2014 NFL Draft Grades: NFC North

The Green Bay Packers won the NFC North title in 2013, but an injury to Aaron Rodgers and a porous defense nearly cost them the playoffs. The Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions were cost the playoffs because their defenses had even more holes. And the 2012 division champ Minnesota Vikings followed poor play at the quarterback position to the bottom of the standings. All four teams were looking to fill in those holes going into the 2014 NFL Draft. Chicago Bears: B Best Pick: Kyle Fuller Late Round Sleeper: Brock Vereen The Bears picked Fuller in the first round to get younger and more physical, and they will accomplish just that. Their next two picks addressed a run defense that was less than stellar when the Bears selected Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton. ka'Deem Carey looks to give Matt Forte a break in the run game. A late round sleeper could be Vereen, who has the physical build to move into the secondary and make an impact for Chicago. Detroit Lions: B- Best Pick: Eric Ebron Late Round Sleeper: Caruan Reid Detroit had holes in the offensive line and the secondary to address, but passing up on the talented tight end Ebron was too big of a temptation. Ebron can clear out the middle of the field and is a match up nightmare for linebackers and safeties. Kyle Van Noy will add an extra dimension to the pass rush from the linebacker position. Third Round pick Travis Swanson could eventually move into the starting center position. Reid will add depth to the defensive line and could become a starter if the Lions eventually part ways with Ndamukong Suh. Green Bay Packers: B+ Best Pick: Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Late Round Sleeper: Jared Abbrederis The Packers addressed a glaring hole on defense with the selection of Clinton-Dix in Round 1 to play safety. Green Bay then selected another target for Rodgers with the pick of Davante Adams in Round 2. Khyri Thornton gives the defensive line depth and a tough player who will mix it up in the middle. While Adams can stretch the field, late round sleeper Abbrederis looks to be a sure handed slots receiver for the Green Bay offense. Minnesota Vikings: A+ Best Pick: Teddy Bridgewater Late Round Sleeper: David Yankey I've made my feelings known about Bridgewater, and I still feel he will be the best quarterback of this years draft class. He will get a chance to learn the offense while Matt Cassel holds the fort, but I believe that Bridgewater will be starting by the end of the upcoming season. Anthony Barr was selected #9 Overall, and I see the talented, physically gifted linebacker thriving in new Head Coach Mike Zimmer's defense much the same way that Vontaze Burfict has in Cincinnati for Zimmer there. Scott Cricthon was a first round talent that slipped to the third round, and he can add depth to the pass rush. A late round sleeper is more of a shocker that David Yankey lasted until Round 5. He was projected by many as a late first round-early second round pick, and along with undrafted offensive tackle Antonio Richardson, will beef up the Vikings defensive line for years.

TMG DraftZone 2013 NFL Draft Grades: NFC North

The Green Bay Packers followed up their 15-1 regular season record in 2011 with another division title, but the Vikings, Bears and Lions are all making moves to put them on top this coming season. With Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have the best quarterback in the league and they appear to have added that missing dimension with the selection of both Eddie Lacy and Jonathon Franklin to carry the ball. Chicago has a history of problems protecting Jay Cutler, and they made the earliest reach in Round 1 by going after Kyle Long, a guard from Oregon. Many saw Long as a mid-second rounder, but the top flight offensive lineman already gone, the Bears had to make the move on Long. The Detroit Lions fell apart in 2012, following up a playoff appearance the previous year with a 4-12 season. The defense was offensive, and the pass rush got an upgrade with the selection of potentially the most talented pass rusher in Ezekiel Ansah. Ansah is a very raw player, but he has all the physical skills to put the heat on quarterbacks. The biggest surprise in 2012 was the rise of the Minnesota Vikings from a 3-13 team to the playoffs. Adrian Peterson nearly broke the single season rushing record, and he along with quarterback Christian Ponder must love the fact that Matt Kalil is manning the left side of the offensive line. The Vikings traded Percy Harvin to get a second pick in Round 1, then traded up again to get a third. The additions of Sharrif Floyd, Xavier Rhodes and Cordarrelle Patterson will strengthen both sides of the ball in Minnesota. So here are the TMG DraftZone NFL Draft Grades for 2013 for the NFC North, with key selections and sleeper picks: Chicago: B- Jon Bostic (LB) Jordan Mills (T) The Bears need a replacement for Brian Urlacher, and it looks like they found their guy in Bostic. The second round pick should team with third rounder Khaseem Greene to anchor the Bears linebacker corps for a long time. If Long does not pan out as a first round pick should, it will taint this draft in Chicago for years. With the struggles the offensive line has had, Mills might get a chance to play sooner than later. Detroit: B+ Darius Slay (CB) Theo Reddick (RB) Detroit passed on Dee Milliner to anchor the corner on defense, and the pick of Slay puts a lot of pressure on the second rounder. But Slay appears to have all the tools to be a star, and lucky for him he doesn't have to cover Calvin Johnson twice a year, only in practice. Larry Warford should add depth to the offensive line, and keeping Matthew Stafford upright and healthy is a priority for the Lions. But what Detriot needs is a running game, and Reddick could be next runner up to fill the void. Green Bay: A- David Bakhtiari (OT) Jonathon Franklin (RB) With the pick of Datone Jones in Round 1, Green Bay shores up the defensive line as a 3-4 end. If Jones can get pressure on the quarterback and draw double teams, it frees up Nick Perry and Clay Matthews to get into the backfield. Bakhtiari can be counted on to protect Rodgers and to open holes for the new dynamic duo in the backfield. Lacy is the higher profile pick, but he is more of a downhill runner. Franklin can add to the passing game coming out of the backfield and will be a good change of pace doubled with Lacy. Minnesota: A- Cordarrelle Patterson (WR) Jeff Baca (G) Floys falling all the way to #23 was a big surprise, and he will anchor the defensive line for a long time. Rhodes is a big, physical corner who can match up with Megatron and Brandon Marshall four times a year. But Patterson needs to work on the mechanics of the wide receiver position, and it will help to have Greg Jennings on the other side. If Patterson pans out, he will stretch the field, and open up the middle for Jennings, Kyle Rudolph and the running game even more for Peterson. Baca can help protect Ponder and open up holes in the running game.

