NFC North Draft Grades

Chicago Bears

1(14) Kyle Fuller (CB, Virginia Tech)

2(51) Ego Ferguson (DT, LSU)

3(82) Will Sutton (DT, Arizona State)

4(117) Ka’Deem Carey (RB, Arizona)

4(131) Brock Vereen (SS, Minnesota)

6(183) David Fales (QB, San Jose State)

6(191) Pat O’Donnell (P, Miami)

7(246) Charles Leno (OT, Boise State)

Best Pick: Brock Vereen

Brock Vereen is the younger brother of NFL runningback Shane. Not the best indicator of success, but seeing the NFL bloodlines does not hurt. Again, not a huge point of emphasis, but Vereen had the 2nd best time among all safeties in the 3 cone drill, the 20 yard shuttle, and the 40 yard dash. Additionally, Vereen did the most bench press reps among all safeties at the combine. All that tells you is that Vereen is strong and fast which is verified on tape. Watching the tape also shows you that he is one of the hardest hitting safeties in this draft. He won't be a starter right away and needs some work, but this is great value in Round 4. Vereen will be an impact player for the Bears down the road.

Summary: Eventhough the Bears signed Jay Ratliff in Free Agency they needed depth at defensive tackle. Ferguson provides that depth. Vereen and Carey were great value picks in the 4th round. Like I said, Vereen could start early and will eventually be an impact player. Kyle Fuller is a really good cover corner and the Bears didn't reach for anybody or have any truly bad selections. Nice job by Chicago.

Grade: B+

Undrafted Free Agents
Cody Booth (OT, Temple)
James Dunbar (OG, TCU)
Brandon Dunn (DT, Louisville)
Ryan Groy (OG, Wisconsin)
Christian Jones (LB, Florida State)
Devekeyan Lattimore (LB, South Florida)

Jordan Lynch (RB, Northern Illinois)
Tana Patrick (LB, Alabama)
Lee Pegues (DT, East Carolina)

I love the Dunn signing. He is another guy that provides depth and is a great guy to take a shot on as an undrafted free agent. Jordan Lynch of course was the Heisman finalist QB that the Bears are gonna try as a runningback. He has a very slim chance of making the roster. Ryan Groy is another guy that has a shot to make this roster.
The linebackers will all have a shot to make the roster. Most likely to make the roster is Christian Jones. Before the season Jones was considered by some to be the most likely Seminole to go in the 1st round. His production did not match that, but he has loads of talent and is extremely versatile. Many teams will be disappointed that they passed on Christian when they see what he does for the Bears.

Detroit Lions

1(10) Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina)

2(40) Kyle Van Noy (LB, BYU)

3(76) Travis Swanson (C, Arkansas)

4(133) Nevin Lawson (CB, Utah State)

4(136) Larry Webster (DE, Bloomsburg)

5(158) Caraun Reid (DT, Princeton)

6(189) TJ Jones (WR, Notre Dame)

7(229) Nate Freese (K, Boston College)

Best Pick: Travis Swanson

One of the best, if not the best center in the draft. A starter from Day 1. Great in zone blocking schemes. Highly talented and a good worker. Solid fit for this offense. Great value pick in Round 3.

Summary: Swanson was a terrific pick in round 3. They reached on Van Noy though and its hard to justify a 1st round TE with the holes they had. This is a team that could have really benefited from trading down. I can't believe that they didn't address the secondary until a 4th round reach on Nevin Lawson. They got good value late with Jones and Reid who along with Swanson prevent this from being a bottom 5 draft.

Grade: C-

Undrafted Free Agents
Chad Abram (FB, Florida State)
Alex Bullard (OG, Tennessee)
Justin Couplin (S, William & Mary)

James Franklin (QB, Missouri)
Justin Jackson (LB, Wake Forest)
Cornelius Lucas (OT, Kansas State)
Gabe Lynn (S, Oklahoma)
Jacob Maxwell (TE, Louisiana-Lafayette)
DJ Morrell (OG, Old Dominion)
Andrew Peacock (WR, Appalachian State)
Mohammed Seasay (CB, Nebraska)

