Gonna handle this a little differently this year. Due to time constraints (mine) I am going to do a brief summary for teams in this Conference. I have already done a detailed report on the LIONS who I project to win the NFC North. And I do not really think any of the remaining 3 teams will even qualify for a Wild Card entry this season.
The VIKINGS were the champs in this division last season but withered fairly quickly in their brief Play-Off appearance. They were in serious Cap Space issues once the new League Year kicked in. As a result they lost multiple players to VFA and the Waiver Wire (i.e. Adam Thielen). And after the firing last year of Rick Spielman as their G.M. they now find themselves with a paltry 5 Draft Picks, compared to their usual double digit Pick totals under SPIELMAN’s leadership. With only 2 Picks in the first 3 Rounds they are unlikely to garner a ton of help for their roster to improve.
Here are their Top 100 Pick projections:
Round 1, Pick 23 CALIJAH KANCEY DT PITT 6’1/280 Kind of an exciting AARON DONALD CLONE. Will rush the passer like JOHN RANDLE used to for the Vikes, perhaps.
Round 3, Pick 87 JONATHAN MINGO WR Ole Miss 6’1/225 Although a bit raw in his pattern running, MINGO is like a big RB with the ball, after the catch. Him teaming with JEFFERSON & OSBORN & HOCKENSON will make COUSINS smile on some Sundays.
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The PACKERS are going through the ugly repeat of the end of the FAVRE era, with the exit of AARON RODGERS to the JETS. It is possible the official trade will not take place until after June 1st, so that the PACK may spread out the Salary Cap dead money for RODGERS $50-million over 2 seasons instead of all at once. The have let a large number of vets leave via Free Agency, and can’t have too many Picks from a talent standpoint. But most teams believe in a max number of Rookies making their rosters each year (10-12), so their current total of 10 Picks is OK for now, although 4 of those are in Round 7. Multiple Picks for 2024 could be coming from the JETS in the scenario above.
Here are their 3 Top 100 Draft Picks;
Round 1, Pick 15 DALTON KINCAID TE Utah 6’4/245 The best pass catching TE in this Draft, and he can and will block. You know that ’cause he’s out of the UTAH program, where all players on Offense block. He’s not a WR and they have drafted TE in Round 1 in the past.
Round 2, Pick 45 CODY MAUCH OL N. Dakota State 6’5/300 Appears to be born to play football, and in Green Bay. Looks like the Packers RT for the next 8 years or more to me. He isn’t pretty at times, but he’s effective, and will be coached up to improve his technique.
Round 3, Pick. 78 SYDNEY BROWN SS Illinois 5’10/215 Part of an Illini DB group that should see at least 3 draftees this year. Hard nosed player against the run, with a nose for the ball in coverage. In time should be an upgrade over ADRIAN AMOS. Will also see time laboring for RICH BISACCIA on Special Teams.
And last, but not least are DA BEARS of Chicago. They gutted much of their roster last season to acquire Draft Capital & clear Cap Space. Now they have some serious rebuilding to do. Thery had a solid, though not great, VFA signing period, adding useful players. After trading the First Pick of this Draft they have accumulated 10 Picks with 4 of them in the Top 64, for this year alone.
Round 1, Pick 9 NOLAN SMITH ER/OB Georgia 6’2/238 They need OL help, but they also need to add some Edge Rush talent and this guy is elite in that department. He ran a 4.39/40 at the Combine at 6’2/238#.Think about that for a moment.
Round 2, Pick 53 MATTHEW BERGERON OT Syracuse 6’5/320 A career starter for the Orangemen who got better every year in a run oriented attack. But he showed that he is more than adequate in pass pro as well.
Round 2, Pick 61 EMMANUEL FORBES CB Mississippi St 6’1/170 A lightweight defender who will pace himself in run support, but he is an absolute ball hawk, who shows incredible recovery speed to cut in front of receivers who QBs see as open. Also makes frequent “house calls” with those INT.
Round 3, Pick 64 TYJAE SPEARS RB Tulane 5’10/200 Won’t be a bell cow who gets 20 carries per game, but he is a home-run threat either turning the corner, or run-after-catch in the passing game. Tore it up at Senior Bowl practices and all last season in a double-digit Win season for Tulane. To quote that kid JJ from the South Side… Spears is dy-no-mite!
There will be plenty of rough/tough, in your face football from the North Division of the NFC, but likely only one team with a winning overall record, and that is Detroit, not these pretenders.
Cheers
Pigskin
