The NFL has hosted whirlwinds of change this offseason, and the NFC North was no exception. Aaron Rodgers returned to Green Bay to remain the Packers' star signal-caller, but his top target, Davante Adams, fled for silver-and-black pastures. Minnesota, meanwhile, is kicking off a new regime, with Kevin O'Connell replacing Mike Zimmer atop the Vikings' staff. The Lions are entering the next step of their own rebuild. And the Bears, with Matt Eberflus now in charge, are shuffling the roster around Justin Fields.
It should be an exciting draft and you can follow along with every pick on our draft tracker.
Suffice to say, the 2022 draft is a vital building block for all four franchises in the North, which has seen three of its teams claim at least one division title in the last five years. Follow along here as we track all of the NFC North's 2022 selections:
Bears
Top needs (unranked): OT, WR, CB, OL, S
Chicago is in long-term rebuild mode, by the looks of its overly frugal free agency. So it needs as much help as it can get for Justin Fields, who still lacks a formidable line and receiving corps. Eberflus' inherited secondary also sorely lacks difference-makers, particularly on the outside.
2022 draft picks:
| Round (Overall Pick) | Selection | Grade |
|---|---|---|
2 (39) | TBD | |
| 2 (48) | TBD | |
| 3 (71) | TBD | |
| 5 (148) | TBD | |
| 5 (150) | TBD | |
| 6 (186) | TBD |
Stay tuned for analysis.
Lions
Top needs (unranked): QB, S, LB
They can stay relatively competitive with Jared Goff under center, but until they find a longer-term, higher-upside successor, QB will be a top need. Otherwise, Dan Campbell's defense needs reinforcements at every level. A versatile defensive back would be a big help as a quasi-linebacker/cover man.
2022 draft picks:
| Round (Overall Pick) | Selection | Grade |
|---|---|---|
1 (2) | Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson | B+ |
| 1 (12) | Alabama WR Jameson Williams | B |
| 2 (46) | TBD | |
| 3 (97) | TBD | |
| 5 (177) | TBD | |
| 6 (181) | TBD | |
| 6 (217) | TBD |
By picking Hutchinson No. 2, the Lions addressed one of their biggest needs, adding a plug-and-play defensive end to a front that needed more juice. While he may not possess the play-making dynamism of guys like Kayvon Thibodeaux or Kyle Hamilton, Hutchinson makes a lot of sense as a trusted on- and off-field leader for Dan Campbell's lineup.
Detroit didn't sit tight to pick again at No. 32 in the first round, instead moving up in a swap with the rival Vikings, all the way to No. 12, where they added arguably the draft's top playmaking wide receiver in Williams. Yes, the Alabama product is coming off an ACL tear and may not be available for part of the 2022 season, but as a long-term bet, it makes sense. Now they just need to figure out who's throwing him the ball down the road.
Packers
Top needs (unranked): WR, OLB, DT, OT, LB, TE
It all starts out wide, where Aaron Rodgers and a Packers team built to win now are without arguably the game's best receiver in Davante Adams. They need more juice there. A pass rusher to help offset Za'Darius Smith's loss would be nice, as would depth/competition on the interior and at right tackle, where Billy Turner was released.
2022 draft picks:
| Round (Overall Pick) | Selection | Grade |
|---|---|---|
1 (22) | Georgia LB Quay Walker | A |
| 1 (28) | Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt | B+ |
| 2 (53) | TBD | |
| 2 (59) | TBD | |
| 3 (92) | TBD | |
| 4 (132) | TBD | |
| 4 (140) | TBD | |
| 5 (171) | TBD | |
| 7 (228) | TBD | |
| 7 (249) | TBD | |
| 7 (258) | TBD |
The Packers didn't address receiver on Day One of the draft despite Davante Adams' glaring departure. And yet they did find a pair of potential Grade-A defensive starters from Georgia's national title unit, plugging the big, rangy Walker next to De'Vondre Campbell at the heart of the "D" and adding Wyatt as a run-stuffing athlete along the trenches.
Vikings
Top needs (unranked): CB, OL, DT, LB, WR
Patrick Peterson is back as the No. 1 corner, but he could use a running mate/successor. As usual, Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook could also use better protection on the interior, while wide receiver -- despite the playmaking reliability of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen -- could afford an additional weapon.
2022 draft picks:
| Round (Overall Pick) | Selection | Grade |
|---|---|---|
1 (32) | Georgia S Lewis Cine | B+ |
| 2 (34) | TBD | |
| 3 (66) | TBD | |
| 3 (77) | TBD | |
| 5 (156) | TBD | |
| 6 (184) | TBD | |
| 6 (191) | TBD | |
| 6 (192) | TBD | |
| 7 (250) | TBD |
Stay tuned for analysis.
