2022 NFL Draft: NFC North Grades
With the 2022 NFL Draft now over, we grade the picks from each team in the NFC North.
The 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone. An epic weekend in Las Vegas played host to one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent history.
Shocks were aplenty, prospects fell, and dreams came true as all 32 teams tried to bolster their squads with new blood.
The adage is to analyze a draft class in three years. However, the annual churn of NFL squads makes it difficult.
And as soon as Iowa quarterback Brock Purdy was announced as this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, all eyes turned to dissect the draft classes.
Therefore, the immediate aftermath is as good a time to break down the various draft classes around the league. The NFC North is where we start.
Chicago Bears
Draft Class: Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Velus Jones Jr., Braxton Jones, Dominique Robinson, Zachary Thomas, Trestan Ebner, Doug Kramer, Ja’Tyre Carter, Elijah Hicks, and Trenton Gill.
New GM Ryan Poles and his front office sat out on day one due to trading a 2023 first-round pick to the New York Giants for Justin Field’s services last year.
The Bears leaped into action on day two as they drafted three players. First off the board was Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon.
The seventh-ranked cornerback on Pro Football Focus’ big board, Gordon provides positional versatility and agility to the Bears’ defensive backfield.
He can play on the outside and the slot. Gordon’s lateral movement skills and quick feet should get him a rotational role within the Bears’ secondary. With a coverage grade of 87.2 in 2021, Gordon is an intelligent pick.
Ten picks later; Poles doubled down on secondary help as they selected Jaquan Brisker. Brisker is a dynamic, physical safety that will suit Matt Eberflus’ defense.
Brisker has a nose for the ball and should play well as a box safety. The NFL is moving to three-safety formations, and Brisker will find a role on the Bears’ defense.
To close day two, the Bears drafted wideout Velus Jones. The speed demon from Tennessee is raw in his route-running, and he isn’t the strongest. However, he provides game-changing speed to an offense that lacked explosion in 2021.
The final day saw the Bears’ front office beef up their offensive line stocks as they drafted four offensive linemen. Fifth-rounder Braxton Jones is one to watch. The Southern Utah product has the build and power to step up into the NFL.
The Bears padded out their roster on day three as they acquired eight players. They’ll hope that good coaching develops these picks into reliable depth pieces.
Grade – C+
The Bears were in a tricky spot. The lack of a first-round pick impacted them as premier wideouts, and offensive linemen rapidly flew off the board.
It is hard to say the Bears improved offensively. While their defensive additions on day two did strengthen their overall roster, did the Bears use the draft to get better?
Detroit Lions
Draft Class: Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Josh Pascal, Kerby Joseph, James Mitchell, Malcolm Rodriguez, James Houston, and Chase Lucas.
As predicted, the Lions ran the card into the NFL as soon as they heard the Jacksonville Jaguars would draft Travon Walker. GM Brad Holmes wasted no time in phoning Michigan alum, Aidan Hutchinson.
The born-and-bred Michigander played high school football 15 minutes away and was the best defensive end in the 2021 collegiate season.
The Lions got their dream scenario; Hutchinson ranked first on PFF’s overall big board; he was the number-one ranked edge-rusher per Next Gen Stats with a cumulative draft score of 95.
The Lions’ pass-rush finished 30th in win-rate last season. Hutchinson’s addition should help improve that.
Scheduled to pick 32nd in round one, the Lions traded up to 12th overall. A remarkable run of drafted wideouts forced the Lions to move up and select the electric Jameson Williams.
Williams brings a home-run hitting, deep-threat to the Lions’ passing offense. The explosive playmaker adds an X-Factor to Ben Johnson’s offense.
Day two saw the Lions attack their defense as they acquired destructive defensive lineman Josh Pascal and ball-hawking safety Kerby Joseph. Like Hutchinson, Pascal is a powerful athlete with a maniacal work rate.
