NFC North 2021 NFL Draft Grades — Rankings and Reviews for All 4 Teams
Part 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft coverage series.
With the draft grades of the NFC East now in the books, we move on out North and see how each team in the NFC Northern Division did in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The grading system will remain the same and the grading scale for this review will be 1–10 (10 being the best and 1 being the worst). Each Franchise in this article will be ranked from best to worst.
Which team in this division had the best 2021 NFL Draft? Let's find out!
2021 NFL Draft Reviews:
1. Detroit Lions
Draft Picks:
Oregon OT Penei Sewell (7th Overall), Washington DT Levi Onwuzurike (41st Overall), NC State DT Alim McNeill (72nd Overall), Ifeatu Melifonwu (101st Overall), USC WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (112th Overall), Purdue LB Derrick Barnes (113th Overall), Oregon State RB Jermar Jefferson (257th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 9/10
Summary:
When you Draft a player like Penei Sewell, who is expected to be a future Hall of Famer, then you’ve won the Draft. Anything after is just a luxury. The Lions drafted a player who will transform their Offense even as a Rookie. Getting sure-handed Corner Ifeatu Melifonwu in the 3rd Round was a great value pick. He has great awareness in man coverage and has his head turned on time more often than not, which allows him to break up passes.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is a good vertical threat who will have to improve on making people miss and his route running. However, having a strong-armed Quarterback like Jared Goff, who can throw the ball downfield plays to St. Brown’s strengths. The Lions had a great 2021 NFL Draft.
2. Minnesota Vikings
Draft Picks:
Virginia Tech OT Christian Darrisaw (23rd Overall), Texas A&M QB Kellen Mond (66th Overall), UNC LB Chazz Surratt (78th Overall), Ohio State OG Wyatt Davis (86th Overall), Pittsburgh DE Patrick Jones II (90th Overall), Iowa State RB Kene Nwangwu (119th Overall), California CB Camryn Bynum (125th Overall), FSU DE Janarius Robinson (134th Overall), Iowa WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette (157th Overall), Central Missouri TE Zach Davidson (168th Overall), Pittsburgh DT Jaylen Twyman (199th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 8.5/10
Summary:
The Minnesota Vikings were very busy on Draft night. They had 11 Draft picks. That’s a lot of young players who will be coming into training camp. Some will have to settle in on their practice squad. Still, kudos to the Minnesota Vikings scouting department. The real draft is what you’re able to do in the later rounds.
Kellen Mond was a surprise 3rd Round Pick who will push Kirk Cousins. I agree with RG3, if you’re Kirk Cousins, you can’t be too happy about the selection of a young Quarterback early in the Draft.
What Minnesota was able to do on defense was nothing short of impressive. Chazz Surratt, Patrick Jones II, and Jaylen Twyman will all be contributors. Twyman, in particular, will be a huge steal and it wouldn’t surprise me if he became a starter.
3. Chicago Bears
Draft Picks:
Ohio State QB Justin Fields (11th Overall), Oklahoma State OT Teven Jenkins (39th Overall), Missouri OT Larry Borom (151st Overall), Virginia Tech RB Kahlil Herbert (217th Overall), UNC WR Dazz Newsome (221st Overall), Oregon CB Thomas Graham Jr. (228th Overall), BYU DT Khyiris Tonga (250th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 7.5/10
Summary:
Ryan Pace has bet his entire future once again by trading up for a Quarterback as he did in 2017 for Mitch Trubisky. The only pick that matters for the Bears in the immediate future is their 11th Overall Pick, Quarterback Justin Fields. It’s hard to tell when Fields will see the field in his Rookie season or if he’ll be able to beat out Andy Dalton and Nick Foles for the starting job.
If the Bears aren’t able to compete for a playoff spot next season, Head Coach Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace will most likely be gone after the 2021 Season. Outside of Fields, the Bears addressed their Offesenive Line needs and added a sleeper at Receiver in Dazz Newsome.
4. Green Bay Packers
Draft Picks:
Georgia CB Eric Stokes (29th Overall), Ohio State OG Josh Meyers (62nd Overall), Clemson WR Amari Rodgers (85th Overall), Ole Miss OG Royce Newman (142nd Overall), Florida DT Tedarrell Slaton (173rd Overall), Appalachian State CB ShemarJean-Charles (178th Overall), Wisconsin OT Cole Van Lanen (214th Overall), Boston College LB Isaiah McDuffie (220th Overall), Mississippi State RB Kylin Hill (256th Overall)
Overall Draft Grade: 4.5/10
Summary:
The Green Bay Packers are one of if not the biggest losers of the 2021 NFL Draft. The reports from Adam Schefter about Aaron Rodgers not wanting to return to Green Bay are a huge blow to a Franchise that has constantly failed their Legendary Quarterback. The 2021 NFL Draft was no different. They reached for Cornerback Eric Stokes instead of drafting a Wide Receiver and reached for Josh Meyers in the second round.
However, Amari Rodgers was a solid option in the 3rd Round and should be able to slide in as the Packers' third Wide Receiver. Tedarrell Slaton will surprise everyone and develop into a starter, but all in all this draft couldn’t have gone worse for the Packers.
Jeffrey Genao is a Writer and Contributor for Top Level Sports, Basketball University, and Kitchen Tales. You can read more of his Content at Top Level Sports, Basketball University, Kitchen Tales, and the Official Basketball University website https://officialbballuniversity.com/author/jeffrey-genao/.
