2015 NFL Draft Analysis: NFC North Draft Review and Grades

Rotoballer kicks off the 2015 NFL Season by reviewing each teams draft, continuing with the NFC East. Draft expert Owen Elle gives his take on each teams ability to fill their needs and add overall talent to their rosters.

Check out our previous divisional draft reviews: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC South, NFC East.

Chicago Bears

Round 1, Pick 7 - WR Kevin White, West Virginia
Round 2, Pick 39 - DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State
Round 3, Pick 71 - C Hroniss Grasu, Oregon
Round 4, Pick 106 - RB Jeremy Langford, Michigan State
Round 5, Pick 142 - S Adrian Amos, Penn State
Round 6, Pick 183 - OT Tayo Fabuluje, Texas Christian

I think it’s unfortunate that the Bears didn’t have more picks in the draft because they did a very solid job this year at identifying their positions of need and addressing them accordingly. The departure of Brandon Marshall called for the taking of the very athletic wide receiver Kevin White seventh overall. White should project as an immediate starter on the offense, potentially making an impact very early in his career. Eddie Goldman and Hroniss Grasu were two excellent value picks in both the second and third round respectively, fixing up both an offensive and defensive line that has struggled. The Bears then picked up Jeremy Langford who, along with last years 4th round pick Ka'Deem Carey will be battling for the backup spot behind Matt Forte. Hopefully Adrian Amos is ready to play from day one because the way the Bears safeties have performed over the past two seasons, his help will be needed.

Grade: A

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Detroit Lions

Round 1, Pick 28 - OG Laken Tomlinson, Duke
Round 2, Pick 54 - RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska
Round 3, Pick 80 - CB Alex Caster, Stanford
Round 4, Pick 113 - DT Gabe Wright, Auburn
Round 5, Pick 168 - FB Michael Burton, Rutgers
Round 6, Pick 200 - CB Quandre Diggs, Texas
Round 7, Pick 240 - OT Corey Robinson, South Carolina

While Laken Tomlinson was the consensus best pure guard available in this draft, he was not good value with the 28th overall pick. I like the Lions selection of Ameer Abdullah and there's arguments to be made that he was the third best running back in the draft. If Abdullah can get his fumbles in control early on, his incredible burst and vision would make him the best back on Detroit's roster but that's a lot of development to project. The rest of Detroit’s draft doesn’t really stand out in any way. Cornerback Quandre Diggs has good talent, but is limited by his 5’9-5’10 frame.

Grade: D+

Green Bay Packers

Round 1, Pick 30 - FS Damarious Randall, Arizona State
Round 2, Pick 62 - CB Quinten Rollins, Miami (OH)
Round 3, Pick 94 - WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford
Round 4, Pick 129 - ILB Jake Ryan, Michigan
Round 5, Pick 147 - QB Brett Hundley, California-Los Angeles
Round 6, Pick 206 - FB Aaron Ripkowski, Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 210 - DE Christian Ringo, Louisiana-Lafayette
Round 6, Pick 213 - TE Kennard Backman, Alabama-Birmingham

Clearly the focus of this draft was the secondary, as the Packers used their top two picks to improve that need. I love the selection of Quinten Rollins, a cornerback who was only played one year of football his senior year at Miami University. Rollins has massive upside giving Green Bay another corner to help deal with the likes of Mike Wallace, Calvin Johnson, Kevin White and Alshon Jeffery. Taking Montgomery in the third round was definitely a reach, but Green Bay has managed to become a huge wide receiver factory in recent years. Speaking of positional factories in Green Bay, the surprise of the draft came when Green Bay took a free-falling Brett Hundley in the fifth round, which is perfect for the Packers as they get a chance to develop a young, talented quarterback with no pressure to start him.

Grade: C+

Minnesota Vikings

Round 1, Pick 11 - CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State
Round 2, Pick 45 - ILB Eric Kendricks, California-Los Angeles
Round 3, Pick 88 - DE Danielle Hunter, Louisiana State
Round 4, Pick 110 - OT T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh
Round 5, Pick 143 - TE MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois
Round 5, Pick 146 - WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland
Round 6, Pick 185 - OT Tyrus Thompson, Oklahoma
Round 6, Pick 193 - DE B.J. Dubose, Louisville
Round 7, Pick 228 - OT Austin Shepard, Alabama
Round 7, Pick 232 - OLB Edmond Robinson, Newberry

The Vikings, much like the division rival Bears, did an excellent job at utilizing value while selecting players at position of needs. Both Trae Waynes and Eric Kendricks present excellent value to the Vikings, many draft pundits have said that Kendricks was the best inside linebacker in the draft. The drafting of Kendricks also reunites him with his former UCLA teammate Anthony Barr. Taking T.J. Clemmings, a fringe first-round prospect in the fourth round makes this draft a home-run in value. Minnesota gave Bridgewater a couple of potential weapons in the fifth-round with the uber-athletic D-II tight end Pruitt and Stefon Diggs.

Grade: A

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