The 2025 NFL Draft is this Thursday April 24-April 26 in Green Bay Wisconsin. Maybe we get to see some FYsers on the television. Round 1 is Thursday at 800 ET, Friday is Round 2 and Round 3 at 7 PM ET and Round 4-7 begins at noon on Saturday on ESPN and NFL Network.
The Lions are the tru defending Super Bowl Champs and future 2025 season SB Champs and don’t really need to draft; but will abide by the customs. Let’s preview the options for the NFC North teams. Every team has their first round pick so far in this draft so Nichels needs to settle down.
Detroit Lions
Round 1 Pick 28
Round 2 Pick 60
Round 3 Pick 102 (comp pick for Glenn)
Round 4 Pick 130
Round 6 Pick 196 (from Tampa)
Round 7 228 (from Dallas)
Round 7 244
Short Term Needs Guard
Long Term Needs EDGE, DT, WR X
Detroit should be in the guard market with Tyler Booker, Grey Zabel or Donovan Jackson. If Kelvin Banks falls that is a possibility as well for OT/G. EDGE is another great option at 28 with Mykel Williams (if falls), Shemar Stewart, Nic Scourton. DT with Derrick Harmon or Kenneth Grant is on the table as well. Holmes goes BPA so Luther Burden or Matthew Golden at WR is an option. WR X a need with Tim Patrick and WR Kalif Raymond in final year of deal and Jameson Williams has two years left once they pick up the 5th year option. Round 2 and 3 looks for more EDGE or Guard and possibility a 3rd safety.
Minnesota Vikings
Round 1 Pick 24
Round 3 Pick 97 (comp pick for Cousins)
Round 5 Pick 139 (from Cle)
Round 6 Pick 187 (from SF)
Short Term Needs: Vet QB, LT for Darrisaw injury, slot WR, CB2
Long Term Needs: Dline, more CB
Pick 24 they could go EDGE with Mykel Williams or DT Derrick Harmon, CB Maxwell Hairston or even WR Emeka Egubka or OT Josh Conerly.
Green Bay Packers
Round 1 Pick 23
Round 2 Pick 54
Round 3 Pick 87
Round 4 Pick 124
Round 5 Pick 159
Round 6 Pick 198
Round 7 Pick 237 (from Pittsburgh)
Round 7 Pick 250
Short Term Needs: WR, CB, EDGE,
Long Term Needs: More WR, more CB, upgrade over Walker if Morgan ain’t it
Packers could take an EDGE like James Pearce (Tennessee) or Mykel Williams or Shermar Stewart, CB Jahdae Barron (Texas),CB Maxwell Hariston, CB Shavon Revel or Guard like Tyler Booker or Grey Zabel at pick 23. If they go WR Luther Burden III (Missouri) or Matthew Golden (Texsa), Emeka Ekugbka (Ohio State) could be in play. Round 2 they could get an EDGE like Landon Jackson, EDGE Jack Saywer or WR Isiah Bond, WR Jalen Royals or WR Jayden Higgins.
Chicago Bears
Round 1 Pick 10
Round 2 Pick 39 (from Carolina Bryce Young SMH)
Round 2 Pick 41
Round 3 Pick 72
Round 5 Pick 148
Round 7 Pick 233 (from Cin)
Round 7 Pick 240 (from Min via Cle)
Short Term Needs: Upgrade LT, slot WR, upgrade TE
Long Term Needs: Safety, CB2, DT
The Bears did well in free agency with new head coach Ben Johnson and holdover GM Ryan Pace. They added heavily interior Oline with 3 new starters, added DT Grady Jarrett and DE Dayo Odeynigbo on the Dline. They extended LB TJ Edwards and slot CB Kyler Gordon and CB1 Jaylon Johnson (last offseason) too. Bears can go BPA and that might be RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise), TE Tyler Warren (Penn State), LT Armand Membou (Missouri), OT Kelvin Banks (Texas) or CB Will Johnson (Michigan) at pick 10. Day 2 they have 3 picks so can definitely find a future starter and really good depth at any position. Trey Amos (CB), NT Tyleik Williams, DL Darius Alexander, WR Jayden Higgns OT Aireontae Ersery, CB Azarehe’eh Thomas, Safety Kevin Winston and DT Kenneth Grant could be in play in Round 2.
Always a fun draft but the real fun begins in September when the Lions go for their 3rd North title in a row and this time with a real/tru Super Bowl.