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.

Defense Wins Championships

The Seattle Seahawks proved the old adage true tonight in putting a WWE-style smackdown on the Denver Broncos 43-8 to capture the Super Bowl. My prediction of a 3 point Denver win was off just a little (to say the least!), but I'm not sure too many people saw this coming. But I think it is safe to say that the rout was spotted about 12 seconds into the game when a botched snap led to a safety, and it was all downhill from there for Denver. I can't help but think what this win for Seattle will do for the draft stock of defensive players going into the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft. Yes, having a franchise quarterback is important, don't get me wrong, but if you have a defense that can go facemask to facemask with the best in the game and completely shut them down like the Seahawks did then there are going to be a lot of teams rethink their draft plan and who they might take in May. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It was pointed out during the broadcast that the Seahawks defense was built from the back forward, and that is very much against the norm. A front four can get pressure on the quarterback if he doesn't have any one to throw to, and with Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and friends in the secondary, it was nearly impossible all season for opponents of Seattle. Looking at the top draft prospects, I can easily see Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Calvin Pryor, Justin Gilbert, Darqueze Dennard, Jason Varrett and all of the top secondary prospects moving up the draft boards for the next three months. And if I were scouting for an NFL team, I'd take a look at corners that can physically match up with receivers even though they may not have the speed one has usually coveted. If a corner can win the battle off the line of scrimmage, it is easier to keep coverage throughout the play. Who needs catch up speed if you are already blanketing the target. With the season over, I'll start gathering my DSA Player Ranking data and putting out my own mock drafts. This is a time that I always look forward to, the time when hope springs eternal. Until that first bad draft pick for your team makes you yell out 'WHAT THE BLEEP WERE THEY THINKING!!!'