NFC North training camp, roster breakdown: Packers, Vikings, Bears, Lions

NFC North training camp capsules: Packers, Vikings, Bears and Lions {b: GREEN BAY PACKERS }

CAMP CALENDAR: Full squad reports July 25; first practice July 26; camp breaks Aug. 30.

TRAINING CAMP GOALS

--Finding a happy balance to get ready for the season: The Packers have a longer preseason than usual because of having a fifth exhibition contest with their appearance in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 7. That doesn't mean the team's older starters will be on the field more this summer. Head coach Mike McCarthy plans to give the veterans the necessary reps in practice, but he will defer to the younger players' fighting for roster spots for the bulk of the playing time in the preseason games. Foremost in the back of McCarthy's mind is losing elite receiver Jordy Nelson to a torn ACL in a meaningless game at the Pittsburgh Steelers last August. The injury cost Nelson the entire season and had a detrimental effect on Green Bay's previously dangerous offense until the end of the season.

--Getting enough help inside to keep Clay Matthews outside: McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers followed through in the offseason with their intent at the conclusion of last season to get their best defensive player back playing at his best position. The full-time switch of Matthews to outside linebacker after he was pressed into service at the depleted inside position the last 1 1/2 seasons will be predicated on how well things unfold in camp with the contenders in the middle. The leading candidates for the two spots would seem to be Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan and Blake Martinez. Ryan jumped in as a starter as a rookie near the end of last season, working alongside Matthews. Barrington hasn't been on the field since he sustained a season-ending ankle injury as the opening-day starter last September but is expected to be ready when camp opens. Martinez, a fourth-round draft pick this year, showed well in the spring workouts with a bevy of first-team reps beside Ryan.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter - Aaron Rodgers. Backups - Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan, Marquise Williams.

Coming off a season of throwing for more than 3,800 yards and 31 touchdowns with only eight interceptions hardly constitutes as an incentive for a bounce-back campaign. That's just what the ultracompetitive Rodgers will be targeting, however, after a subpar 2015 season by his high standards that included a completion percentage of just 60.7 and a passer rating of only 92.7, both career worsts as a starter since 2008. Little wonder Rodgers is excited to have top wideout Jordy Nelson back in the fold after his season-long absence because of a knee injury. The 32-year-old Rodgers will get sufficient work on the practice field this summer, but his preservation in a longer preseason than usual with the extra Pro Football Hall of Fame Game will be critical for the team's prospects when the season starts in September. Hundley is entrenched as the top backup after journeyman veteran Scott Tolzien signed with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. Hundley, a fifth-round draft pick last year, had a redshirt season as a rookie with zero appearances in-season after he dazzled in the preseason with a league-high seven touchdown throws and a 129.6 efficiency rating. The 6-foot-1, 216-pound Callahan is an intriguing prospect as an undrafted rookie who was the top player in college football's Division III ranks at Wesley College, where he threw for more than 5,000 yards and 55 touchdowns last season. The Packers signed the strong-armed and mobile Williams, a three-year starter at North Carolina who also went undrafted, in late May.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters - HB Eddie Lacy, FB Aaron Ripkowski. Backups - James Starks, John Crockett, Don Jackson, Brandon Burks, Brandon Ross, FB Alstevis Squirewell.

It was anybody's guess what Lacy weighed in the team's offseason program this spring. He appeared lighter than how he looked last season, when the young star incurred the wrath of head coach Mike McCarthy for playing heavy. Lacy vowed to keep the weight off before rejoining the team for the start of training camp July 25. He should know more than anyone how much is at stake for him this season. The fourth year of his rookie deal as a second-round draft pick in 2013 means Lacy is entering a contract season. The Packers need him to get back to his punishing ways of wearing down would-be tacklers from his first two pro seasons of rushing for more than 1,100 yards each year and to avoid a repeat of last season's comedown of 758 yards and just three touchdowns on the ground before they reward him financially. As a fallback, Green Bay re-signed Starks to a two-year, $6 million contract in free agency. Though not flashy, Starks has been reliable in the offense the last six years. The No. 3 job is Crockett's to lose. The first-year player spent most of last season on the practice squad but flashed in his pro debut at Detroit late in the year. Barring an 11th-hour signing of free agent John Kuhn, the torch has been handed off at fullback. Kuhn was the people's choice in Green Bay for nine seasons but probably saw the writing on the wall when general manager Ted Thompson took the rugged Ripkowski in the sixth round of last year's draft. The only camp competition for Ripkowski is Squirewell, an undrafted rookie who was a defensive end in college.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter - Richard Rodgers. Backups - Jared Cook, Justin Perillo, Kennard Backman, Mitchell Henry, Casey Pierce.

Rodgers had a breakout season in his second year as a pro with 58 receptions for 510 yards and a co-team-high eight touchdowns, highlighted by his game-winning Hail Mary catch in the late-season game at Detroit. That didn't stop Thompson from bolstering a position that moved on without veteran Andrew Quarless, who wasn't signed as a free agent. The arrival of Cook, an eighth-year pro cut by the Los Angeles Rams early in the offseason, gives Aaron Rodgers a more viable down-the-field threat than Richard Rodgers is. To be determined, though, is Cook's reliability after he missed the last few weeks of the spring workouts because of foot surgery. The competition for a potential third roster spot at tight end should be tight between the returning young trio of Perillo, Backman and Henry, the latter a practice-squad fixture most of last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb. Backups - Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis, Ed Williams, Geronimo Allison, Jamel Johnson, Herb Waters.

