The NFC North looks a lot different heading into training camp

The biggest storylines as NFC North teams head into training camp are the new faces found everywhere in the division. With the Bears, it’s players like Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman, who should provide significant upgrades to Chicago’s linebacker corps.

In Detroit, the Lions will look to receivers Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin to help fill the void left by Calvin Johnson’s retirement. They’ll also hope Mitchell Schwartz and first-round draft pick Taylor Decker can help keep Matthew Stafford upright.

For the Green Bay Packers, it’s tight end Jared Cook, who has an opportunity to become an impact receiver for Aaron Rodgers. Cook is recovering from foot surgery, which may complicate things for him a bit this preseason. In Minnesota, Alex Boone should go a long way toward lowering the number of hits taken by Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and Laquon Treadwell gives Bridgewater a big, strong receiving threat.

The Bears are heading into training camp with a lot of new players expected to make a difference on the field this season. Chicago needed upgrades over Shea McClellin and Christian Jones, and it should have them with linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman.

He isn’t a new player, but training camp will be important for Chicago’s 2015 first-round pick, Kevin White. He’s a receiving threat that Jay Cutler desperately needs, and he’s one of the biggest names to watch for the Bears after he missed all of his rookie season due to injury.

Cutler and the offense are also adapting to new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who was hired after Adam Gase accepted the head coaching job with the Dolphins. Loggains was previously the quarterbacks coach with the Bears, so he and Cutler have some existing rapport, which should ease the transition.

The Lions said farewell to wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who retired following the 2015 season. To replace Megatron, they added a number of new faces, including Marvin Jones. Veteran receiver Anquan Boldin is also joining the team on a one-year deal. His presence should help keep the chains moving, but the two of them, along with Golden Tate, have everyone looking at them to carry the offense in Johnson's place.

Detroit took steps to fix its struggling offensive line this offseason, adding free agent guard Geoff Schwartz and drafting tackle Taylor Decker in the first round of the 2016 draft. Training camp will be an opportunity for this unit to gel and prepare to protect Matthew Stafford this season.

The Lions are dealing with several injuries heading into training camp. Running back Ameer Abdullah should be ready to go at the start of camp after having shoulder surgery following last season. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew landed on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered toward the end of last season. Stevan Ridley’s status is unknown heading into camp. An undisclosed injury kept Ridley out of OTAs.

Green Bay said goodbye to defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who retired following the 2015 season, leaving the team with some uncertainty along the defensive front. Fans will want to watch the way that depth chart begins to take shape during training camp. Rookie Kenny Clark may be able to carve out a starting role or significant snaps at nose tackle.

One of the more interesting NFL storylines of this offseason has been the evolution of running back Eddie Lacy’s physique. Lacy has worked with Tony Horton, the creator of P90X, to slim down and shape up. Jordy Nelson's return is supposed to help the offense establish the consistency it lacked last season, but he's already on the PUP with a minor injury to his other knee.

The Vikings drafted a big, physical receiver in Laquon Treadwell in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft to give Bridgewater a reliable weapon. Treadwell is expected to factor into the Vikings’ offensive plans heavily and early, and training camp will be an opportunity for him to acclimate to the NFL and develop chemistry with his quarterback.

Of course, they still have Adrian Peterson, who has yet to show any signs of slowing down. He is 31 years old and set to make $18 million next season. The Vikings need to start thinking about life after Peterson, and the next few weeks will help them get a sense of what third-year running back Jerick McKinnon can do.