2020 NFL Draft Grades: NFC North

After handing out 2020 NFL Draft grades for the NFC East, it’s time to do the same for the NFC North. The Packers, Bears, Vikings, and Lions all had interesting moments for better or worse. Long intro here is unnecessary. Let’s jump right into the 2020 NFL Draft grades for the NFC North!

2020 NFL Draft Grades: NFC North

Chicago Bears: Grade F

• Round 2, Pick No. 43: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
• Round 2, Pick No.  50: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
• Round 5, Pick No. 155: Trevis Gipson, DE, Tulsa
• Round 5, Pick No. 163: Kindle Vildor, CB, Georgia Southern
• Round 5, Pick No. 173: Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane
• Round 7, Pick No. 226: Arlington Hambright, G, Colorado
• Round 7, Pick No. 227: Lachavious Simmons, OT, Tennessee State

The Khalil Mack trade is going to turn into a double loser. Chicago came into the draft with no ammo to get a quarterback. They left the draft with no quarterback which means it’s Mitchell Trubisky for another season. That’s an automatic F.

The draft stays an F because the rest of their picks were garbage. Cole Kmet sucks. It’s a bad tight end draft and they used their highest pick on Kmet after they just gave Jimmy Graham big money. Ryan Pace does Ryan Pace things. Jaylon Johnson has a shot but he’s not the biggest guy in the world. They just didn’t have a lot of draft ammo. The 5th round picks they made are dart throws who will maybe make the roster. This franchise doesn’t have a clue what it’s doing. The quarterback sucks and the guy making the roster decisions sucks too.

Detroit Lions: Grade A-

• Round 1, Pick No. 3: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
• Round 2, Pick No. 35: D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
• Round 3, Pick No. 67: Julian Okwara, LB, Notre Dame
• Round 3, Pick No. 75: Jonah Jackson, G, Ohio State
• Round 4, Pick No. 121: Logan Stenberg, G, Kentucky
• Round 5, Pick No. 166: Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
• Round 5, Pick No. 172: Jason Huntley, RB, New Mexico State
• Round 6, Pick No. 197: John Penisini, DT, Utah
• Round 7, Pick No. 235: Jashon Cornell, DT, Ohio State

The Lions had a very good draft. I can’t give them a flat out A because I think they missed some opportunities. Overall, Detroit did very well considering their history.

Let’s start with the bad. Missing out on a trade down sucks. That’s extra picks they should have had in their pocket. I love Jeff Okudah but it feels like trading down and getting him would have been the true dream scenario. The momentum fell off after the 4th round. Quintez Cephus can’t run. Nex Mexico State running back? Uhh…..

Rounds 1-4 were very strong. Jeff Okudah is an awesome player. It gives the Lions a true number one corner. He’s better than Darius Slay day one write it down. Detroit flat out stole D’Andre Swift. He’s a premier talent in this draft regardless of position. Julian Okwara in round 3 is a great value. Realistically could wind up being the 2nd best edge rusher in this class. Even the guards. They were smart plays in round 3 and 4.

Green Bay Packers: Grade F

• Round 1, Pick No. 26: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
• Round 2, Pick No. 62: A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
• Round 3, Pick No. 94: Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
• Round 5, Pick No. 175: Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota
• Round 6, Pick No. 192: Jon Runyan, G, Michigan
• Round 6, Pick No. 208: Jake Hanson, C, Oregon
• Round 6, Pick No. 209: Simon Stepaniak, OT, Indiana
• Round 7, Pick No. 236: Vernon Scott, S, TCU
• Round 7, Pick No. 242 (From Ravens): Jonathan Garvin, DE, Miami

This is not the same as when Green Bay had Brett Favre and selected Aaron Rodgers. There is no other way to say it. The Packers Super Bowl window closed today. Aaron Rodgers should be on the trading block today because they can’t win a Super Bowl after this draft.

The Packers went 13-3 last year and went to the NFC title game. They only really lost to San Francisco last year. This is a team that had a chance to blow over the top. They went in the other direction.

Let’s go over the differences.

• Aaron Rodgers was the best quarterback in the 2005 NFL Draft. Jordan Love is at best the 3rd best and he’s the 6th best on my list.
• Green Bay never had to trade up for Rodgers. The Packers moved up for Love giving up an extra pick.
• Quarterback contracts were different. Rodgers slipped because teams didn’t want to gamble on an extra big money contract that was mostly guaranteed. Love slipped because he’s not that good and is a project at best.

Love needed to go to a place where he would sit and learn. That’s the good part in this. Still, Love has a long way to go and is far from a win now move which is what Green Bay needed.

The rest of their picks made little sense. AJ Dillon in round 2? Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams is more than fine as a one two punch. Now what’s your plan? I like Josiah Deguara. I hate it in the third round especially when some interesting fliers didn’t get drafted. The only pick I liked was Jon Runyan. That’s it.

Minnesota Vikings: Grade C+

• Round 1, Pick No. 22: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
• Round 1, Pick No. 31: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
• Round 2, Pick No. 58: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
• Round 3, Pick No. 89: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
• Round 4, Pick No. 117: D.J. Wonnum, SE, South Carolina
• Round 4, Pick No. 130: James Lynch, DT, Baylor
• Round 4, Pick No. 132: Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
• Round 5, Pick No. 169: Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
• Round 5, Pick No. 176: K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami
• Round 6, Pick No. 203: Blake Brandel, OT, Oregon State
• Round 6, Pick No. 205: Josh Metellus, S, Michigan
• Round 7, Pick No. 225 Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State
• Round 7, Pick No. 244: Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
• Round 7, Pick No. 249: Brian Cole II, S, Mississippi State
• Round 7, Pick No. 253: Kyle Hinton, G, Washburn

The Vikings made a lot of picks. I’m not sure they got a lot of good players. Some picks I liked. Justin Jefferson coming in to replace Stefon Diggs was smart. It’s a lot better than some of these other reaches that went on in the latter half of the first round. I’m not entirely sure what to make on Jeff Gladney. I like it a lot better when you’re able to move down and pick up extra picks. Cameron Dantzler in round 3 is a great pick up. If he runs faster he may go in round one.

2020 NFL Draft Grades: NFC East

The rest of the draft just felt like taking swings. Let’s try to find the next Danielle Hunter with James Lynch and DJ Wonnum. Does it work? Probably not. Just felt like a lot of depth in general here for a team that already had a good roster. I could see them cutting 4 guys from this class. That’s a failure.

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