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The major question facing each team in the NFC North as summer break looms.

Chicago Bears: Offensive line. Jay Cutler has been sacked a whopping 148 times over the past four seasons. That won’t do. I commend the Bears for their efforts to improve their abysmal offensive line from 2012, but did they do enough? Honestly, I think they did, but I am having a tough time finding holes in Chicago’s roster right now, so offensive line is still my choice for its biggest remaining question. One more wide receiver or defensive back would be great, but with all the changes in the front five, there could be growing pains in terms of continuity and determining exactly who should be the starter at each position. From left to right, the Bears most likely will be starting Jermon Bushrod, Matt Slauson, Roberto Garza, Kyle Long and J'Marcus Webb. Only Garza and Webb were on the team in 2012, and Webb is moving from left to right tackle. Change was needed, but continuity is a key aspect of offensive line play, and I don’t see a singular great player in this group. That could be an early problem for the Bears. The scheme will help, though, as will former offensive line coach Aaron Cromer as the offensive coordinator. This line will be better, but it does remain a question.

Detroit Lions: Offensive line. Quietly, the Lions’ offensive line did a fine job last season. But three of their starting five are gone, including both offensive tackles. My hunch is Detroit would have loved to select Lane Johnson to plug in at left tackle with the fifth pick overall in this latest draft, but three offensive tackles, including Johnson, went in the top four picks. As a result, Riley Reiff, who is best fit as a right tackle, will start on the left side and highly unproven Corey Hilliard or Jason Fox will man the right side, which is an obvious concern. I loved the drafting of Larry Warford, a mauling pure guard who should upgrade the right guard spot. He should solidify the interior of Detroit’s offensive line, especially in the run game, along with incumbent Dominic Raiola at center and the vastly underrated Rob Sims at left guard. But the tackles certainly worry me, especially considering the edge pass-rushers in the division, headlined by Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews and Jared Allen. Matthew Stafford is very tough and has been durable over the past two seasons, but the Lions certainly don’t want their franchise quarterback taking a lot of punishment, particularly considering how passing-oriented this offense has become.

Green Bay Packers: Offensive line. Seeing a trend developing in this division? The reality is, like the Bears, I don’t have a lot of major concerns with Green Bay’s roster at this point of the process. I understand moving Bryan Bulaga to left tackle, as he is the best candidate on the roster for that job. And moving Josh Sitton, Green Bay’s best offensive lineman, to left guard to keep that continuity intact between the two players while improving Aaron Rodgers’ blindside protection also makes sense. But I also feel like it was messing with a very good thing on the right side, which gives me mixed feelings on those changes. Marshall Newhouse is clearly better suited for the right side, but it wouldn’t shock me if he was unseated as the starter by David Bakhtiari, who I thought was a mid-round steal for Green Bay. T.J. Lang is solid, the loss of Jeff Saturday should be addition by subtraction and maybe Derek Sherrod is finally healthy and can contribute at tackle. I also liked the selection of J.C. Tretter, a small-school prospect who is tough and smart. Improved play at the running back position also should help this line immensely. Still, there are quite a few questions that need answering from this unit overall, and the Packers can’t afford for Rodgers to be sacked anywhere close to the 51 times he was in 2012.

Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback. I still have hope for Christian Ponder, but he was extremely up and down during his second season. Many ask me during my chats and radio hits, “What would be a successful season for Ponder?” My response is that he needs to play within himself -- allowing his impressive supporting cast to do what it does best -- and show composure and leadership late in games. He doesn’t have to become Dan Marino as a passer for this offense to be successful. In case you forgot, the Vikings do still have Adrian Peterson as the foundation of this offense. But in addition to Peterson, Minnesota has one of the better offensive lines in the NFL, and I expect that group to be further improved in 2013 with Matt Kalil developing into one of the league’s better left tackles in his second season. The line, fullback blocking and Peterson will allow Ponder to see many favorable matchups in the passing game. Gone is Percy Harvin, but the trio of Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Rudolph should be able to exploit single coverage with a varied skill set. Patterson is far from a refined wide receiver, but if the Vikings limit him to deep routes or quick hitters where he can use his amazing run-after-the-catch abilities, he can be very effective in his rookie season. Jennings is a true professional who understands the position well, and Rudolph’s ability in the red zone and in the middle of the field should provide Ponder with plenty of throws that won’t challenge his average passing skills. It also must be noted that Minnesota upgraded its backup quarterback spot by signing Matt Cassel. Cassel had a nightmare of a 2012 season, but before that, he showed the caretaker quarterback skills that Ponder needs to develop.

