2008 NFC North Draft Grades

Chicago Bears

Needs: OL, WR, RB, QB, DL

Between inconsistent play, injuries and free agency, the Bears need a complete retooling on offense. Both starting receivers, Bernard Berrian (Vikings) and Muhsin Muhammad (Panthers), left via free agency. Cedric Benson produced sporadically before suffering a severe ankle injury and there is little prognosis on his comeback. Rex Grossman resigned with the Bears because there was little recourse in the QB free agency market. A solid draft would cue a Bears turnaround.

1.14 - Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
2.13 - Matt Forte RB Tulane
3.07 - Earl Bennett WR Vanderbilt
3.27 - Marcus Harrison DT Arkansas
4.21 - Craig Steltz S LSU
5.07 - Zackary Bowman CB Nebraska
5.23 - Kellen Davis TE/DE Michigan State (no that’s not a misprint, Davis played on both sides of the ball last year)
7.01 - Ervin Baldwin DE Michigan State
7.15 - Chester Adams OG Georgia
7.36 - Joey LaRocque OLB Oregon State
7.40 - Kirk Barton OT Ohio State
7.41 - Marcus Monk WR Arkansas

Draft Grade: B+

Comments: I know that popular opinion is to condemn the Bears draft because they neglected to get a QB. I agree somewhat. If Angelo had turned the Steltz pick or the Bowman pick into Andre Woodson, I would have to give them an A. Chicago hit on all of the positions they needed to (except QB) without any reaches that I saw. They even picked up a couple steals in Marcus Harrison and Marcus Monk. I believe Harrison is a first day pick if he doesn’t get injured early in the year and I cannot fathom how Marcus Monk is 7th round material. His size alone should allow him to crack the Bears roster. Chris Williams will provide the Bears with stability on the offensive line and Matt Forte is a three down back who will make Bears fans forget the name Cedric Benson. I think Earl Williams will make a serviceable pro as well. This draft was solid and should bring Chicago back on the right path.

Detroit Lions

Needs: OL, RB, LB, DL, CB

Mike Martz is gone as offensive coordinator. Gone with him are runningbacks TJ Duckett and Kevin Jones and defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Quarterback Jon Kitna will be sacked all the way to the hospital if he gets hit with the same frequency he has in the past two years. Paris Lenon is likely one of the worst MLBs in the NFL. The Lions have made no secret to the fact that they would like to shift gears and get back to a power running game. Difficult to do without an offensive line and a runningback.

1.17 - Gosder Cherilus OT Boston College
2.14 - Jordon Dizon OLB Colorado
3.01 - Kevin Smith RB Central Florida
3.24 - Andre Fluellen DT Florida State
3.29 - Cliff Avril DE/OLB Purdue
5.01 - Kenneth Moore WR Wake Forest
5.11 - Jerome Felton FB Furman
7.09 - Landon Cohen DE Ohio
7.11 - Caleb Campbell S Army

Draft Grade: A

Comments: Probably couldn’t have done much better. The first three rounds filled all of the major needs that the Lions had. They even got a decent fullback to lead block. Gosder Cherilus will be used as right tackle, which is his best position and Jordon Dizon will start at SLB before transitioning into the MLB role. There is nothing flashy about Kevin Smith’s running style; he just gets it done. I view the Lions running game in a similar light. No razzle dazzle but solid production. I think Cliff Avril will play a hybrid type of role; both standing up at LB and with his hand down as DE on pass rush downs. Caleb Campbell is an interesting prospect out of Army. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him integrated into the Lions defense sooner rather than later. Excellent draft by the Lions.

Green Bay Packers

Needs: CB, OL, QB, TE, DL

The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a season that saw them win the NFC North and make it to the NFC Championship game. They are a team with very few holes. Youngster Aaron Rodgers seems poised to take over the reigns from Number 4 at QB and hidden gem Ryan Grant seems ready to handle the upcoming year with a full load. What the Pack does need is insurance for Rodgers and some depth on the line and at TE. Their CBs are getting up there in age as well.

2.05 - Jordy Nelson WR Kansas State
2.25 - Brian Brohm QB Louisville
2.29 - Patrick Lee CB Auburn
3.28 - Jermichael Finley TE Texas
4.03 - Jeremy Thompson DE Wake Forest
4.36 - Josh Sitton OT Central Florida
5.15 - Breno Giacomini OT Louisville
7.02 - Matt Flynn QB LSU
7.10 - Brett Swain WR San Diego State

Draft Grade: B-

Comments: It’s difficult to grade a draft where the team doesn’t have any glaring needs. At first glance, they hit on all of the positions they needed depth at. But upon further inspection, there are a few head scratchers. Brian Brohm at 2.25 sticks out for sure. Why spend that high of a pick on a backup for Aaron Rodgers? I know that competition breeds winning but that seems like a bit of a waste to draft a backup QB that high, especially with prime interior lineman on the board available. Taking Matt Flynn alone could have accomplished the same goal without the use of a 2nd round pick. Jordy Nelson is an interesting pick. I like him as a faster, smaller version of TO. He uses body positioning and physicality to make a living over the middle. Just not sure he was the pick with every WR not named Thomas or Avery on the board. Ted must have seen something though. I like the Lee pick. He is a better corner than many give him credit for. The tackles taken both seem like fliers but if I am banking on one team flier tackles panning out; it’s the Packers. Finley seems like a bit of a reach. All in all, Green Bay got the depth they needed but I wonder if a couple of their choices were out of place or reaches.