The best news of a ho-hum spring for the Packers came from the sight of a healthy Nelson on the practice field, running routes and catching passes from Aaron Rodgers on air. The ninth-year pro, who's 11 months removed from the torn ACL that kept him out all last season, is expected to have the green light at the outset of training camp after being held out of team drills in the offseason as a precaution. Nelson's return should be a pick-me-up for the entire offense, particularly for Cobb, whose production tailed off in 2015 with more coverage rolled his way. The young depth behind Nelson and Cobb is as strong as it's ever been in recent years, thus why veteran James Jones wasn't brought back as a free agent. Adams would seem to be on the hot seat after a lackluster second pro season in which he averaged only 9.7 yards per reception and had only one touchdown catch. Fellow 2014 draft picks Abbrederis and Janis emerged at the end of last season and should be pushing Adams and Montgomery, who played only six games as a third-round rookie in 2015 because of an ankle injury. Montgomery's December surgery for the ankle kept him sidelined this spring. Davis, a fifth-round draft pick out of Cal this year, will warrant a roster spot if his unrivaled speed serves him well on kick returns.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters - LT David Bakhtiari, LG Josh Sitton, C Corey Linsley, RG T.J. Lang, RT Bryan Bulaga. Backups - C/G JC Tretter, G Lane Taylor, T Jason Spriggs, T Kyle Murphy, T/G Don Barclay, G Josh Walker, G Matt Rotheram, G Lucas Patrick, C Jacob Flores, T Josh James.

Sitton, selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time, was the only Packers offensive lineman to play and start every game in an injury-riddled 2015 season. Even with the others not immune to missed time, Pro Football Focus charted the returning starting five has played 1,375 snaps together since 2014. That's the most of any O-line combination in the league during that span. Uncertain is how much more time the cohesive group has left together. Bakhtiari, Lang and Sitton enter the final year of their respective contracts, and the probability is Green Bay won't hang onto all three. That became clear when Thompson traded up in the second round of the April draft to get former Indiana standout Spriggs, who can't be discounted from pushing for a starting job already this season. Bulaga, a former first-round pick, has a history of injury that makes the additions of Spriggs and Murphy, a sixth-round choice out of Stanford, important for the depth factor at tackle. Just the same is the insurance the Packers have in the interior with returning young prospects Tretter and Taylor after Lang (shoulder surgery) and Linsley (unknown injury) were held out of the offseason workouts to ensure their availability when camp opens.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters - DLE Letroy Guion, NT Kenny Clark, DRE Mike Daniels. Backups - DE Datone Jones, DT Mike Pennel, DT Christian Ringo, DE Dean Lowry, DE B.J. McBryde, DT Demetris Anderson, DT Tyler Kuder, DT Brian Price.

In an offseason with little turnover of significance for the Packers, the biggest shakeup came along the defensive line. B.J. Raji, the anchor of the line at nose tackle the last seven seasons, abruptly announced in March as he faced another year of being on the free-agent market that he was taking a "hiatus" from football for at least this season. The timing of the surprising news gave Green Bay enough time to address the huge void. The Packers had earlier signed Guion to a three-year, $11.25 million contract to keep the veteran from reaching free agency. They then grabbed Clark with their first-round selection (No. 27) in the draft. The former playmaker from UCLA will be needed to contribute right away, especially on early downs as a run stopper. The Packers won't have Pennel the first four games of the regular season because of a suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Beyond Guion and Daniels, the leader of the line with more than 65 tackles each of the last two seasons with an aggregate 9 1/2 sacks, the only other Green Bay lineman with NFL experience is Jones. And, the Packers are looking to try to get their 2013 first-round draft pick playing to his potential by using Jones as more of a stand-up rusher as an elephant end. They cut Josh Boyd, a third-year player who missed all but two games last season because of an ankle injury, in May. Ringo, a sixth-round pick last year, spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad. Green Bay invested a fourth-round choice in the blue-collar Lowry out of Northwestern.

LINEBACKERS: Starters - LOLB Clay Matthews, BLB Jake Ryan, MLB Sam Barrington, ROLB Julius Peppers. Backups - OLB Nick Perry, ILB Blake Martinez, OLB Jayrone Elliott, OLB Kyle Fackrell, OLB Lerentee McCray, OLB Reggie Gilbert, ILB Joe Thomas, ILB Carl Bradford, ILB Beniquez Brown, ILB Manoa Pikula.

An extra preseason game for Green Bay this summer figures to come in handy for a defense that has plenty of shoring up to do at its two inside linebacker spots. McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers are determined to get the most mileage out of Matthews by playing the defensive star on the outside again following a 1 1/2-year trial run of moving him inside. The bookends of Matthews and the ageless Peppers, who's officially 36, with an unusually healthy Perry, Jones, Elliott and the addition of third-round draft pick Fackrell has the Packers sufficiently covered on the outside. Green Bay also signed McCray after he wasn't tendered as a restricted free agent by the reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Hence, no need to bring back Mike Neal as a free agent, and the team parted with Andy Mulumba, a restricted free agent who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. As for inside linebacker, so much is up for grabs. The top incumbents are Barrington and Ryan, but Barrington wasn't on the field this spring as he completed his recovery from an ankle injury he sustained in last year's season opener. Ryan, a fourth-round draft pick last year, cracked the starting lineup toward the end of the season but was a liability in pass coverage. The high-energy and talented Martinez, a fourth-round pick from Stanford, stood out in the spring workouts to warrant starting consideration as a rookie. Young holdovers Thomas and Bradford also will be in the mix, and former Mississippi State playmaker Brown fits the mold of an undrafted rookie Thompson likes to reward with a roster spot going into the season.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Damarious Randall, RCB Sam Shields, SS Morgan Burnett, FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Backups - CB Quinten Rollins, CB LaDarius Gunter, S Micah Hyde, S Chris Banjo, CB Demetri Goodson, CB Robertson Daniel, CB Makinton Dorleant, CB Josh Hawkins, CB Randall Jette, S Jermaine Whitehead, S Marwin Evans, S Kentrell Brice.

