The first wave of free agency is in the books, and all four teams in the NFC North have begun shaping their rosters for the 2026 season.
Here's a look at how rosters have changed throughout the division:
CHICAGO
2025 record: 11-6 (division champs)
Top re-signings: DL Daniel Hardy, T Braxton Jones, DB Elijah Hicks, LB D'Marco Jackson, QB Case Keenum, OL Jordan McFadden
Key free-agent additions: C Garrett Bradbury (via trade), S Coby Bryant, LB Devin Bush, WR Kalif Raymond, DT Neville Gallimore, DB Cam Lewis, EDGE Kentavius Street, T Jedrick Wills Jr.
Free-agent losses: S Kevin Byard, CB Nahshon Wright, LB Tremaine Edmunds, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, EDGE Dominique Robinson, DT Chris Williams, TE Durham Smythe
Twentyman's take: The Bears did a nice job of replacing the retired Drew Dalman by trading for Bradbury, a veteran with seven years of experience and 105 starts under his belt. Bryant and Bush are nice additions to the defense, and Raymond is a sneaky signing that improves Chicago's depth at receiver and gives head coach Ben Johnson a speedy weapon to deploy on both offense and special teams.
Chicago could still use more talent/depth on defense but there's still the second and third wave of free agency and next month's NFL Draft to fill in some of the holes.
Go behind the scenes with the Detroit Lions during 2026 free agency.
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Cade Mays during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Larry Borom during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Larry Borom signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Larry Borom signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Larry Borom during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Larry Borom during his press conference at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) signs a free agent contract at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) signs a free agent contract at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien signs his contract during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien signs his contract during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Christian Izien during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Tyler Conklin signs his contract at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Tyler Conklin and his family during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 12, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Tyler Conklin during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Tyler Conklin during his visit at the Meijer Performance Center on March 13, 2026 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
GREEN BAY
2025 record: 9-7-1
Top re-signings: C Sean Rhyan, T Darian Kinnard, EDGE Brenton Cox Jr., LB Kristian Welch, TE Josh Whyle, DL Jonathan Ford, LB Nick Niemann, RB Chris Brooks, WR/CB Bo Melton, OL Donovan Jennings
Key free-agent additions: DT Javon Hargrave, CB Benjamin St-Juste, LB Zaire Franklin (via trade), WR Skyy Moore
Free-agent losses: WR Romeo Doubs, QB Malik Willis, EDGE Rashan Gary (via trade), LB Quay Walker, EDGE Kingsley Enagbare, DL Colby Wooden (via trade), C Elgton Jenkins (released), CB Nate Hobbs (released), S Zayne Anderson, RB Emanuel Wilson, T Rasheed Walker
Twentyman's take: Hargrave and Franklin pencil in as immediate starters for the Packers, who should still look to bolster the talent and depth at cornerback and also at edge behind starters Micah Parsons and Lukas Van Ness.
Kinnard was a spot starter last year but with Walker leaving, that's probably a position Green Bay looks to bolster in what remains of free agency or via the draft.
MINNESOTA
2025 record: 9-8
Top re-signings: LB Eric Wilson, LS Andrew DePaola, LB Ivan Pace Jr., OLB Bo Richter, RB Zavier Scott, DL Jalen Redmond
Key free-agent additions: QB Kyler Murray, CB James Pierre, DB Tavierre Thomas
Free-agent losses: WR Jalen Nailor, C Ryan Kelly (retired), P Ryan Wright, FB C.J. Ham (retired), S Harrison Smith (released), DL Jonathan Allen (released), DL Javon Hargrave (released)
Twentyman's take: Murray looks to be a great fit in Minnesota. He should push third-year signal caller J.J. McCarthy for the starting spot and give head coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings options at the quarterback position.
This is still a very good Vikings roster top to bottom, and if they find a way to get more consistency from the quarterback position there's no reason Minnesota can't get back to competing for the NFC North title and a playoff spot in 2026.
DETROIT
2025 record: 9-8
Top re-signings: CB Rock Ya-Sin (reported), LB Malcolm Rodriguez (reported), RB Jacob Saylors, IOL Michael Niese, CB Nick Whiteside, WR Tom Kennedy, LB Trevor Nowaske
Key free-agent additions: OL Cade Mays, OL Larry Borom, RB Isiah Pacheco, DB Christian Izien, QB Teddy Bridgewater (reported), OL Juice Scruggs (via trade), TE Tyler Conklin
Free-agent losses: DT Roy Lopez, LB Alex Anzalone, EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad, CB Amik Robertson, QB Kyle Allen, WR Kalif Raymond, LB Grant Stuard, T Taylor Decker (released), IOL Graham Glasgow (released), EDGE Josh Paschal (released), RB David Montgomery (via trade)
Twentyman's take: Mays is a good fit and an upgrade at a very important position upfront for the Lions. He's a terrific pass blocker and should afford quarterback Jared Goff the opportunity to step up in the pocket more than he had last season.
Borom has started 38 games and can compete for a role at tackle. The Lions could continue to add to the offensive line during free agency or the draft. Pacheco has a track record of success and should benefit from having a shared load as the No. 2 behind Jahmyr Gibbs at running back.
Detroit still has some holes to fill on defense like solidifying the edge, depth at linebacker, cornerback depth and potentially a starter at safety to begin the season if Brian Branch (Achilles) isn't ready.