Pascal can play as a defensive end and on the line’s interior. The three-time captain from Kentucky, a powerful run-clogger, should fortify the Lions’ defensive front.
Kerby Joseph is a safety with a knack for finding the ball. His addition to the backfield was much needed. While his frame may be slight, expect to see Joseph play a lot as a third safety in sub formations.
Lastly, on day three, the Lions kept attacking the defense. Energetic linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez will add some bite, especially in the run game. James Houston and Chase Lucas add competition and depth as the Lions aim to remodel their defense.
Grade – A-
The Lions added six defenders to their roster, and they drafted perhaps the best wide receiver available. Detroit filled needs and recruited high-caliber characters and athletes.
According to GPS data, seven of their drafted players recorded athletic scores above 73. Overall, the Lions did good work.
Green Bay Packers
Draft Class: Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Sean Rhyan, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, Kingsley Enagbare, Tariq Carpenter, Jonathan Ford, Rasheed Walker, Samori Toure.
The first-round board conspired against the Packers as the premier wide receivers went off the board. GM Brian Gutekunst didn’t overcomplicate the draft and chose the best player available.
Linebacker Quay Walker was the pick, and the Packers got an athletic green-dot-wearing linebacker with oodles of potential.
Gutekunst then decided on Walker’s Georgia teammate Devonte Wyatt. He is a monstrous presence with power, leverage, and solid hand skills. These two picks made the Packers’ defense even more potent.
Gutekunst and his team returned to work on day two and finally drafted a receiver. NDSU’s Christian Watson is a fluid mover with plenty of YAC ability. The quick-passing game that lets playmakers into clear space should suit his skills.
That should fit perfectly with Green Bay’s offensive scheme. The Pack then added Romeo Doubs from Nevada. Doubs is a vertical threat, although his route-running isn’t as refined as Watson’s.
Nonetheless, these two players will add some sparkle to the Packers’ passing game.
The Packers also drafted Zach Tom, Kinglsey Enagbare, and Rasheed Walker on day three. They got good value with these picks, especially with Enagbare.
Tom and Walker add depth and have the essential tools to play in a zone-blacking, outside-run offense that loves play-action.
Grade – A
The Packers had a brilliant draft. At the top, they got players ready to play rotational roles with a view to the future. They got their wideouts and created much-needed depth at the back-end of the draft. The Packers continue to go from strength to strength.
Minnesota Vikings
Draft Class: Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, Ed Ingram, Brian Asamoah, Akayleb Evans, Esezi Otomewo, Ty Chandler, Jalen Nailor, Vederian Love, and Nick Muse.
The Minnesota Vikings and new GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded out of 12th overall with in-division rivals the Detroit Lions. The Vikings chose not to draft Kyle Hamilton and moved to pick 32, where they got Lewis Cine.
The national champion from Georgia is a solid athlete with a 9.77 relative athletic score. A reliable deep safety, Cine has the fast-twitch and physicality to play as a downhill tackler in the run game.
While draftniks didn’t project him in the Hamilton sphere, Cine has a lot of similar skills.
The Vikings traded with another in-division rival as the Packers struck a deal on day two. The Vikings moved back and picked up Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth.
Booth is a rangy outside cornerback with quick feet. Minnesota used the extra accrued picks to draft Oklahoma linebacker Brian Asamoah. Asamoah showed well at the Senior Bowl.
His quick feet, good IQ, and snappy hips allow him to track tight ends in coverage, and his heavy-hitting should translate well into the running game.
Ty Chandler and Nick Muse are intriguing day three picks. Kevin O’Connell comes from the McVay/Shanahan tree, where creating a multi-dimensional running game is critical. Muse is a willing blocker that should understand the various zone and stretch concepts O’Connell will use.
Grade – B-
The Vikings acquired some very talented prospects. But, they traded with divisional rivals and could pay the price for it. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shouldn’t have dealt with the Lions and Packers. Those two teams got blue-chip wideouts that could hurt the Vikings.
