The NFC North was one of the strongest divisions in the history of the NFL this past season, producing three playoff teams as well as the number one seed. This year it has the potential to be even better with the Chicago Bears making massive improvements on paper.
All four of these teams have fairly strong rosters so when any of them are on the clock it may just be an instance of them taking the best player available.
Detroit Lions
The Lions are coming off their greatest regular season ever and if not for a historic injury crisis would have been in contention for the Superbowl. When healthy, their roster is incredibly strong, but it is not flawless and in need of reloading if their Superbowl window is to remain open.
Defensive End
*"The Lions could do with a pass rusher to compliment Aidan Hutchinson"* is something we’ve heard for multiple offseasons now. Last season the Lions did heed that call in that regard by bringing in veteran pass rusher Za'darius Smith. But sadly by that point, Aidan Hutchinson was several weeks deep into recovery from a compound fracture.
It’s a tag team we’ll never get to witness as the Lions made the choice to release Smith this offseason, so Brad Holmes is gonna have to get back in his bag. The Lions do have Marcus Davenport on the roster but he only finishes consecutive games every blue moon so isn’t to be relied on.
Considering their draft position the Lions would have to rely on this edge rusher draft being deep enough that one of the upper-tier prospects falls to them at the end of the first. James Pearce Jr, Mykel Williams and **Shemar Stewart**are amongst the prospects they would like to see fall.
Interior O-Line
Despite their offensive line famously being a strength, age has begun to creep up on Detroit in this area. Kevin Zeitler has relocated to Tennessee, Graham Glasgow is on washed watch and Frank Ragnow has been flirting with retirement more than the Lions would like.
They appeared to have nailed their 2024 6th round pick Christian Mahogany last year, but further reinforcement is needed in order to keep this strength a strength. It’s no secret that Jared Goff needs protection to be effective, and with the departure of Ben Johnson the Lions QB will need all the stability he can get.
Minnesota Vikings
The JJ McCarthy era has finally begun so the Vikings priority should involve making his debut season as a starter as smooth as possible. During free agency the team invested heavily on their defensive line, so any additions on that side of the ball should be on the secondary.
Interior Offensive Line
The Vikings brought in Ryan Kelly and Will Fries this offseason, but their left guard position is still manned by Blake Brandel who is the clear weakness in this position group. Bringing in a plug-and-play rookie should be a target in the first few rounds with Tyler Booker and Grey Zabel being targets in the early 20’s.
Safety
If the Vikings don’t look to bring in a guard then they will likely leave the first round with a safety. Harrison Smith has been a borderline hall of famer during his time in the Twin Cities, but he is 36 years old and likely entering his final season. Both Malakai Starks and Nick Emmanwori will likely be available by pick number 24 and either could be a viable replacement for Smith.
Last seasons Packers side felt like a team on the cusp of making the leap into becoming Superbowl contenders. A shrewd draft could give them the boost that they need, so long as Jordan Love returns to late 2023 form.
Cornerback
This position could become a glaring need for Green Bay depending on what they do with Jaire Alexander. The former second-team all-pro could be a cut candidate and could follow his fellow first-rounder, Eric Stokes, out the door. This would leave the Packers with Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine as their starting corners going into next season.
From a physical standpoint, Texan cornerback, Jahdae Barron is a like-for-like replacement, while former CFB final defensive MVP Will Johnson, could also be available.
Wide Receiver
Everyone says the Packers have a bunch of two’s but no one’s. I’d have argued with this until Christian Watson tore his ACL, turning a receiver pick from a luxury into a necessity.
There’s no one with Watson’s athletic ability in the draft but Tetaiora McMillan has the closest size profile. With the Arizona receiver sliding in recent mocks he may fall to a spot where the Packers will feel comfortable enough to move up to.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have once again won the offseason. Will it lead to them actually improving in the regular season? Time will tell.
Following the hiring of Ben Johnson, GM Ryan Poles went all in to fix a porous offensive line. This gives them the luxury of not having to draft for need and allows them to take the best player with their top 10 pick.
Defensive Line
While the Bears have been busy strengthening their trenches on the offensive side, their defensive side could still use some work. Veteran Grady Jarrett has been one of the better defensive tackles of the past decade, but there’s a reason the Atlanta Falcons were willing to let him go.
Outside of Montez Sweat, they don’t have any star power in their front seven, and with the quality of offensive lines in the NFC North, they’ll need talent in this area. Mason Graham is the dream here, but they’ll likely need to settle for more of the high-risk high-reward prospects such as Shemar Stewart or Jalon Walker.
Ashton Jeanty
Running backs are in vogue and it’s cool to take them in the first round again. With the recent success of Bijan Robinson and Jamhyr Gibbs, the Bears can be in a position to take Jeanty without turning too many heads. The Heisman finalist is arguably the best prospect at the position since Saquon Barkley and perhaps even surpassing him.
Ben Johnson was part of the coaching staff when the **Detroit Lions**replaced De’andre Swift. Now there’s a chance that Swift can find himself exiled once again for a younger, more talented prospect.