NFC North 2008 Draft Needs, Team by Team

Green Bay Packers
Top Needs: SLB, DB, G
One might think that the retirement of Brett Favre (which you may have heard of in the news) might cause QB to be higher on the list, but Aaron Rodgers has looked ok in his limited action—and Favre has all but admitted that he’s a phone call away if Rodgers were to get hurt. A lot of experts consider Guard the top need, as the Packers played musical chairs at Guard last year, and no one seemed to want to sit down. Still, the combo of guys they have played decent in 2006, and they may be given another chance in 2008. If the Packers can upgrade from Brady Poppinga, they would be foolish not too—he tries hard, but just comes up short a little too often. Cornerback initially looks like it should be set with Charles Woodson and Al Harris, but both are getting old, and there isn’t much depth that appears ready to start—and the physical style of Harris and Woodson appeared to wear them down as the season went on, and they got burned in the NFC Championship game. Safeties Nick Collins and Atari Bigby are both limited as well.

Minnesota Vikings
Top Needs: DE, T, QB
As of the writing of this, the Vikings are still talking to Jared Allen and the Chiefs, which would immediately move DE down the list on needs (not to mention cost them probably two of their top three picks in the draft). They also got good news on Kenechi Udeze’s health last week, and while it isn’t likely, it isn’t as certain that he won’t be able to suit up in 2008. Beyond DE, the Vikings definitely need some help at tackle—LT Bryant McKinnie has always been inconsistent, and is facing legal issues that some have speculated may lead to his eventual release, and RT Ryan Cook was inconsistent last year. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson still hasn’t proven himself to be a quality NFL starter, and if the Vikings do land Allen, will face even more scrutiny as the defense would definitely be playoff caliber, and backup Gus Ferrotte hasn’t looked good since before his first tenure with the team a few years.

Chicago Bears
Top Needs: RB, WR, QB
In reality, the Bears could use help pretty much across the board—especially on offense. Bears fans can’t be happy with the decision to trade Thomas Jones to the Jets last year—especially given that Cedric Benson hadn’t proven himself before the trade, and looked dreadful after it. The only reason that the Bears might not go RB right away in the draft would be their pitiful WR corps—after Bernard Berrian bolted and Mushin Muhammad was cut, their top WR going into camp will be Marty Booker, Mark Bradley, and Devin Hester. The Bears have known that they have a quarterback situation for the last two years, and their best solution for it so far has been to trade the most proven QB on the roster to the Bucs—but it’s not like Brian Griese was going to be a long term solution. Whoever they draft will battle Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, who both signed one year deals, for the starting job, and likely will see the field, given the status of the Bears OL, which is also aging. The Bears will also have to worry about injury and attitude problems on the defense. But at least they don’t have to worry about special teams—unless the NFL finally decides to start enforcing clipping.

Detroit Lions
Top Needs: DL, CB, LB
What the Lions really need is a General Manager that will stop drafting WR in the first round. At least taking Calvin Johnson last year was taking the top talent on the board (that didn’t have injury concerns)—if he goes WR this year, the Fords should try to fire him before Goodell gets the name out of his mouth. The Lions addressed their top need of Cornerback by getting Leigh Bodden from Cleveland, but opened a potentially bigger hole at DT to do so—they weren’t that strong across the line to begin, and Chuck Darby isn’t going to help as much as they might think. And even with Bodden, they still could use some help at the other CB spot, where Travis Fisher has been oft injured. Most teams likely wouldn’t consider the loss of Boss Bailey or Teddy Lehman all that major, but for the Lions, it leaves an already weak unit even weaker—Paris Lenon will likely win a starting spot again by default, but Ernie Sims is really the only proven LB on the team.