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4/28/08
NFL Draft Grades - NFC North: Rex Grossman Remains A Lucky Man

Who had the best draft? The most accurate way to grade every team is to say: Incomplete.

But that's no fun.

We obviously won't be able to judge for several years, but in terms of addressing needs and getting players of value, here's some of my thoughts on the AFC North, but I'm more interested in yours.

(Just including top 5 picks, but grade based on total draft)

Chicago Bears
1 (14) - Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
2 (44) - Matt Forte, RB, Tulane
3 (70) - Earl Bennett, WR, Vanderbilt
3 (90) - Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas
4 (120) - Craig Steltz, S, LSU
I really like the Bears first two picks. Nothing sexy, but offensive tackle was their biggest need and Chris Williams would seem to be the starting left tackle on Day 1. Cedric Benson is terrible, and GM Jerry Angelo finally swallowed some pride and admitted that by drafting the best available (maybe) with the 44th pick. I love the pick of Steltz in the 4th round. Sure, he's not that fast, but he's a player. He'll start this season as some point and become a John Lynch 2.0. (drinking the Koolaid). But here's where I grade the Bears horribly. They threw this whole grade away by having 12 picks and spending ZERO on a quarterback. Meanwhile, Green Bay and Minnesota who are still in better shape at QB took Brian Brohm and John David Booty collectively. D-

Detroit Lions
1 (17) - Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
2 (45) - Jordon Dizon, LB, Colorado
3 (64) - Kevin Smith, RB, UCF
3 (87) - Andre Fluellen, DT, Florida State
3 (92) - Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue
Haha. First, I have to get that out of the way. This is just one man's opinion who doesn't sit in his parent's basement and watch college film, but you can't be pleased with this draft if you're a Lions fan. You can't. Cherilus could very well be overrated because he played in front of the best QB in the draft (or the other way around). Dizon made a lot of tackles last year, but that's not necessarily indicative of a great player ... just a bad Buffaloes DL. Smith is shifty, but does he have the speed to be a regular back in the NFL? Best move the Lions made was giving Caleb Campbell (Army) a chance at the NFL in round 7. C-

Green Bay Packers
2 (36) - Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State
2 (56) - Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville
2 (60) - Patrick Lee, DB, Auburn
3 (91) - Jermichael Finley, TE, Texas
4 (102) - Jeremy Thompson, DE, Wake Forest
Not sure about going wideout with the first overall pick. Donald Driver isn't getting any younger, but they've got some players, clearly, to fill his shoes. That said, I like Nelson. I've heard more criticism than applause of the Brohm selection and the common reasoning is that it hurts Aaron Rodgers mental state. Isn't the point of the draft to select the best players available and fulfill positions of need. QB is a need, and they have themselves a guy who would have been a Top 10 pick last year had he come out. Instead, he played for a terrible team and it was apparently his fault. Brohm will be the starter eventually. B

Minnesota Vikings
2 (43) - Tyrell Johnson, S, Arkansas State
5 (137) - John David Booty, QB, USC
5 (152) - Letroy Guion, DT, Florida State
6 (187) - John Sullivan, OC, Notre Dame
6 (193) - Jaymar Johnson, WR, Jackson State
Not sure about the bottom three, but A and A+ on value with the first two picks. Oh, and they still have Adrian Peterson. I realize that has nothing to do with this draft, but that's pretty cool. A-

Who was the best draft pick in this division? Worst?
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