NFC North Draft Grades: Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers made the NFC Playoffs as a 6th seed, and made it because of a loss by the Giants to Philadelphia on a punt return and by a Tampa Bay loss at home late in the season to Detroit. But once they got in, they showed just how well they played during the 2010 NFL season. They rode the hot hand of Aaron Rodgers and the aggressive defensive play of Clay Matthews all the way to a Super Bowl victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers have always been very good at the draft, and this year is no exception.

The first round brought Derek Sherrod, the offensive tackle from Mississippi State. Sherrod was seen by some as a mid first round pick, and now the Packers can pair him up with last years first round pick Bryan Bulaga to protect Rodgers for years to come.

Rounds 2 and 3 brought more playmakers for the offense. Randall Cobb is a versatile offensive weapon, who has played quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Alex Green gives the backfield more depth after they were hit hard by injuries last season.

A late round sleeper pick looks to be D.J. Williams, a tight end out of Arkansas selected in Round 5. Williams was the John Mackey Award winner last season as the best collegiate tight end, and Jermichael Finley was injured for much of the stretch drive towards the Super Bowl.

Draft Grade: B+

Super Sunday

It's nearly 3 hours until kickoff, and I already have a visual image on how the Super Bowl will play out at the end.

I can see a 27-27 tie with about 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter. Green Bay will have the ball just short of midfield, and the Steelers defense forces a punt. The kick will be downed inside the 20, and Ben Roethlisberger will take over with a chance to win his 3rd Super Bowl.

Big Ben will lead the Steelers down to the 30 yard line, and with about 30 seconds left the Green Bay defense will hold and force a field goal attempt. On comes Shaun Suisham, the journeyman kicker who played in Dallas on two previous stints, and is returning to the scene of his past football lives.

Suisham comes in, the ball is snapped, the holder fields it clean, the spot is good, and in the equivalent of a bad acid flashback, Suisham hooks it farther left than Nancy Pelosi. Green Bay takes over around the 37 yard line with 25 seconds on the clock.

Aaron Rodgers comes in, and with 2 timeouts left, he quickly moves the ball down to the Pittsburgh 40 yard line. In comes Mason Crosby to attempt a 57 yard field goal to win the Super Bowl.

With the adreneline pumping, Crosby hits the kick of his life. It splits the uprights, with about 15 yards to spare. Green Bay wins Super Bowl XLV 30-27.

Draft Grades: Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are coming off of a playoff appearance in 2009, and their foresight and patience concerning Aaron Rodgers is paying off. But after giving up 51 points to Arizona in their playoff game, and watching Rodgers get up off the turf all season as one defensive player after another made their way through the line for a sack, their draft needs were obvious.

The offensive line was addressed as Bryan Bulaga fell all the way to #23. Many saw Bulaga going as high as #4 or #6, and the Packers got a bruiser to man the left side for a long time. Defense was the pick in the second round and third rounds as Mike Neal and Morgan Burnett were selected, but with two aging corners the Packers did not get any help for that position.

With the problems the offensive line had all season, a sleeper pick looks to be Marshall Newhouse, a tackle out of TCU. At 6'4, 320, he has the physical tools and needs some seasoning. If he develops Green Bay could have bookend tackles to keep Rodgers upright for years to come.

Draft Grade: B