Chicago Bears
75th Overall -- Major Wright, S, Florida
109th Overall -- Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern
141st Overall -- Joshua Moore, DB, Kansas State
181st Overall -- Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan
218th Overall -- J'Marcus Webb, OT, West Texas A&M
The Bears did a really decent job of acquiring guys who can contribute right away considering that they didn't have a first or a second round draft pick. Major Wright and Corey Wootton can come in right away. Wootton needs to add a little weight, but as a 4-3 DE he's perfect at left end and is a great run defender to compliment Peppers on the blind side. Major Wright should immediately start at free safety and he's a ball hawk with great range. Joshua Moore, Dan LeFevour, and J'Marcus Webb are all major projects to undertake though. LeFevour is insurance for Cutler, and I like the idea to take a quarterback, but not LeFevour. There's a lot I like about LeFevour, but his arm strength isn't good enough to play in the blustery Chicago November's and December's.
Grade: C+
Reasoning: Two starters. Three projects. They did nothing to address the hole at left guard and didn't give Cutler any other weapons. He's stuck with Hester and Knox in the Mike Martz offense behind an offensive line that isn't good enough to block for an extended amount of time like Martz's offense requires.
Detroit Lions
2nd Overall -- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
30th Overall (from Minnesota) -- Jahvid Best, RB, California
66th Overall -- Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa
128th Overall (from Minnesota) -- Jason Fox, OT, Miami (FL)
213th Overall -- Willie Young, DE, North Carolina State
255th Overall (Compensatory) -- Tim Toone, WR, Weber State
You can finally say it: the rebuilding process in Detroit is over. With this draft the Lions managed to acquire a dominant all-purpose defensive tackle who will inevitably be paired with Sammie Lee Hill the big nose tackle from Stillman. The Lions also picked the perfect running back for the fast-turf in Ford Field. The Lions picked up a guy will start at some point this season in Amari Spievey and got a huge steal in Jason Fox who should push Jeff Backus for playing time as early as Training Camp. Willie Young is a guy with a questionable motor, but a guy who could be a rotational rusher. Detroit's biggest need going into the season is going to be finding a true pass rusher because KVB isn't going to be that guy and Young isn't ready and Cliff Avril may be better suited for a 3-4. Tim Toone will have to fight for return duties and special teams activities. Getting four starters in six picks is great. Getting four guys who could all at some point spend a weekend at a Pro Bowl site is even better.
Grade: A
Reasoning: I see four starters here, with the potential for five. And I think all four of the starters can be mainstays in Detroit and could help this team finally get back to respectability.
Green Bay Packers
23rd Overall -- Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
56th Overall -- Mike Neal, DT/DE, Purdue
71st Overall (from Cleveland through Philly) -- Morgan Burnett, S, Georgia Tech
154th Overall -- Andrew Quarless, TE, Penn State
169th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Marshall Newhouse, OL, TCU
193rd Overall -- James Starks, RB, Buffalo
230th Overall -- C.J. Wilson, DE, East Carolina
I love what Green Bay did with their draft. While I'm not a huge Bryan Bulaga fan, he is a nice fit for the Packers system, and Green Bay has a tendency not to rush their guys into uncomfortable playing situations. Bulaga will take over when, inevitably, either Chad Clifton and/or Mark Tauscher need to take a seat on the bench. Bulaga has time to add some strength even though he has very short arms. He could also kick inside to guard if necessary.
Mike Neal is a classic Ted Thompson pick. He's a player that TT fell in love with because of his absolutely incredible athleticism. I actually spoke with a Purdue player and he said Neal was one of the locker room leaders and is an extremely high character player with a lot of motivation. The pick makes sense since Justin Harrell is made of glass and Green Bay has two defensive ends entering contract years.
The trade up for Morgan Burnett was brilliant. He's a very good in-the-box safety who also happens to be a good cover guy. His versatility allows defensive coordinator Dom Capers to mess around with Burnett and stud Nick Collins. Atari Bigby has actually been a solid option for Green Bay, but he can't stay healthy. Burnett is going to compete with him right away in camp.
Andrew Quarless is another stellar athlete, but he won't get much playing time in Green Bay--especially with breakout player Jermichael Finley ready to put up even bigger numbers then he did last year. Quarless is a project at this point.
Marshall Newhouse was a superb pick. He can play in either man or zone blocking and has a huge frame with a nice wingspan. Newhouse won't be ready to start right away, but could take over at tackle or guard (probably tackle in GB's case) midway through the season--likely on the right side.
James Starks and C.J. Wilson are two more very high potential picks. Starks needs to stay healthy, but the collegiate production as a freshman, sophomore, and junior was very good. He missed his entire senior season and he has a great frame to add weight. Starks could push Ryan Grant for the starting job eventually, but in the near future will be a special teamer and will push for carries from DeShawn Wynn. Starks could easily find himself getting 10 carries a game in the final six or seven games. As for Wilson, he's a very talented pass rusher considering his great size and the great athlete is a lot closer to being a complete player then most players taken in the seventh round. He has at least a season to become a more disciplined run defender and play with better leverage, but Green Bay could have hit a serious home run here.
Grade: B+
Reasoning: I see four starters here and probably five (either Starks or Wilson). Very good draft for a team that is seriously close to bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to it's true home.
Minnesota Vikings
34th Overall (from Detroit) -- Chris Cook, CB/S, Virginia
51st Overall (from Houston) -- Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
100th Overall (from Detroit) -- Everson Griffen, DE, USC
161st Overall -- Chris DeGeare, OT/OG, Wake Forest
167th Overall (Compensatory Selection) -- Nathan Triplett, LB, Minnesota
199th Overall -- Joe Webb, QB/WR, UAB
214th Overall (from Cleveland through Detroit) -- Mickey Shuler, TE, Penn State
237th Overall -- Ryan D'Imperio, LB/FB, Rutgers
I have mixed feelings on Minnesota's draft. Chris Cook is a solid pick as he fills a need at either corner or safety. He's the ideal cover two safety as he's a VERY good tackler. He doesn't tackle low though, he needs to get better at that, but he's one hell of a hitter. Trading up for Toby Gerhart was a joke. The Vikings needed to find a receiving option out of the backfield to compliment AP, instead they got another bruiser. I love Gerhart, but offensive versatility is enormously important.
Everson Griffen was a steal in the fourth. Major upside, but production problems caused him to fall. Griffen also has some problems with his weight and lacks an array of pass rushing moves. Griffen should be able to be groomed as the insurance for Ray Edwards, who wants a big pay day and may be out of Minnesota after 2010.
Chris DeGeare is a solid interior linemen, but he's not a superb athlete. I think he'll definitely move inside with the Vikings and may never be anything more than a back-up. Nathan Triplett likely is only going to be a special teams contributor. Joe Webb started his career at UAB as a receiver, moved to quarterback, and is now going to be a receiver again in Minnesota. The transition actually isn't that bad for him. Mickey Shuler is a great blocking tight end, and that's an extremely underrated position in the NFL. Ryan D'Imperio is going to move to fullback after playing linebacker at Rutgers. I'm not a big fan of the transition, but D'Imperio is probably willing to do anything to make the roster.
Grade: C+
Reasoning: I can't see them getting more than three starters out of this class. Griffen may never even start. Cook looks like the only safe bet. The absolute maximum is going to be four starters, but even then we're not talking impact starters.
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