Bears: B
T Darnell Wright, Tennesse, 1st Round, DT Gervon Dexter, Florida, CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami, 2nd Round, DT Zacch Pickens, South Carolina, 3rd Round, RB Roschon Johnson, Texas, WR Tyler Scott, Cincinnati, 4th Round, ILB Noah Sowell, Oregon, CB Terell Smith, Minnesota, 5th Round, DT Travis Bell, Kennesaw State, CB Kendall Williamson, Stanford, 7th Round
The Bears shocked everyone going with Wright who was considered the top RT in the draft, but this started a run on Tackles. Wright is a massive Tackle with good strength, versatility playing LT, RT, and Guard, and pass and run blocking skills, but he needs to improve his technique and he lacks quickness, but he will be the day 1 RT. Dexter is a huge DT with good length, athleticism, and strength who does a great job of shedding blocks and stopping the run with some pass rush potential, but he needs to improve his technique and continue to stay in shape to improve his motor; he has 3-down potential and should be in the rotation early. Stevenson is a press CB with good size and length who plays with good coverage skills, the versatility to play inside and outside, and he’s a willing run defender, but he needs to work on his technique and consistency; he will compete for a starting job. Pickens is a strong run stopper with some pass rush potential who does a good job of getting his hands into the passing lanes, but he needs to work on his conditioning, motor, and technique; he has three down potential and should be in the rotation. Johnson is a power back with good size, acceleration, pass blocking, and he has good hands as a playmaker in space, but he’s a bit stiff and doesn’t have good long speed; he projects as #2 RB and third down back who could be a starter.
Scott is an undersized WR with good speed and explosiveness as a downfield threat and playmaker in space, but he needs to get stronger, be more consistent, and polish his route running; he should be in the rotation with potential as a slot WR. Sewell is a tough, high motor LB with good size, strength, and run stopping ability while showing flashes as a pass rusher, but he needs to continue to improve his technique, coverage, and awareness. He projects as a ILB who could move outside if his rush improves, he should contribute on Special Teams and against the run. Smith is a long cover CB with good speed, instincts, and a willing tackler, but he needs to improve his technique, hands (dropped INTs), and continue to polish his game; he has starter potential. Bell is an undersized strong, high motor run stopper with some pass rush potential; he hopes to provide depth at NT. Williamson is a big DB with experience at Safety and CB who excels at stopping the run and playing in the box; he could make the team through Special Teams.
Lions: B+
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama, ILB Jack Campbell, Iowa, 1st Round, TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa, DB Brian Branch, Alabama 2nd Round, QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee, DT Brodric Martin, Western Kentucky, 3rd Round, T Colby Sorsdal, William & Mary, 5th Round, WR Antoine Green, North Carolina, 7th Round
The Lions shocked people after smartly trading down, but deciding to reach for Gibbs who many had as a late 1st to early 2nd round pick. Gibbs is an electric runner with great playmaking ability in space, good hands and speed, but he needs to add more weight/strength to his frame and show more consistency; he will share carries with starter potential. Campbell was considered another reach as a projected 2nd round pick, but he was a need pick as an athletic LB with a nose for the football in coverage and stopping the run with great leadership. However, he’s more quick than fast with limited range, but he will be a day 1 starter. LaPorta was a favorite of many people as another tough, physical playmaking TE from Iowa with good hands and blocking, but he lacks good speed and needs to add weight/strength to his frame; he will be in competition for the starting job. Branch is a physical DB who was used as a movable piece in the secondary with the ability to play in the nickel or at Safety helping in the run game, blitzing, or in coverage, however he needs to add strength and polish his coverage skills; he didn’t test well at the Combine with short arms and a decent 40 time. Branch projects as a Safety, but he will get a chance to be a movable piece early in his career.
Hooker is a smart QB with good size, arm, and mobility however he is 25, coming off an ACL injury, and needs to improve his technique and show more consistency in his game especially throwing downfield, but he has starter to spot starter potential and should compete for the #2 job. Martin is a huge NT who specializes in taking up space, but he lacks the quickness/athleticism to make plays behind the line and he needs to clean up some technique issues; he should eventually be in the rotation to help against the run. Sorsdal is a run blocker who plays with good footwork, strength, and technique, but he needs to improve his pass blocking and he will need to add weight to play Tackle; he will have a chance to provide depth and projects as a Guard. Green is a possession WR with good route running, YAC, and hands, but he needs to add more strength, is more quick than fast, and has small hands; he may be able to make the team through Special Teams as a returner.
