The 2024 NFL Draft is complete, and teams are now looking to get their draft picks, undrafted players and tryout players on the field for rookie minicamps across the league before they join the veterans for OTAs. The four teams in the NFC North certainly believe they are better today than they were early last week thanks to the new infusion of young talent via this year's draft.
Now that the dust has settled on the draft, let's take a look at who Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota and Chicago added to their roster and how it might impact the division moving forward:
DETROIT
Draft picks: Rd 1 – CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama), Rd 2 – CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri), Rd 4 – OL Giovanni Manu (British Columbia), Rd 4 – RB Sione Vaki (Utah), Rd 6 – DL Mekhi Wingo (LSU), Rd 6 – OL Christian Mahogany (Boston College)
Most impactful pick: Lions general manager Brad Holmes was shocked Arnold fell to the mid 20s where he had an opportunity to trade up with Dallas to take him at No. 24. Holmes said Arnold was the No. 1 cornerback on his board and there was a drop between him and the next corner, who coincidentally ended up being Detroit's second-round pick, Rakestraw.
There's going to be a ton of competition at the cornerback spot in Detroit, and Arnold has a shot to earn the No. 2 spot on the outside opposite veteran Carlton Davis, who the Lions traded for this offseason.
Sleeper pick: Vaki was brought in as a running back even though he played safety at Utah as well. Holmes said he was really impressed by the way Vaki ran and caught the football despite the limited reps there. Where I think he could have an immediate impact is on special teams. He could be a core special teamer right away and in the competition to return kicks Day 1.
Twentyman: Holmes was aggressive moving up in this draft to get players who were at the top of his board, starting with Arnold and Rakestraw. On Day 3 he addressed depth needs along both lines, which was important.
Overall, it's a draft class with a lot of versatility and position flexibility, which is going to benefit a lot of these players and allow them to get on the field early.
GREEN BAY
Draft picks: Rd 1 – OL Jordan Morgan (Arizona), Rd 2 – LB Edgerrin Cooper (Texas A&M), Rd 2 – S Javon Bullard (Georgia), Rd 3 – RB MarShawn Lloyd (USC), Rd 3 – LB Ty'Ron Hopper (Missouri), Rd 4 – S Evan Williams (Oregon), Rd 5 – DL Jacob Monk (Duke), Rd 5 – S Kitan Oladapo (Oregon State), Rd 6 – OL Travis Glover (Georgia State), Rd 7 – QB Michael Pratt (Tulane), Rd 7 – CB Kalen King (Penn State)
Most impactful pick: Mike Pettine and Joe Barry both ran a form of a 3-4 defense. With the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley the new scheme in Green Bay is a 4-3. That means they needed off-ball linebackers, and Cooper was thought by some draft analysts to be the best in the class.
Cooper played the WILL for a Top 10 defense at Texas A&M and is a long, rangy linebacker with terrific speed and cover ability. He has a chance to make an early impact.
Sleeper pick: The Packers traded up 15 spots in the fourth round to take Williams and surrendered a sixth-round pick to the Jets in the swap. He's a player who's always around the football and is a good blitzer, racking up 4.5 sacks, tied for the second most among all DBs in the FBS. The Packers drafted Bullard in the second round, but don't be surprised if Williams sees the field early as well.
Twentyman: Going in we knew the Packers were going to address the defense pretty heavily with the new scheme change. They added players to their biggest needs at both linebacker and safety.
It's not a draft with a lot of eye-popping names, but there are some good players who have a chance to see the field early, especially on defense.
MINNESOTA
Draft picks: Rd 1 – QB J.J. McCarthy (Michigan), Rd 1 – EDGE Dallas Turner (Alabama), Rd 4 – CB Khyree Jackson (Oregon), Rd 6 – T Walter Rouse (Oklahoma), Rd 6 – K Will Reichard (Alabama), Rd 7 – OL Michael Jurgens (Wake Forest), Rd 7 – DL Levi Drake Rodriguez (Texas A&M)
Most impactful pick: It will be interesting to see if McCarthy can take over the offense Day 1, or if head coach Kevin O'Connell will bring him along slowly and allow him to sit back and learn under veteran Sam Darnold.
What is known is Turner should have an immediate impact on the edge of the Vikings' defense, especially with Danielle Hunter no longer in the mix. Minnesota got arguably the top edge rusher in the class at No. 17, and they expect him to have an immediate impact.
Sleeper pick: Last season, Reichard made 22-of-25 (88 percent) field goals, including a 5-for-5 showing from 50-plus yards and a long of 52. He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year. He was the best kicker in the draft, in my opinion, and has a chance to be a really consistent kicker in this league for a long time.
Twentyman: I really loved the Turner pick. I thought he was the best pass rusher in the draft and to get him at No. 17 was a gift. This class will ultimately be graded on the success of McCarthy, their first pick and No. 10 overall pick.
I like what the Vikings did in the later rounds bolstering both lines and getting Reichard. Jackson was also a sneaky good pick in the fourth round. He's a player with a really high ceiling at 6-foot-3 with only one year of starting experience under his belt.
CHICAGO
Draft picks: Rd 1 – QB Caleb Williams (USC), Rd 1 – WR Rome Odunze (Washington), Rd 3 – T Kiran Amegadjie (Yale), Rd 4 – P Tory Taylor (Iowa), Rd 5 – DL Austin Booker (Kansas)
Most impactful pick: Look no further than the No. 1 pick in the draft. Williams is expected to come in and start Day 1 for the Bears. Chicago is hoping he can have the kind of impact C.J. Stroud had in Houston, winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and guiding to the Texans to a playoff win in his first year.
Sleeper pick: The Bears didn't have a lot of draft capital. I think Booker is an interesting prospect at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds. He had 56 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in 12 games last season. His 8.0 sacks were the most by a Jayhawk in a single season since 2016. Montez Sweat gets a lot of attention on the other side which could allow a lot of one-on-one matchups and opportunities to make plays.
Twentyman: I like what the Bears did at the top of the draft with Williams and Odunze. The Bears have put Williams in a nice position to succeed with arguably one of the top receiving trios heading into the season in D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Odunze. They also have a reliable tight end in Cole Kmet and a veteran running back who can be a weapon in the passing game in D'Andre Swift.