Minnesota Vikings

Needs: QB, WR, OL, S, DT

Minnesota made a huge splash before the draft, trading their 1st and 3rd round picks to acquire Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen. If you can make a deal to secure a big piece of the puzzle and you need to move high picks to do it, good on you. In my opinion, the Vikings are a pass rusher and a consistent quarterback away from being a huge contender. Vikes brass seems high on Tarvaris Jackson but he needs to work on his decision making and consistency.

2.12 - Tyrell Johnson S Arkansas State
5.02 - John David Booty QB USC
5.17 - Letroy Guion DT Florida State
6.21 - John Sullivan C Notre Dame
6.27 - Jaymar Johnson WR Jackson State

Draft Grade: A-

Comments: Minnesota made its mark before the draft but the players they added with those picks should propel them into the division title race. My only complaint is waiting until the 6th round to address the OL. I think a better guard or tackle should have been had in the 5th round like Roy Schuening, Carl Nicks or Barry Richardson. John David Booty is an intriguing pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job. Tyrell Johnson is a quality prospect who should crack the starting lineup late this year or next. Jared Allen could very well be the player they need for their defense to be propelled into legendary status.

tag: NFL, NFL Draft, Grades, Vikings, Lions, Packers, Bears, sports, footballjabber.com

Free Agency and Fantasy Football | NFC North

As a year-round fantasy football owner I watch free agency in the NFL with one eye on my favorite team and another eye on the rest of the league. There are moves every year that are going to open opportunities for some players and make things tougher on others. As things slow down we are going to take a look at how some roster moves effect players with new homes and the players on teams making the moves. Let’s start out in the NFC North…

Chicago Bears

Each season more and more fantasy football owners are staying away from Chicago Bears. The front office has not given much of a reason to change that slide this year. Out are the sure handed Moose Muhammad and Bernard Berrian. In are Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd. Brian Griese is gone and they resigned Rex (his consistency is) Grossman to battle it out with Kyle Orton. Desmond Clark is going to hang out to make sure Greg Olsen doesn’t break out right away at TE. Cedric Benson should go cheap this year. He has not given owners reason to think otherwise.

There is not much that the Bears can do in the NFL Draft to make owners consider any Bears players a viable fantasy solution on their team.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers are not shaking things up in Free Agency. You may have heard though that the guy that was likely to be their starting QB retired. With Brett Favre gone things open up for Aaron Rodgers and his career. All signs point to good things right now with Aaron Rodgers stepping in and being a successful NFL and Fantasy starting QB. The weapons are built in around him. The key loss of Bubba Franks is in name only as Donald Lee has stepped up at TE and you could see the Packers address the position in the draft. An unlikely solution at RB in Ryan Grant only helps matters.

Don’t look now but the Packers have become one of those teams where just about every skill position player is sought after in Fantasy Football.

Minnesota Vikings

So the Vikings did pretty well in the draft last year, right? Adrian Peterson wasted no time achieving fantasy studdness. Questions still surround the QB position but this won’t hurt Peterson’s stock. Good news for T. Jackson is that he gets a new target in Bernard Berrian from the division rival Bears. Although Jackson has not had a rocket start as a QB in the NFL, having Peterson running the ball and Jackson throwing to him instead of a Bears QB should help Berrian. The Vikings also have a new face at backup RB, Maurice Hicks.

It will be interesting to see how the top RB’s shape up in fantasy drafts this season. You know Peterson will be up there.

Detroit Lions

The big move for the Lions would be Mike Martz out the door to San Fran. What will happen at QB? Jon Kitna was a decent fantasy QB at times last season. Is Drew Stanton going to to be healthy enough to start making a play for the starting QB job? Rumors fly about a Roy Williams trade. Which Kevin Jones will show up this year and how long can he stay healthy? Tatum Bell wanted out but then re-signed. They have brought in Michael Gaines at TE. Calvin Johnson should continue to rise.

There are really too many questions surrounding Lions. People will take the risk based on talent but the question is when and at what cost?

Next up, NFC South. In the meantime you can check out our friend The Fantasy Football Goat who is doing a rundown on the divisions giving some predictions as well. The Goat can help you out if you like to do a little gambling. Not much of a gambler myself…I just pay money hoping to win some in fantasy football leagues and live in denial about that being gambling itself.

tag: NFL, free agency, Fantasy football, football, sports, Detroit Lions, Minnesota vikings, chicago bears, green bay packers, fantasy tips