Depth at cornerback could be a concern early in the season. Goodson, a third-year pro whose most significant contributions have come on special teams, is suspended for the first four games because of a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The Packers also will be without Casey Hayward. The veteran nickel back signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers. The corner with the most to gain is Gunter, who last season followed in the footsteps of mainstay Shields out of Miami (Fla.) to win a roster spot as an undrafted rookie last year. Gunter played sparingly on defense as a rookie but has the upside to see the field in situational packages with Shields and the second-year duo of Randall and Rollins forming the top trio. Randall and Rollins, the team's top two draft picks last year, combined for 16 starts and six interceptions last season, including the playoffs. Shields, who begins his seventh season, was more pedestrian than top-cover material in 2015 with just three interceptions and 13 pass breakups in a season disrupted down the stretch by a concussion. The Packers have stability at safety with Burnett and the steadily improving Clinton-Dix in their third season together. Hyde is Mr. Versatility in the secondary, while Banjo is stellar on special teams (career-high 21 tackles last season).

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Mason Crosby, P Tim Masthay, P Peter Mortell, LS Rick Lovato, KOR Jeff Janis, KOR Jared Abbrederis, KOR/PR Trevor Davis, PR Micah Hyde.

Crosby, who turns 32 before the season starts in September, will have an opportunity to give the Packers a decade of excellence and then some. The team's all-time leading scorer never reached the open market as a free agent after Green Bay made Crosby one of the league's richest kickers with a four-year, $16.1 million deal in early March. The sustained trust in Crosby after nine productive seasons isn't the case with fellow veteran Masthay. The seventh-year pro was too up and down last season, never mind his team-record average of 40.2 net yards. In steps Mortell, an undrafted rookie out of Minnesota who would make a great story if the Green Bay native can wrest the job from Masthay. The long-snapper duties remain with Lovato, a first-year player who was signed in late December after eight-year Packer Brett Goode suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Goode is unsigned as a free agent. Green Bay's unsettled situation on kick returns could hinge on whether speedy rookie Davis can win a roster spot at receiver. Otherwise, one of the other wideouts - Janis, Abbrederis or Ty Montgomery - figures to get the call on kickoff returns, while Hyde has been the go-to guy on punt returns the last three seasons.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

CAMP CALENDAR: Full squad reports July 28; practice with Bengals in Cincinnati, Aug. 10-11; camp ends in Mankato Aug. 9.

TRAINING CAMP GOALS

--Stabilize the offensive line: Solidifying the weakest unit on the team has been the Vikings' No. 1 goal since head coach Mike Zimmer fired offensive line coach Jeff Davidson two days after the playoff loss to Seattle. New line coach Tony Sparano brings more toughness and a sense of urgency to a unit that heads into camp with 16 players battling for spots. Eight of those players have at least 16 starts. Prized free-agent signing Alex Boone is the only lock at left guard, while the other free-agent acquisition, Andre Smith, is the favorite to start at right tackle. All eyes will be on the competition up front because quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and the offense can't grow unless the line improves dramatically.

--Step it up at strong safety: The Vikings have one of the best free safeties in the league in Harrison Smith. But for them to fully utilize his many different skills, they need improved play at strong safety. They've added former Titans veteran Michael Griffin to the mix, but he'll have to beat out the scrappy Andrew Sendejo, among others. Sendejo is a special teams standout and an overachiever who plays with reckless abandon. But the Vikings need a little more in the back end, particularly when Smith is used in the box or as an extra edge rusher. Antone Exum Jr. once was considered a front-runner to watch, but has been a disappointment the past two years. He'll get another crack to try and prove himself.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Teddy Bridgewater. Backups -- Shaun Hill, Taylor Heinicke, Joel Stave.

Bridgewater isn't anyone's preferred choice as a Fantasy Football quarterback, but his 17 wins tie him with Brett Favre and Warren Moon for most by a Vikings quarterback through two seasons with the team. Many of those victories -- including most of last year's NFC North-leading 11 victories -- also serve as examples of a young quarterback knowing how to play winning football within a confined throwback team concept built around dominant defense, a Hall of Fame-bound running back and favorable field position.

The Vikings, however, have challenged Bridgewater to take the next step in 2016, saying the 23-year-old needs to "let it loose" by trusting his instincts and skills as opposed to playing so conservatively. Bridgewater doesn't have the strongest arm and has lacked consistency on the deep ball, but his command of the offense and the expected upgrades on the offensive line and receiver should help him grow as a player.

Hill lacks arm strength and mobility, but the 15-year veteran has the experience, knowledge of the offense and temperament to serve as a short-term replacement. Heinicke enters his second season and has the mental edge on the No. 3 job, but Stave, a rookie free agent, is the far more superior physical specimen.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- RB Adrian Peterson, FB Zach Line. Backups -- RB Matt Asiata, RB Jerick McKinnon, RB C.J. Ham, RB Jhurell Pressley, FB Blake Renaud.

