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The black and blue division has such a gap between its top two and bottom two teams, there might as well be the NFC North "A" and NFC North "B." However, both B teams -- Detroit and Minnesota -- sit in primary draft positions that, if conducted properly, could narrow the gap with the Packers and Bears.

Although new Vikings coach Mike Tice might have some leeway in his inaugural campaign, the Matt Millen experiment in Detroit cannot suffer through another season like 2001. If Tice and Millen can pull off solid drafts, the NFC North will not be a fun place for the rest of the league to visit on Sundays.

Detroit Lions

Motown Millen and coach Marty Mornhinweg are in the luxurious position of playing wait-and-see. Basically, their first-round pick depends upon two major questions: Is Mike McMahon their quarterback of the future? And, who will be the inaugural pick of John Fox's regime in Carolina? The answers to both of these questions will play the biggest roles in helping the M & M Boys make a decision on tabbing the right guy to help the Ford family football team shift back to the fast lane. Whoever they pick at No. 3, Millen wants the player to be able to come in as a rookie and contribute.

Needs: CB, QB, S, RB, DE, LB, TE

There's good news and then there's bad news for the team that began last season by dropping 12 consecutive games. The good news? They're in position to grab one of the three highest-rated players in the draft. The bad news? There's a reason they are in position to grab one of the three highest-rated players.

Picking Joey Harrington is a no-brainer if the Lions decide Mike McMahon isn't the QB of the future.(Allsport)

The Lions will probably rock back and forth on what to do with their pick so much that by Saturday morning they might have major doses of Dramamine with their pre-draft brunch.

The Lions' first order of business is to decide whether former Rutgers star McMahon is their guy. If not, Harrington becomes an instant no-brainer. Although no player is question-mark free, Harrington drowns out such uncertainties regarding arm strength with his leadership and on-field moxie. He would be a perfect fit for a team in search of a franchise-type of player on offense.

The problem that now plagues the Lions and many others is the Tom Brady Stigma. Teams in the copycat landscape believe they can find their Super Bowl QB in one of the draft's later rounds. Brady's performance, combined with the overwhelming number of first-round QB busts, has created this perception. Thus, the Lions are considering forgoing Harrington in favor of a mid- or late-round QB.

Next order of business is the Panthers' pick. If the Panthers go against conventional wisdom and grab CB Quentin Jammer at No. 2, and the Lions decide they can stick with McMahon, Detroit would likely try with vigor to drop out of the spot, perhaps with a team like the Bengals, who should be salivating for a chance at Harrington. If they can't get out, they love Oklahoma safety Roy Williams (although it's hard to grab a safety with the draft's third pick). Do they go to North Carolina DE Julius Peppers? At first it did not appear so, but Detroit needs another DE and Pro Bowl end Robert Porcher is no spring chicken.

What if the Panthers take Peppers as expected? The Lions would likely jump all over Jammer (again, provided they believe McMahon can be their guy).

Detroit would also like to grab a running back who can fill in or replace oft-injured James Stewart; there are too many Sundays with Stewart on the deactivation list. Thus, with the draft's 35th pick, UCLA's DeShaun Foster or Miami's Clinton Portis might be options.

Although the Lions have built a solid offensive line, they need a tight end to line up outside their tackles. Washington's Jerramy Stevens or BYU Doug Jolley could be tabbed and immediately compete to be a first-year starter.

Chicago Bears

Last year at this time, Chicago coach Dick Jauron's backside was placed squarely on the hot seat and top personnel man Mark Hatley headed north for Green Bay. The Bears appeared headed for a major overhaul, but a funny thing happened on the way to the basement: The Bears showed signs of Da Bears of old and reeled off a shocking 13-win campaign. Jauron saved his job and Hatley was given major kudos in absentia. Though Hatley's draft picks and free-agent signings were crucial in their success, general manager Jerry Angelo now has a chance to place a huge personal stamp on getting the Bears to the next level.

Needs: DE, LT, CB, S, TE, LB

Unlike many other playoff teams, the Bears have three solid, clear-cut needs they would like to address with their first three selections. The Bears' hierarchy has pegged a pass-rushing defensive end as its No. 1 need, followed by left tackle and then a corner or strong safety.

Chicago's strategy will be to gather groups of three names at each position. If five or six of their targeted players drop to their selection at No. 29, sources say the Bears will try to trade down a few spots. This would allow them to grab one of these players while picking up a few additional picks.

So who will a few of those targeted players be? The Bears would jump for joy if Alabama-Birmingham DE Bryan Thomas lasted to their pick. Thomas' stock has soared on a few draft boards over the past two weeks. The 6-foot-4 defender has clocked the times of cornerbacks and wideouts in the 10-yard (one of the most critical numbers when rating a player's explosion off the line of scrimmage). Syracuse's Dwight Freeney is also a consideration, but the Bears are not yet sure he will be able to contribute on enough plays. Basically, they believe a first-rounder who is a situational pass rusher must produce at least double-digit sacks. South Carolina's Kalimba Edwards is another possibility.

