Trench play dominates the NFC North's top 5 most improved position units from the 2025 NFL offseason

5.  Packers wide receivers

Green Bay will bring everyone back from last year's unit, although Christian Watson is recovering from an ACL injury that will keep him out of the mix early. But Green Bay was busy this offseason, adding two very different body types and skill sets to the room to give even more depth and versatility to their pass catchers. 

First-round draft choice Matthew Golden gets all the shine and rightfully so. He's a talented, explosive athlete who should be able to carve out a role amid the Packers' other receivers. But Savion Williams in the third-round of the 2025 NFL Draft brings a big, physical frame and good ball skills downfield.

These two being phased into a group that already had names like Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks should have the Packers boasting an embarrassingly deep wide receiver room in 2025. 

4. Bears Defensive Line

There's plenty of focus being given to Chicago's interior group on offense and rightfully so. But adding Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency raise the floor of the Bears' trenches significantly. The edge rush room behind Montez Sweat was, with all due respect, an unserious group before Odeyingbo's signing and Jarrett gives this football team a proven disruptor in the middle to anchor all of the recent young that comprises the rest of the line.

Second-round draft choice Shemar Turner is a tough ball of muscle, too. He shouldn't be slept on as a potential all-around defender, especially with the upgraded pieces around him in the front. 

3. Vikings Interior Defensive Line

Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave aren't what they once were but the Vikings also don't need them to be in order for them to raise the floor of Brian Flores' fronts. This duo on the field on passing downs can still do a lot of damage and Flores' pressure schemes do as good a job as anyone of creating miscommunications and turning rushers free to the quarterback. 

These are spots that were manned by Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard in 2024 — the upgrade here shouldn't be overlooked just because these guys aren't in their primes. 

2. Vikings Interior Offensive Line

The Minnesota Colts has a nice ring to it, no? Going from Garrett Bradbury, Ed Ingram, Dalton Risner, and Blake Brandel to Will Fries, Ryan Kelly, and Donovan Jackson certain paints a different picture of the Vikings' front. The power upgrade at center is massive. And the athleticism pivot with Jackson, the team's first-round draft choice, should unlock a lot of plus value on the second level. 

There's risk with this group, as both Kelly and Fries dealt with injuries. But the physical ability, functional power, and athleticism upgrades make this a huge win for Minnesota. 

1. Bears Interior Offensive Line

Speaking of upgraded offensive lines with risk, the Bears swung for the fences this offseason. Even if it doesn't pay off fully, it's worth noting that this group was borderline catastrophic last season. Trades brought veteran guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney into the fray. When healthy, they're both quality starters. 

"When healthy" is doing some heavy lifting here. Thuney is an aging talent, which makes durability a growing concern. And Jackson was ejected from Los Angeles after just one year due to injuries. If it was just these two, it may not take the top spot. But Chicago also secured Drew Dalman to play center with $26.5 million guaranteed at signing. This trio replacing Coleman Shelton, Teven Jenkins, Matt Pryor, and Nate Davis raises both the ceiling and the floor significantly.