Much like the AFC North this division had 3 teams with a winning record and DA BEARS left to reconfigure a roster that left them at 5-12 and picking in the 10th slot. GM RYAN POLES has been busy trying to fix that. And despite some solid results the VIKINGS, LIONS & PACKERS have been busy turning the pages on their overall rosters. The Division has 26 Top 102 Picks. The odd 102 is due to a total of 6 Compensatory Picks added to the 3rd Round, including 1 each for Vikings & LIONS.
CHICAGO BEARS: The BEARS have 7 overall Picks and 3 in the first 3 Rounds. They went heavily for the OL during the VFA period which started in early March. The team traded twice to acquire OG JOE THUNEY & JONAH JACKSON hoping both will start this year. The also signed VFA OCV DREW DALNON (ATL) who also will be ousted on to start. Three of last year’s OL starters are no longer with DA BEARS. With the likelihood of vet MARCEDES LEWIS retiring, they also signed TE DURHAM SMYTH who excels as a blocker. Look for the team to grab a couple of DB in the Draft and perhaps a “big man” NT.
Pick 10 JAHDAE BARRON CB Texas 5’11/195 This guy has been a stalwart in the Longhorns secondary over the past 3 seasons. For those who question his speed, he did run a 4.39/40 at the Combine. Recorded 67 Tackles last season at Texas and had 5 Int. Good tackler who can move around and stay on the field for 3 downs.
Pick 39 SAVION WILLIAMS WR TCU 6’4/225 Big guy who showed great versatility in the TCU Offense. Ran sweeps, threw passes, might be a KR as well. Ran a 4.49/40 at Combine. 10 14″ hand size to pick the ball clean. Caught 60 balls for 6 TD last season.
Pick 41 ELIJAH ARROYO TE Miami (F) 6’5/250 Blossomed with CAM WARD throwing it around last season. Not a blazing runner, 4.69/40 @ Combine, but shows excellent hands at 10″, and 33″ arms give him a large catch radius. He should team with KMET to form a solid 12 formation duo.
Pick 72 J.T. TUIMOLOAU DE/ER Ohio State 6’4/265 Flashier athlete than teammate JACK SAWYER. RAN A 4.62/40 @ Combine at 265 lbs. Recorded 61 tackles last season, while recording 12 1/2 Sacks. Could eclipse JOSH SWEAT as their top Sack artist very soon.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: The PACKERS, at 11-6, simply could not beat the better teams on their schedule, and were 1-5 in the division. They are close, but need some younger players to step up and deliver every week. They are also retooling along their OL with some players moving and some new blood coming on board in the Draft, I think. They also need to draft some DB as they cut ties with oft injured CB STOKES & ALEXANDER. As usual they ave signed a small VFA class and will count on some of their Draftees to contribute as Rookies.
Pick 23 DERRICK HARMON DT Oregon 6’65/315 A highly regarded player who had his best season last Fall with the DUCKS. Can play everywhere but NT which is how the PACK uses their linemen on D. Ran a 4.95/40 at Combine. Spends a lot of time on opponents side of the line-of-scrimmage. Might be in the Kenny Clark mold, and Clark’s eventual replacement in a few years.
Pick 54 BENJAMIN MORRISON CB Notre Dame 6’0/195 A ball-hawking CB who lost much of the 2024 season to injury.Many felt that MORRISON would have been a First Rounder had he been fully healthy all last season.Combine medical is critical but for now we’ll assume he has rehabbed successfully.
Pick 87 ISAIAH BOND WR Texas 5’11/180 As Christian Watson Conti yes to be injury prone, perhaps the team needs to add to what looked like a loaded, young receiver room 2 years ago. BOND had some time loss to injury at Texas allowing MATTHEW GOLDEN to emerge for the Longhorns. BOND did run a 4.39-40 at the Combine and had a solid resume’ coming out of Alabama and heading for Austin. Worth this Pick spot if medically cleared.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The VIKINGS (14-3) were surprisingly good with SAM DARNOLD showing some of the talent the league expected to see from him when he was the 3rd Pick overall in 2018. Injuries along their OL caught up with him late in the season and into the Play-Offs causing DARNOLD to look ordinary at best. DARNOLD was let go as a VFA and is now in Seattle. Backups DANIEL JONES & NICK MULLENS also left leaving them to rely on injured Rookie J.J. McCARTHY at QB, though there is talk they might look to AARON RODGERS or RUSSELL WILSON to sign as a veteran backup & insurance for McCarthy who still hasn’t thrown a pass in an NFL game. On the bright side McCarthy will have JEFFERSON, ADDISON, NAILOR & HOCKENSON to throw to. For all their success they have seemed frantic at times this off-season in signing 9 VFA and trading for JORDAN MASON RB 49’ers. Look for them to draft another OL or two, as well as some DB prospects. However, they only have 4 Picks in the Draft as I write this.
Pick 24 KELVIN BANKS OT Texas 6’5/320 Will be given every chance to find a starting job as a Rookie. If O’NEILL & DARRISAW are both healthy, BANKS may have a shot at replacing traded OG INGRAM. Protecting new QB J.J.McCARTHY will be job one for the entire OL in pass-pro.
Pick 97 BILLY BOWMAN S Oklahoma Sad to say but HARRISON SMITH is likely in his final contract as a Vikings Safety. BOWMAN is a workman like hustler. At 5’10/200 he’s a tad short, but plays bigger than his size. He also has a knack for recognizing what he sees from the Offensive formations and diagnosing the upcoming play. He posted a solid 35″ vertical in Indy, indicating above average explosion in his lower body. Camryn Bynum is gone in Free Agency so BOWMAN will get a solid chance to earn playing time in Training Camp.
DETROIT LIONS: The LIONS were expected to play in the SUPER BOWL by many, but despite an impressive 15-2 record they got bumped out due in large part to a seemingly endless rash of injuries, especially on Defense, which were just too much to overcome in the Play-Offs. They have 7 total Picks and were already quietly aggressive in the VFA market. Look for some drafting emphasis on their two lines and the secondary. The biggest losses may turn out to be from the losses in the coaching staff. Both Coordinators are gone on Offense and Defense, in AARON GLENN and BEN JOHNSON.
Pick 28 GREY ZABEL IOL N. Dakota State 6’5/310 Played LT in college, but shorter arms pushed him inside for the Senior Bowl, and he was outstanding the entire week there. Posted solid numbers in Indy during Combine.He could fit in anywhere on the interior and likely take over at OC soon for PRO BOWLER. FRANK RAGNOW, who has been banged up often in recent years. I think he’ll be a nice knee cap biter for Coach DAN CAMPBELL.
Pick 60 FEMI OLADEJO ER/DE UCLA 6’3/260 Lots of buzz since Senior Bowl week about this guy who just moved to DE/ER last season at UCLA. He recorded 4.5 Sacks last season and coaches think he could double that as a pro. He is also a high energy, positive attitude guy. He could make a great complimentary Sack artist to go along with a healthy HUTCHINSON in Detroit.
Pick 102. JAYLEN REED S Penn State 6’/210 Ran a solid 4.49/40 and came off a 98 tackle season at State. He also added 3 INT & 5 PD to his resume’. His 33 1/2″ Vert bodes well for his burst and leg explosion.
This division will be tough as nails once again in 2025, but they will all be counting on major contributions from last year’s Rookies and this year’s Draftees in starting roles. At least 3 of them will have their eyes set on the Play-Offs, with DA BEARS not too far behind them.
Cheers Pigskin Paul
