[CBFF] NFC North Draft review

[Steve Behrens]

NFC North off-season review *Ned
Macey*<http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/archive?authorId=305>/
FootballOutsiders.com <http://www.footballoutsiders.com/foxsports.php>
Posted: 1 hour ago

With the NFL Draft over, it's time to take a look at how each team
approached its off-season, concluding with the NFC North.

Chicago Bears

*Draft review*

The key for the Bears this season is the development of Rex Grossman, and
they tried to help their young quarterback by nabbing top tight end Greg
Olsen in the first round. The latest in a string of excellent University of
Miami tight ends, Olsen's receiving skills are much more developed than his
blocking ones. He is a bit of a workout warrior, as his production at Miami
was not exactly awe-inspiring. He only caught one touchdown pass last
season, showing that, unlike some tight ends, his value may come in between
the 20s.

The Bears took defensive end Dan Bazuin in the second round, a pick that is
more about the quality of the player than a specific team need. Bazuin was a
playmaker at Central Michigan, and time will tell if that translates to
higher competition. For now, this pick and the ascension of Mark Anderson
into the starting lineup could spell the end of Alex Brown's tenure in
Chicago.

The third round netted another highly productive MAC product in running back
Garrett Wolfe. The depth chart behind Cedric Benson is fluid, and Wolfe
could see substantial playing time. Wolfe does not have a great deal of
receiving experience, but he showed good potential in minicamp. With the
very next pick in the draft, the Bears took out Lance Briggs insurance in
Michael Okwo, a speedy, undersized linebacker who should fit in well on the
weak side.

The draft's second day brought two offensive linemen and three defensive
backs. Fourth-round guard Josh Beekman from Boston College was the highest
lineman picked by the Bears since Marc Colombo in the first round in 2002.
Beekman could immediately compete with Ruben Brown and eventually replace
center Olin Kreutz. Tackle Aaron Brant from Iowa State is athletic and could
develop.

The Bears re-scouted previously fruitful terrain for defensive backs,
grabbing safety Kevin Payne from Louisiana-Monroe and Corey Graham from New
Hampshire, the alma maters of Chris Harris and Jerry Azumah respectively.
Payne has potential as an excellent run-stuffing safety. Graham, like
Azumah, is an excellent return man, but with Devin Hester on board, he will
be more important as a cornerback — where he should be a natural for the
Cover-2 system. Trumaine McBride, an undersized corner from Mississippi,
rounded out the draft.

*Remaining needs*

It is too easy to say quarterback here, but the Bears had no shot at finding
a definite upgrade on Grossman and were probably wise to stay put at this
point. More noticeable is the failure to draft a wide receiver. Muhsin
Muhammad is 34 years old, and Mark Bradley has battled injuries since he was
drafted in 2005. Olsen is a nice addition, but Grossman will not develop if
Rashied Davis and Mike Hass are seeing extensive playing time. Depending on
Tank Johnson's treatment by the authoritarian Roger Goodell, the Bears could
also use more depth at defensive tackle.

*Undrafted free agents*

The Bears' undrafted free agents had bigger resumes than most of their draft
picks. Chris Leak was quarterback of National Champion Florida and had a
solid minicamp. Time will tell if he's more successful than the last Gator
quarterback to join the Bears. All-time Division I-AA touchdown leader David
Ball, a wide receiver from New Hampshire, could certainly stick given the
aforementioned lack of receiver depth. (Remember that the previous all-time
Division I-AA touchdown leader was some guy named Jerry Rice.) Leak and Ball
have the big names and fill in positions of need, but one of the less-touted
players with intriguing upside is tight end Fontel Mines, who is undersized
but could develop into a receiving threat. He would be even more interesting
if he was Fontel Mines from the Colorado School of Mines, but he's actually
from Virginia.

