Welcome to the sixth installment of the best acquisition series. This series reviews each division’s best acquisition from the 2023 offseason. We will review the NFC North.
Criteria for this series
All individuals featured in this series must fulfill the specified criteria. The players on this list are those who joined a new team through trades or signings in the offseason, excluding draft picks, re-signed players, players claimed during roster cuts, regular season signings, or trades during the NFL Trade Deadline.
Note: Several teams lack a definitive player to be considered the best offseason acquisition. Teams without a definitive player are in italics.
Chicago Bears’ best offseason acquisition: WR D.J. Moore
Chicago traded a 2023 first-round pick to Carolina in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick, a 2023 second-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-round pick, and D.J. Moore. Chicago traded for Moore, expecting him to be their number-one wide receiver.
Moore played well, recording 96 receptions on 136 targets for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns.
Detroit Lions’ best offseason acquisition: RB David Montgomery
Detroit signed David Montgomery to a 3-year, $18,000,000 contract with the expectation of being their number-one running back.
Montgomery missed three games because of a thigh and a rib injury.
When Montgomery played, he formed a solid one-two punch with Jahmyr Gibbs, recording 1,015 yards on 219 carries and 13 touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions on 24 targets for 117 yards.
Green Bay Packers’ best offseason acquisition: S Jonathan Owens
Green Bay signed Jonathan Owens to a 1-year, $1,010,000 contract with the expectation of being a reliable backup to the safety position.
Owens started the season as the backup to Darnell Savage Jr. and Rudy Ford. When Savage got injured, Owens was allowed to start. Later in the season, when Ford got injured, Owens took over as the starter.
Owens recorded 84 tackles, three pass deflections, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He allowed 21 receptions on 32 targets for 232 yards, three touchdowns, and a 118.2 passer rating.
Owens will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Minnesota Vikings’ best offseason acquisition: CB Byron Murphy
Minnesota signed Byron Murphy to a 2-year. $17,500,000 contract with the expectation of being their number-one cornerback.
Murphy had a solid season, recording 57 tackles, three interceptions, 13 pass deflections, and one forced fumble. He allowed 68 receptions on 101 targets for 781 yards, six touchdowns, and a 97.8 passer rating.
Murphy missed the last three games because of an MCL sprain.
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