Peterson is 31, but he's also the reigning NFL rushing champion. He'll challenge for his fourth rushing title behind a line that's expected to be much better and far more physical. Line has improved as a lead blocker and remains a sneaky receiving target and occasional ball-carrier. Asiata is a rock-solid backup who rarely loses yardage. He has good hands and is the team's best pass-protecting back. McKinnon is a shifty, change-of-pace option on third down. He has excellent hands and deceptive power for a small back.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Kyle Rudolph. Backups -- Mycole Pruitt, Rhett Ellison, Brian Leonhardt, David Morgan, Kyle Carter.

Rudolph is in his prime and coming off a team-high five touchdown catches. Finally healthy, he showed flashes of excelling in Norv Turner's offense. But he was needed more often as a blocker because of the line's shortcomings in 2015. He has improved as a blocker and is willing in that area, but needs to be used more as a mismatch in the passing game.

Pruitt was surprisingly good last year as a fifth-round rookie from Southern Illinois. He's deceptively fast and has outstanding hands. Ellison is the team's best and most versatile blocking tight end, but he won't be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from a torn patellar tendon. Morgan, a rookie sixth-rounder from Texas-San Antonio, is an intriguing prospect who turned heads this offseason. Leonhardt provides some experience and depth while Ellison recovers.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Stefon Diggs, Laquon Treadwell. Backups -- Jarius Wright, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Adam Thielen, Moritz Bohringer, Isaac Fruechte, Marken Michel, Terrell Sinkfield, Troy Stoudemire.

Diggs was the team's biggest surprise a year ago. He went from rookie fifth-round draft pick and a game-day inactive for the first three weeks to the team's leading receiver. He's not the biggest guy, but he's got speed, hands and excellent route-running savvy. Diggs is a lock at one of the starting spots. The other starter is expected to be Treadwell, the rookie first-round pick. Treadwell probably won't line up with the starters at the beginning of training camp, but he should be there when the regular season starts. He wowed no one with his 40-yard dashes, which is the main reason the Vikings were able to land him near the bottom of the first round. The team believes his size, hands, catch radius and route-running skills make up for his lack of top-end speed.

Wright is an excellent slot receiver with underrated skills and an exceptional double move. Johnson tailed off last season after an injury and Diggs' sudden rise. But he did enough in 2014 to warrant a long look for this season. Patterson, the 2013 first-round pick, had only two catches last year as he fell completely out of the offensive plans. He has been working extremely hard this offseason and knows this is his make-or-break year as an NFL receiver. Thielen is an ultimate over-achiever who will have a hard time making the team again. But don't rule him out just yet. Bohringer will be a popular player to watch this summer because of his unusual story. Born and raised in Germany, he picked the game up only three years ago after seeing a Youtube video of Adrian Peterson. Bohringer played only three years of organized football in German leagues, but his rare combination of size and speed caused the Vikings to spend a sixth-round draft pick on him this spring.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Matt Kalil, LG Alex Boone, C John Sullivan, RG Brandon Fusco, RT Andre Smith. Backups -- C-G Joe Berger, RT Phil Loadholt, G Mike Harris, T T.J. Clemmings, T Austin Shepherd, T Willie Beavers, T Carter Bykowski, G-T Jeremiah Sirles, G Isame Faciane, C Nick Easton, C Zac Kerin.

No unit will be watched and analyzed more closely than this one. Coach Mike Zimmer said the only lock to start is Boone at left guard. Boone and new line coach Tony Sparano bring the mental toughness and physical nastiness that Zimmer wants for a unit that has disappointed him the past two seasons. Kalil, who has started every game since his rookie season in 2012, is the favorite to continue that streak at left tackle. But the inconsistent Kalil was put on notice that nothing should be assumed. He's on a one-year, $11.1 million deal and knows the size of his second NFL contract depends on how he performs this season. Sullivan returns after missing all of last season because of two back surgeries. He is expected to regain his starting job, but can't falter because Berger stepped in for him and was the team's best lineman a year ago.

Fusco moves back to his more natural right guard spot after a failed attempt to move to the left side a year ago. He, too, will be pushed by Harris, who started at right guard and was respectable a year ago. Right tackle is up for grabs between Loadholt, who missed last season because of a torn Achilles' tendon, and Smith, another long-time NFL starter who was signed away from Cincinnati in free agency. Clemmings, who started all 17 games at right tackle a year ago, is working as a swing tackle at both spots. Sirles saw a lot of time at left tackle this offseason. Beavers, a rookie fourth-round pick, has shown a lot of promise as a big, powerful guard.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DLE Brian Robison, DT Sharrif Floyd, NT Linval Joseph, DRE Everson Griffen. Backups -- LDE Danielle Hunter, RDE Justin Trattou, DT Tom Johnson, NT Shamar Stephen, NT Kenrick Ellis, DL Scott Crichton, DE Zach Moore, DE Denzell Perine, DE Stephen Weatherly, DT Theiren Cockran, DT Toby Johnson, DT Travis Raciti.

One of the team's greatest strengths, especially when Floyd is healthy and in rhythm. With consecutive double-digit sack seasons the past two years, Griffen has made fans forget the popular Jared Allen. Griffen also plays the run far better than Allen did. Robison is a steady veteran who will be pushed by Hunter, a physical freak who progressed rapidly as a rookie last season. Joseph was on his way to an All-Pro season before turf toe slowed him last season. When he's healthy, he sets the tone for the run defense. Floyd could be a Pro Bowler or even an All-Pro if he could ever stay healthy. Unfortunately, he's rarely without an injury either sidelining or slowing him. He missed most of the offseason practices with leg injuries left over from last season.

