Futures of Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb Highlight Free Agency in the NFC North

For the 13th time in the last 15 years, no team from the NFC North has advanced to represent the conference at the Super Bowl. 

While the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks prepare for Super Bowl XLIX, the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings will be wiping the slate clean and preparing for offseason events such as free agency and the draft. 

While the NFL draft remains the game's best building tool, free agency figures to take the NFC North on an interesting ride in 2015. 

The division will likely offer two of the bigger names in Ndamukong Suh and Randall Cobb, who are both currently scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. Suh will eventually land one of the more lucrative deals ever given to a defensive player, while Cobb earned himself a big payday with a Pro Bowl season. Suh's chase will define Detroit's offseason. Cobb and his status will define Green Bay's. 

The Bears and Vikings might not be dealing with franchise-rattling free-agent decisions, but each club brings its own reasons for intrigue. 

Chicago is loaded to the brim with older free agents on defense, giving new general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox the opportunity to start fresh in rebuilding one of the league's worst units. Minnesota has a limited free-agent list overall, but big decisions loom on veteran players still under contract, including running back Adrian Peterson. 

There will be no Super Bowl celebrations in the NFC North in 2015, but the division still has a fascinating spring to look forward to in terms of the coming and going of players. 

Here's an early primer of the free-agency period in the division:

Chicago Bears

Free Agents

LB Lance Briggs, CB Charles Tillman, S Chris Conte, LB D.J. Williams, DT Stephen Paea, C Brian De La Puente, QB Jimmy Clausen, CB Sherrick McManis, S Danny McCray, TE Dante Rosario, WR Josh Morgan, LS Jeremy Cain, DE Trevor Scott, LB Darryl Sharpton, OT Eben Britten, TE Zach Miller, CB Demontre Hurst (ERFA), CB Al Louis-Jean (ERFA), ILB DeDe Lattimore (ERFA), FB Montell Owens, K Jay Feely, DE Austen Lane S Trevor Coston (RFA)

Outlook

Scan the list of Chicago's scheduled free agents, and no one name stands out as "must return."

While once stalwarts of great Bears defenses, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman are now injury-prone and entering the twilight of their respective careers. Both are likely to be gone. Briggs has missed 15 games over the last two years, while Tillman has only played in 10 since 2013. 

Joining them will likely be D.J. Williams, who will turn 33 in July. His 18 games over two seasons in Chicago were unremarkable, at best. 

Chris Conte, 25, is a former third-round pick with 52 career starts with the Bears. But he has a lengthy injury history and a short roll of impressive game tape, especially over the last few seasons. A fresh start might be best for both sides. 

The Bears may make a real attempt to bring back Stephen Paea, especially if new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can find him a spot in his defense. The potential for Fangio to transition Chicago to a 3-4 defense will be a major factor in personnel decisions, starting in free agency. Paea, a former second-round pick, may or may not fit. 

Brian De La Puente played well enough over 500 snaps at center to be considered a candidate to return. However, he missed the last four games of 2015 with an ankle injury, and he turns 30 in May. 

If Jimmy Clausen isn't re-signed, the Bears will be in the market for a backup quarterback. 

Time to panic? No. A massive list of free agents would be a real negative for Chicago most years, but the departing group in 2015 should give Pace and Fox a real chance to put their own fingerprints on the roster right away. 

Detroit Lions

Free Agents

DT Ndamukong Suh, G Rob Sims, DT Nick Fairley, OT Corey Hilliard, LB Ashlee Palmer, DT C.J. Mosley, C Dominic Raiola, FB Jed Collins, S Isa Abdul-Quddus, QB Dan Orlovsky, LS Don Muhlbach, CB Rashean Mathis, QB Kellen Moore (RFA), CB Cassius Vaughn, DE Darryl Tapp, WR Jeremy Ross (ERFA), DE George Johnson, OT Garrett Reynolds, LB Josh Bynes (RFA), K Matt Prater, DT Andre Fluellen, TE Kellen Davis, CB Josh Thomas, LB Ronnie Sneed (RFA), OT Johnny Culbreath

Outlook

The epicenter of free agency might be Detroit, where Ndamukong Suh—the best player on the league's second-best defense—can become an unrestricted free agent. The question will be how much the Lions are willing to pay to keep Suh in town. This is still a team built on defense, with the front four serving as the unit's foundation.

Suh is a rare, game-changing talent, capable of blowing up game plans and single-handedly making his teammates better. Losing him would be an unquestioned blow, but keeping him will cost the Lions a pretty penny. 

The looming decision on Suh clouds the future of Nick Fairley, a former first-round pick. If Suh stays, is there enough money to keep Fairley around? And if Suh goes, is Fairley the backup plan? He has flashed elite ability. But he's also had some injury issues, and it can't be certain how much of his on-field success was due to playing next to Suh. 

