Each of the draft classes in the North left something to be desired. The three inferior teams all had some clear needs that went unfulfilled. The Bears because they're so bad they had to go best player available, the Lions because they're so good that they went best player available (sort of) and the Vikings because they had like three total picks. Let's try to find some free agents from the May trash heap who could contribute to each team this year. 

Bears - Nick Chubb

Chubb was the best running back in the NFL for a couple of seasons before suffering a second or third devastating leg injury in 2023. He was mostly a shell of himself last year and doesn't seem to have even gotten a look from NFL teams this off-season. He is still working out and recently posted videos looking like he's still probably more athletic than any real-life human I've ever met in person. 

The Bears need a running back. DeAndre Slow is a certified meh/10 and Ben Johnson's Detroit offense relied on the sticks-moving power running of David Montomgery. If Chubb can be 80% of Montgomery, he would be the best Bears running back since David Montgomery. If you're confused there, it's worth noting that the Bears let Montgomery walk for no reason at all and then one year later signed DeAndre Slow, noted bad player, to a bigger deal. It was a classic Bears move.  

If Chubb doesn't work out, it's probably still fine. The Bears are in a rebuilding year and he'd be a good locker room presence. 

Other potential fits include Amari Cooper, Shaq Mason and Raekwon Davis. 

Lions - Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney has made his way around the league, playing for six teams and never really hitting the potential everyone thought he had after that Michigan running back fumbled. That sai, he had a top 30 PFF pass-rush grade last season and was squarely 47th-overall. Perfect for a late-career rotational rusher.

The Lions have Aidan Hutchinson coming off a bad injury and Marcus Davenport (I guess?) as their starting edges. It seemed like a clear add in free agency or early in the draft but they choose to sign a short corner and then draft a nose tackle. No one knows anything. 

Clowney fits the Dennis Allen tree's preferred edge rusher mold and could easily give the Lions what they need while Hutchinson plays his way back into shape. 

Other potential fits could be Von Miller, Matthew Judon or Demarcus Walker.    

Vikings - Justin Simmons

You might be thinking, "Justin Simmons? What would the Vikings want with an old safety who's still pretty good?" Have I got news for you. Harrison Smith, somehow the Vikings current starting safety for next year is five years older than Justin Simmons. He was playing in the NFL while Simmons was in high school! Smith is older than me! 

Anyway, The Vikings clearly need a second safety and just depth at safety overall and Simmons adds both. He was very good in Atlanta last year and while he recently said he wanted to play for the Eagles, I'm sure the Vikings are close enough to that.