NFC North Roundtable: Latest Draft Buzz for Vikings, Packers, Lions, Bears

Fan Nation's four NFC North site publishers are running a series of roundtables this month, leading up to the draft. The topic of today's is to describe the latest draft buzz for the team you cover.

Minnesota Vikings

Two weeks from now, the Vikings are going to draft a quarterback in the first round. There's zero question about that. This is a strong quarterback class, the Vikings have two first-round picks, and the current options on their roster are Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. They've been building towards this seismic shift — moving on from Kirk Cousins and drafting a QB — since the new regime took over two years ago.

The question is which quarterback, and with what pick? The Vikings have the 11th and 23rd selections in the first round. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is known for wheeling and dealing, so it would be quite surprising if they stay put and make those two picks as is. The most likely outcome still seems to be a trade up for one of the top non-Caleb Williams quarterbacks, whether that's Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels or J.J. McCarthy. The issue there is how much of a QB tax they'll have to pay to convince a team sitting in the top five to move down to 11.

The other option is to take Michael Penix Jr. or Bo Nix in the 10s or 20s, which would allow them to keep the other first-rounder this year, as well as their future draft capital. But if you're going to take a QB, you might as well be aggressive and go get your guy, right? — Will Ragatz, Inside The Vikings

Green Bay Packers

GM Brian Gutekunst hasn’t been one to reach to fill a need. From that standpoint, it will be interesting to see how he handles the first two days of the draft. The Packers have the 25th pick of the first round, the 41st and 58th picks of the second round and the 88th and 91st picks of the third round. That’s five early opportunities to hit the big needs – namely offensive line, cornerback, safety and linebacker.

With the ability to move around the draft board, will he stick at No. 25 and take the cliched best available player? Will he give up one of those Day 2 picks to go get his guy? Might he move back if the board is strong and, for sake of example, the Chiefs want to move up for a receiver or cornerback? Could he move way up for another pick in the early 30s?

One unrelated note: Gutekunst loves his quarterback tandem of Jordan Love and Sean Clifford. However, at one point during Brett Favre’s tenure, then-GM Ron Wolf drafted six quarterbacks in seven years. Gutekunst wants to get back to that way of doing business. Would he dare use a third-rounder on a signal-caller? Or wait to take a flier with one of his four picks in the final two rounds? — Bill Huber, Packer Central

Chicago Bears

The Bears' first pick in the draft is a formality as everything they've done and said leading to the draft indicates they'll take quarterback Caleb Williams No. 1 overall. The real interest will be in what they do at No. 9 in Round 1. Besides being an elite player, it could also set up what they select with their third-rounder (75) and fourth-rounder (122).

Bears coach Matt Eberflus has already said a major need in the draft is finding a defensive end opposite Montez Sweat, but it will be interesting to see if they're thinking the same thing at No. 9 because most pre-draft analysis puts three wide receivers above at least all but one edge rusher, if not all of them. It could be a case where the draft board dictates the Bears take a wide receiver and risk leaving their pass rush issues up to third- and/or fourth-round picks.

They've visited with all of the top receivers and edge rushers at this point. If Rome Odunze remains on the board, it will be a difficult pick to resist, especially because Keenan Allen is in the last year of his contract and could essentially be a rental player. The possibility of a Round 1 trade back exists if they find the top three receivers gone, because the edge rushers might be there a few picks later, as well. — Gene Chamberlain, BearDigest

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are in the unique position to be able to target the best player available when it is their turn to hand in their draft card. It is clear the organization is doing their due diligence at the cornerback and wide receiver positions pre-draft. I'm hearing Detroit's front office is enamored with cornerbacks who have the potential of also helping the team in the return game, which makes Kool-Aid McKinstry and Cooper DeJean realistic options at No. 29. 

Terrion Arnold, who has also visited the Lions, is a player many teams will covet in the first round, as he played 301 combined special-teams snaps the last two years. Being a special teams contributor and being the only FBS player with 12 or more pass breakups and at least five interceptions last year will make it unlikely he is available when it Detroit's turn to pick. 

Outside of the cornerback spot, it is also realistic general manager Brad Holmes targets an offensive lineman like Graham Barton, since their unit features three starters over the age of 30. Detroit has been successful building in the trenches and the dream scenario this year is if EDGE Darius Robinson somehow falls to Detroit late in the first round. — John Maakaron, All Lions

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