Finding a left tackle will be more difficult at No. 29. Arizona's Levi Jones won't be there and there's a chance Florida's 6-7 Mike Pearson will also be grabbed. If not, he'll have to be a consideration. Boston College's 6-8 Marc Columbo played left tackle last year but projects better to the right side in the pros. Too many of the draft's second-tiered tackles are projected to be better suited to the right side in the NFL.

Although the Bears seem to be set at corner with R.W. McQuarters and Jerry Azumah, they are not. They would like to add a bona fide prospect to push Azumah for the starting job, and at least contribute immediately in the nickel. A corner such as Ohio State's Derek Ross, Nebraska's Keyuo Craver and Miami's Mike Rumph are all solid values. Another name to keep in mind is Tuskegee's Roosevelt Williams. He had a terrific Senior Bowl week and opened many scouts' eyes. He is an explosive and physical player who might become a first-round consideration and definite Round 2 option for many teams.

Chicago needs to address its tight end position and wide receiver at some point in the middle rounds as well. They also need a safety to replace Tony Parrish, but can find one after Round 1.

Green Bay

The Packers have somewhat quietly enjoyed what could become one of the league's most productive offseasons. They signed Pro Bowl DE Joe Johnson to team with Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (the most talked-about player on their defense once people were able to pronounce his name).

They also rolled the dice by replacing their red-headed stepchild, Antonio Freeman, with Bill Belichick's favorite nemesis, Terry Glenn. If Johnson can stay healthy and Glenn's self-proclaimed "disability" does not prevent him from rebounding to his pre-Belichick form, the Packers need only fill in a few holes with this year's draft.

Needs: MLB, DT, RB, S, QB, WR

Talk about a team stacked from side to side.

Their most glaring need is the MIKE backer position. The Packers will cross their fingers that Northwestern linebacker Napoleon Harris somehow, someway drops to their slot at No. 28. Even though he is considered to be more of an outside linebacker prospect, some teams believe Harris shows enough for them to try him on the inside if their void is in the middle.

Washington DT Larry Tripplett could be a strong run-stopper for the Packers.(Allsport)

The Packers also hope a solid defensive tackle drops to their slot. One name to keep an eye on here is Washington's Larry Tripplett. He has dropped on many teams' boards because those teams consider him more of a pure nose tackle more than a two-way defensive tackle. Tripplett would be a good run-stuffer for the Packers much in the way they use the hefty Gilbert Brown. UAB's Eddie Freeman would also be a terrific pick if he were to drop this far. Notre Dame's Anthony Weaver is another consideration.

Another need is a backup for RB Ahman Green. Should something happen to Green in the injury department, the Packers need a replacement for Dorsey Levens as Green's primary substitute. They can never afford to be without a solid runner to keep some heat off of Brett Favre. UCLA's DeShaun Foster is the most likely candidate if they cannot get Harris or one of the top defensive tackle prospects.

Finally, don't be surprised to see the Packers draft another quarterback. In the past, they groomed solid talent behind Brett Favre only to send them packing in exchange for draft picks after showing them off in the preseason. It's one of the Packers' best strategies since Favre came to them from Atlanta in 1992.

Minnesota Vikings

There's a new sheriff lurking around Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, and he comes with a New Yawk accent. New coach Tice brings some much-needed discipline to last season's biggest soap opera. Gone are former coach Denny Green and WR/perceived assistant GM Cris Carter. Gone, too, supposedly is Randy Moss' "I play when I want to play" stance. All are replaced with Tice's authoritative approach. What Tice has already brought to the Vikings' team chemistry and direction is nearly as valuable as any draft pick.

Needs: DT, LB, S, CB, OT, WR

The Vikings signed Dolphins duo Lorenzo Bromell and Kenny Mixon. They have the motorized Chris Hovan plugging away at under tackle but are in desperate need of their fourth man in the D-line equation. The Vikings, picking seventh, might be in position to grab the draft's No. 1 defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth. They cannot pass this guy up! The addition of the Tennessee standout would give the Vikings a very tough interior line. If he is gone, UNC's Ryan Sims seems to be the consensus No. 2-rated DT in the draft -- a player the Chiefs love at No. 8.

The Vikings will also need to consider one of the top two offensive tackles if one drops to No. 7. Should Miami's 6-8, 343-pounder Bryant McKinnie or the 6-6, 375-pound Mike Williams of Texas drop to the Vikings former offensive line coach, Tice is going to have a difficult time controlling his salivations for one of the two mountain men. At this point, the best available big man should become the next Viking.

The Vikings will need to find a replacement for Carter and keep some of the heat off Moss. They can go in the second or third round with a solid wideout to come in and immediately contribute. His only requirement will be that he never, ever hounds Daunte Culpepper for more passes thrown his way.

The Vikings pick high enough in the second round to grab a solid corner prospect such as Craver, Rumph or Ross or perhaps a tackle prospect.

The bottom line, however, is that the Vikings must spend most of draft day on defense. A starting defensive tackle, a starting defensive back and at least two linebackers who can compete for starting slots are absolute imperatives.