NFC NORTH TEAM NEEDS HEADING INTO THE 2024 NFL DRAFT

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Quarterback - After losing Kirk Cousins to Atlanta in free agency the Vikings now start the process of finding the replacement at quarterback to lead the team. Sam Darnold could serve as a bridge if needed to whoever the Vikings see as the future.

Draft fit: JJ Mcarthy, QB, Michigan, 1st round.
McCarthy is a difficult player to evaluate because he was only asked to do so much at Michigan. It remains to be seen if he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but the Vikings would be able to provide a nice situation for a young player to start out.

CB - Quarterback aside, cornerback might just be the biggest need on the roster for Minnesota after finishing bottom ten in passing yards allowed and last in completion percentage allowed (70.3%).

Draft fit: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo, 1st round.
In a scenario where the Vikings don’t land a quarterback early in the draft, then taking Quinyon Mitchell could be a great alternative. Mitchell has the best combination of athleticism, length, and tape among this cornerback class.

DT - Minnesota will miss the presence of stud pass rusher Danielle Hunter, but they have added Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard on free-agent deals to line up on the edge. The interior defensive line is a position of need for a team that will need to improve to slow down the high-powered offenses in the NFC North.

Draft Fit. T’Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas, 4th round.
Teams may have concerns with off-the-field issues and weight/conditioning. However, if he is on the board for the Vikings in the 4th round Sweat would be a value pick. Sweat can take double team blocks to keep linebackers clean in the run game and he brings more pass-rush value than expected at his size.

DETROIT LIONS

CB - The Lions look like they have found their guy at slot corner in last year's second-round pick Brian Branch. Another outside cover corner to pair with Carlton Davis would round out the defensive back group nicely

Draft fit: Kyree Jackson, CB, Oregon, 2nd round.
Detroit could address the cornerback position in the first round, but if they don’t like the value of a corner 29, then Kyree Jackson from Oregon would be an option in the second. Jackson is a super long and athletic player standing at 6’3. He only started 14 games in college so he’s not the most experienced defensive back in the class, but with development, he can become a physical press corner that can make plays against the run which would feel like a great fit for Dan Campbell.

EDGE - Aiden Hutchinson has shown himself to be a cornerstone piece on the defensive line for Detroit. The free agent signing of Marcus Davenport on a one-year prove-it deal is interesting, but the Lions should still look to add pass rush in the draft to help the team push for another playoff run.

Draft fit: Darius Robinson, EDGE, Missouri, 1st round.
Robinson had a breakout year this past season at Missouri. He would line up as a base defensive end in Detroit with the flexibility to move inside on sub-packages. 29th overall would be the top of his range in the draft, if Detroit is targeting Robinson, they could potentially trade down and still land him in the early second round.

WR - The Lions hit the jackpot when they drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round in the 2021 draft. However, Jameson Williams is yet to return the investment of a first-round pick and the wide receiver room is lacking depth.

Draft Fit: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina, 3rd round.
At 6 '2 and 221 pounds, Legette would give the Lions a big physical type of receiver that they don’t have on the roster. Legette was a late bloomer in college, but he has physical play style, size, and athleticism that would give Detroit a tough and intimidating presence on offense.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

CB - The Packers have a talented young roster, including stud corner Jaire Alexander. Former first-round pick Eric Stokes might still turn into a solid player, but he has missed 21 regular season games in the last two seasons.

Draft fit: Andrew Wiggins, CB, Clemson, 1st round.
Wiggins has the elite speed to stay with perimeter receivers and recover in coverage. He could stand to get heavier and he isn’t the best tackler in the class.

S - Free agent signing Xavier McKinney will hold down the free safety spot for the Packers. Finding a safety to pair with McKinney in the draft would help Green Bay offset the loss of Darnell Savage.

Draft Fit: Cole Bishop, S, Utah, 4th round.
Bishop can be deployed in coverage against tight ends and has a knack for getting pressure as a blitzer. He has good size and physical traits for the position. Plays with hustle and looks to lay a big hit on receivers at every opportunity.

O Line - Green Bay’s offensive line was a solid unit in front of Jordan Love last season, but drafting an interior lineman who can come in and replace Jon Runyan would fill a need.

Draft fit. Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State. 3rd round.
Beebe doesn’t have the best profile in terms of arm length and movement in space, which makes him an interior-only lineman. But he has solid strength, hand placement, and leverage to be a starting guard in the NFL.

CHICAGO BEARS

QB - This is an obvious one, after trading Justin Fields to the Steelers, the Bears need a new answer at the quarterback position.

Draft fit: Caleb Williams, QB, USC, 1st round.
Not much uncertainty here, Williams is one the best quarterback prospects to enter the draft over the last decade. If the Bears can assemble enough talent to surround him with, Caleb Williams should become the franchise QB that Chicago has never had before.

EDGE - Chicago has made moves in free agency to fill holes on the roster on both sides of the ball. The Bears could go in a number of directions in the draft, but another pass rusher to line up opposite Montez Sweat.

Draft fit: Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama, 1st round.
If Turner is still on the board for the Bears with the ninth pick this would make sense. They could also look to trade down from the number nine and acquire more draft capital. The Bears only have four picks in this year's draft.

WR - DJ Moore and Keenan Allen give the Chicago Bears a nice duo of pass catchers at the top of the depth chart. However, Allen is 31 years old so adding another wide receiver in the draft would help to build around the new quarterback for the future.

Draft fit: Brenden Rice, WR, USC, 3rd round.
Rice is a player that can separate from coverage with smooth route running and releases off the line. In the third round Rice would be a great fit in Chicago that could line up on the outside and let Keenan Allen run from the slot.