NFC North 2014 Free Agency Signings

The NFC North division currently hosts two previous NFL MVPs in Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson but still doesn't conclude as one of the best division in football last season.

Green Bay Packers failed to reach the mark of 10-win season yet they won the NFC North crown to represent their division for the post-season.

Adrian Peterson was slightly disappointed from his performance last season but never failed to reach 10-touchdown runs in each season for the Vikings.

Megatron gave a 12-touchdown season for the Lions but overall performance of the team made Megatron's effort unnoticed and lead to another coaching change.

The loss of Julius Peppers for the Chicago Bears removed some of their team's prestige around the league for creating havoc for offensive line of the opposing teams. Apparently, Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston came in to fill the presence of Peppers for Bears' defensive line.

All of the teams participating in the NFC North have their own face of the franchise players that their team can build around with. Let's take a look of each teams 2014 free agency pickups.
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MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Minnesota Vikings finished last in NFC North division leading to Leslie Frazier firing and another rebuilding mode for the Vikings franchise. Rick Spielman will now work with his newly hired head coach Mike Zimmer to refocus their philosophy on defense.

Leslie Frazier era ends with Jared Allen era for the Vikings. Jared Allen has been the face of the franchise for the Vikes and the emergence of Everson Griffen and Brian Robison made Jared Allen expandable to Mike Zimmer's defense. After all of free agency moves, let's take a look of Minnesota Vikings additions so far:

Marcus Sherels
Larry Dean
Matt Cassel
Everson Griffen
Linval Joseph
Jasper Brinkley
Joe Berger
Captain Munnerlyn
Jerome Simpson
Derek Cox
Fred Evans
Charlie Johnson
Tom Johnson
Corey Wootton
Vladimir Ducasse
Lestar Jean
Allen Reisner
Terrell Manning
Kurt Coleman

The signing of Linval Joseph completes their defensive line along with Shariff Floyd, Everson Griffen and Brian Robison. Derek Cox and Captain Munnerlyn will be an upgrade for their starting cornerbacks that features young stud in Xavier Rhodes.

Matt Cassel will provide veteran leadership to Christian Ponder and to the upcoming quarterback draft pick on May. With Toby Gerhart gone, expect General Manager Rick Spielman to fill the void for a second-string running back behind Adrian Peterson.
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DETROIT LIONS

The Detroit Lions just shy from a .500 record for the season finishing 7-9 record leading to Jim Schwartz firing. Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford will now be coached by an offensive minded head coach in Jim Caldwell. The new head coach has been the last rookie head coach to lead his team in Super Bowl back in 2010 with Indianapolis Colts. With Martin Mayhew still running the show for the Detroit Lions, let's take a look at their recent free agent signings this offseason:

Corvey Irvin
Joique Bell
Golden Tate
Darryl Tapp
Brandon Pettigrew
Jed Collins
James Ihedigbo
Dan Orlovsky
J.B. Shugarts
Cassius Vaughn
Kourtnei Brown
Rashean Mathis

The signing of Golden Tate to complement their passing game that features the best wide receiver in football today in Megatron. Outside of the two, there has been no reliable backup to step up in their receiving game and a pick for another receiver in the draft could come in May.

Rashean Mathis' presence in their secondary boosts some confidence for young studs in Darius Slay and for the incoming cornerback from the draft as they are currently thin at defensive backfield. Even in the emergence of Joseph Fauria, Brandon Pettigrew will provide some depth and competition for the starting spot and could be use in two tight end sets for coach Caldwell.
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CHICAGO BEARS

The Chicago Bears free agency bonanza highlighted by the signings of Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen which made the Bears stacked at defensive end position. Signing Willie Young, Austen Lane, Israel Idonije and Trevor Scott proves that Marc Trestman will relentlessly pressure the opposing quarterback. With Henry Melton gone as their starting defensive tackle, General Manager Phil Emery will try to fill the void for the Defensive Tackle spot and other minor holes to their roster in this draft and offseason. Let's take a look at their free agent signings this last month:

Jay Cutler
Joe Anderson
Austen Lane
Derricus Purdy
Taylor Boggs
Derrick Martin
Roberto Garza
Kelvin Hayden
Jeremiah Ratliff
Trevor Scott
Nate Collins
Jordan Palmer
Lamarr Houston
Ryan Mundy
D.J. Williams
Jordan Senn
Willie Young
Domenik Hixon
Charles Tillman
Israel Idonije
Danny McCray
Craig Steltz
Sherrick McManis
Eben Britton
Brian de la Puente
Chad Rempel
Matthew Mulligan
Josh Bellamy
Jared Allen

Signing plug and play veteran players fill some roster deficiencies for the Bears roster. The releasing of Julius Peppers saved them some salary cap and replace him with much cheaper veteran players at his position and bring some players in for depth and competition.

Jared Allen will easily fulfill some of the promises left by Peppers, while Houston and Young will provide rotational roles to the other side of the defensive line. Brian de la Puente will upgrade their passing and running offense and D.J. Williams is back for another season to start at Middle Linebacker spot.
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GREEN BAY PACKERS

The Green Bay Packers made a splash in free agency in signing Julius Peppers at this point of his career. The last best signing of the Packers was Reggie White that made them an instant Super Bowl contender and won the Lombardi Trophy accordingly. Notable pieces like B.J. Raji, Sam Shields, and John Kuhn were back for another Super Bowl campaign with a healthy Aaron Rodgers next season. Ted Thompson signing of his homegrown players always do it in a 'Packers Way', let's take a look at their recent signings this offseason:

Raymond Webber
Michael Hill
Chris Banjo
Sam Shields
Mike Neal
Andrew Quarless
B.J. Raji
Julius Peppers
Letroy Guion
James Starks
John Kuhn
Matt Flynn

Sam Shields contract made him one of the highest paid cornerback around the league. B.J. Raji is back for another season after turning down his previous contract proposal by Thompson which offers more money than his recent contract signing this offseason.

John Kuhn and James Starks stayed relevant to Mike McCarthy running schemes even though Eddie Lacy is running the show for their running game. The signing of Matt Flynn is a no-brainer move by the Packers for the backup quarterback spot, and will give a great competition for second string quarterback in Scott Tolzien and other incoming quarterbacks for the Packers.
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OVERALL

The Chicago Bears won the free agency race for the NFC North while the Packers signed the Bears' best player after they released him. Packers philosophy of building the team through the draft and sign their homegrown talents was displayed this offseason. Expect them to garner more developmental players to be their eventual starters in this year's draft. While the Vikings and Lions have their new head coach in place, which means another system for the same roster, will make them the underdogs of this NFC North division.