In most years, by the end of January the Packers are the only team remaining while the rest of the division is looking towards the draft. In the words of Michael Scott though, how the turn tables.
The Detroit Lions are facing off against the San Francisco 49ers for a birth in the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the rest of the division is reading Mel Kiper’s mock draft, we figured we would too.
There are a total of five picks made within the division, and the Bears are the only team with multiple. With the teams drafting all over the board in round one in terms of draft capital, too. Here are those picks and how they impact the division.
Chicago Bears
Selections
Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
How This Pick Affects the Lions
Caleb Williams is no surpise here as the team looks to reset both on the field and financially at the quaretrback position. The former Heismanrophy winner makes chicken salad out of chicken bones time and again, behind this Bears offensive line he will have to. Them pairing him with Rome Odunze after already having weapons such as DJ Moore and Cole Kmet on offense makes things very interesting.
Short term, this team will have growing pains so it won’t affect the Lions right away. Longterm, this play is very nice for the Bears. They need to make the defensive backs a priority this offseason and beyond. This division is going to be very pass happy quickly and they can’t afford to be left behind.
Green Bay Packers
Selection
Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU
How This Pick Affects the Lions
The pass rushers teams have to deal with in the NFC North is staggering. Aidan Hutchison and Montez Sweat are game wreckers on the defensive line and the Packers have to keep Jordan Love upright. They are most likely moving on from David Bahktiari who has been dealing with injuries and is a looming free agent. Suamataia is definetly phsyically imposing but his movement ability may hamper his ability to stop the speed of Hutchison and Sweat.
Minnesota Vikings
Selection
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
How This Pick Affects the Lions
The Vikings will have Jordan Love, Caleb Williams, and Jared Goff to deal with in the division. All three of those passers have great receivers to work with which makes cornerback a priorirty position for the Vikings to address. Wiggins has been mocked consistently in the top half of round one due to his man coverage ability and twitchy movement skills. He would provide an instant boost to the Vikings defensive back group.
Detroit Lions
Selection
Quinyon Mitchell, DB, Toledo
How They Help the Lions:
The Detroit Lions have shown to have a glaring weakness this year on defense, pass defense. Specifically allowing big, chunk plays, and that cannot continue to happen. You have Jordan Love in the division, Caleb Williams is coming in, this pick makes all the sense in the world. Mitchell has the ball production that is a bonus from defensive back prospects when studying them. Where he thrives is providing a physical style in coverage which will be showcased next week in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl.