Detroit Lions

*Draft review*

Matt Millen has received few plaudits in his career as a general manager,
but remember that time in 2004 when he traded down one spot in the first
round, picked up a second-round pick and still drafted Roy Williams? Millen
waited for another sweetheart deal with the second pick this year. It turns
out Mike Ditka is no longer running a team, so Millen stayed put and took
Calvin Johnson. Johnson, Williams, and Mike Furrey could make up one of the
top wide receiver corps in football and will certainly make life easier for
Jon Kitna.

Millen got active in the second round, jumping up and down in the round to
get three second-round picks. First, the Lions selected their "quarterback
of the future" in Michigan State product Drew Stanton. Second-round
quarterbacks not named Drew Brees rarely turn out well, so the odds are
against Stanton. Stanton is unlikely to emerge as merely competent, as he
has the tools to be a star but lacks the consistency and accuracy to even
start. If he develops into a starter, he could be outstanding, but he is a
risky pick near the beginning of the second round. Defensive end Ikaika
Alma-Francis from Hawaii fills arguably the Lions' top defensive need and is
a talented pass rusher. Safety Gerald Alexander out of Boise State seems to
be a bit of a reach.

The Lions shipped off Josh McCown and Mike Williams for a fourth-round pick
and converted them into A.J. Davis, a cornerback from North Carolina. Davis
joins a very shallow depth chart and could compete immediately for time as a
nickel corner, which may be his future given his undersized frame. They also
drafted guard Manuel Ramirez from Texas Tech, an enormous player who lacks
great mobility and may not be able to deal with the athletic defensive
linemen in the NFL. The draft closed with linebacker Johnny Baldwin from
Alabama A&M and cornerback Ramzee Robinson from plain old Alabama. Baldwin
is an intriguing prospect who may have the coverage skills to excel at
middle linebacker in the Tampa-2. Robinson was Mr. Irrelevant and is the
type of prospect that spot usually implies.

*Remaining needs*

The Lions had major needs at linebacker, offensive line, and cornerback that
were not addressed until the second day with players unlikely to contribute
this season. Even after the selection of Baldwin, linebacker depth is a
major problem. While not the highest priority on a team, the Lions' tight
end depth chart is extremely skimpy, with Dan Campbell and Casey Fitzsimmons
topping the depth chart.

*Undrafted free agents*

For the past several seasons, Calvin Johnson's talent has been stifled by
the erratic play of quarterback Reggie Ball. Now, Ball joins Johnson as a
wide receiver on the Lions. Ball only got an invite to rookie minicamp, not
a contract. He is not the athlete that either Matt Jones or Antwaan Randle
El is and is a longshot to make the team. Tight end George Cooper makes it a
Tech triumvirate, and he has a decent shot of making the team due to his
blocking ability.

Green Bay Packers

*Draft review*

Brett Favre was not happy with the draft. He did not get the "weapon" he so
desperately wanted. The Patriots acquired Randy Moss for a measly
fourth-round pick. The Packers' fourth-rounder was used on Allen Barbre, an
offensive linemen from Missouri Southern State who is unlikely to contribute
until Favre has happily retired in Mississippi. Of course, the fact that a
team's biggest star did not like the draft does not mean it was a bad draft.

First-round defensive tackle Justin Harrell has amazing physical skills but
battled injuries in his senior season. The Packers were widely considered to
have "reached" for Harrell with the 16th selection, but Harrell also has
been said to have "top 10" talent. Once running back Marshawn Lynch was off
the board, no running back was worthy of a first-round pick. The Packers'
next biggest need was arguably defensive tackle, and Harrell could
contribute immediately.

With Lynch gone, the Packers targeted Brandon Jackson of Nebraska. They
traded down in the second round to take him. Most draft prognosticators had
multiple backs that Green Bay could have taken ranked higher. So, Jackson,
even more than Harrell, becomes the key pick of this draft by Ted Thompson.
If he is the best fit for the Packers' system — and he ran in a similar
zone-blocking scheme in college — then this draft could be surprisingly
productive. After an outstanding draft last season, Thompson should get the
benefit of the doubt.

