NFC NORTH

Chicago                      

• Chris Williams might have been a bit of a reach, and I would like to see him develop a mean streak, but he is intelligent and he fit an area of need for the Bears, so a solid pick.
• Matt Forte should be the opening day starter and he should do well. It doesn’t say much about the Bears draft track record that they’re already taking another RB in the early rounds, but I like Forte. Also, you know the bears are going to run the ball, they have to.
• I think that besides the top two picks in this draft, the Bears were trying to cast a wide net, getting quantity instead of quality in hopes of finding some starters and returning to relevance.  Overall an average draft, and they still don’t have an NFL level QB.

Detroit                                   

• Detroit’s top three picks were all good, and this should help the Lions to pick up their game into the middle of the pack next year.  And who knows, maybe they will win 10 games like Kitna says..lol!
• Gosder Cherilous was a great pick. No wishy washy nonsense, just “we’re going to take a power right tackle and we’re going to let him maul in the run game, this is what we want”.  I think Cherilous is a real solid addition to an average Detroit O-line.
• Jordan Dizon is a north-south thumper of a LB and he will slot right into this cover-2 defense. He will also help to free Ernie Sims from blockers, and make the plays from the outside.  Detroit is actually building a pretty solid defensive core.
• Kevin Smith could take the league by storm. He knows how to play the RB position, he sets up his blocks properly, and he makes his cuts and runs hard all the time, kind of like an Emmitt Smith.  I think Detroit will look to run much more often now that they have a #1 type of back. A true steal in draft terms.
• The later rounds of this draft didn’t excite me too much, but I did like the Cliff Avril pick in the 3^rd round.

Green Bay                 

• I think GB has a good young corps, but they didn’t need another receiver, and they barely addressed the trenches. Not to mention two QBs of the future, what is this Tampa Bay?
• Jordy Nelson was not a need and he is unpolished. Where does he fit in this year?
• Brian Brohm is a good player, and he cost himself millions by staying in school, but this pick so high in the draft might undermine Aaron Rodgers confidence.
• The one pick I did like was Finley in the 3rd round, because they do need a tight end. They haven’t had a good one since Bubba Franks found out about Bratwurst and Wisconsin cheese.
• I am not sold on the RB situation in Packer-land, and they did nothing to even add depth at that spot; they better pay Ryan Grant quickly and hope he doesn’t fall off.
• This was a team on the upswing, and this draft could have helped them get over the hump, but they really didn’t add any playmakers, so this was a waste to me.

Minnesota                 

• The Jared Allen deal was a monster.  I don’t know if the sack leader has ever been traded in the history of the NFL.  This is probably the best move made by any team in the offseason. Allen will be a force in the Metrodome; the turf will help his speed rush, and he won’t see constant double teams because the Vikings have the best tackle tandem in the league. Look for the Vikings defense to be a world better.
• Trading up to get Tyrell Johnson was another aggressive move which I really liked.  Identify a weakness and address it, this is how you improve your football team.  Johnson will be a solid addition to this secondary, and he was climbing up all draft boards leading up to the draft. He could be a starter and he can have an impact, a great pick.
• John David Booty was a steal.  He will have a chance to learn, and he may have been knocked down because of Matt Leinart’s stumbles so far in the NFL.  I like Booty’s chances of challenging for the starters spot in 2010.
• Jared Allen will help change this team, and they will probably win this division.