Around the NFC North: 53-Man Rosters
How did the inferior teams in the North shape their rosters?
By Mike Price
I'm sure you've read the thousands of dingus brained tweets from the fans of the inferior NFC North teams over the past several days as they face the metaphysical crisis of the Packers trading for Micah Parsons. Meanwhile, the teams were making moves, shifting the proverbial titanic deck chairs, last week, to get down to a 53-man roster and maybe even shore up the roster with a wide receiver born before the internet was publicly available.
Lions
- The big news was that the Lions gave up on Hendon Hooker, who was cut and then signed with the Panthers' practice squad. Hooker reportedly signed with Carolina because he was mad about being cut by the Lions. The move can't have been hard for the Lions. Hooker did not play in an NFL-ready offense and was massively outperformed by Kyle Allen this preseason. Hooker, who was a famously old rookie, is already 27.
- The Lions also got rid of Tim Patrick, a blocking-only receiver who was supposed to be a big add last season. They got a sixth-round pick from the Jags for him. The move likely signals that the team is comfortable using rookie Isaac TeSlaa in that role.
- Former swing tackle Dan Skipper was shown the door as well. The tackle was famously used in shenanigans by the Lions offense when they tried to gain an advantage by throwing to an offensive lineman who the defense didn't realize was eligible. Maybe the new OC is over the shenanigans???
- The Lions will be starting a new player at all three interior o-line spots this year. Tate Ratledge is a rookie from Georgia who scored over the 80th percentile in just about everything at the combine. Center Graham Glasgow will be a full-time starter for the first time in his career.
Vikings
- The Vikings, who will be without Jordan Addison for the first three games and were being weird about Justin Jefferson's long hamstring injury, acquired 35-year-old Adam Thielen from the Panthers for the equivalent of a four-round pick. You know what they say about roster management with young QBs: waste a prime pick on an almost certainly washed receiver for three games when you probably don't have a shot at the Super Bowl that year anyway.
- Remember how for much of the offseason we made fun of the Vikings because they had no picks in the draft? They had seven UDFAs make their 53-man roster. What on earth?? The Packers had one, Nazir Stackhouse, and at least one Packers podcaster is going to have to eat fabric because of it. Remember, the Vikings are $53mm over the cap for 2026 already. It's not like they can try to upgrade these holes in free agency next year. Sheesh.
- The Vikings ditched veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, trading him to the Jets and QB Sam Howell, trading him to the Eagles. I can't say I was paying really close attention to Harrison Phillips this training camp, but that could be a rough loss. Especially considering the pass rush only tackles the Vikings acquired in free agency. Howell, who was supposed to be Kevin O'Connell's newest redemption project, was traded in concert with the free agency signing of Carson Wentz. Safety Mekhi Blackmon was also traded. These are the desperate moves you have to make before cutdown day to acquire picks when you're already in cap hell next season without even paying a QB. Maybe there are rookie free agents who will outplay those guys, but it seems like a stretch.
Bears
- Great news, Jonathan Owens, most known for being a former Packer, made the roster as a backup safety slash special teams stud.
- Austin Booker, who looked like a preseason version of Micah Parsons (actual current Green Bay Packer), was added to the IR with a designation to return. Ben Johnson said that the edge will miss just a few games (he has to miss at least four on IR), so he will certainly be back before the Bears play the Packers later this year.
- Bears fans were hankering for Parsons on Twitter when he requested a trade, and when he went to the right team, they quickly changed their hankering (hanker? hank?) to Za'Darius Smith. Smith has made his way around the division and would probably be a good pick-up, but it's a rough look when you trade an early pick for an edge and then sign one to a big deal in back-to-back years, and your fanbase is begging for someone who will actually produce.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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Comments (26)
LambeauPlain
September 02, 2025 at 11:09 am
It was hilarious visiting the bares Windy City site (on the SB Nation platform, similar to Acme) post Parsons trade.
Examples:
The Packers (6th ranked) D was terrible last year and Parsons can't fix it.
Love has shown to be a failure as a starter so Parsons is just a distraction by the front office to take heat of Jordan.
Parsons is lazy, was greatly disliked in the locker room because he was arrogant and a diva.
Packers were reckless trading away Clark, their "best" player on their Defense.
Due to the Parsons Hail Mary trade, if the Packers don't make it to the SB, the entire front office and coaching staff will be fired.