Chicago Bears

Defensive end Shea McClellin has been dealing with plantar fasciitis this offseason. However, he is not expected to be limited when the team continues workouts on Tuesday.

Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune: "How difficult had [Jay] Cutler become? For those of you scoring at home, Cutler has warred to some degree with the ousted Ron Turner, the ousted Mike Martz and the ousted [Mike] Tice. Raise your hand if you think Cutler’s coach-killing doomsday clock just moved one more closer to the end. There are two common denominators here: One, Turner, Martz and Tice have not been snapped up as OC’s in the NFL, and two, Cutler. Just because the offensive coordinators haven’t been hired for that role by other teams doesn’t mean Cutler isn’t impossible to work with."

Detroit Lions

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press previews the Lions' minicamp.

Cortland Finnegan was on the Lions' radar in 2012, but the two sides were unable to work out a deal.

Green Bay Packers

Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung remembers Vince Lombardi on what would have been the coach's 100th birthday.

A passion for the game helps Ryan Pickett continue to thrive in Dom Capers’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

Minnesota Vikings

Former Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin is focusing on the future and leaving the drama back in Minnesota.

Wide receiver Stephen Burton is out to prove he can contribute to the team's offense.

Chicago Bears

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune: "If Gabe Carimi’s goal was to find a new team by staying away from the Chicago Bears’ voluntary offseason program, consider it mission accomplished."

Bears running back Michael Bush would like to see quarterback JaMarcus Russell get another shot in the NFL.

Detroit Lions

Justin Rogers of MLive.com: "Just watching [Ndamukong] Suh interact with his teammates during recent practices, specifically first-round draft pick Ezekiel Ansah, it's clear the veteran is attempting to step up and be a mentor to some of the younger players on the roster."

Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Titus Young has posted bond and has been released from an Orange County jail.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are looking to help cornerback Tramon Williams get back to his playmaking form that was on display during the 2010 season.

Johnny Jolly is relieved to be back practicing with the Packers.

Minnesota Vikings

Count Patrick Reusse of 1500ESPN.com among those who doesn't think parting ways with wide receiver Percy Harvin and cornerback Antoine Winfield was a good move for the Vikings.

Quarterback Christian Ponder's progress will be one story to monitor as the Vikings begin their final OTA session on Monday.

One of the takeways from John Clayton's assessment of the ugly 2009 NFL draft: The NFC North performed less disastrously than most.

As Clayton notes, only 60 of the players drafted that year remain with their original teams. Nearly 20 percent of that total are NFC North players, including six players selected in the first two rounds.

The chart displays the full list. It's fair to point out that some players drafted in these parts have either found success on other teams or have taken their talents elsewhere.

That group includes receiver Percy Harvin, the Minnesota Vikings' first-round draft choice who was traded in March to the Seattle Seahawks. The Green Bay Packers' fifth-round pick, offensive lineman Jamon Meredith, started 12 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Former Chicago Bears seventh-round pick Lance Louis is expected to start for the Miami Dolphins in 2013, and the same is true for the Detroit Lions' fourth-round pick, defensive tackle Sammie Hill, who signed this spring with the Tennessee Titans.

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews is one of two first-round picks to receive a market-level payday, and Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford should soon follow suit. Quite clearly, the 2011 draft was much worse for the NFC North than 2009.

The first in a periodic series examining the roles of NFC North newcomers:

By all accounts, the Minnesota Vikings traded away a unique talent last month when they shipped Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks. The Vikings were not, however, ready to abandon the offense they built around Harvin's open-field running ability during the first half of last season.

So they devised a two-pronged plan for replacing Harvin in the 2013 draft. Option A was to find a way to select West Virginia all-purpose man Tavon Austin. As the first round began last Thursday, according to general manager Rick Spielman, the Vikings were mulling trade-up possibilities from their positions at No. 23 and No. 25 overall.

The St. Louis Rams crushed Option A by moving to No. 8 overall and drafting Austin at a position the Vikings couldn't reasonably hope to reach. So the Vikings pivoted to Option B, which in their minds was the best alternative -- by a long shot -- for finding a receiver with Harvin's multi-positional skills.

Can Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson, whom the Vikings acquired with the No. 29 overall pick, be a playmaker as a receiver, from the backfield and as a returner? At 6-foot-2 and 216 pounds, Patterson has a body type closer to that of a conventional receiver. (Austin is 5-foot-8 and Harvin is 5-11). But after watching the way Tennessee used him last season, the Vikings are confident Patterson has a similarly unique skill set.