Packers: C+
DE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa, 1st Round, TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State, WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State, 2nd Round, TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State, 3rd Round, DT Colby Wooden, Auburn, 4th Round, QB Sean Clifford, Penn State, WR Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia, 5th Round, DE Karl Brooks, Bowling Green, K Anders Carlson, Auburn, 6th Round, CB Carrington Valentine, Kentucky, RB Lew Nichols III, Central Michigan, S Anthony Johnson Jr., Iowa State, WR Grant DuBose, Charlotte, 7th Round
The Packers moved up two spots after the trade with the Jets to select Van Ness an athletic edge rusher who has good size, strength, and the ability to make plays against the run as well. However, Van Ness needs to improve his technique and continue to polish his game, as he wasn’t a starter; he is projected to be a pass rush specialist early with potential to be a long time starter. Musgrave is an athletic TE with good size, speed, and blocking skills, but he needs to add strength and comes with injury concerns; he has potential to be a starter if he can stay healthy and he will compete for the starting job. Reed is an undersized WR with good hands and speed to create separation and make plays downfield or in space, however he needs to add strength and projects as a slot WR and returner. Kraft is a movable piece on offense as a pass catching TE with good size, speed, and blocking skills, but he’s still raw and needs to polish his game and work on his technique and route running; he has starting potential once he develops and will provide depth. Wooden is a strong, quick D-lineman playing with good athleticism against the run and pass with pass rush potential, but he needs to work on his technique and continue to add more weight to be a full time DT; he offers inside/outside versatility (DE/DT), but projects as a #2 DT once he develops. Clifford is a tough QB with good leadership and awareness and above average mobility, but he doesn’t have the size or arm strength to be a starter; he will compete for the #2 job although most scouts didn’t have him on their board.
Wicks is a deep threat WR with the size to play inside and outside while making plays in space, he needs to add more strength, improve his consistency (drops), and polish his route running; he has #2 WR potential, but will provide depth until he develops. Brooks is a pass rusher with great size, strength, production and versatility playing DE/DT, but he needs to prove he can handle an increase in competition despite impressing at the Senior Bowl, and continue improving his run stopping, conditioning, and technique; he will provide depth. Carlson is a known an experienced/clutch kicker who can be accurate close, but struggle from distance; he will compete for the job, but he needs to be more consistent and prove he can stay healthy. Valentine is an athletic zone CB with good size, speed, and tackling, but he needs to add strength and improve his technique and awareness; he projects as a returner and developmental DB with potential. Nichols is a power back with good size for the position who runs with good vision and physicality, but he doesn’t offer much in the passing game as a receiver or blocker and doesn’t have top speed to be a homerun threat; he has #2 back potential if he can regain his form before injuries. Johnson is a versatile player with experience at CB and Safety with good size, speed, and tackling ability, but he needs to improve his technique and consistency; his lack of athleticism projects him as box Safety, but he should help on Special Teams as he develops. Dubose is a hardworking WR with good size, quickness, and hands who is still very raw; he needs to continue to polish his game and route running to help with separation.
Vikings: C+
WR Jordan Addison, USC, 1st Round, CB Mekhi Blackmon, USC, 3rd Round, S Jay Ward, LSU, 4th Round, DT Jaquelin Roy, LSU, QB Jaren Hall, BYU, 5th Round, RB DeWayne McBride, UAB, 7th Round
The Vikings started the draft selecting Addison who will be a nice slot WR replacement for veteran Adam Thielen. Addison is a solid route-runner with great hands who finds a way to get open and make plays downfield and in space despite being more quick than fast, but he lacks ideal length and needs to add more strength; he should be the slot WR immediately and he has #2 WR potential. Blackmon is a solid cover CB with good speed and technique, but he needs to add more strength/weight to his frame and improve his tackling and run support; he will provide depth and has potential as a nickel. Ward is a tough, physical DB with experience at both positions (CB/S) with solid run support and awareness, but he needs to add more weight/strength to play Safety and improve his technique in coverage; he will provide depth at both spots and play Special Teams. Roy is an athletic, high-motor DT who specializes in stopping the run making him more of a NT as he needs to improve his pass rush and polish his technique; he will provide depth with starter potential. Hall is an accurate, athletic QB who can make all the throws, but he is undersized, needs to improve his consistency, and improve his ability to read the field; he has potential as a backup. McBride is a patient, physical RB with good size who runs with good vision and doesn’t shy away from contact, but he’s not very fast and needs to prove that he can catch and block in the passing game; he has potential.