I will note about 1/4 of bares' fans comments were in the vein of "oh, crap" and "how did the Packers get him and we didn't even try?"
To be fair, the bares GM did try. Apparently he asked Ben Johnson if they should make an attempt for Parsons and the HC said "no". Solid due diligence.
dobber
September 02, 2025 at 12:44 pm
"I will note about 1/4 of bares' fans comments were in the vein of ... "how did the Packers get him and we didn't even try?""
Sounds pretty familiar.
"Apparently he asked Ben Johnson if they should make an attempt for Parsons and the HC said "no". Solid due diligence."
Sounds like the words of a coach who knows his team needs those early draft picks badly.
Leatherhead
September 02, 2025 at 11:56 am
I appreciate the opportunity to get good summaries on our division rivals. Know thy enemy.
I think it comes down to this: Detroit and GB are fighting for the title, and Minnesota and Chicago are fighting to stay out of the division basement. Minnesota is starting a virgin at QB. Chicago is in the second year of screwing up the Caleb Williams era. His weaponry isn't particularly awe inspiring, but he does have help in the backfield and the Oline has some good blockers.
So I think it'll be Minnesota in the basement. They're going to from 14-3 to maybe 5-12 this year
We'll be like 12-5, Detroit will be right there at 11-6, Chicago will be 10-7, and Minnesota will be 5-12.
Starrbrite
September 02, 2025 at 01:38 pm
I like your picks Leatherhead.
Gman1976
September 02, 2025 at 04:00 pm
As much as I love purple tears, I really admire their coach. He is a much better field general than many other coaches (including our own). So I suspect, they will earn 2 or 3 more wins than your prediction. A good coach pulls out a few more wins.
Leatherhead
September 02, 2025 at 04:21 pm
The Vikings HC is 34-17 in three years. That's 2:1. But he's never won a playoff game and he's in his 4th year. If the Vikings struggle and finish in last place, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they would compound the problem by firing him.
I will say one thing for him, which is that his offense showed up right away in both our games .
But I hope he has a horrible season.
Bitternotsour
September 02, 2025 at 04:41 pm
He is a genuine offensive savant. What he did last year with that QB was pretty remarkable. I hope he goes on to a successful career with the Rams after Minnesota runs him off.
LambeauPlain
September 02, 2025 at 04:40 pm
I like your predictions. And I can see the Packers getting 12 wins, maybe 13.
Is the offense improved? Run game should be better than last year. Pass game could be better. As the game of football goes, it starts with the OL. The only difference of the starting 5 is Banks replacing Meyers. Back up Morgan. They should be better with Jenks on point. If Jacobs has better initial blocks and Love has time...this could be fun.
Is the defense improved? The front 7 is probably the best the Packers have had in a very long time. The DBs are going to play better with the 4 sophomores (Willians, Bullard, Hopper, Oladapo) veterans now, still led by Xavier.
The STs should be able to hold serve with a good kicking game.
Win the Division. Win your NFC games. Earn the first seed.
Snap the ball
September 02, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Don’t forget Anderson. He will get a pick Sunday
Bearmeat
September 03, 2025 at 02:46 am
That’s way too much credit to the bears. Otherwise solid.
dobber
September 02, 2025 at 01:01 pm
Minnesota's roster is expensive and paper thin. They're well-coached with capable front line personnel. I think the only way they fall below 7 wins is if they lose a few key players to injuries or McCarthy turns out to be no better than Christian Ponder...both of which could happen. This is what it looks like when you deal away draft picks at the deadline every year for stopgaps.
Don't be surprised if Chicago surges based on the energy of a new coaching staff and gets to maybe 11 wins...and don't be surprised if they struggle to get to 6 or 7. Johnson is just the next in the line of offensive prodigies (Trestman, Nagy), and while they showed well early under Nagy, they couldn't overcome bad management. I'd say at this point that Ryan Poles > Ryan Pace, so I think they have a shot to improve, but I'm not sold on Johnson.
We're also seeing the Lions' roster being whittled away by cap/resign decisions. The Packers need to pay attention. The Lions still have some really good front-line players, and I think their defense will be improved over 2024--Hutchinson's kind of injury is not easy to bounce back from, though. They're still the most complete team in the division, even if they're trying to figure out their OL.