"We felt that besides Austin, he was the most explosive playmaker with the ball in his hand in the draft," Spielman said. He also said Patterson is "magic" as a returner and added: "We feel this guy can do just as much as Percy can as a returner."

Unless you watched Tennessee last season, you probably wouldn't have guessed that Patterson put up 308 rushing yards last season, some on the type of bubble screen passes/pitches the Vikings used last season with Harvin. The first chart shows that Austin was more successful in all areas, but the Vikings considered Patterson's production remarkable considering he did not arrive on campus after transferring from Hutchinson Community College until just before the start of summer practice.

"My strength is when the ball is in my hands," Patterson said. "Whether it be on a kick return, on an end around. I feel like when the ball is in my hands, I’m a special player. I’m still working on my route running, learning coverages and stuff."

Spielman said the Vikings have already discussed "having a specific game plan of how we'll be able to develop" Patterson. The obvious answer is to use him in a relatively simple schematic package that capitalizes on his open-field running ability, much as they did with Harvin. As you might recall, Harvin gained more than three-quarters of his receiving yards after the catch last season (528 of 677), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

That approach makes sense for a number of reasons, including the revelation that Patterson was a raw and only occasionally effective downfield receiver during his one season with the Volunteers. Tennessee quarterbacks completed only 51.7 percent of their passes targeting Patterson last season, including only nine of 31 attempts on passes that traveled 15 or more yards past the line of scrimmage. The chart provides further details and comparisons to the rest of his teammates.

Let's be clear. Patterson has the size and speed, having run his 40-yard dash at the scouting combine in 4.42 seconds, to be a good downfield receiver. (He also had a vertical jump of 37 inches). But if he struggled in that area on a relative basis at the college level, it stands to reason that he won't elevate immediately against NFL defenses.

Consider this report from our friends at Scouts Inc. , which is not that much different than Patterson's own assessment: "[E]xtremely raw as a receiver in terms of route-running and reading coverages on the fly. There are questions about how much of an offense he can absorb right away, and his hands have been inconsistent on tape. He can immediately make an impact as a return man, and if the Vikings can find creative ways to get him touches, Patterson can still make a difference as he develops as a receiver."

So if we had to guess at the Vikings' plan for Patterson, it would start as a kickoff returner and include the kind of passes, pitches, and tosses near the line of scrimmage that Harvin excelled at turning into big gainers. By the end of the season, perhaps Patterson would have developed beyond that. But this is a player whose expectations should be viewed on a long-term horizon.

For now, as the Vikings did with Harvin, the best thing to do is to put the ball in Patterson's hands and let him do his thing.

The Detroit Lions hosted the top receiver prospect in the 2013 draft, West Virginia's receiver Tavon Austin, on a visit Wednesday. But barring some draft-day maneuvering -- a trade down by the Lions or a move up from another NFC North team -- it seems unlikely that Austin will wind up in this division.

Which begs the question: How does the rest of the receiver class stack up for our teams?

That was one of the topics ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay discussed during a conference call last week. McShay ran through six other names, most of whom should be available when the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers choose between No. 20 and No. 26 overall.

I consider this position to have division-wide relevance, given the Lions' clear desire to add an outside receiver opposite Calvin Johnson, the Vikings' depth issues following the trade of Percy Harvin, the Bears' continued push to fortify their passing game, and the Packers' history of relative routine drafting at the position.

The Lions have hosted three of the six names below on visits, in addition to Austin, while the Vikings had at least two in their building this month. The names are listed in order of McShay's evaluation. Note McShay's upside-down thoughts on the pair of Tennessee receivers.

Cordarrelle Patterson
School: Tennessee
McShay: "He scares me coming out of Tennessee, but I see the talent. Everyone I talk to in the league, I think he's gone in the top 20. … Patterson, with the ball in his hands is just freakish, and even though he disappears for 30-40 plays, he'll show up with one or two big plays a game that just kind of blow your mind and leave you wanting more, and I think that's why he's going to be able to go where he's going."

Keenan Allen
School: Cal
McShay: "Keenan Allen is not 100 percent [because of a knee injury]. He ran a 4.7 the other day. It's not a perfect situation. But he's a late-first, early-second round prospect and should play like that. He runs on tape, we estimate him at 4.53, 4.55 range. I think he is going to be a really, really good No. 2 in the league. He would be a good fit. He was catching the ball better than ever this year. He knows how to use his body. He's got size and he's thickly built. He's not a burner, but he's quick and he's athletic and he's got enough speed to challenge you and take advantage of mistakes. Keenan Allen to me would be the highest rated wide receiver when Tavon Austin and Patterson are off the board." [After the conference call, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Allen's drug test at the NFL scouting combine had been "red-flagged," requiring a re-test.]

