below]

The only remotely concerning departure was Tom Clements replaced by Mannion. Although he was there long enough to form a solid foundation and Mannion is already stressing better footwork for Love. So sometimes those position Coaches can give a better perspective on improving areas of weakness.

I've been very excited about Mannion ever since he was hired; that was an outstanding move by Lafleur - get Clement's replacement in here to spend a year learning under the master, familiarize himself with the offense, and establish a rapport with Love. Brilliant move. Plus, we stole him from the Bears, who were about to hire him the next day.

Every coach Mannion played for in the NFL (including Lafleur in LA) said having him in the QB room was like having a second quarterback coach, and several said he's a future head coach if he wants it. Cousins (4 years older than Mannion) said something to the effect that Sean had taught him more than most actual QB coaches, and made him a significantly better quarterback. A lot of Viking fans were furious that we hired him; apparently a lot of people in Minnesota assumed that when he retired, he'd join their staff.

This guy is a brainiac - Wonderlic score of 40, 4.6 GPA in his multi-disciplinary master's program at Oregon State... I can't wait to see how much of an effect he can have on Love.

 

[Schultz]

Yep. If you recall last year Chicago started strong on Defense. Matter of fact we were like 6-8 games in and all 4 NFC N Defenses were Rockin’. Don’t quote me but something similarly ranked
#4,#6,#7,#9

I didn’t follow Chicago as much down the later stretch because they sorta fell irrelevant past mid season. They obviously dropped to #13 in scoring while GB rose to #6 scoring.

The North Defenses as a combined unit were incredibly good though.
#4,#5,#6,#13. When #13 is lagging far behind the entire Division I’d call that remarkable.

I really don’t see much of a drop off in any of our Defenses we’re just loaded with talent as a group.

The firing of Nagy coincided with the drop on Defense. He was basically the DC. If memory serves they fired the DC in early 2024 and did not really replace him with Nagy pretty much running the D. Nagy then kept his thumb on the defense in 2025 until his firing.

 

[Schultz]

You probably know better than me. It's tough to be really good when you are getting tired in the 4th quarter though. I hope you are right. I don't think they did a lot in the off season for that side of the ball.

I live on the Southside of Chicago, but I am a Cubs and Packers fan, so I am exposed to the Bears more than most on here.

 

[Calebs Revenge]

I know but a man can dream!

Get Clowney. Not as good as Hendrickson, but save draft picks and money and still get a guy that can scare the hell out of tackle and his quarterback.

 

[Heyjoe4]

All the coaches

This is a terrific chart, thanks HE. I hear so much about coaches and assistant coaches and have never had a good idea of how many there are and who they are and title.

Great stuff!

 

[Heyjoe4]

His resume:

He previously served as an assistant coach at the New England Patriots, Eastern Illinois University, the University of Tennessee at Martin, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

DeMarcus Covington - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

TU Curly. Interesting resume. Here's hoping he can coach that first-round-heavy DL up a bit.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I loved Tom Clements - and maybe I said this once before - but it's possible he doesn't connect with the young players as well as he used to do. Even though Mannion may not be the same level of QB whisperer, he may be able to get inside a young QB's ear.

Your point is valid. Traditionally, in sports and business, the managers and leaders were all older than their charges.

And in both sports and business, that just doesn't hold true anymore, and I think that's for the better. A lot of very young people have a wealth of experience at a relatively young age. We're seeing HCs in their 30s, and why not?

And you're also right about Clements, a great, great QB coach. He has earned a long and happy retirement.