NFL Draft 2022: NFC North Team Grades

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Following on from the 2022 NFL Draft how do things look in the NFC North? Will the Green Bay Packers still dominate or did the Minnesota Vikings do enough to challenge? How did the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions fare in their team rebuilding? Let’s dive in!

NFC NORTH TEAM GRADES

Chicago Bears: C+

Kyler Gordon - NFC North — Image Credit: USA Today

Draft picks

#39 CB Kyler Gordon Washington
#48 S Jaquan Brisker Penn State
#71 WR Velus Jones Tennessee
#168 OT Braxton Jones Southern Utah
#174 Edge Dominique Robinson Miami (Ohio)
#186 OG Zach Thomas San Diego State
#203 RB Trestan Ebner Baylor
#207 C Doug Kramer Illinois
#226 OG Ja’Tyre Carter Southern
#254 DB Elijah Hicks California
#255 P Trenton Gill N.C. State

The Bears sat out night one but were quickly into action with early day 2 picks to solidify their secondary. Kyler Gordon is an athletic cornerback who is aggressive in attacking contested catches and Jaquan Brisker will be an extremely consistent safety, particularly effective against the run. They then traded down several times to acquire later picks and will hope to hit on at least one of four day 3 offensive lineman. Chicago certainly did not make Justin Fields job any easier with no notable star additions to put around him, although receiver Velus Jones will add some top-level speed.

Detroit Lions: B+

Hungry for greatness': Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson is eager to dominate — Image Credit: Michigan Daily

Draft picks

#2 Edge Aidan Hutchinson Michigan
#12 WR Jameson Williams Alabama
#46 DT Josh Paschal Kentucky
#97 S Kerby Joseph Illinois
#177 TE James Mitchell Virginia Tech
#188 LB Malcolm Rodriguez Oklahoma State
#217 Edge James Houston Jackson State
#237 CB Chase Lucas Arizona State

The Lions ran the card up for potentially the best player in the draft Aidan Hutchinson. They then got a little giddy and traded back up to 12 to take wideout Jameson Williams who will miss a significant chunk of his rookie season recovering from his ACL injury. Paschal adds more depth and aggression to the Lions D-Line and is in the mould of Dan Campbell. Kerby Joseph will need time and experience but has the potential to be a real ball hawk in the secondary with his pterodactyl-like wingspan. In James Mitchell the Lions will be hoping for another talent returning from an ACL. All in all it felt like another solid team-building draft by Detroit, which has the next 3-5 years in mind more than next season.

Green Bay Packers: A-

NFC North — Image Credit: bleacher report

Draft picks

#22 LB Quay Walker Georgia
#28 DT Devonte Wyatt Georgia
#34 WR Christian Watson N. Dakota State
#92 OT Sean Rhyan UCLA
#132 WR Romeo Doubs Nevada
#140 OT Zach Tom Wake Forest
#179 LB Kingsley Enagbare S. Carolina
#228 LB Tariq Carpenter Georgia Tech
#234 DT Jonathan Ford Miami
#249 OT Rasheed Walker Penn State
#258 WR Samori Toure Nebraska

The Packers managed to satisfy both the needs of the team and the needs of one Aaron Rodgers. They know their Super Bowl window revolves around number 12 and receivers arrived, although of course not on day 1! Rodgers will love the speed and separation both Watson and Doubs can achieve. However, taking Christian Watson ahead of George Pickens, Alec Pierce and Skyy Moore will receive scrutiny once the season is underway. The surprise of the opening round was Quay Walker taken the first linebacker off the board and it was Georgia all the way on night one with the Draft Talk team’s consensus number 1 DT, Devonte Wyatt. Ridiculous value was found on day 3 with the selection of edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare at 179. The offensive lineman selected, in particular Sean Ryan and Zach Tom, will help revitalise the protection for Rodgers.

Minnesota Vikings: B-

2022 NFL draft: Lewis Cine scouting report — Image Credit: USAToday

Draft picks

#32 S Lewis Cine Georgia
#42 CB Andrew Booth Clemson
#59 OG Ed Ingram LSU
#66 LB Brian Asamoah Oklahoma
#118 CB Akayleb Evans Missouri
#165 DE Esezi Otomewo Minnesota
#169 RB Ty Chandler N. Carolina
#184 OT Vederian Lowe Illinois
#191 WR Jalen Nailor Michigan St.
#227 TE Nick Muse S. Carolina

The Vikings went trade happy early on before settling on four picks in-between 32 and 66. They focused squarely on the defense with five of their first six picks on that side of the ball. The secondary is instantly upgraded by the hard-hitting Lewis Cine and securing one of the most dynamic and athletic cornerbacks, Andrew Booth, at 42 was excellent value. On offense the Vikings added speed both with running back Ty Chandler and receiver Jalen Nailor. A solid draft, with lots to like in first four picks but they gave up capital as a friendly trade partner, including with divisional rivals. Time will tell whether sticking and picking may have been better. Their move up for the unfortunately injury plagued Akayleb Evans gave an uneven feel to their overall strategy.

How would you grade the NFC North draft classes? Let us know over on Twitter @ninetynineyards and @47yards

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