The best signing by far for the Lions and one of the best signings of this period was Gabe Lynn. This guy is a playmaker at safety which is the Detroit Lions' biggest position of need. Out of any team's undrafted free agents this is as likely as any to make the team. Lynn will make the team and likely have an impact this season. The Lions are so thin at safety, that Justin Couplin has a great chance to make it as well. These guys were very smart to sign with Detroit. Detroit probably should have added another corner though just to see if they could find a diamond in the rough to help the weak secondary. Seasay has a good chance to make the roster for that reason.
Chad Abram has a decent chance to make it depending on how Caldwell wants to use the fullback. If he uses the fullback like he did in Baltimore, then Abram makes it. However, if it's more like the fullback use in Indy, Abram will be squeezed off the roster.

Green Bay Packers

1(21) Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (FS, Alabama)

2(53) Davante Adams (WR, Fresno State)

3(85) Khyri Thornton (DT, Southern Mississippi)

3(98) Richard Rogers (TE, California)

4(121) Carl Bradford (LB, Arizona State)

5(161) Corey Linsley (C, Ohio State)

5(176) Jared Abbrederis (WR, Wisconsin)

6(197) Demetri Goodson (DB, Baylor)

7(236) Jeff Janis (WR, Saginaw Valley State)

Best Pick: Jared Abbrederis

If you watch the tape of Abbrederis against first round pick Bradley Roby, you will be shocked that Roby was a 1^st rounder and Abbrederis a 5^th. The Wisconsin WR absolutely destroyed Roby. Getting a guy this polished in the 5^th round is a big score for Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers. The fan base has to be jacked that they keep this guy in state.

Summary: This draft was just the typical above average draft. Very slightly above average. Clinton-Diz will make an immediate impact. Adams was a slight reach, but will be quality. Thornton was picked in a good spot. Rogers, Linsley, and Bradford are good values for where they got selected. As discussed Abbrederis is a steal at the point he was selected. The last two picks have great upside for their spot in the draft, but don’t expect impacts from them. Not a bad draft at all, but nothing spectacular.

Grade:  B-

Undrafted Free Agents
Denico Autry (LB, Mississippi State)
Jake Doughty (LB, Utah State)
Jayrone Elliot (LB, Toledo)
John Fullington (OL, Washington State)
Carlos Gray (DE, North Carolina State)
Adrian Hubbard (LB, Alabama)
Demetruce McNeal (FS, West Alabama)
Raijon Neal (RB, Tennessee)
Mike Pennel (NT, Colorado State)
Justin Perillo (TE, Maine)
LaDarius Perkins (RB, Mississippi State)
Chase Rettig (QB, Boston College)
James Sims (RB, Kansas)

Joe Thomas (LB, South Carolina State)
Wilson Van Hooser (WR, Troy)
Ryan White (CB, Auburn)

Thomas has good tackling ability and put up an impressive vertical jump score. Jayron Elliot led Toledo in sacks. James Sims put up terrific numbers at Kansas despite playing behind a terrible offensive line. McNeal was dismissed from Auburn University and ended up at West Alabama. Hubbard is a very talented kid from Alabama. Nothing else intriguing here for the Packers.

Minnesota Vikings

1(9) Anthony Barr (LB, UCLA)

1(32) Tedy Bridgewater (QB, Louisville)

3(72) Scott Crichton (DE, Oregon State)

3(96) Jerick McKinnon (RB, Georgia Southern)

5(145) David Yankey (G, Stanford)

6(182) Antone Exum (CB, Virginia Tech)

6(184) Kendall James (DB, Maine)

7(220) Shamar Stephen (DT, Connecticut)

7(223) Brandon Watts (LB, Georgia Tech)

7(225) Jabari Price (DB, North Carolina)

Best Pick: David Yankey

Yankey could be an immediate starter for the Vikings. He is a beast in the middle of the offensive line and it is incredible that he was available in the 5th round. An awesome fit. This is one of the most physical players in the draft and the new coaching staff is all about that. This guy is one the Vikings just have to be thrilled about. Mike Zimmer is happy with this pick.