Fortunately, his replacement, Johnson, is a starting-caliber player with a strong mix of strength and quickness inside. Stephen returns after missing all of last season because of a knee injury. He should move into the mix at nose tackle. Trattou is an overachiever who keeps making the team as a backup despite lacking the ideal NFL build. He'll be pushed by young players this summer. Crichton enters his third season as a disappointing former third-round pick. Injuries and inconsistent play have slowed him down, but he'll be given another shot in part because of his ability to play end and tackle.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- WLB Chad Greenway, MLB Eric Kendricks, SLB Anthony Barr. Backups -- LB Audie Cole, SLB Edmond Robinson, WLB Emmanuel Lamur, MLB Kentrell Brothers, WLB Brandon Watts, LB Jake Ganus.

Barr has All-Pro potential that he'll probably reach one day soon if he can stay healthy for an entire season. He has an unusual combination of size, length, speed and strength. He is a perfect tool for Zimmer, who can utilize Barr as an up or down edge rusher, cover guy or dominant double A-gap rusher up the gut. Kendricks led the team in tackles as a rookie. He proved that his instincts and speed are good enough to overcome a lack of prototypical size. Barr and Kendricks, both only 24, are well-suited as the nickel linebackers.

Greenway, 33, re-signed for his 11th and final season with the Vikings. He's an excellent leader and role model with enough left in the skills tank to contribute as a two-down player. But he'll have to work to stay ahead of Lamur, a younger player who played under Zimmer in Cincinnati. Robinson developed well as a rookie a year ago. He started once for the injured Barr and held his own. Cole re-signed with the team, giving it a versatile, long linebacker who can play all three spots. During his career, he has done well in spot starts in the middle and on the weak side.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Terence Newman, RCB Xavier Rhodes, FS Harrison Smith, SS Andrew Sendejo. Backups -- CB Captain Munnerlyn, SS Michael Griffin, CB Trae Waynes, CB Mackensie Alexander, SS Antone Exum Jr., FS Anthony Harris, CB Marcus Sherels, S Jayron Kearse, CB Keith Baxter, CB Jabari Price, CB Tre Roberson, DB Melvin White.

Rhodes and Smith have All-Pro potential, youth and swagger as they lead a unit that is deep and solid overall. Rhodes has the size, length, speed, experience and confidence to shadow No. 1 receivers. Newman has shown no signs of age. He turns 38 on Sept. 4 and is expected to delay Waynes' move into the starting lineup again this season. Waynes, the No. 1 draft pick in 2015, has been groomed well and could step in if Newman suddenly acts his age. Munnerlyn went from starter in 2014 to slot corner in the nickel a year ago. The latter was better suited to his skill set. But he, too, must hold off an heir apparent.

Alexander, a surprise second-round pick in this year's draft, is being prepped to eventually replace Munnerlyn, who will be a free agent after this season. Alexander has the confidence and skill to take the job sooner than later if Munnerlyn, 28, slips. Smith, like Barr, is a vital tool that Zimmer can use in multiple ways on the back end, as an edge rusher and in run support. For the third straight year, Zimmer will be looking for someone to turn his head at strong safety. Griffin, 31, a former first-round draft pick, was signed away from Tennessee to compete for the job next to Smith. Griffin's once-stellar career has tailed off, but there is hope that Zimmer's knack for rejuvenating the careers of defensive backs will bring out the best in Griffin.

Sendejo, the incumbent at strong safety, is better suited as a special teamer and spot starter, but he's also an overachiever who goes full tilt all the time. Exum Jr. once was the preferred candidate to play strong safety, but he has been injured and disappointing the past two seasons. Kearse, the rookie seventh-round draft pick, is an unusually tall and long safety who is worth keeping an eye on.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Blair Walsh, P Jeff Locke, LS Kevin McDermott, KOR Cordarrelle Patterson, PR Marcus Sherels.

No player enters the 2016 season with more pressure on him than Walsh. He made his first three field goal attempts in the wild-card playoff game against Seattle, but his fourth attempt was a duck hook wide left from 27 yards with 22 seconds left in a 10-9 loss at home. That's a tough one to come back from and probably will take a strong performance in a playoff win to put fully behind him. Look for the Vikings to be careful not to put too many long pressure kicks on Walsh's plate early in the season.

Locke has been inconsistent during his three-year career. It's surprising that the team isn't bringing in someone to compete with him. The Vikings could regret showing this much confidence in a player who has underperformed. But they do have a short list of punters that they've either tried out or can bring in for tryouts should Locke prove unworthy of their trust. McDermott had a quiet first season in Minnesota, which is exactly what you want from a long snapper. Patterson remains one of the league's better kickoff returners, leading the league in return average (31.8) for the second time in his career. Sherels continues to be a trustworthy punt returner with an icy calm under the ball, dependable hands, a nice initial waggle and the patience to follow some well-designed return blocking.

CHICAGO BEARS

CAMP CALENDAR: Full squad reports July 27; first practice July 28; practices with Patriots in New England Aug. 15-16.