Justin Hunter
School: Tennessee
McShay: "If you're looking for someone to run vertical routes and stretch the field … a poor man's Randy Moss, that's what Justin Hunter is. … He's a silky-smooth route runner, and he's the guy quite honestly when they needed a throw, when they needed to pick up a first down, when they needed a play at Tennessee, that's where they went. It wasn't to the other guy, Patterson. He's the one who showed up consistently on tape. I think he's a better football player than Cordarelle Patterson."

DeAndre Hopkins
School: Clemson
McShay: "After that group, you start getting into Robert Woods, DeAndre Hopkins, and Quinton Patton. They're all kind of in that same range -- 6-1, 200, 210, 212 pounds -- and they're all in mid-4.5's in terms of speed. Hopkins has the best hands of the three."

Robert Woods
School: USC
McShay: "I think you have to look at the whole picture and what has gone on throughout his career and the ups and downs. It might amount to nothing … The thing so often that's difficult to predict is, in addition, what are guys going to do when they have all this free time on their hands. … He could end up in Atlanta with a guy like Roddy White who will be [on him] all day … and he'll be fine. Or he could go to Detroit, where Calvin Johnson is the greatest guy in the world but he's not going to get on you for making mistakes. He's not that kind of leader. If [Woods] is not going to be around guys that are going to make him accountable, maybe he's not the player he would be if he goes to an Atlanta and plays with Roddy White. That's the tricky part. That's why there is some more risk with him, because he's not necessarily the greatest self-starter."

Quinton Patton
School: Louisiana Tech
McShay: "He doesn't like going over the middle, but he's very athletic, he has great hands and ball skills 90 percent of the time, but he'll have some focus drops. He's a wild-card to me. If he plays to his potential, he could be the third- or fourth-best receiver of this group in the NFL."

Note: The Lions hosted Patterson, Hunter and Woods, according to the team's web site. The Vikings, according to 1500ESPN.com's Tom Pelissero, hosted at least Allen and Hopkins.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We discussed the possibility of the Minnesota Vikings drafting Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o as recently as last Friday, and over the weekend, Sports Illustrated's Peter King added a more grist to the mill. According to King, Te'o had dinner the night before the Notre Dame pro day last month with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman.

The Vikings need a new middle linebacker, and at the very least we can say they have thoroughly investigated Te'o. In addition to the private dinner, they spoke to him at the NFL scouting combine and hosted him on a visit at their practice facility.

The Vikings have a deep history with Notre Dame players under Spielman, who has drafted four of them -- center John Sullivan, tight end Kyle Rudolph, safety Harrison Smith and safety Robert Blanton -- while also signing free-agent tight end John Carlson last year. Te'o is considered by many media analysts to be a late first-round pick, and the Vikings have picks at No. 23 and No. 25.

We must always be on the lookout for smokescreens this time of year, but it's hard to believe that even "Crazy Rick" Spielman would go to such lengths to feign interest in a player.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune examines Adrian Peterson's quest for 2,500 yards in 2013.
• The seventh-round draft pick the Vikings got from the Seattle Seahawks in return for receiver Percy Harvin was originally acquired from the Buffalo Bills for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• As we await word on the contracts of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews, the Green Bay Packers will gather Monday for the first day of their offseason program. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has more.
• The Packers will have a retirement ceremony for former quarterback Brett Favre "some day," Favre said in a radio interview via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Packers center Evan Dietrich-Smith signed his restricted free-agent tender so he would be eligible to participate in the offseason program, notes Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Chicago Bears are hosting Missouri outside linebacker Zaviar Gooden on a visit, notes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Bears also hosted Olympic discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, who is trying to make it as a defensive lineman, on a visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Matt Bowen asks several questions of the Bears as they approach a voluntary minicamp this week.
• According to linebacker D.J. Williams, the Bears were planning to sign him whether or not middle linebacker Brian Urlacher returned. More from Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Birkett on the Detroit Lions' negotiations with quarterback Matthew Stafford: "Both sides want it to happen, both sides need it to happen, and it makes sense for both sides to get something done before the start of the season."
• Stafford is ready to make this team his own, according to retired place-kicker Jason Hanson via Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• There have been indications the Lions might draft a tight end this year, according to Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.

