Chicago Bears
- (25) Dillon Thieneman S Oregon
- (57) Logan Jones C Iowa
- (69) Sam Roush TE Stanford
- (89) Zavion Thomas WR LSU
- (124) Malik Muhammad CB Texas
- (166) Keyshaun Elliot LB Arizona St.
- (213) Jordan van den Berg DL Georgia Tech
Immediate Impact: S Dillon Thieneman
The Bears didn’t need to get a lot of immediate help and as it stands right now, Thieneman is the only rookie who should start, and he will have an immediate impact. He’s an incredible athlete who should fit perfectly next to Coby Bryant at safety and they will be nearly interchangeable.
Best Value: LB Keyshaun Elliot
Getting Elliot in the fifth round was a steal. He has starter potential and it might be soon given the depth chart. The Bears have a lot of LBs; TJ Edwards, Devin Bush, Jack Sanborn, Noah Sewell, D’Marco Jackson, and Ruben Hyppolite II, the only LB I like in that group more than Elliot is a healthy Edwards. The rest of them may be able to play a specific role but Elliot can play every down.
Sleeper: CB Malik Muhammad
If the Bears decide they want to get off the Tyrique Stevenson roller coaster, Muhammad is the perfect steady player for them. He might not give you the big, flashy plays Stevenson gives you, but he’s not getting beat for a Hail Mary because he’s too busy talking trash to the crowd. He has starter ability even if he’s a little lighter and not as strong as you might like.
Overall Analysis
Getting Thieneman at 25 overall was a gift. This team needed more safety help, and they got the second-best safety in the draft at a discount. He’ll make plays all over the field and will make the backend of the defense a lot harder to throw against. C Logan Jones may have been taken a tad earlier than expected but he’s a starting center in the league. He may have to wait a year if the Bears want to let the veteran, Garrett Bradbury, start and ease Jones in. Jones can beat him out, but the Bears traded for Bradbury for a reason, so we’ll see. Jones isn’t a big center, but when you have Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson at guard, it’s a little easier to go with the undersized center.
The team went 1 for 2 on their third-round picks. TE Sam Roush is a ready-made NFL blocking TE who immediately replaces Durham Smyth who left in free agency. It’s not the most impactful spot but it matters to Ben Johnson. He’s also good enough that if the team wants to move on from Cole Kmet at some point, he can be the second TE to Colston Loveland. WR Zavion Thomas was a major reach. If you watched LSU last year you know they weren’t very good. Thomas is small and while I can see they might think he can be Khalif Raymond, he’s not Khalif Raymond and they could have done better. I think they will regret passing on guys like Skyler Bell or Brenan Thompson. Muhammed and Elliot are fourth and fifth round guys who have a legitimate chance to start for this team in the near future. DL Jordan van den Berg was solid sixth-round flyer after the DT position had been picked pretty clean. He’s probably not making the roster this year but he’s worth a practice squad spot to see if he can develop.
Detroit Lions
- (17) Blake Miller OT Clemson
- (44) Derrick Moore Edge Michigan
- (118) Jimmy Rolder LB Michigan
- (157) Keith Abney II CB Arizona St.
- (168) Kendrick Law WR Kentucky
- (205) Skyler Gill-Howard DL Texas Tech
- (222) Tyre West DL Tennessee
Immediate Impact: OT Blake Miller, Edge Derrick Moore
Taylor Decker retired and the Lions are moving Penei Sewell to LT, that leaves his RT spot wide open for Miller to step into. Miller doesn’t wow you with any part of his game but he’s strong, steady, and reliable. The Lions offense line was an issue last season and Miller should be the last piece to fix it. Moore isn’t the biggest or fastest edge rusher but he’s pretty good and they have needed a steady guy opposite Aidan Hutchinson since they drafted him. Moore is the “Blake Miller” of edge rushers, strong, steady, and reliable. Hutchinson is the star; Moore is the guy doing the work on the other side
Best Value: CB Keith Abney II
Abney isn’t the biggest CB but don’t tell him that. He plays with the type of edge that Dan Campbell is going to love. It might get him in trouble with a flag or two from time to time but he’s a tough CB and he can cover. Somehow, he fell to the fifth round and Lions lucked out, they need some depth at CB, and he can fill that need.
Sleeper: LB Jimmy Rolder
The Lions lost Alex Anazalone in free agency and that leaves Malcolm Rodriguez penciled in at weakside LB, that’s not ideal. There’s no real depth at LB and Rolder has more size and ability to hold up as a starter than Rodriguez. I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s the starter weakside LB fairly quickly in Detroit.
Overall Analysis
Miller, Moore, Rolder and Abney were their first four picks in this draft and all four of them could contribute quickly. Miller and Moore as immediate starters with Rolder as a possibility and Abney more of a fil-in if needed. WR Kendrick Law isn’t expected to contribute much beyond being a fourth WR and a return guy but he’s basically the new Khalif Raymond for this team. If he can be that that’s a solid fifth-round pick. Defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyre West are two smaller DTs who are just depth pieces who give the Lions players who are a little different than starters Alim McNeil and Tyliek Williams.
Green Bay Packers
- (52) Brandon Cisse CB South Carolina
- (77) Chris McClellan DT Missouri
- (120) Dani Dennis-Sutton DE Penn St.
