NFL Draft: Winners And Losers - Full Recap

NFC North

The NFC North has a long history of being tough nosed football. The Pack, Bears, Vikings and Lions all have long and storied histories. The Pack has been the most successful in recent years and all the teams have shown promise. If each team puts together a year like they should, it could be an exciting division. The Lions have Staff and Megatron and now have brought Reggie Bush in. They can put points up, the defense is the problem. The Packers recently gave Aaron Rodgers the biggest contract in the history of the league. They need a running game and they need to add some receiver help to make up for losing Jennings. The Bears have a bad line, Cutler has no time. Fix that and mend an old defense and they can compete. The Vikings made the playoffs on the feet of Adrian Peterson. The man carried a team all the way. If they can get production from Christian Ponder, they can be a good team. Bears- RD 1 Kyle Long (OG), RD 2 Jonathan Bostic (ILB), RD 4 Khaseem Greene (OLB), RD 5 Jordan Mills (OT), RD 6 Cornelius Washington (DE), RD 7 Marquess Wilson (WR) DA Bears need to improve a horrendous offensive line. Jay Cutler was on his back too often and Matt Forte couldn't get any holes last season. Those two are their team. Getting rid of Lovie Smith means a new regime, bringing in Kyle Long, and Jordan Mills will hopefully sure their line up. Jonathan Bostic was a great linebacker in Florida for the gators. And Khaseem Greene is brought in to learn the outside. They have an important job of making the void of Urlacher, not be felt. Da Bears get a C+ from me. They didn't get another threat, which I thought they needed. However, they got Kyle Long who Jay Cutler desperately needed to block for him. Jon Bostic has to be the new age Brian Urlacher, Cornelius Washington was a good pickup, he fell for some reason. Nothing big, but a good draft. Lions- RD 1 Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah (DE),RD 2 Darius Slay (CB), RD 3 Larry Warford (OG), RD 4 Devin Taylor (DE), RD 5 Sam Martin (K), RD 6 Corey Fuller (WR), RD 6 Theo Riddick (RB), RD 7 Michael Williams (TE), RD 7 Brandon Hepburn (ILB) The Lions have shown they can score in bunches. Their defense just cannot stop anyone. They don't need much on the offensive side. Ziggy from BYU will be a force in the NFL. He is 6'5" 270 and runs 4.7s. Freakish, to go with their other freak. Darius Slay out of Miss St. has shown he can play man as good as anyone, but, he is very raw. They need to coach him up. But he can be just what they need. Warford was brought in to give depth and a little more protection to Stafford. Devin Taylor will be bred up to be a pass rusher on the end. Motor City will like me, the Lions get an A-. The Lions needed some help on defense, the line and the backfield. They got that in rounds 1 and 2. Both were exceptional picks, Slay can cover like nobodies business and Ansah may be their Answer on the line. Larry Warford will be a force on the line and then they added solid depth. Great draft for Detroit. Packers- RD 1 Datone Jones (DE), RD 2 Eddie Lacy (RB), RD 4 David Bakhtiari (OT), RD 4 J.C. Tretter (OG), RD 4 Johnathan Franklin (RB), RD 5 Micah Hyde (CB), RD 5 Josh Boyd (DT), RD 6 Nathan Palmer (OLB), RD 7 Charles Johnson (WR), RD 7 Kevin Dorsey (WR), RD 7 Sam Barrington (OLB) The Pack have Rodgers and will remain a playoff threat as long as he is QB1. They have had really no running game and went to work on that. Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin were top 3 backs on many boards, they got both of them. That should add rotation, speed, and power to their backfield. Datone Jones was brought in and start as soon as he gets there. Micah Hyde was brought in to add depth. Boyd will be brought in to sit under Raji and be a sporadic player. He will grow in to be Rajis' replacement. The Pack is going to get a B from me. Jones will be great up front, and their 2 linemen picks add good depth. Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin were their super picks. These guys create a 2 headed rushing attack that the Pack haven't had in a long time. They now have a running game behind Aaron Rodgers that will make their offense more potent. Vikings- RD 1 Sharrif Floyd (DT), RD 1 Xavier Rhodes (CB), RD 1 Cordarrelle Patterson (WR), RD 4 Gerald Hodges (OLB), RD 5 Jeff Locke (P), RD 6 Jeff Baca (OG), RD 7 Michael Mauti (ILB), RD 7 Travis Bond (OG), RD 7 Everett Dawkins (DT) The Vikings were pleased when Sharrif Floyd fell to them. He is going to start up front and play nose tackle. They also had 2 more 1st round picks. Xavier Rhodes is big and fast, and will become a top tier corner if he meets potential. He can hang with the best receivers. Cordarrelle was their last pick for 3 rounds. He was Tennessees' number 1 receiver. He now moves in to a duo with Greg Jennings that could be fantastic. He is explosive and can return. With Harvin gone, it is just what they needed. Hodges was brought in as a depth man and Jeff Locke will be their punter. Michael Mauti was a key 7th round addition The Vikings get an A from me. They lost Percy Harvin in the off-season and brought in Greg Jennings. They then get Cordarrelle Patterson and what do you know, this may not be a one dimensional offense! Ponder has weapons. Sharrif Floyd fell way down to the Vikes and they were ecstatic. Xavier Rhodes will be a great corner up there, you need those against Aaron Rodgers. The 7th round pickup of Mauti was a good one. He had knee problems in college, but, he is from Lineback U.