TRAINING CAMP GOALS

--Get protection for Cutler ironed out: Although there is a blend of experience and inexperience on the line, the inexperience appears to be largely on the left side. It's a group that hasn't played together in games in the past and this always takes time to solve. There should be no lack of leadership with Long and Massie on the right side, but protecting Cutler's blind side with Charles Leno Jr. and with running backs who usually did not see the field in passing situations is going to be a problem. Leno Jr., guard Ted Larsen and center Hroniss Grasu need to get on the same page identifying potential blitzers and communicating to handle stunts. This will be a long process that extends into the regular season. Avoiding camp and preseason injuries will be critical to building the proper cohesiveness.

--Throw the ball to Kevin White extensively: They already know Alshon Jeffery can catch passes and even after missing OTAs, he'll be a dependable target if healthy. It's White who so much depends on as the counter on the other side. He had trouble with his hands at times in offseason work and admitted he had much to learn when it came to route running. Considering the likely loss of Marquess Wilson for at least the first six weeks, White is going to need to become an immediate force and Cutler will need to start working the ball to him right away at camp.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter - Jay Cutler. Backups - Brian Hoyer, Connor Shaw, David Fales.

For Cutler, a second season in the system is somewhat of a misnomer since he has a new coordinator in Dowell Loggains. But the offense remains much the same in terminology, so it's not like starting over. Cutler always has counted mobility as a strength, but now at 33 years old there are questions whether this will remain the case. And it's an offense that likes to lean on the quarterback's ability to move in the pocket. So a challenge awaits the Bears' starter. Hoyer is the best backup the Bears have had since Josh McCown left, and familiar with Loggains from working together in the past. With 19 touchdown passes last year, he was fine until the playoffs for Houston and is a step above what most teams have at backup. Shaw is another backup acquired from Cleveland after he worked with Loggains in the past. That move puts the squeeze on Fales, who has been in Chicago since the 2014 draft without making a dent.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter - Jeremy Langford. Backups - Ka'Deem Carey, Jordan Howard, Senorise Perry, Jacquizz Rodgers, FB Paul Lasike.

Without a dominant back like Matt Forte in the past, the Bears look to have all the pieces needed for the running attack. Langford flashed breakaway speed and starter skills, but showed bad hands as a receiver last year. Carey is a slasher, capable of starting and runs hard. Howard, drafted in the fifth round this year, is the power back. Perry might be the best all-around special teams player among the group, as he can play both on coverage and returns and Rodgers is an ideal third-down back, nifty but undersized. The trouble is, they'll likely have to cut one or more of them at some point and special teams contributions will make a difference.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter - Zach Miller. Backups - Khari Lee, Rob Housler, Tony Moeaki, Ben Braunecker, Greg Scruggs, Gannon Sinclair, Joe Sommers.

Miller proved he could make it through one year without a serious injury and received a vote of confidence in the form of the starting spot, to go with a new contract. But there will still be health questions due to his lengthy list of past injuries, and he's limited. Despite improving as a blocker, he still leaves a lot to be desired in this role. The battle for the remaining two tight-end spots will be one of the more interesting of preseason. Lee had a year of training in the system but didn't step up last year. Moeaki is an old hand with some versatility as a receiver and blocker and may have an edge if he picks up the system. Housler, with 109 career catches and three last year in Chicago, probably rates a system experience edge. Scruggs is one of the more interesting players on the roster, having converted from defensive line to offense. At 277 pounds, he has the size to become a blocking tight end, which is sorely needed. But the hands could be a problem.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White. Backups - Eddie Royal, Josh Bellamy, Marc Mariani, Daniel Braverman, Kieren Duncan, Derek Keaton, Cameron Meredith, Darrin Peterson, Deonte Thompson, Marquess Wilson.

Jeffery will play as a franchise player, attempting to prove he's over the soft tissue injuries in order to earn a long-term Bears deal or one elsewhere. White never played last year as a rookie due to shin surgery, so he's little more than a rookie and it's less than an ideal situation to come into a season with a rookie being counted on as the second starter - still, his athletic talents are undeniable. Royal is the starting slot receiver and will be on the field about half the time, with much to prove after an injury-plagued first year. He appeared a potential cap casualty until fourth receiver Marquess Wilson aggravated a foot injury, and is a probable PUP list candidate. So Mariani, Bellamy, Meredith, Braverman and Thompson appear to be fighting it out for two or even three roster spots. Braverman is a ball control type receiver while Mariani has established a good rapport and timing with Cutler in the passing game.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters - LT Charles Leno, LG Ted Larsen, C Hroniss Grasu, RG Kyle Long, RT Bobby Massie. Backups - LT Nick Becton, G Adrian Bellard, T Nate Chandler, C Cornelius Edison, T John Kling, T Martin Wallace, T Jason Weaver, G Cody Whitehair, G Donovan Williams, Amini Silatolu.

The right side of the line now will be known as the mauling, experienced, power running side with Long and Massie teamed together. There are real questions about the left side, however. Charles Leno had a respectable first season as a starter, but occasionally left Cutler exposed to blind-side hits. Larsen, a free-agent acquisition, went through summer plagued by an unspecified injury that kept him sidelined while rookie Whitehair took snaps. It's possible Whitehair would start, but initially Larsen looks like a starter due to experience. It would be difficult to expect a rookie to play left guard with a second-year center in Grasu and left tackle in his second year starting in Leno. This is a potentially strong run blocking line. Getting the middle solidified in the pass rush initially will be a chore.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters - DLE Akiem Hicks, NT Eddie Goldman, DRE Mitch Unrein. Backups - DE Ego Ferguson, DE Jonathan Bullard, DE Will Sutton, NT Terry Williams, DE Cornelius Washington, DE Keith Browner, DE Marquis Jackson, DE Roy Robertson-Harris.