- (153) Jager Burton C/G Kentucky
- (201) Domani Jackson CB Alabama
- (216) Trey Smack K Florida
Immediate Impact: DT Chris McClellan, K Trey Smack
The Packers traded Kenny Clark last year and they haven’t been able to fill that hole. They signed Javon Hargrave this off season but he’s 33 and hasn’t been effective for the past several years. McClellan wasn’t one of the bigger names at DT, but he’s a very talented player who fits into their rotation very easily. The Packers have been looking for consistent kicking since Mason Crosby’s best days. Brandon McManus has the spot for now, but he’ll be 35 next season, Trey Smack was arguably the best kicker in this draft.
Best Value: DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
Dennis-Sutton isn’t the most productive edge rusher but he’s big, strong, and can hold up across all downs. He’s a big edge rusher who might be able to bulk up a bit and play end in Green Bay’s three-man front. No matter where he plays, he’s better than a fourth-round pick.
Sleeper: CB Domani Jackson
Jackson was the second CB they took and while I can see Brandon Cisse stepping in reasonably quickly and getting some playing time, don’t forget about Jackson. He was a highly ranked recruit out of high school who never quite lived up to the hype. However, he has the height, weight, and speed combination that makes him very interesting as a developmental player
Overall Analysis
CB Brandon Cisse will play for this team this year, but he shouldn’t start unless Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine are out. He’s a good prospect and they took him at the right spot. He has starter ability and eventually he should be a good player for them. McClellan should be featured heavily in their defensive line rotation, and I would use him more than Javon Hargrave. I really like the McClellen pick. The Dani Dennis-Sutton pick was great value in the fourth round. He isn’t the most dynamic player, but he will give them some important snaps.
OL Jagar Burton couldn’t be more perfect for the Packers, they love a versatile offensive lineman, and he can play three positions. If Anthony Belton isn’t up to the task at RG, Burton could take that job. Domani Jackson is a bet on a guy with great physical traits, you can do way worse in the sixth round. I’m generally not in favor of taking a kicker unless you have at least eight or nine picks in a draft. I also question the wisdom of taking a kicker from Florida when you’re bringing him to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Could be a wasted pick if he can’t handle the weather.
Minnesota Vikings
- (18) Caleb Banks DT Florida
- (51) Jake Golday LB Cincinnati
- (82) Domonique Orange DT Iowa St.
- (97) Caleb Tiernan OT Northwestern
- (98) Jakobe Thomas S Miami
- (159) Max Bredeson FB Michigan
- (163) Charles Demmings CB Stephen F. Austin
- (198) Demond Claiborne RB Wake Forest
- (235) Gavin Gerhardt OL Cincinnati
Immediate Impact: DT Caleb Banks (maybe), LB Jake Golday, DT Domonique Orange
If Caleb Banks’ foot heals up and he doesn’t have any problems with it, he could be the steal of the draft. That’s a very big “if” when you’re talking about a guy who’s 6’6 almost 330 lbs. and has had two injuries to the same foot in less than a year. If he’s healthy, he’s an unblockable menace, if not, he’s a massive bust. Jake Golday is such a unique player, it’s really good he’s going to go play for Brian Flores, the perfect DC to unleash him. Golday isn’t a traditional LB, Flores will figure out the best way to use him. The Vikings needed DT help and even after taking Banks in round one, Domonique Orange was just too good to pass up. If Banks can’t stay healthy, at least Orange will be around to wreak havoc on the defensive line.
Best Value: DT Domonique Orange
Getting a guy of Orange’s caliber in the back half of round three is insane. He could legitimately start for the Vikings even if Caleb Banks is healthy. I know the team got good play out of Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez last season, but Orange is just a different guy up front.
Sleeper: RB Demond Claiborne
Claiborne was only a sixth-round pick, but this team needs some juice in the backfield. Aaron Jones is aging and Jordan Mason isn’t bringing speed to the equation. The only other back on the roster is Zavier Scott. Claiborne has 4.37 speed and it shows. He’s not a physical runner but he can gain yards in a hurry. It was a little surprising they waited until round six to address such a critical need.
Overall Analysis
The Vikings clearly saw a need to address their defense when four of their first five picks were on that side of the ball. Banks is a bet on the upside that could legitimately change your defense. Adding Golday and Orange is adding two players who can fit the scheme and really give you some outstanding play. S Jakobe Thomas was the fourth defender after they took OT Caleb Tiernan. Tiernan fills a need as a swing tackle and after last year with some injuries it was necessary. He also has long-term potential as the replacement RT for Brian O’Neill who is getting older and is coming to the end of his contract. Thomas felt like a bit of a reach at safety. He’s not particularly great at any one thing, and he can be inconsistent.
The Vikings took FB Max Bredeson in round five. While they listed him as a TE, he’s really a full-back or H-back and it’s kind of a dying position in the NFL. I’m not sure they needed to take him in round five. CB Charles Demmings is a guy from Stephen F. Austin and that’s unique because most small school guys transfer up before finishing out their eligibility. Demmings gives the Vikings a CB with a little more length than most of their guys, he’s 6’1. Then came Claiborne, he’s a solid pickup for a sixth-round pick. C Gavin Gerhardt is just a body, they like Blake Brendel at center.
The Hott Read 