Summary: I talked about how Zimmer was happy with Yankey, but he likely is happy with the entire draft. This is a very quality draft by the Vikings. You have Yankey in the 5th round and Exum in the 6th providing tremendous value. In the 3rd you get Scott Crichton who some had as a 1st rounder and Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon of course was the Georgia Southern RB who had the game-winning touchdown against the Florida Gators. Georgia Southern beat the Gators without throwing a pass, which kind of shows you what McKinnon can do (or that the Gators are just THAT bad). Anthony Barr is a phenomenal pick and instant starter. Bridgewater I am mixed on, but they got him at a good spot.

Grade: B+

Undrafted Free Agents
Pierce Burton (OT, Mississippi)
Kain Colter (WR, Northwestern)
Rakim Cox (DE, Villanova)
Isame Faciane (NT, Florida International)
Donte Foster (WR, Ohio)
Matt Hall (OT, Belhaven)
Zac Kerin (C, Toledo)
AC Leonard (TE, Tennessee State)
Eric Lora (WR, Eastern Illinois)
Antonio Richardson (OT, Tennessee)
Tyler Scott (DE, Northwestern)
Jake Snyder (DE, Virginia)
Austin Wentworth (OG, Fresno State)
Dominique Williams (HB, Wagner)

Rakim Cox is the best of the group, but there is nothing here.

-Noland

The Return Of Buc Ball

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of the NFL's best franchises for a decent period of time from 1997-2002. Those teams were defined by a terrific defense that was put into place and led by Tony Dungy. Well, the 2002 team was lead by Jon Gruden, but it featured Dungy's defense. These teams had stars at every level of defense and its feature player was #55 Derrick Brooks. Now, Brooks is one of the greatest linebackers of all-time and my personal favorite football player so I obviously loved those teams. I was intrigued by the Buccaneers attempt to get back to Buc ball and it seems I am not the only one.

The ownership obviously wants to get back to those roots as well. They have dipped back into their coaching past to bring respectability back to the franchise. Tampa has hired their former linebacker coach from 1996-2000, Lovie Smith. Derrick Brooks' former position coach takes over a team and defense loaded with talent. The team just needs a coach that will help them reach their potential. However, don't take my word for it. Take the word of two of the biggest legends in Bucs history.

"Congratulations to the Bucs. I think they made a very good choice in hiring Lovie Smith. Now I'm excited about watching the Bucs next year!" @TonyDungy Twitter

"So excited tonight.@TBBuccaneers,Bucs got better tonight with Lovie Smith coming back as the new H/C. Words can't describe my excitement" @DBrooks55 (Derrick Brooks Twitter)

These legends are excited and the fanbase that loves them so much is excited as well. These fans cannot wait to see Lovie patrolling the sidelines.

Now, I understand that Coach Dungy and Derrick Brooks might be biased towards someone who helped them reach such a high level of success, but let's really look at this hire.  Lovie Smith is a fantastic coach. He formed the Buccaneers into the best linebacking group in the league from 1996-2000. He then took over as Rams Defensive Coordinator and helped that team win the Super Bowl. Sure he had a ton of talent on those defenses. The Bucs had Brooks and the Rams had London Fletcher who are arguably the two best linebackers of this generation. Let's not underestimate though Lovie's coaching abilities because of two superstar linebackers. The guy can flat out coach.

Lovie's head coaching record is quite impressive. He went 81-63 overall as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Smith had great success as the Bears coach and helped lead them to the Super Bowl. He did all this despite having REX GROSSMAN as his starting QB. Let me repeat. He took a team with REX GROSSMAN as its QB to the SUPER BOWL. He has never had a legit QB and we know his teams have not been marked with the best offense, but man what a defense. Smith's defenses always marked near the top. Can you imagine if he ever gets a QB? It was quite curious that Chicago fired a guy with this kind of coaching pedigree. He can just coach.

Not only that, but he hired a terrific coordinator. I am not a big Leslie Frazier fan as a head coach, but as a DC the man is fantastic. There is a reason he was the hot name on every coaching list a few years back. The guy knows defense and he knows how to call a defense. Great hire, Lovie. Looking like Tampa will be a Top 5 defense again soon.

Lovie brings credibility back to the Bucs. He brings a winning culture. He brings the return of Buc ball. He brings a respect and soon it will translate into wins. Most importantly the Tampa Bay area can once again be proud of their team on and off the field. Congrats on a great hire Tampa. The Buccaneers are going places in 2014!

-Noland