POST DRAFT MONDAY MOANIN
NFL Draft grades 2015:
Vikings, Bears big winners in NFC North
Strong draft hauls by Minnesota and Chicago could help balance out the division in 2015.
The 2014 season was a rough one for the Vikings and Bears. The pair won just 12 combined games, went 0-8 against the playoff-bound Packers and Lions and were both unofficially out of the division race by late November. But strong draft hauls by both franchises could help balance out the NFC North in 2015.
Minnesota, whose defense ranked a respectable 14th in yards allowed per game last season, went all-in on defense, spending its first three picks on that side of the ball and coming away with several potential starters. Chicago bagged a replacement for Brandon Marshall and picked up two immediate impact defenders.
Not that the Packers and Lions had bad draft weekends, mind you. Experts consistently graded them well, particularly Detroit, who significantly bolstered its rushing attack in the early rounds. Green Bay turned heads by taking a quarterback in the fifth, but the real takeaway is their commitment to strengthening the secondary with consecutive defensive back picks to start the draft.
Here are the grades from various draft experts:
SB Nation: B+
Mel Kiper Jr.: B
CBS Sports: A-
NFL.com: B
Tired of getting scorched by Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Alshon Jeffery and the rest of the division's armament of receivers, the Vikings invested in an elite cornerback, nabbing Michigan State's Trae Waynes with the 11th overall pick. Wayne has the height (6'1) and speed (4.31 40 time) to D up bigger receivers, and should give Minnesota a fantastic 1-2 punch opposite Xavier Rhodes.
The defensive-minded Mike Zimmer spent all three picks on that side of the ball, taking linebackers Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter in the second and third rounds, respectively. They got great value in the fourth with Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings, who is one of the most talented offensive tackles in the class but dropped because of health concerns.
The defensive-minded Mike Zimmer spent all three picks on that side of the ball, taking linebackers Eric Kendricks and Danielle Hunter in the second and third rounds, respectively. They got great value in the fourth with Pittsburgh's T.J. Clemmings, who is one of the most talented offensive tackles in the class but dropped because of health concerns.
SB Nation: B+
Mel Kiper Jr.: B+
CBS Sports: C+
NFL.com: B
How do you replace Brandon Marshall's size, speed and red zone abilities? Draft West Virginia's Kevin White with the seventh overall pick, that's how. White should be able to slide right in alongside Alshon Jeffery and preserve Jay Cutler's towering wideout duo. The Bears also filled big needs with defensive tackle Eddie Goldman -- who can become the nose guard in John Fox's new 3-4 defense -- and safety Adrian Amos -- who should have an immediate role in a
secondary that ranked 30th against the pass last season. It was a bit of a puzzler when the Bears used a fourth-round pick on running back Jeremy Langford a year after picking Ka'Deem Carey in the same round. That pick would have been better invested in an athletic pass rusher, something Fox will need as he makes over the defense.
secondary that ranked 30th against the pass last season. It was a bit of a puzzler when the Bears used a fourth-round pick on running back Jeremy Langford a year after picking Ka'Deem Carey in the same round. That pick would have been better invested in an athletic pass rusher, something Fox will need as he makes over the defense.
SB Nation: B
CBS Sports: B+
NFL.com: B
One has to wonder why the Packers waited until the fourth round to address their glaring hole at interior linebacker. They doubled down on defensive backs in the first two rounds (Arizona State's Damarious Randall and Miami Ohio's Quinten Rollins) and spent their third pick on a wide receiver (Ty Montgomery out of Stanford), which is already one of the deepest position groups on the team. But GM Ted Thompson has always been about drafting the best player on the board, regardless of positional needs.
Which brings us to the most interesting Green Bay draft pick: UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley. In a move reminiscent of Aaron Rodgers' selection in 2005, the Packers plucked Hundley from his free fall in the fifth round. Rodgers is only 31, so it's too early to talk about Hundly as the heir apparent. But Rodgers' injury two years ago exposed Green Bay's lack of depth at quarterback, and the Packers can always flip Hundley if he develops into an asset.
SB Nation: B
Mel Kiper Jr.: B
CBS Sports: B-
NFL.com: B
Detroit invested heavily in the run game, adding power-blocking guard Laken Tomlinson and explosive running back Ameer Abdullah with its first two picks.
Tomlinson might have been a bit of a reach at No. 28 overall, but Abdullah was an absolute steal at the end of the second round, so it balances out. On defense, the Lions addressed the free agent departure of Ndamukong Suh by taking Gabe Wright, who they're hoping will be more productive than the last Auburn defensive tackle they drafted, Nick Fairley.
Tomlinson might have been a bit of a reach at No. 28 overall, but Abdullah was an absolute steal at the end of the second round, so it balances out. On defense, the Lions addressed the free agent departure of Ndamukong Suh by taking Gabe Wright, who they're hoping will be more productive than the last Auburn defensive tackle they drafted, Nick Fairley.
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