The Green Bay Packers dealt with enough devastation to end their season, when they blew a 21-3 halftime lead to lose to the NFC North rival Chicago Bears on Wild Card Weekend.
Chicago came within three points of the Conference Championship Game. Da Bears could be far more dangerous next season if quarterback Caleb Williams takes a big step in Year 2 of being in Ben Johnson's system.
Micah Parsons' injury loomed large for Green Bay down the stretch. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is now the head coach in Miami. There's plenty for the Pack to worry about entering 2026, too — both on their own roster in the rest of their division, including more where Williams came from in the Windy City.
That Parsons trade for two first-round picks was a generational event. A unicorn-rare act of aggression from Green Bay's front office.
The Packers better hope their most despised adversaries don't follow suit to a degree, and find a way to pull off the following three moves this offseason. These transactions would indeed be absolutely devastating in Titletown.
Chicago Bears go all-in on Maxx Crosby trade
- Raiders receive: 2026 25th & 57th overall picks, plus 2027 1st- & 2nd-round picks
- Bears receive: DE Maxx Crosby
Seems like a question of "when" not "if" Maxx Crosby will be traded. Something about the Raiders' superstar in a Bears jersey just feels right, as far as the Windy City aesthetic. Mad Maxx is the prototype to be in a sub-zero, slow-motion NFL Films replay of a gritty Bears playoff game, is he not?
Chicago is a massive media market that would cherish Crosby's relentless play style and burning desire to be part of a winning team. The splash plays and perpetual spark Crosby brings on the gridiron is the type of catalyst that'd transform the Bears into a top-flight defense.
According to the latest intel from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Crosby should command a tad more compensation than Micah Parsons did if a deal goes through,
"I think there's a feeling around the league that Maxx Crosby would like to be traded..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 9, 2026
I know that the Las Vegas Raiders would prefer not to trade him..
I was told it would take a Micah Parsons like package to even consider dealing Maxx Crosby"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/unDCL0qhrK
Although Crosby turns 29 in August, he still has multiple high-end years left. A change of scenery and the chance to win a Super Bowl will absolutely geek this dude up.
Again, if Caleb starts completing a few more basic throws, and that Bears defense all of a sudden has Crosby and Montez Sweat screaming off the edge, Chicago is going to be a problem. The days of "I Still Own You" Aaron Rodgers will not be a thing, ya dig?
Minnesota Vikings serve up a king's ransom for Joe Burrow (if new NFL trade limits pass)
- Bengals receive: 2026 18th & 49th overall picks, plus three additional 1st-round picks
- Vikings receive: QB Joe Burrow
As the Stripe Hype site expert, I've had my fill about writing on the Joe Burrow-Vikings buzz. That is, until the recent Schefty Bomb that at least one team is pushing for the limit on NFL trades to extend from three years' worth of draft picks to five.
Hmm. Who could that one team be? Maybe the New York Jets. Quite possibly the Minnesota Vikings.
Somebody wants Joe Shiesty. Badly. Is it the Jets and their five first-round picks in the next two drafts? Or is it the Vikings, who appear to have just fired their GM for drafting J.J. McCarthy, and letting Sam Darnold walk in free agency, only to watch him win Super Bowl LX for the Seattle Seahawks?
In this instance, Cincinnati could ask for J.J. McCarthy as part of the deal if there's faith in him. Hat tip to Cam (@42Cyc on X/Twitter) for this take that I'll borrow: I, too, find it interesting to see SKOL Nation turn so hard on McCarthy through 10 starts when they just witnessed Darnold's resurgence after he was left for dead for years.
Anyway, no guesswork involved if Joe Burrow is the guy in Minnesota. Provided he stays healthy, with an exceptional offensive play-caller in Kevin O'Connell and an exotic defense dialed up by Brian Flores to support him, Burrow could run roughshod through the other North division.
Detroit Lions fortify offensive line with Tyler Linderbaum at center
- Lions sign Tyler Linderbaum to 4-year, $71 million deal ($15.5 million in Year 1)
That contract figure is based on the latest $17.75 million average annual value Spotrac projects in free agency for Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum
It wouldn't be a dreadful idea for Detroit to explore the draft for Frank Ragnow's long-term replacement. That said, it's hard to count on a rookie to plug-and-play in a such a complex offense full of veterans, led by quarterback Jared Goff.
READ MORE: Matthew Stafford statement kills any hope the Packers had of a Davante Adams reunion
Linderbaum is the anchor the Lions' o-line has lacked since Ragnow's retirement. The only issue with shelling out so much dough for him is a difficult salary cap situation, plus contract extensions on the horizon for that formidable quartet of 2023 draftees in tailback Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta, and defensive back Brian Branch.
GM Brad Holmes has proven adept at finding a way to extend in-house talent early. Evidently, the core of this team has stuck together till now thanks to creative salary cap gymnastics. It'd take something special to score Linderbaum, who's easily the top center available.
The Lions are rebooting their system in the post-Ben Johnson era, with ex-Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzig now in charge of the call sheet. Not sure what to make of Petzig since he didn't have much to work with out in the desert, but Linderbaum would be such a big help to the cause.