We discussed cornerback Antoine Winfield's likely contract agreement earlier this week, and I don't have too much to add now that he has told ESPN's Josina Anderson that the deal is complete. A few final thoughts:

• No surprise: Frankly, I would have been surprised if Winfield had returned to the Minnesota Vikings. Players who are released for financial reasons, as Winfield was last month, usually take another option if it presents itself. Pride plays a role, as does the energy of a fresh start. The Vikings wanted Winfield to take a reduced role at a reduced salary. That's a sobering request. Winfield might have felt more comfortable doing so when the starters ahead of him were the best cornerback duo in the league, Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, rather than whoever wins the starting jobs for the Vikings. (Chris Cook and Josh Robinson are the early favorites.)
• Timing: Winfield is approaching his 36th birthday, but some of you are asking via Twitter why the Vikings were so intent on reducing his role after he played 16 games as a full-time player last season. The truth is that they wanted to do it in 2012 before injuries, and Winfield's maintained health, forced them to drop that plan. Most long-term thinkers would tell you it's better to be a little early on a player's descent than too late.
• Money matters: The Vikings couldn't proceed into free agency with Winfield's $7.25 million cap number. (Indeed, they are less than $4 million under the cap now.) But reports at the time of his release suggested there were no substantive discussions about a pay cut, an indication the team had decided to move on. So why, then, the aggressive post-release pursuit? If the Vikings wanted Winfield back, as coach Leslie Frazier has said repeatedly, why wouldn't they try harder when they had exclusivity with him? It's puzzling and suggests there are some holes in this narrative that have not been answered.
• Legacy: Winfield should go down as arguably the best free-agent signing in Vikings history. Few remember that he nearly signed with the New York Jets in 2004 before then-coach Mike Tice sent the private plane of a friend to whisk him away from negotiations. Winfield was a fearless tackler, a hard worker in coverage and a veteran who managed to lead players in the locker room while also challenging authority when necessary. He will be difficult to replace.
• Minnesota West: For those asking, Winfield gives the Seattle Seahawks four former Vikings players on their roster. The others include special teams ace Heath Farwell, receiver Sidney Rice and receiver Percy Harvin. Former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is in the same role with the Seahawks as well.
• Moving forward: Cook and Robinson would seem to sit atop the offseason depth chart at the moment. Cornerback A.J. Jefferson signed his restricted free agent tender Friday, and it's safe to assume the Vikings will look for additional depth via the draft.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at whether each NFC North team has been a winner or a loser in free agency.

Chicago Bears: A hot start in free agency netted left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett. The Bears had been trying for five years to find a genuine left tackle, and Bushrod's arrival should boost the faith of quarterback Jay Cutler. Bennett, meanwhile, gives the Bears the kind of pass-catching tight end they once had in Greg Olsen. But Bushrod and Bennett accounted for most of the salary-cap space the Bears had budgeted to use, and now they are nibbling the edges. Overall, however, the Bears improved two important positions, making them winners in free agency.

Detroit Lions: The NFC North's most active offseason team has added three new starters in running back Reggie Bush, defensive end Jason Jones and safety Glover Quin. Bush will have a big impact on balancing the explosiveness in the Lions' offense, and Quin will pair with the returning Louis Delmas to give the Lions their best safety duo in recent memory. The Lions have improved as many positions as they could have given their tight salary-cap situation.

Green Bay Packers: It's difficult to win when you don't play, and general manager Ted Thompson is notoriously reluctant to compete financially in the market. He allowed receiver Greg Jennings to sign with the Minnesota Vikings and didn't make a good enough offer on running back Steven Jackson. But the Packers have made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons by following a similar approach. These days, their focus is on saving enough salary-cap space to re-sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews. The Packers won't find two players better than that on the free-agent market.

Minnesota Vikings: In essence, the Vikings traded receiver Percy Harvin for Jennings, along with a first-, third- and seventh-round draft pick. They won't replace Harvin's unique skill set, but that's not a bad recovery. The Vikings are also in a better spot at backup quarterback with Matt Cassel rather than Joe Webb. But they don't have a middle linebacker after bidding farewell to Jasper Brinkley, and they remain thin at cornerback after releasing Antoine Winfield. The Vikings remain a work in progress this offseason. They haven't won or lost yet.

Receiver Greg Jennings agreed to a five-year contract Friday night with the Minnesota Vikings, and here is my highly controversial and thoroughly debatable takeaway:

The deal makes perfect sense for the Vikings. It elevated them from having zero legitimate NFL receivers on their roster to one. You have to start somewhere.

