NFL Draft week is here, which means teams are putting the final touches on their draft boards and preparations ahead of the three-day event in Green Bay, beginning with Thursday's first round. This is Brad Holmes' fifth draft as Detroit's general manager, and he'll be looking to continue to add impact players to the Lions' roster this offseason.
The Vikings, Packers and Bears will have their own strategies for finding players that can come in and help right away. Here's a look at where all four teams in the NFC North stand heading into the draft:
STATS COMPARISON
Data is based on the 2024 regular season followed by the rank.
| Team | Total Offense | Total Defense | Rushing Offense | Passing Offense | Rushing Defense | Passing Defense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit (15-2) | 409.5 (2) | 342.4 (20) | 146.4 (6) | 263.2 (2) | 98.4 (5) | 244 (30) |
| Minnesota (14-3) | 346.9 (12) | 335.4 (16) | 109.1 (19) | 237.8 (6) | 93.4 (2) | 242 (28) |
| Green Bay (11-6) | 370.8 (5) | 315.6 (6) | 146.8 (5) | 223.9 (12) | 99.4 (7) | 215.2 (13) |
| Chicago (5-12) | 284.6 (32) | 354.3 (27) | 102 (25) | 181.5 (31) | 136.3 (28) | 217.9 (16) |
DETROIT
2024 finish: 15-2 (division champs)
2025 draft picks: Round 1 (28), Round 2 (60), Round 3 (102), Round 4 (130), Round 6 (196), Round 7 (228), Round 7 (244)
Most impactful 2024 pick: The Lions moved up to take cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th pick in the first round and he was a starter from Day 1. He started 16-of-17 games he played in with opposing quarterbacks completing just 55.6 percent of the passes thrown his way (50-for-90) with four touchdowns allowed. He had some penalty issues early he cleaned up by the second half of the season and is expected to take a big leap forward in Year 2.
Top 3 draft needs: Edge, IOL, S
Twentyman's take: Holmes has done a really nice job over the last four draft cycles building a young core that has Super Bowl aspirations. The Lions don't have a ton of pressing needs but if they can come out of the draft with an edge rusher who can be an early part of the rotation, a guard to push for a starting spot and a receiver and safety to add depth and solidify the spot for the future, it will be a nice weekend for Holmes that really helps this football team.
MINNESOTA
2024 finish: 14-3
2025 draft picks: Round 1 (24), Round 3 (97), Round 5 (139), Round 6 (187)
Most impactful 2024 pick: Only one Vikings rookie played 350 snaps, and it was first-round edge rusher Dallas Turner. He was part of the Vikings' depth at edge rusher and ended up playing in 17 games with no starts and finished tied for fifth on the team with 3.0 sacks.
Top 3 draft needs: CB, OL, DL
Twentyman's take: Minnesota filled a lot of holes in free agency and that means they can focus on building depth and stick to drafting the best players available, which is always the best draft strategy. They don't have a ton of draft capital after giving up a couple picks to move up to select Turner last season. Adding youngsters to pair with veterans along the offensive and defensive lines and at cornerback could make GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's roster stay competitive for years to come.
As the 2025 NFL Draft nears, let's take a look back at Detroit Lions players and their draft experiences.
Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson shakes hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the second pick in the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong )
Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold on the phone while being chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 24th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft at the 2024 NFL football draft Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Detroit. (Doug Benc/AP Images for the NFL)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) holds up his jersey on stage after he is selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the first overall pick during the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre on Thursday, April 28, 2016 in Chicago. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
A Detroit Lions fan, left, who was chosen to be on stage, points to an image of the team's first-round pick Penei Sewell, an offensive lineman from Oregon, on the display on stage at the NFL football draft, Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson stands next to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Detroit Lions as the second pick in the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong )
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 12th pick of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher )
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams walks towards the stage after being selected by the Detroit Lions during the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs meets Detroit Lions Principal Owner and Chair Sheila Hamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell speaks to the media at a press conference at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, and Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on April 28, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Penei Sewell arrives to Allen Park during the 2021 NFL DRAFT - Day 3 (AP Photo)
Penei Sewell arrives to Allen Park during the 2021 NFL DRAFT - Day 3 (AP Photo)
Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, poses with a fan after the Detroit Lions selected Frank Ragnow during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Detroit Lions first-round NFL football draft pick Frank Ragnow addresses the media, Friday, April 27, 2018, in Allen Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) shakes hands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the first pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport on the phone in the green room during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams during a visit to the Detroit Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on April 29, 2022. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold with Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during his visit to the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on April 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold poses being chosen by the Detroit Lions with the 24th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch celebrates after being chosen by the Detroit Lions during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 28, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
GREEN BAY
2024 finish: 11-6
2025 draft picks: Round 1 (23), Round 2 (54), Round 3 (87), Round 4 (124), Round 5 (159), Round 6 (198), Round 7 (237), Round 7 (250)
Most impactful 2024 pick: The Packers got a number of impact performances from rookies, including linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and safeties Javon Bullard and Evan Williams. Cooper was probably the most impactful as the second-round linebacker from Texas A&M became a starter early in the season and finished with 87 tackles, 13 tackles for loss (led team), 3.5 sacks and seven QB hits in 14 games played.
Top 3 draft needs: CB, DL, WR
Twentyman's take: Green Bay was the second-youngest team to ever make the playoffs last season behind only the squad they sent to the playoffs in 2023. It's still a very young roster GM Brian Gutekunst has in Green Bay. The Packers can go a lot of different directions with their first three picks, which are all in the Top 87. Getting a legit No. 1 receiver would certainly excite the crowd that will be gathered around Lambeau Field as Green Bay is the draft's host city this year.
CHICAGO
2024 finish: 5-12
2025 draft picks: Round 1 (10), Round 2 (39), Round 2 (41), Round 3 (72), Round 5 (148), Round 7 (233), Round 7 (240)
Most impactful 2024 pick: 2024 No. 1 overall pick quarterback Caleb Williams. The rookie signal caller had his ups-and-downs but completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,541 yards with 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions despite facing the most pressures of any quarterback in the league last year. If the Bears protect him, there's a chance he takes a huge step forward in his second season.
Top 3 draft needs: RB, LB, DL
Twentyman's take: It's Ben Johnson's first draft as head coach of the Bears after leaving Detroit in the offseason. Chicago has done a great job revamping their offensive line in free agency to better protect Williams, and they have a nice collection of skill positions. One area where the Bears could still use some help is at running back. Can they really solidify their offense heading into the offseason by getting one of the draft's top rushers? If they do, Johnson's offense will be off and running in Chicago.