C.J. Mosley and George Johnson are likely to be back along the defensive line. Both excelled in bigger roles in 2015, with Mosley holding his own in place of an injured Fairley and Johnson finishing with 6.0 sacks. 

Decisions will need to be made on two veterans. Guard Rob Sims played more snaps for the Lions in 2014 than everyone not named Matthew Stafford, but he's also 31 years old. A short-term return might be in order. Meanwhile, cornerback Rashean Mathis gave the Lions two tremendous seasons, but he'll turn 35 in August. How much longer can he last? 

Kicker Matt Prater and long snapper Don Muhlbach should return. Core special teamers Daryll Tapp and Isa Abdul-Quddus are also good bets to be back. 

The Lions informed Dominic Raiola, who made 203 starts at center for the club, that he will not return for a 15th season in 2015. 

Detroit's offseason will be defined by Suh. The Lions become a very different team in 2015 if No. 90 isn't anchoring the middle of the defense. 

Green Bay Packers

Free Agents

CB Tramon Williams, DT B.J. Raji, OT Bryan Bulaga, CB Jarrett Bush, LB Jamari Lattimore, QB Matt Flynn, FB John Kuhn, WR Randall Cobb, DT Letroy Guion, CB Davon House, QB Scott Tolzien, RB DuJuan Harris, S Sean Richardson, OT Don Barclay (RFA), WR Jarrett Boykin (RFA), S Chris Banjo (ERFA)

Outlook

Plenty of big names dot Green Bay's list, including two 2014 Pro Bowlers (Randall Cobb, John Kuhn), a seven-year starter at cornerback (Tramon Williams), a potential replacement at cornerback (Davon House) a starter at right tackle (Bryan Bulaga), a former top-10 draft pick (B.J. Raji), a special teams ace (Jarrett Bush) and both backup quarterbacks (Matt Flynn, Scott Tolzien). 

Cobb highlights the group. Arguably the game's top slot receiver, Cobb is now four years in, but he still hasn't turned 25 years old. He's uniquely versatile, with experience at every receiver position, running back and special teams. The Packers don't typically let young, home-grown talent get away, but Cobb has increased his price exponentially over the last season. 

Bulaga recovered from back-to-back season-ending injuries to become one of the best right tackles in the NFL. He could depart if he can get left tackle money on the open market. If he returns, the Packers will bring back all five starters from one of the NFL's best offensive lines. 

What about the veterans? Kuhn plays a dying position and has minimal value outside of Green Bay. Bush hardly plays on defense but is valuable on special teams. Williams is 32 years old and likely looking for one last multi-year deal.  

The decision at cornerback will likely come down to a younger, cheaper option in House winning out over the veteran Williams. 

Raji was lost for the season back in August, which wiped out his "prove it" season. He could be back on another minimal commitment. Letroy Guion was vital in place of Raji, but returning both could give Green Bay a strong rotation up front.  

The Packers will also need to make a decision at backup quarterback, although both could return for another training-camp competition. 

And don't forget, general manager Ted Thompson must decide whether Julius Peppers is worth bringing back at a $12 million cap number in 2015. 

Free-agency success in Green Bay will ultimately be determined by the futures of Cobb and Bulaga. If both are back, the Packers will move forward mostly undeterred. Losing one or both would be a significant setback. 

Minnesota Vikings 

Free Agents

QB Christian Ponder, FB Jerome Felton, DE Corey Wootton, LS Cullen Loeffler, DT Tom Johnson, LB Jasper Brinkley, G Vladimir Ducasse, C Joe Berger, RB Matt Asiata (RFA), OT Mike Harris (RFA), LB Dom DeCicco (RFA), C Josh Samuda (RFA), LB Josh Kaddu, LB Ross Homan

Outlook

Very few difficult decisions await the Vikings in free agency. 

Tom Johnson delivered 6.5 sacks in a rotational role, and it's likely head coach Mike Zimmer will push for him to return. Joe Berger and Mike Harris were serviceable as injury fill-ins. Minnesota might not pursue any of the other names heavily. 

Matt Asiata, a restricted free agent, would seem likely to receive a low tender. 

Minnesota's bigger question marks come internally. 

Adrian Peterson will count $15.4 million on the Vikings' cap next season. The club can save $13 million by releasing him. The Vikings can save another $7.1 million by cutting Chad Greenway, who is scheduled to count $8.8 million on the 2015 cap. 

Greg Jennings is mostly safe, but far from untouchable. The Vikings can save $5 million by releasing him, taking a $6 million dead-money penalty but removing his $11 million cap number. 

Tough choices on veterans await, but the Vikings are in a mostly favorable situation. With limited free agents and opportunities to clear cap space, Minnesota can enter the auction period in March with a chance to be major players. 

All contract information via Spotrac.com.

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2