It made plenty of sense for Jennings' former team, the Green Bay Packers. They have three dynamic receivers on their roster and need every ounce of salary-cap space to re-sign key players at other positions -- most notably quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews.

Where it gets complicated is the impact of this decision on Jennings himself. Whether he admits to it or not, Jennings had an extraordinarily difficult verdict to render -- assuming the Packers had at least made a cursory offer to bring him back for 2013.

And no, I'm not talking about the phantom offense of jumping from one NFC North team to another. I realize some of you will have a hard time understanding this, but Jennings had no obligation to be "loyal" to the Packers or the Packers' fans. This is a business, and as an unrestricted free agent, Jennings had a rare opportunity as a blue-chip player to make a decision based solely on what is best for him and his family. He had every right to capitalize on that.

But was signing with the Vikings best for Jennings? I'm a little hesitant to draw dramatic conclusions because we don't, as of this moment, know how much of a choice he had. We don't know if the Packers made a remotely competitive offer or if the Vikings were his only option.

Think about it for a moment, however. On many levels, Jennings is entering a much less stable environment than the one he left. The Vikings don't have a long-term commitment to either their coach or their quarterback; coach Leslie Frazier and quarterback Christian Ponder will have to excel in 2013 to ensure a return in 2014. The Vikings can't offer the same level of offensive skill players that at least played a role in Jennings' success with the Packers, and for the fun of it, let's also note they're going to make two stadium transitions in the next four years.

Perhaps the Packers made Jennings' decision easy by making only a cursory offer, or less. Maybe Jennings, who already has a Super Bowl ring, liked the idea of spearheading a renaissance in an offense much less formed than the Packers'. But I understand why it took him a few days to take this visit, much less agree to terms on a contract, and I give him credit for accepting a much bigger challenge. (And yes, I know, probably for much more money.)

The move leaves the Packers exactly where we figured they would be when the offseason began: With a receiving corps led by James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. It probably increases the chances of high-priced tight end Jermichael Finley remaining with the team, and it leaves room for the Packers to draft and/or develop the next Greg Jennings. That's how they roll, like it or not.

For the Vikings, of course, it was almost mandatory to sign a player with the pedigree of a No. 1 receiver. The departure of Percy Harvin left them with Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright as the "top" receivers on their roster. That duo would have offered minimal support for Ponder as he gears up for the most important season of his career, and as of now it means that Jennings can count on heavy attention from opposing defenses.

Some might argue that Jennings will rue the day he chose Ponder over Rodgers, if in fact he had a legitimate choice to make there. I would suggest that a first-class receiver, and Jennings certainly counts as one even if his absolute best days are behind him, can elevate a quarterback's play. The Vikings' offense needs more work -- I don't like the idea of Simpson or Wright starting alongside Jennings any more than you do -- but it was going nowhere without a receiver of Jennings' caliber.

As we move into the weekend, we can say with some confidence that the Vikings are better off with Jennings and that the Packers weren't weakened much, if at all, by his loss. Jennings? We'll soon see what lies behind the door he chose.

I took a moment Wednesday morning to read through your feedback via Twitter mentions and the mailbag. Much of it centered around the departures of two key Minnesota Vikings players this week, and a few were represented by this comment via Twitter from @HinrichsRuss:

@espn_nfcnblog As season ticket holder - I can't help but feel the Vikings are cutting salary on orders from ownership. Other explanation?

— Russ Hinrichs (@HinrichsRuss) March 13, 2013

I understand where you're coming from. You've seen the Vikings trade receiver Percy Harvin, who received a six-year contract worth $67 million from the Seattle Seahawks. Right tackle Phil Loadholt received a premium contract extension Tuesday worth $25 million over four years, but minutes later the Vikings released cornerback Antoine Winfield and his $7.25 million salary. And at the moment, there are no indications the Vikings plan to host a free agent who would command a big salary.

Vikings fans earned the right to be suspicious during the tenure of former owner Red McCombs, who openly and deeply cut back expenses when it became clear he was not going to secure public funding for a new stadium. In this instance, all I can tell you is that a financial cutback would represent a 180-degree reversal from owner Zygi Wilf's previous approach. To think it would come less than a year after approval of $498 million in public subsidies for a new stadium would be downright conspiratorial.

