Free agency has been completed for the most part. Let’s take a look at remaining team needs and where the NFC North teams may focus on in the draft.
Chicago Bears
The Bear won the NFC North and don’t have any major glaring holes. They don’t have many picks due to the Khalil Mack trade so it’s a good thing there aren’t glaring holes. QB Mitch Trubisky needs to take a step forward at QB but he is the QB regardless.
Draft Picks: Round 3 Pick 87, Round 4 Pick 126, Round 5 Pick 162, Round 7 Pick 122, Round 7 Pick 238
Needs: Kicker, possible starting DE, CB depth, WR depth, RB depth, OLB depth, long term/3rd safety, ILB long term
Bilal Nichols/Jonathan Bullard are solid opposite super stud Akiem Hicks but could be upgraded at DE. Also, Bullard is a free agent next year.
Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara are set as starters. Buster Skrine was given a 3 year deal to replace Bryce Callahan at nickel back. The Bears could use one corner for depth behind Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara on the outside though. You can never have too many corners and they take longer to develop.
Taylor Gabriel and Anthony Miller can play slot and outside and Allen Robinson is the top man at WR. Cordarelle Patterson was added too at WR/RB/KR. The Bears could use one more WR to round out the group that could play outside.
Aaron Lynch was signed on a one year deal but the Bears could use OLB depth behind Mack and Floyd.
Ha-Ha Clinton Dix was given a one year prove it deal at free safety to replace Amos but the Bears could get a longer term younger safety in Rounds 3 and 4. Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston Carson could be upgraded for 3 safety packages.
Mike Davis replaced Jordan Howard (trade) but the Bears could use one more back to spell Davis and Cohen. Rounds 3, 4 or 5 would be perfect for that.
Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkowski are free agents next year. The Bears could add a young ILB on day 2 or day 3 of this draft.
The Bears need a kicker badly or they will continue to lose playoff games. Day 3 kicker coming.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings disappointed in 2018 but have a solid core of players after success in previous years. They have some needs though
Draft Picks: Round 1 Pick 18, Round 2 Pick 50, Round 3 Pick 81, Round 4 Pick 120, Round 6 Pick 190, Round 6 Pick 209, Round 7 Pick 247, Round 7 Pick 250
Needs: Starting guard, backup QB, TE RB depth, DE future, 3rd/ 4th WR, Will LB, CB future, safety depth, punt returner
The biggest hole is at guard for the Vikings after Nick Easton and Mike Remmers (cut) left in free agency. The Vikings signed Josh Kline for one spot but they need another quality starting guard over Danny Isidora, Aviante Collins and Dakota Dozier.
Kyle Sloter is the Vikings backup QB right now. They need a big upgrade at backup QB.
Latavius Murray bolted in free agency so the Vikings need a back to group with Dalvin Cook and Ameer Abdullah.
Kyle Rudolph is a free agent next year and David Morgan and Tyler Conlkin aren’t enough at TE 2 and TE 3. The Vikings could use another tight end behind Rudolph.
There is a club option for Everson Griffen next year but this could be his last year with the Vikings. Top backup DE Stephen Weatherly is also a free agent next year. You can never have enough pass rushers and the Vikings will need some soon.
Laquan Treadwell won’t get the 5th year option next year and the Vikings need one or two more WRS behind Diggs and Thielen.
Will LB Ben Gedeon is the weak spot in the LB group. They could upgrade here.
Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are free agents next year. You can never have enough cornerbacks either.
Andrew Sendejo was cut so the Vikings need one more safety for three safety packages behind Harrison Smith and Anthony Harrison. Jayron Kearse may not cut it but could be the 4th safety.
DB/PR Marcus Sherels left in free agency so the Vikings need to find a punt returner out of their WRs, RBs and DBs.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers disappointed in 2018 but actually added a lot in free agency. They also have some extra draft picks due to fleecing. Let’s take a look at their remaining needs.
Slot WR, OLB depth, ILB, safety, CB, backup nose tackle, future offensive tackle, 3rd TE
Picks: Round 1 Pick 12, Round 1 Pick 30, Round 2 Pick 44, Round 3 Pick 75, Round Pick 114, Round 4 Pick 118, Round 5 Pick 150, Round 6 Pick 185, Round 6 Pick 194, Round 7 Pick 226
Randall Cobb is gone. The Packers have three young WRs going to their second year in Eq St. Brown, Marquez Valdes Scantling and JMon Moore behind Davante Adams and Geronimo Allison. However, they could use one solid slot WR upgrade. Geronimo Allison is a free agent next year too.
