Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay head into Thursday's first round of the NFL draft needing help for defenses that ranked 19th or worse against the run and offenses that ranked 20th or worse overall.
Green Bay, which went 10-6 and finished second behind the Vikings in the NFC North, presumably is targeting an inside linebacker at No. 27. That would enable the Packers to move Clay Matthews back outside, improving the pass rush as well.
Detroit, which finished third at 7-9, has a new general manager in Bob Quinn. He's looking to add starters on both lines but might be tempted to go for a receiver at No. 16 since the franchise is still reeling a bit from Calvin Johnson's unexpected retirement.
And Chicago, which finished last at 6-10, is hoping second-year GM Ryan Pace can string together some consistently solid drafts, starting with the No. 11 pick, during a rebuilding process that could take a couple more offseasons after the mess former GM Phil Emery left behind.
Here is a closer look at the Vikings' NFC North opponents:
Chicago Bears
Offseason upgrades: Pace moved quickly to fill two big holes in the middle of his defense. He signed former Bronco Danny Trevathan and former Colt Jerrell Freeman, inside linebackers he can trust. Re-signing cornerback Tracy Porter and adding Akiem Hicks up front also helps a defense that forced only 17 turnovers all last season.
Needs: There are so many spots to replenish on the roster, the Bears could go in any direction. A 3-4 edge rusher would be nice. Safety, cornerback and depth at receiver and on the offensive line also could come into play.
First-round targets at No. 11: Georgia OLB Leonard Floyd would fit the kind of athletic edge rusher the team needs. Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley appears to be a solid option. On the D-line, DTs Sheldon Rankins of Louisville and A'Shawn Robinson of Alabama would help a leaky defense up front.