The Minnesota Vikings landed the biggest fish in free agency when they signed Kirk Cousins to an $84 million contract, raising expectations for this season to Super Bowl or bust. But he wasn't the only significant addition in the NFC North this offseason. Our division reporters give their picks for who will be the best newcomer in the NFC North this season.
Courtney Cronin, Vikings reporter: Chicago's new receivers. The Bears receiving corps didn't do Mitchell Trubisky any favors in 2017, finishing the season dead last in yards per game (192.8), which called for a major overhaul. Chicago general manager Ryan Pace added receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel and pass-catching tight end Trey Burton via free agency and landed one of the biggest steals in the draft in Memphis wideout Anthony Miller. The expectations for this group are the highest they've been in years. If Robinson can get back to his 2015 pre-ACL tear form while Gabriel and Burton thrive in more defined roles in Matt Nagy's West Coast system, Trubisky will have all the weapons he needs to develop into a franchise quarterback. That crop of receiving options extends even further with Kevin White, who had a promising offseason after battling through injuries, and the wrinkle running back Tarik Cohen provides in the passing game.
Rob Demovsky, Packers reporter: Jimmy Graham, Packers TE. Cousins was the marquee signing in the NFC North this offseason. But he should only serve to maintain what Case Keenum did for the Vikings last season. Graham, however, represents a significant upgrade for the Packers' offense, which has often been at its best when it features a pass-catching tight end. If Graham can do what Jermichael Finley and Jared Cook did for Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay's offense should be as difficult to stop as any in the NFL. Of course, some of the same things were said last year at this time about Martellus Bennett, and everyone knows what a disaster that was. Graham, however, seems like a better fit.
Jeff Dickerson, Bears reporter: Cousins. The Vikings guaranteed Cousins $84 million over three seasons to help them win a Super Bowl. Minnesota got close last season with Keenum, along with one of the NFL's best defenses, but Cousins, 29, is a more established talent. He passed for more than 4,000 yards in each of the past three seasons with the Redskins. It's Super Bowl or bust in Minneapolis. I'd hate to see the fallout in the event Cousins isn't the best newcomer to the division. That would be a serious problem for the Vikings.
Michael Rothstein, Lions reporter: Cousins. The Vikings made him the highest-paid player in the NFL and are expecting him to be the franchise quarterback to take Minnesota to the next level: the Super Bowl. While other teams also added really good players, Cousins is the biggest one at the game's marquee spot, so he's going to make the most difference -- good or bad. He's thrown for more than 4,000 yards for three straight seasons and has been over 64 percent passing during that span. He's also thrown at least 25 touchdown passes each season from 2015 on. If he is able to improve upon what he did in Washington -- and he should, because he has a better group of players offensively and defensively around him -- it should be a positive experience for Cousins.