NFL Draft Preview: NFC North
With free agency well underway, the NFC North has already made a splash – and that early aggression is going to shape how each of these teams approaches the 2025 NFL Draft. Some rosters have filled major holes. Others? Still a work in progress. Let’s take a look at where each team stands heading into April and how they might attack their draft boards in this NFC North Draft Preview.
Chicago Bears
Top Needs: DE/EDGE, RB, OT, S, WR
No team in the NFC North has been more active, or more desperate, in free agency than Chicago. After retooling the interior offensive line with a wave of signings, the Bears have cleared the way to focus on defensive playmakers and skill position depth.
They still desperately need another edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat, and safety could also be in play with Kevin Byard looking like a one-year stopgap. D’Andre Swift was a flashy signing at RB, but given his injury history — and Ben Johnson’s history with two-back systems — expect the Bears to take a long look at a workhorse RB on Day 2.
LT could also be on the radar. Braxton Jones is serviceable, but probably not the long-term answer.
Top 100 Potential Targets:
#10: OL Will Campbell (LSU), S Malaki Starks (Georgia), EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)
#39/#41: EDGE Nic Scourton (Texas A&M), RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State), EDGE Landon Jackson (Arkansas)
#72: EDGE Josaiah Stewart (Michigan), RB Kaleb Johnson (Iowa), OL Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)
Green Bay Packers
Top Needs: OL, CB, EDGE, S, WR
The Packers were a surprise playoff team last season, but their roster still has soft spots – especially along the interior offensive line. Elgton Jenkins moving to center left a noticeable drop in guard play, and if this team wants to lean on Josh Jacobs and protect Jordan Love, they have to invest in the trenches.
CB is the other big concern. Nate Hobbs is a high-risk signing, and the Jaire Alexander situation feels one drama away from disaster. With Eric Stokes gone, they badly need talent and depth on the outside.
They could also use pass rush depth and maybe another weapon at WR, depending on how much they believe in their young core.
Top 100 Potential Targets:
#23: DL Kenneth Grant (Michigan), OG Tyler Booker (Alabama), EDGE James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)
#54: OL Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona), EDGE Princely Umanmielen (Ole Miss), CB Darien Porter (Iowa State)
#87: EDGE Bradyn Swinson (LSU), EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo (UCLA), OG Jared Wilson (Georgia)
Minnesota Vikings
Top Needs: CB, DL, RB, WR, OG
The Sam Darnold Experience is over, and the JJ McCarthy era is about to begin. But before the Vikings hand the keys over, they need to fix the defense — particularly at CB and along the interior D-line.
Re-signing Byron Murphy was huge, but relying on 34-year-old Stephon Gilmore and a guy who struggled in Philly (Isaiah Rodgers) isn’t exactly a long-term strategy. And while they spent big on Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, both are aging short-term fixes.
If they go offense, guard and running back are likely priorities. Aaron Jones was brought back, but he’s on the back end of his career, and they’ll need someone to eventually take over.
Top 100 Potential Targets:
#24: DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), OG Grey Zabel (North Dakota State), DL Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
#97: RB Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech), RB Dylan Sampson (Tennessee), CB Denzel Burke (Ohio State)
Detroit Lions
Top Needs: EDGE, OG, WR, LB, OT
The Lions were a few plays from the Super Bowl — and now they’ve lost both coordinators, including OC Ben Johnson to division rival Chicago. The pressure is on Dan Campbell to prove that 2024 wasn’t the peak.
Their top priority? Pass rush. With Za’Darius Smith gone and Marcus Davenport unreliable, they need someone to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, who’s recovering from offseason surgery. OG is the other major concern — Christian Mahogany is a liability on an otherwise elite line.
WR depth is paper thin (only 4 on the roster), and LB Alex Anzalone is aging and always banged up, so those are Day 2 targets if the board falls right.
Top 100 Potential Targets:
#28: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College), OL Donovan Jackson (Ohio State), WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
#60: LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA), DL J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State), OG Tate Ratledge (Georgia)
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