ZaDarius Smith can play DE and OLB and Preston Smith joins Kyle Fackrell. The Packers could use one more OLB for depth. DE Mike Daniels is a free agent next year too so adding more pass rush is key.
Jake Ryan left in free agency after an injury in 2018. Blake Martinez and Oren Burks could be solid starters but the Packers can finally upgrade year with their many mid-round picks.
Strong safety and former 2nd round pick Josh Jones is now the starter but the Packers could use one more safety. Tramon Williams could play some safety with Adrian Amos the starter but that weakens the CB group. If Tramon is playing some safety, the Packers need a CB, especially with Josh Jackson struggling and Kevin King oft-injured.
Bryan Bulaga and Jason Spriggs are free agents next year. The Packers will need an offensive tackle early.
Green Bay could use a 3rd TE over Robert Tonyan. Marcedes Lewis is a free agent next year too.
Kenny Clark will get the 5th year option for 2020 but Green Bay still needs a backup. Rodney Gunter was looked at in free agency but not signed yet.
Detroit Lions
The Lions added a lot in free agency but still have a few holes for the future and one starting hole. The Lions will be Super Bowl contenders very soon.
Picks: Round 1 Pick 8, Round 2 Pick 43, Round 3 Pick 88, Round 4 Pick 111, Round 5 Pick 146, Round 6 Pick 184, Round 6 Pick 204, Round 7 Pick 224, Round 7 Pick 229
Needs: Starting right guard, CB2 future, future WR, backup tackle, backup QB, future RB, DE/rush LB, backup LB, future safety
The Lions biggest hole is at starting right guard after TJ Lang was cut and retired. Kenny Wiggins (FA in 2020), Oday Aboushi (FA in 2020) and Tyrell Crosby could start but a long term upgrade is needed. Graham Glasgow is a free agent next year too which could move Frank Ragnow from guard to center in 2020 if Glasgow is not retained. The Lions need to add one guard for sure on day 2.
Rashaan Melvin (one year deal only) and Justin Coleman (nickel back) were added in free agency to start. Mike Ford showed flashes as a rookie at outside CB but Teez Tabor is a bust 2nd round pick going into year 3. Jamaal Agnew can play slot CB as depth but is coming off a knee injury. The Lions need the answer at CB2 for the long term in this draft to make up for the Tabor error.
Slot WR Danny Amendola was added in the slot on a one year deal along with Tommie Lee Lewis (KR and speed). Brandon Powell has a chance in the slot but Amendola will get the snaps. The Lions are still weak at WR depth though and could use a backup outside WR behind Jones and Golladay. Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones are free agents in 2021 but Jones will have a big cap hit in 2020. Jones needs to play like 2016 and 2017 again to avoid a cap cut next offseason after an injured 2018.
Taylor Decker will probably be given the 5th year option for 2020 but the Lions could still use a 4th tackle behind Decker, Wagner and Crosby. That tackle if taken early could fill the guard hole.
Backup QB is a big need as Connor Cook is the only backup QB in Detroit behind Stafford. They need a backup QB in early day 3.
The Lions have plenty of pass rush now with Trey Flowers, Damon Harrison, Robinson, DeShawn Hand, Devon Kennard and Romeo Okwara. They could use one more stud rusher to take them over the top. There should be plenty at pick 8 and it’s a deep draft for pass rush if they don’t get one at pick 8.
A’Shawn Robinson is a free agent next year though so DT is on the table for Detroit so DT is in play too. They could use a 4th DT as well over John Atkins.
The Lions should be set at RB for 2019 but Theo Riddick CJ Anderson and Zach Zenner are all free agents next year. A RB in Round 3 or later would make sense still.
The Lions added at safety in free agency but Tavon Wilson, Miles Killebrew, Charles Washington and Andrew Adams are all free agents next season. The Lions will need depth behind Tracy Walker and Quandre Diggs. A true free safety would be a good add in this draft.
Backup LB is a need as Jalen Reeves Mabin, Tre Williams, and Steve Longa won’t cut it behind Jarrad Davis, Devon Kennard and Christian Jones. Jones could really be upgraded at Will LB too.
Restore the roar.
Draft
The draft is coming up April 25 through April 27 and I will provide a list of some prospects very soon.