I'm all for conspiracies, but we should at least consider the facts here. As Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com has noted, the Vikings have spent nearly $1 billion (in cash, not cap space) on player salaries since Wilf bought the team from McCombs in 2005. Their raw payroll figure of $922 million ranks second among all NFL teams over that span, a status that should at least give the Vikings the benefit of the doubt at the moment.

Some of that financial commitment stretches into the 2013 season. Defensive end Jared Allen ($14.2 million), running back Adrian Peterson ($11.5 million) and linebacker Chad Greenway ($7 million) are scheduled to earn a combined $32.7 million alone. That number would increase to $40.2 million if the Vikings don't adjust the salary of defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who is scheduled to earn $7.5 million.

There is an indisputable drop-off from that point, but is that based on a budget limitation or is it the quantified version of general manager Rick Spielman's oft-stated philosophy? The Vikings committed last season to young players, who in most cases were highly drafted, at quarterback, left tackle, free safety, cornerback and place-kicker. They quite simply aren't eligible yet for big contracts.

Spielman said Tuesday that "the philosophy here is putting an emphasis on signing your own back." If that's the case, the Vikings eventually will spend big on contract extensions for quarterback Christian Ponder, left tackle Matt Kalil, safety Harrison Smith, cornerbacks Chris Cook and Josh Robinson and place-kicker Blair Walsh. In the overall arc of team-building, the Vikings are at an inexpensive stage.

It's true that Spielman referred to the departures of Harvin and Winfield as "business moves," but I assume he meant it in a way to dispute that personal issues were involved in either decision. Finances might have played a role in the Harvin trade, but only in the context that the Vikings must not have felt comfortable paying him a major contract given the behind-the-scenes misgivings they must have felt. And as we discussed Tuesday, the Vikings had part-time plans for Winfield in 2013 that wouldn't have merited a $7.25 million salary.

For the moment, we're left to assume that the Vikings' current spending habits are a function of their philosophy rather than a cause of it. We'll know soon enough.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Good morning. We're expecting a busy day here at NFC North blog headquarters on the first full day of NFL free agency.

Atop the list is three players who have or are visiting the Detroit Lions: running back Reggie Bush, safety Glover Quin and defensive lineman Jason Jones. We're also hoping to get a sense of where receiver Greg Jennings will land, and of course, the mere connection of "free agent" and "Brian Urlacher" still hasn't sunk in.

In the quiet of the morning, however, let's catch up on some details in local coverage from Tuesday's action -- starting with some odd descriptions of the way the Minnesota Vikings released cornerback Antoine Winfield:

• According to Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune, Winfield was working out at the Vikings' practice facility when general manager Rick Spielman summoned him to his office and informed him of the news. Spielman did not offer Winfield the opportunity to play at a lower salary, according to Wiederer.
• The Vikings made Phil Loadholt one of the highest-paid right tackles in the game, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. Loadholt received a four-year deal worth $25 million, including $7 million guaranteed.
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder on rumors that receiver Percy Harvin didn't want to play with him, via Ben Goessling of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "I haven't put too much thought into it. If that was his opinion, that's unfortunate. But he's a Seahawk now, so it doesn't really matter."
• The Green Bay Packers offered Jennings a contract worth $10 million annually a while ago, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• The Packers want free-agent running back Steven Jackson, but only at their price, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers reduced the salary of defensive end Johnny Jolly, who has been reinstated by the NFL after a three-year suspension, from $2.521 million to $715,000, according to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. It's not clear if that means they plan to give him a chance to make the team or were merely making a salary-cap maneuver.
• The Lions are in position to make "a ruckus" Wednesday, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
• Signing Bush and Quin would be an impressive start to the Lions' 2013 season, writes John Niyo of the Detroit News.
• The Lions are working toward a three-year deal with cornerback Chris Houston, according to Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports via Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Urlacher is awaiting a counteroffer from the Bears, according to WFLD-FOX 32 in Chicago via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• It was stunning to see the Bears sign both left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer helped develop Bushrod in New Orleans, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.

What day is it? Only Tuesday? We've had a wild week already here in the NFC North. On normal days, I might have made separate blog posts of each of the following bits of information. On the first night of free agency, they become Quick Hits. I'll add as needed to this post for the rest of the evening, barring major news.

Item: Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is a free agent.
Comment: Lost in the afternoon frenzy was that Urlacher had never reached free agency in his career. The Bears have interest in his return, but clearly the sides hadn't been able to find common financial ground. Perhaps Urlacher will test his value on the market before taking his next step.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings re-signed All-Pro fullback Jerome Felton to a three-year contract.
Comment: This deal needed to get done. Tailback Adrian Peterson averaged about twice as many yards per carry when Felton was on the field compared to when he wasn't.

