Next up on the docket is the NFC North, one of the most talented divisions in football. The Vikings and Packers are trying to add the few missing pieces to contend for a Super Bowl, while the Lions and Bears look to build through an influx of talent at certain positions.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have a chance to get a real difference maker with the eighth overall pick. In the first round they select linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Edmunds is a young raw linebacker that could grow into a star in Vic Fangio’s defense. He could also compliment Trubisky could as the face of the franchise on the defensive side of the ball.
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In the second round, Chicago gets a solid building block in Sam Hubbard. They need a true star pass rusher on the edge, but getting Hubbard as a potential number two guy is certainly more than enough.
These are their only picks in the top three rounds, but would definitely help accelerate the rebuild in Chicago.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are coming off a season in which they underperformed without their star quarterback. Picking inside the top-15 isn’t an frequent occurrence for this franchise.
In this draft, they use this opportunity to get their pass rusher of the future. Harold Landry would be an excellent first round pick for a Packers defense that largely struggles to get to the QB.
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In the second round they get Aaron Rodgers another toy he will us to torment defenses. D.J. Chark is in the mold of Will Fuller, a bigger receiver with elite speed.
Defensive back Rahsaan Gaulden is a Swiss Army knife who could fit right into their secondary as a Nickelback and help fill the void left by Morgan Burnett.
This draft would help solidify a roster that has holes often masked by their star quarterback.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a very interesting team. Matt Stafford has kept them as a middle of the pack team since being drafted. However, they haven’t put together a deep playoff run during his tenure. It seems that they could use an influx of talent at other positions to help Stafford get over the hump.
This first round selection would break the trend in Detroit. They tend to select running backs who are smaller, shiftier, and who can catch the ball out of the backfield. Instead, this time they get a bell cow, a guy who can flat out run over people.
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Derrius Guice could easily be the best running back from this year’s class several seasons from now. That statement isn’t a knock on Saquon Barkley as a playmaker, but Guice is an elite runner.
Their next two picks bolster Matt Patricia‘s defensive line. They get run-stuffer Derrick Nnadi and edge rusher Chad Thomas. These guys would provide a much needed improvement to a relatively weak front seven.
This haul would help take some pressure off the shoulders of Matt Stafford, and push the Lions toward building a more well-rounded team.
Minnesota Vikings
The last team in this division is the Minnesota Vikings, a team with very few holes. In the first round they get a mammoth of a man in Will Hernandez, a powerful guard who could have a very successful career in the NFL.
In the second round they take a luxury pick in Mark Andrews, a stout pass catcher with soft hands. He and Kyle Rudolph would form one of the better tight end duos in the league.
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Duke Dawson is a tough corner who can play the Nickel right away and eventually be a starter on the outside in Minnesota.
Overall this would be a solid class for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
