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2023 NFC North NFL Draft Team Needs | Key Losses, Key Gains, List of Draft Picks, and More!

2023 NFC North NFL Draft Team Needs | Key Losses, Key Gains, List of Draft Picks, and More!
2023 NFC North NFL Draft Team Needs | Key Losses, Key Gains, List of Draft Picks, and More!

Chicago Bears

Draft Picks: 9, 53, 61, 64, 103, 133, 136, 148, 218, 258
Team Needs: Edge, OL, DL, RB, OLB, TE, DB
Key Players Gained: Tremaine Edmunds (ILB), Nate Davis (OG), Demarcus Walker (DE), TJ Edwards (LB), Phillip Walker (QB), Travis Homer (RB), Andrew Billings (DT), Robert Tonyan (TE), Rasheem Green (DE), D’Onta Foreman (RB), DJ Moore (WR)-trade
Key Players Lost: David Montgomery (RB), Riley Reiff (OT)

Trading out of the #1 spot was a good idea. The Bears have a lot of needs and can use this draft to change their outlook in the NFC North Division. With 4 picks in the top 100 as well as pick 103, they can do just that. Depending on how the draft falls, they have the opportunity to get one of the best OL or a great quality Edge rusher. The Bears were dead last in 2022 in sacks and really weren’t that good at protecting their own QB. So, their first round pick is anyone’s guess as to which way they will go. Their DL is below-average when it comes to NFL quality. That will also be an area of need that they should address early. Moving on from David Montgomery left a huge role to fill. They brought in a couple of free agents and might as well draft a RB to see how the competition pans out. All in all, 10 draft picks should bring in enough talent to help them compete for the division this year.

Detroit Lions

Draft Picks: 6, 18, 48, 55, 81, 152, 159, 183, 194
Team Needs: CB, DL, TE, Edge, LB, WR, QB
Key Players Gained: Cameron Sutton (CB), David Montgomery (RB), Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (S), Emmanuel Moseley (CB), Graham Glasgow (OG), Marvin Jones (WR)
Key Players Lost: Jamaal Williams (RB), Mike Hughes (CB), DJ Chark (WR), Chris Board (LB), Evan Brown (OG), Jeff Okudah (CB)-trade

It’s going to be a tough call with the Lions first pick because they are equally in need of quality players at CB and DL. For their sake, it’s good they have 2 first round picks to address both very early in the draft. Their TE group is one of the worst in the league. It wouldn’t shock me if they took one in the first round. Nevertheless, one should be selected on day 2 of the draft for sure. They should invest in someone to rush the passer opposite of Aidan Hutchinson and maybe someone who would be able to drop back into coverage as a LB. Last year’s first round pick, Jameson Williams, spent the majority of the season rehabbing from a knee injury. The Lions are hoping he can be the star WR that he was once projected to be. Recent news of his six-game suspension will likely have the team select another WR to throw into the mix.

Green Bay Packers

Draft Picks: 15, 45, 78, 116, 149, 170, 232, 235, 242, 256
Team Needs: TE, WR, OT, DL, DB, QB
Key Players Gained: Matthew Orzech (LS)
Key Players Lost: Allen Lazard (WR), Jarran Reed (DL), Dean Lowry (DL), Robert Tonyan (TE), Adrian Amos (FS), Randall Cobb (WR), Mason Crosby (K), Marcedes Lewis (TE)

The Packers are in for a downward spiral if Aaron Rodgers follows through with his desired request to bea New York Jet. That would be the catalyst that tears the entire team to shreds. As the team currency sits, I anticipate them targeting a top TE because that overall position group is very poor. After losing Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in free agency, the Packers didn’t sign anyone to replace them. So, you best bet they will be drafting some WRs this year. There’s also speculation that David Bakhtiari might be nearing retirement after being plagued with injuries and surgeries over the last couple years. Either way, the Packers would be wise to draft another offensive lineman. They also need more DL bodies in their 3-4 rotation. There’s also a need in the secondary at FS and nickelback.

Minnesota Vikings

Draft Picks: 23, 87, 119, 158, 211
Team Needs: CB, DL, ILB, QB
Key Players Gained: Josh Oliver (TE), Byron Murphy (CB), Marcus Davenport (DE), Dean Lowry (DL)
Key Players Lost: Dalvin Tomlinson (DT), Adam Thielen (WR), Patrick Peterson (CB), Eric Kendricks (ILB)

The Vikings had one of the worst pass defenses last season and have a desperate need at CB. Their depth is bad enough that it might warrant selecting more than one CB this season. Not having a 2nd round pick (and more picks in general) really hurts the Vikings chances of drafting the talent they need to improve their roster. I would field trade offers if they only dropped a few spots. They really need to improve their DL after losing Dalvin Tomlinson to Free Agency. Dean Lowry fills in as a 3-tech, yet they really need a solid NT up front. For the last 8 years, Eric Kendricks was a fixture in the middle of the field at ILB. They’ll have to bring another LB into the fold who can be a quality leader. I think devoted fans are kinda ready to move forward from Kirk Cousins. The team might actually do that next season with Cousins currently on the last year of his contract. The Vikings will have to determine how much of an emphasis they want to put on that position because it won’t affect this year’s outcome as much. There is speculation that former Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker might be an early target.

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