Item: The Vikings re-signed linebacker Erin Henderson to a two-year contract.
Comment: If the Vikings chose Henderson over middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley, also a free agent, they picked well. Henderson is more of a playmaker and could play in the middle if needed.

Item: The Seattle Seahawks gave receiver Percy Harvin a six-year, $67 million contract with about $25 million guaranteed.
Comment: If Harvin asked the Vikings for "Calvin Johnson money," then it was just to accelerate his departure. He didn't even get Mike Wallace or Dwayne Bowe money.

Item: The Indianapolis Colts made one of the more stunning deals of the day, signing former Green Bay Packers linebacker Erik Walden to a four-year deal worth $16 million, via Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Comment: Walden won back his starting job last season only by default after Nick Perry's injury, and his poor performance against the San Francisco 49ers' read-option scheme in the playoffs will go down in Packers lore. There were few indications the Packers wanted Walden back. Clearly the Colts saw value that perhaps some others did not. I guess.

Item: The Colts also gave former Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus a five-year contract worth $34 million.
Comment: It has been clear for a while that the Lions planned to move on at the position. Corey Hilliard and Jason Fox are the top two candidates for the 2013 right-tackle job.

Item: The St. Louis Rams appear to be targeting Lions safety Louis Delmas.
Comment: The Rams' defensive coordinator, Tim Walton, is the Lions' former defensive-backs coach. The Lions appear ready to move on from Delmas and are hosting free agent Glover Quin.

Item: Defensive lineman Chris Canty, who had visited the Green Bay Packers, signed with the Baltimore Ravens.
Comment: The Packers reportedly had concerns about Canty's knee. Regardless, defensive line remains an offseason priority.

Are two NFC North teams bidding for free agent receiver Greg Jennings? That's the word from several reporters, including Alex Marvez of Fox Sports.

According to Marvez, Jennings is considering a return to the Green Bay Packers if he doesn't sign first with the Minnesota Vikings. The unofficial deadline for the Vikings, notes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, could be midnight Wednesday.

The Vikings, with somewhere around $20 million in salary cap space, are in position to pay Jennings whatever they need to. They re-signed veteran Jerome Simpson earlier Tuesday but obviously have a huge need at the position following their trade of Percy Harvin.

Jennings' skills as an intermediate route runner, and his smooth after-the-catch style, would certainly mesh with the Vikings' offensive scheme. The Vikings can probably offer him more money and playing time, which are of course important. On the other hand, there is no way they can compete in a quarterback comparison, a key factor for receivers.

The same goes for franchise stability. Jennings is undoubtedly aware that Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is entering another prove-it year after the team declined to offer him a contract extension. The chances of the Vikings having a different coach in 2014 is a lot higher than the possibility of a change in Green Bay.

Jennings could face a tough decision, and it's worth noting he has come nowhere close to burning bridges with the Packers. He could wind up there after all, if he's willing to sacrifice some money and perhaps a few snaps.

Amid the unpredictability of NFL free agency we have at least one paragon of stability: ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft . It is an Insider piece, of course, but I thought I would sneak you his choices for NFC North teams before they could be outdated by free-agent activity.

5. Detroit Lions
Kiper pick: BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah
Seifert comment: This pick has been gaining media steam but leaves unanswered the question of whether Ansah could excel right away. The Lions have said they need an immediate contributor with this pick.

20. Chicago Bears
Kiper pick: Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker
Seifert comment: This pick would make sense on many levels but might not be necessary depending on what the Bears do in free agency. Because he is projected as a right tackle, Fluker figures to be available at this point in the first round.

23. Minnesota Vikings
Kiper pick: Cal receiver Keenan Allen
Seifert comment: The receiver position will be a big need for the Vikings even after free agency. They've cleaned house and need a total rebuild with a combination of veterans and rookies. Allen is big enough (6-foot-2) to be a legitimate downfield threat.

25. Vikings
Kiper pick: North Carolina defensive tackle Sylvester Williams
Seifert comment: The Vikings added this pick in exchange for Percy Harvin. One way or the other, they'll need to add some youth to a defensive line that includes three starters who are at least 30 years old.

26. Green Bay Packers
Kiper pick: Alabama running back Eddie Lacy
Seifert comment: Are the Packers really ready to spend a first-round draft pick on a running back? Media analysts seem to think so. It would be a departure from general manager Ted Thompson's recent history, for sure.