Favre finally got a receiver with third-round pick James Jones from San Jose
State. He projects as more of a possession receiver due to average speed.
Fifth-round receiver David Clowney from Virginia Tech may have more upside
than Jones and is a deep threat. Third-round safety Aaron Rouse, also from
Virginia Tech, is a former linebacker who may not have the speed to be a
consistent safety but should provide good run support.

Besides Barbey and Clowney, the second day netted two linebackers, Korey
Hall and Desmond Bishop; kicker Mason Crosby; running back DeShawn Wynn; and
tight end Clark Harris. Hall and Bishop will be mostly special teamers
behind an established linebacker corps. Crosby could make a run at Dave
Rayner, who is not sufficiently accurate as a kicker. Wynn, the talented
back from Florida, will have an uphill battle to make the team, but if he
puts it together he will be a major bargain.

*Remaining needs*

The Packers filled defensive tackle running back, and wide receiver needs
with their first three picks, but they did nothing to address their glaring
lack of depth at cornerback. Behind veterans Al Harris and Charles Woodson,
the Packers have the underwhelming trio of Will Blackmon, Patrick Dendy and
Frank Walker. The Packers also did not touch their thin tight end position
until the selection of Harris in the seventh round.

*Undrafted free agents*

The Packers added a handful of undrafted free agents. Quarterback Jerry Babb
broke several of Jake Delhomme's records at Louisiana-Lafayette. Babb will
compete with Ingle Martin for the third quarterback position. The player
with the best shot to make the team may be Ryan Powdrell, a fullback from
Southern California. Brandon Miree is the starter, but he is not a great
player, and veteran William Henderson was released.


Minnesota Vikings

*Draft review*

When Adrian Peterson fell to the seventh spot, the Vikings snatched up one
of the draft's top talents. The status of his injured collarbone led to his
fall and likely will determine whether or not this was a wise pick. The good
news is that despite pre-draft reports to the contrary, Peterson will not
need surgery before the season. Peterson has the potential to be one of
those rare running backs who is not a product of his offensive line.
Obviously, he also has a history of injuries and will be of little use on
injured reserve. Unfortunately, Peterson will likely have only a minor
impact this season, as he is only a moderate upgrade over Chester Taylor,
and the lingering injuries could lead him to be broken in slowly.

Peterson was not a need pick, but the Vikings quickly turned to filling
needs with their next four picks. The second round netted Sidney Rice, a
speedy but unpolished receiver from South Carolina. The third round found
Marcus McCauley, an excellent pick at cornerback, who will provide depth
behind Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin. Rush defensive end Brian
Robinson came in the fourth, a must-have given the Vikings poor pass rush.
The Vikings added wide receiver Aundrae Allison in the fifth round. Allison,
like Rice, is a burner who is unrefined. He has intriguing physical skills
but is likely several years away from contributing.

The Vikings did finally add a quarterback to their current depth chart of
Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger, but seventh rounder Tyler Thigpen out
of Coastal Carolina is hardly likely to revolutionize the position. Thigpen
had a very good senior year but is undersized and only has the one good
season. The draft was rounded out with linebacker Rufus Alexander and
another wide receiver, Chandler Williams. Alexander, at least, was highly
productive in college.

*Remaining needs*

The Vikings' primary need remains quarterback, but they obviously disagree
with that assessment. The quantity-over-quality approach to wide receiver is
also a unique strategy. The Vikings opted to fill their safety needs through
free agency — signing Mike Doss and re-signing Tank Williams — rather than
adding an impact player in the draft. The right side of the offensive line
may depend on the development of Ryan Cook, a 2006 draftee. Overall, the
offensive line is not the unit the Vikings hope it is, and it is a little
surprising to see them completely ignore it in the draft.

*Undrafted free agents*

The Vikings signed 15 undrafted free agents. None are exactly big names that
generate fan interest. Michigan State offensive lineman Kyle Cook is an
interesting player who could add depth. Southern Illinois tight end Braden
Jones has excellent physical skills but never produced until his last
season. Safety Jeremy Burnett from South Florida has decent cover skills and
could stick.