Hicks brings nose tackle size to end and could help solidify a porous run defense, and Goldman gradually caught on as a rookie to display the potential for dominance. With Ferguson still fighting his way back from a knee injury, and Bullard a rookie, Unrein likely gets the other end spot at the outset after serving as a spot starter and backup last year. The defensive front needed a three-technique type for the four-man front in a nickel package and Bullard could fit the role if he develops quickly. If not, Sutton might be the option as a jack of all trades. Overall, the line has potential for improvement but still lacks the proven, dominant player in a two-gap front who can make life easier for the team's new inside linebackers.

LINEBACKERS: Starters - OLB Pernell McPhee, ILB Danny Trevathan, ILB Jerrell Freeman, OLB Lamarr Houston. Backups - OLB Willie Young, OLB Leonard Floyd, OLB Christian Jones, ILB Nick Kwiatkoski, ILB John Timu, OLB Sam Acho, ILB Lamin Barrow, ILB Jonathan Anderson, ILB Jarrett Grace.

McPhee's return from knee surgery delayed his participation this season until the start of training camp. Although it wasn't serious, he has a history of nagging knee problems, so this will be closely watched as he is easily the defense's most dominant player. Trevathan and Freeman are the interior tacklers the 3-4 scheme lacked last year, and Trevathan the field general who was badly needed. Pass rushing outside linebacker looks to be the defense's strength, with McPhee, Young, Houston and rookie Floyd. But McPhee and Houston also make the linebacker corps stout on the edge against the run. Interior linebacker depth and experience appear the biggest question, which means the group has improved exponentially since last year.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Tracy Porter, RCB Kyle Fuller, FS Adrian Amos, SS Harold Jones-Quartey. Backups - CB Bryce Callahan, CB Sherrick McManis, CB Jacoby Glenn, CB Deiondre Hall, S Deon Bush, S Omar Bolden, S Demontre Hurst, S DeAndre Houston-Carson, CB DeVante Bausby, CB Taveze Calhoun, CB Kevin Peterson, S Chris Prosinski.

It's not a secondary with established star power and the safety spot alongside Amos will be unsettled until late into preseason with numerous players vying for a spot. Jones-Quartey took the most snaps with starters in offseason work, and Prosinski had almost as many. Fuller successfully converted from more of a zone corner to display better man-to-man skills, and Porter was a standout when healthy. If the defensive front produces the pressure expected, then the defense should be able to up its woefully small total of interceptions from last year - a franchise record low of eight.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Robbie Gould, P Pat O'Donnell, LS Aaron Brewer, KOR Deonte Thompson, PR Marc Mariani, P Ben Lecompte, LS Patrick Scales.

Special teams overall appears to have been upgraded in terms of blockers and coverage personnel with free agency as well as injured players returning to health. Gould is coming off a season when he missed two critical field goals but overall had a season that would have pleased most kickers. O'Donnell improved over his rookie year and together they appear unlikely to be challenged for roster spots. Although there are several candidates among free agents and rookies, Thompson's explosiveness and ability to quickly hit the hole on kick returns made him a pleasant surprise last year and favorite to win the job. Mariani might get a challenge for his punt return spot by Bolden or one of several younger players but the receiver skills he flashed last year make him invaluable. Brewer and Scales will battle for the long snapper spot, but Brewer started for Denver last year and has an edge at a position that plagued the Bears last season.

DETROIT LIONS

CAMP CALENDAR: Rookies report July 23, veterans report July 28, practice with Steelers Aug. 9 and 10.

TRAINING CAMP GOALS

--Building chemistry on the offensive line: Despite having serious blocking issues with a young line last season, the Lions are committed to going young again. First-round rookie Taylor Decker will likely start at left or right tackle, and third-round rookie Graham Glasgow will have a chance to take center Travis Swanson's starting center job. Even if Swanson wins the job, he has just two years of experience. Left guard Laken Tomlinson has one year of experience, and Larry Warford has three years. With four years in the NFL, Riley Reiff, who will start at left or right tackle, is the most experienced projected starter, so the group will have to develop chemistry quickly.

--Improving pass-rush depth: Behind right end Ziggy Ansah, the Lions have little proven star potential on the edge. Devin Taylor was solid enough in 2015 to be the presumed started at left end, and veteran Wallace Gilberry should contribute as a backup. After those three, though, an unproven player like Brandon Copeland or rookie Anthony Zettel will have to contribute.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter - Matthew Stafford. Backups - Dan Orlovsky, Jake Rudock.

Stafford had an excellent second half in 2015 that provided renewed hope for 2016. The problem, of course, is that Stafford has only once been consistent through an entire season, 2011, during his first seven years. Now, he has to improve again without the top offensive player, Calvin Johnson, from his career. Of course, it's Stafford's job, and if anything goes wrong, the Lions' offense would be devastated. Rudock will push Orlovsky for the No. 2 job, and it's unclear if the Lions will keep three quarterbacks.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters - Ameer Abdullah, FB Michael Burton. Backups - Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner, Stevan Ridley, Dwayne Washington, George Winn.

Like many of the Lions' positions, this one is filled with potential, but not as proven as desired. Riddick was the team's best back last year, but only because he's an excellent receiver. If he improves as a runner - 2.9-yard career average - he could become a dynamic threat. Abdullah obviously has the most potential and averaged 4.2 yards per carry as a rookie, so he should get the majority of the carries, though the Lions never gave him more than 16 in a game last year. He also has fumbling issues. Zenner and Ridley will compete for short-yardage duties, and Washington could have big-play potential.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter - Eric Ebron. Backups - Brandon Pettigrew, Matthew Mulligan, Cole Wick, Ben McCord, Adam Fuehne.

