How does each , and what still needs to
be done?
Chicago Bears: No team in this division is set up quite as well as the Bears,
who have a pair of returning Pro Bowl cornerbacks in Charles Tillman and Tim
Jennings along with two safeties in Major Wright and Chris Conte who started all
but one game together last season. Veteran Kelvin Hayden won the nickelback job
last season from the since-departed D.J. Moore, and the Bears also have a number
of credible backups at safety, Craig Steltz among them. The Bears also want to
find out about 2012 third-round draft pick Brandon Hardin, who missed last
season because of a neck injury.
Detroit Lions: General manager Martin Mayhew worked harder than he ever has
to address this annual problem spot. He committed $25 million www.49ersfootballprostore.com/Authentic-Patrick-Willis-Jersey
over five years to re-sign his best cornerback, Chris Houston. He targeted and
signed free-agent safety Glover Quin, used the No. 36 overall pick to draft
cornerback Darius Slay and gave safety Louis Delmas an incentive-laden contract
that will pay out based on availability. If 2012 third-round pick Bill Bentley
can make it back from a shoulder injury, the Lions will have good depth at
cornerback. Regardless, on paper their secondary is as well situated as it has
been at any point in Mayhew's tenure.
Green Bay Packers: For the first time since 2005, the Packers will open a
season without Charles Woodson manning a starting position. As usual, general
manager Ted Thompson has a pile of young players competing to fill in the gaps.
Tramon Williams is certain to start at one cornerback spot, while Sam Shields,
Casey Hayward and Davon House fight to start on the other side and to form a
depth chart for nickel and dime defenses. Morgan Burnett will be one of the
Packers' starting safeties, but the other could be M.D. Jennings, Jerron
McMillian or even Sean Richardson if he recovers from a neck injury. The Packers
are, by definition, in transition, but there are plenty of options for life
after Woodson.
Minnesota Vikings: It will be a while before we know if the team can
successfully navigate the departure of veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield.
Although Winfield is nearing the end of his career, he had a great season in
2012 and played a key role when he handled slot receivers inside. The Vikings
have some highly drafted young players at cornerback, most notably 2013
first-rounder Xavier Rhodes, but it's not yet clear how it will all shake out.
Former second-round pick Chris Cook (2010) is a starter if he stays healthy, and
2012 third-round pick Josh Robinson is the leading candidate to take over
Winfield's nickel spot. Safety Harrison Smith will be a leader, but are the
Vikings really going to go through another year with Mistral Raymond and Jamarca
Sanford rotating at the other safety position?
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