NFC North Draft Grades

NFC North Draft Grades:

Minnesota Vikings:

With Brett Favre retired (hopefully for good this time, but probably not), the Vikings were left with a huge question mark at the quarterback. After all the #1 quarterback on the depth chart is Joe Webb. Anyone ever heard of him? I didn’t think so. I think we can all agree that they needed to draft a quarterback. Well, they did that by taking Christian Ponder out of Florida State at the twelfth pick. I’ve seen Ponder play in person and I can tell you that he is a smart quarterback who knows how to manage an offense. I think he’s prepared for the transition to the pro’s and I predict that he’ll be a solid, successful quarterback for Minnesota. He’s flown under the radar because he’s not as flashy as a Newton, Locker, or Gabbert, and I think that’s why some people are wrongly ripping on the Vikings for this pick. Maybe they could have traded down and taken him a little later in the round, but why risk it? They needed a quarterback and they got one. With their nine other picks in the draft, the Vikings drafted a bunch of lesser-known players who will strengthen their D-Line and O-Lines, as well as a good TE in Kyle Rudolph out of Iowa. I didn’t think they got anybody special in the later rounds, but then again I’m not Mel Kiper, so what do I know.

Draft Grade: B-

Detroit Lions:

The Lions had one of the best drafts of the year. They started the first round with a bang by drafting Nick Fairley, a Defensive Tackle out of Auburn. Fairley and Pro-Bowler Ndamukong Suh will eventually form, in my opinion, the best Defensive Line in the entire NFL. Detroit didn’t have many other picks, but they made smart picks that will be able to help out the offense right away in WR Titus Young and RB Mikel Leshoure.

Draft Grade: A

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers began the defense of their super bowl title with the NFL draft. I thought their biggest weakness entering the draft was the offensive line, and apparently the Packers agreed with me when they took OT Derek Sherrod. With starting tackle Chad Clifton being thirty-four years old, they needed to start grooming a replacement. Aaron Rodgers is their best player and the reason they’re the Super Bowl champions so they needed to invest in strengthening his protection. In the later rounds they added a few skill position players, by picking up WR Randall Cobb and RB Alexander Green out of Hawaii.  Cobb was a solid receiver at Kentucky, and since he’s joining one of the best receiving squads in the league, his greatest chance to make an impact on the game will be in the return game. Overall, I think the Packers addressed the few needs that they had, and helped add depth to the squad.

Draft Grade: B+

Chicago Bears:

The Bears’ draft might be best remembered for a trade that didn’t happen in a bizarre draft day trade snafu involving the Baltimore Ravens. All in all though, the Bears had a decent draft. The Bears picked up OT Gabe Carimi in the first round and DT Stephen Paea in the second. Both lineman will be able to step in immediately and contribute. The Bears always seem to make the right calls when it comes to drafting linemen so I’m inclined to believe in this pick. However I’m not exactly sure why they wasted a pick on QB Nathan Enderle. It doesn’t make sense to draft a future back up quarterback.

Draft Grade: B-