If the Lions are lucky, this group will start and stop with Ebron. He probably won't become a great blocker, but he has the receiving talent to be a top-three target on the team. Pettigrew and Mulligan will compete for time as a blocker, but really, this group will only be successful if Ebron makes good on his potential. Wick, an undrafted rookie, showed promise in the offseason program.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters - Marvin Jones, Golden Tate. Backups - TJ Jones, Jeremy Kerley, Corey Fuller, Andre Roberts, Jay Lee, Ryan Spadola, Jace Billingsley, Andre Caldwell, Quinshad Davis, Damian Copeland.

No Calvin Johnson. Surely, it will take a few games for that to feel normal. But, the Lions succeeded in wooing their top free-agent target, Marvin Jones, and he should contribute significantly. Obviously, Marvin Jones and Tate isn't as strong as Johnson and Tate, but those two are both capable of running all routes at various depths with good after-the-catch abilities. Kerley and TJ Jones should be the third and fourth options, competing for time in the slot, and Roberts and Caldwell are the most likely No. 5s.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters - LT Taylor Decker, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Travis Swanson, RG Larry Warford, RT Riley Reiff. Backups - T Cornelius Lucas, T Corey Robinson, T Michael Ola, T/G Joe Dahl, G Geoff Schwartz, G Chase Farris, C Graham Glasgow, C Gabe Ikard.

The 2015 unit allowed 44 sacks and contributed a rushing rank of 32nd, so really, the only way to go is up. Unfortunately for the Lions, they didn't make any upgrades with proven players. The hope is that Decker can beat out Reiff for the left tackle job and improve two spots with Reiff moving to the right side. Warford and Tomlinson are locked in at the guard spots, but Swanson, Glasgow and Ikard will compete at center. One legitimate improvement could be the depth with Ola and Schwartz having experience and Dahl having long-term potential and versatility.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters - DLE Devin Taylor, DLT Haloti Ngata, DRT Tyrunn Walker, DRE Ezekiel Ansah. Backups - DE Wallace Gilberry, DE Brandon Copeland, DE Deonte Gibson, DE Louis Palmer, DE/DT Anthony Zettel, DE Quanterus Smith, DT Caraun Reid, DT A'Shawn Robinson, DT Gabe Wright, DT Kerry Hyder, DT Khyri Thornton, DT Stefan Charles.

It's still odd to see this group without Ndamukong Suh in the middle, but Ansah developed into a star in 2015. Unfortunately, it's tough to project stardom from anyone else in the group in 2016, though it's not impossible. Ngata has been a star before, and the Lions saw plenty of potential in Walker last year. Robinson, a second-round pick, could be playing a lot early in the year as a run-stuffer. Taylor had 7.0 sacks as a backup last year, so the Lions hope he'll be better with a bigger role. The tackle group looks deep even if the top-end talent isn't there. Reid and Charles should make the team along with the starters and Robinson. At end, depth is a serious issue as Gilberry is the only proven backup.

LINEBACKERS: Starters - MLB Tahir Whitehead, WLB DeAndre Levy, SLB Kyle Van Noy. Backups - Josh Bynes, Jon Bostic, Jerry Franklin, Zaviar Gooden, Khaseem Greene, Antwione Williams.

Levy's return should make this unit instantly better than it was last year with him sidelined for all but one game. Whitehead has the speed for the middle the Lions lacked last year with Stephen Tulloch, and Whitehead and Levy should both rack up tackles and threaten as rushers. The strong-side job is up for grabs, but Van Noy has the skill set the Lions desire, though he has to grow after being a bust so far in two years. Bynes is the top backup and can play any spot, and Williams should contribute on special teams as a rookie.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters - LCB Darius Slay, RCB Nevin Lawson, FS Glover Quin, SS Rafael Bush. Backups - NCB Quandre Diggs, CB Johnson Bademosi, CB Alex Carter, CB Darrin Walls, CB Keith Lewis, CB Adairius Barnes, CB Crezdon Butler, CB Ian Wells, CB Charles Washington, S Tavon Wilson, S Miles Killebrew, S Don Carey, S Isaiah Johnson.

Quietly, the Lions have turned what was long a terrible defensive backfield into a strength. Slay is becoming one of the top cover cornerbacks in the NFL, and Diggs looked impressive as a rookie in the slot, which makes him effectively a starter with the Lions playing nickel about 70 percent of the time. Lawson was decent when he wasn't too aggressive last year, but Carter could be a sleeper to push him for playing time after missing his rookie year as a third-round pick. At safety, Quin is reliable, but the strong spot is up for grabs. The veteran Bush will likely win the job, but the second-year Johnson and rookie Killebrew have the hard-hitting styles that the Lions want there.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Matt Prater, P Sam Martin, LS Jimmy Landes, LS Don Muhlbach, KOR Ameer Abdullah, PR Jeremy Kerley.

The Lions are optimistic that they can improve their special teams unit in 2016. In addition to adding special teams gunners like Johnson Bademosi and Tavon Wilson, the team drafted Landes in the sixth round, a sign that he'll likely take over for long-time long snapper Muhlbach. Prater and Martin are among the top-10 players at their positions, which should help this group be decent at worst.