I don't vault the Packers over the Lions just because of Parsons, and I think he'll be limited and won't make a huge impact week 1.
Lions 12-5
Packers 11-6
Bears 8-9
Vikings 8-9
Qoojo
September 02, 2025 at 01:26 pm
Interesting. After packers just brought home the off-season lombardi trophy, I have them going all the way and not losing a game, unless Parsons is too limited in first game due to conditioning or back issues. Then they might lose the first game.
greengold
September 02, 2025 at 03:57 pm
Yeah. What Qoojo said. Dobs, are you F'ing nuts???
[:roflmao/]
Good God, how I miss that emoji...!
Bitternotsour
September 02, 2025 at 04:43 pm
More likely than performance the kid weighs 180 lbs soaking wet - he'll turn out to be made out of glass.
Snap the ball
September 02, 2025 at 11:20 pm
Packers 13 wins plus
Bearmeat
September 03, 2025 at 02:47 am
I think you are giving too much credit to the bears, I think they will be in the basement again. Unless injuries hit the Vikings hard.
And I think you’re giving too much credit to the lions. Specifically their quarterback. We are going to see this year if he has the straw that stirs the drink or if he is just a product of excellent play around him. I am guessing the former.
Starrbrite
September 02, 2025 at 01:45 pm
An excellent report Mr Price. For cap-worriers, the Vikings cap is very interesting.
I believe McCarthy is going to suffer some rookie misfortune. I predict the Bears beat the Vikings this Monday.
If Parsons can’t play (much), I agree with LH and others who believe we can beat the Lions without him in the lineup.
Go Packers!!!
BuckyBadger
September 02, 2025 at 03:15 pm
I think the Lions will take a big step back. They have to rebuild their OL which was always the heart of that team and they had a big brain drain this off season. It is very hard to win double digit games 3 times in a row. It is usually a good time to fade a team. I think they could end up finishing last but I think the Vikings will end up there. I am not a big fan of McCarthy and will struggle in his 1st season. He wasn't the reason UM won and they even didn't seem to trust him in big games leaning heavily on the run.
I see the Bears as much improved. There was a lot I didn't like about Caleb but he has a great coach that will makes things easier for him. Just having Johnson's attention to detail will help this team out. I also thought they spent very well this off season beefing up the lines and defense. I see it as the Packers and Bears battling it out but they all can compete if things fall right.
Starrbrite
September 02, 2025 at 04:47 pm
Agree completely Bucky.
greengold
September 02, 2025 at 03:33 pm
"How did the inferior teams in the North shape their rosters? "
Any Lions, Vikings or Bears fan could easily reply, "Ask a Packer fan."
We haven't done anything, YET! The proof will be in our Packers team not:
1. Shitting the bed.
2. Believing too many press clippings.
3. Losing focus, thinking they own the Lombardi Trophy.
4. Remembering to stay healthy.
5. Remembering to have fun while putting in the work to win.
6. CTFB
The NFC North has been improving greatly over the years. I'm grateful for that, as I believe those 6 tests during the regular season are becoming more like iron sharpening iron.
Micah Parsons? HUGE get for this particular Packers team at this particular time. I'm still stunned knowing that trade happened. If everybody else on this team, players & coaches alike, all keep their heads about them, focusing on producing nothing short of their very best in every game, every moment, I'm confident we will see more trophies in the case at 1265... Maybe this upcoming February, and beyond.
Ihappydirt
September 02, 2025 at 03:43 pm
"Great news, Jonathan Owens, most known for being a former Packer..."
Great news, Jonathan Owens, most known for being Simone Biles husband ...
Snap the ball
September 02, 2025 at 11:21 pm
Should have brought him back
She likes the big city thou
LeotisHarris
September 02, 2025 at 04:14 pm
Whoa, Mr. Mankato snuck back into the Vikings' receiving corps while I wasn't paying attention. That's fine. Maybe they can pick up Sammy White, too. I loathe Adam Thielen, but he's more than welcome to waddle around as long as he likes in Vikingland.
Bitternotsour
September 02, 2025 at 04:30 pm
.
Bitternotsour
September 02, 2025 at 04:35 pm
always good for a smile
https://x.com/DustyEvely/status/1094670003096481793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%...
LeotisHarris
September 02, 2025 at 05:52 pm
That's screensaver material right there.