[CBFF] CBS Draft Speculation

[Steve Behrens]

*NFC North: Any A-Pete bargains out there?*
    *By **Clark Judge* <http://www.sportsline.com/columns/writers/judge>


Don't tell the Minnesota Vikings the NFL Draft can't complete your team. A
year ago they sat at the seventh position and had running back Adrian
Peterson fall to them.

Yeah, I guess that worked out.

But it's not the Vikings we're watching here; it's the Chicago Bears, with
fans wondering when they reach for a quarterback. Minnesota probably will
take one, too, but guaranteed it won't be early.

Chicago needs the draft to fill holes created by the losses of wide
receivers, an aging offensive line and the play of its quarterbacks. If they
can do that, they could challenge Green Bay and, yes, Minnesota for the top
spot.

Detroit? Don't ask. For the first time in six years the Lions don't have a
top 10 draft pick, and this time they're not looking for a wide receiver
with their first choice. Hallelujah.

Chicago Bears <http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/CHI>

*The skinny:* After a disappointing season punctuated by injuries and subpar
quarterbacking, the Bears try to reclaim the top spot in the division. They
re-signed Rex Grossman, but there's no guarantee he starts at QB. Kyle
Orton? Maybe. The more pressing issue is: Where is there a running game to
help these guys out? Ah, that's why they have a draft, people.

*Primary needs:* Offensive guard or tackle.

*Secondary needs:* Wide receiver, running back, quarterback.

*Possible targets:* Vanderbilt's Chris Williams, Pitt's Jeff Otah or
Virginia's Branden Albert.

*Summary:* The Bears aren't the monsters of anything. They can't run. They
can't block. They can't throw. They can't win. Find a running game, and they
can navigate their way back to the top. When Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson
split carries it was good. Once Jones left, Benson couldn't find holes, and
the offensive line couldn't make them. Not good.
Green Bay Packers <http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/GB>

*The skinny:* Finally, the Aaron Rodgers Era begins, and who knows what that
portends. The Packers fell one game short of the Super Bowl, then lost Brett
Favre to retirement. Now Rodgers gets his shot, and he'll have no shortage
of weapons -- with running back Ryan Grant and wide receivers Donald Driver
and Greg Jennings getting most of the touches.

*Primary need:* Cornerback. Charles Woodson is 32 and Al Harris is 34.
Neither was effective in the championship game loss to the Giants.

*Secondary needs:* Outside linebacker, tight end, running back.

*Possible targets:* The top cornerbacks will be gone at No. 30. Someone like
Antoine Cason from Arizona could be there. So could the University of
Kansas' Aqib Talib.

*Summary:* Rodgers steps into a nice situation. The team is young,
accelerating and loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball. Rodgers
doesn't have to be Favre. He just can't be Scott Hunter. The Packers aren't
desperate for a cornerback, but they will be soon. Find one now, then fill
in at other positions.

Detroit Lions <http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/DET>

*The skinny:* I give up with the Lions. Of their past nine first-round draft
picks, only four remain -- tackle Jeff Backus, wide receiver Roy Williams,
linebacker Ernie Sims and wide receiver Calvin Johnson. The guts of this
team should be the draft picks of the past five years, but the draft picks
of the past five years have been ... how do we say this ... underwhelming.
So Detroit fires Mike Martz, trades away Shaun Rogers, releases Kevin Jones
and starts all over. Good luck.

*Primary need:* Running back.

*Secondary needs:* Guard, defensive tackle, defensive end, cornerback.

*Possible targets:* With Jonathan Stewart recovering from surgery, Illinois'
Rashard Mendenhall and Arkansas' Felix Jones move to the head of the class.

*Summary:* The Lions made it clear they want to run the ball, and with Martz
moving to San Francisco they can try. But who's doing the running? And where
are the holes? This is not a team that will win 10 games, as Jon Kitna
predicted again, but it is one that could lose 10. There are far too many
needs, especially on defense.

Minnesota Vikings <http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/page/MIN>

*The skinny:* The pieces are there for a run at a division title, only the
Vikings are short in one area: Uh-huh, the passing game. Quarterback
Tarvaris Jackson is shaky and he could use a veteran wide receiver or two.
If Jackson settles down, the Vikings should reach the playoffs for the first
time in four years. If he doesn't, coach Brad Childress better hope owner
Zygi Wilf is a man of patience.

*Primary need:* Wide receiver

*Secondary needs:* Defensive end, safety, quarterback.

*Possible targets:* Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, Clemson defensive
end Phillip Merling or LSU wide receiver Early Doucet.

*Summary:* The Vikings cross their fingers with Jackson, 8-4 as a starter a
year ago, and look elsewhere for immediate relief. It's a good time to look
for a wide receiver or a pass rusher, with the Vikings in need of both.
Maybe the Troy Williamson disaster sours them on a pass catcher, I don't
know, but I see them going defense first -- especially with the Kenechi
Udeze setback