1st Round Projections and Predictions for the Packers Foes

A look at the projections and expectations for the Packers NFC North opponents in the first round of the NFL Draft.

On the eve of the 2018 NFL Draft, one where Packers fans will be watching the first round with hope, anticipation and anxiety, I wanted to wrap back around the NFC North and take a look at the Packers biggest rivals.  Keeping an eye on those in closest competition can help us as fans get insight into how the teams will be looking to build and improve on heading into 2018.

Chicago Bears – GM Ryan Pace and new head coach Matt Nagy enter the draft with a great first round selection at eighth overall.  Having wrapped up their potential quarterback for the future in last year’s head-scratcher of a first-round trade, the Bears are sitting pretty to select a defensive playmaker or one of the top-rated offensive linemen in this year’s draft class.

Looking at mock draft commonalities for the Bears at the eighth overall pick, Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson is a name that keeps coming up.  Protecting young quarterback Mitch Trubisky and setting the tone with their run game will once again be of importance to the Bears, so this is a projection that makes total sense.  Other names commonly linked to the Bears are Tremaine Edmunds, Denzel Ward, Roquan Smith and even Marcus Davenport.

While the Bears will have a number of great players at their disposal when their pick hits the clock on Thursday night, I don’t think GM Ryan Pace can pass up adding the top offensive line prospect in the draft if not selected in the few picks before they are up.

Prediction: Quenton Nelson – Guard – Notre Dame

Detroit Lions – The Lions enter Thursday with the 20th overall selection in the NFL Draft and GM Bob Quinn will likely see where the board falls to try and fill one of the team’s major needs at running back, defensive line, secondary or pass rushing specialist.  With the team holding only six selections in the draft this year, GM Bob Quinn has already stated recently that he’s open to trading back for more picks as well.

With the 20th selection, mock drafts are sending many different players to the Lions to help cover their glaring needs as a team.  Common selections include running back Derrius Guice, guard Will Hernandez, EDGE rusher Marcus Davenport, defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne, defensive tackle Taven Bryan and EDGE rusher Arden Key.

Looking for a difference maker to join the team, I don’t think Quinn will take any offers for the Lions first round pick.  While the needs of the team are plentiful on the defensive side of the ball, any top-ranked running back will be too good of a situation to pass up for the GM.  LeGarrette Blount was signed as a one year plug and play, Theo Riddick lacks big playmaking ability and Ameer Abdullah just isn’t panning out to where the team expected him to be.  

Prediction:  Derrius Guice – Running Back - LSU

Minnesota Vikings – The Minnesota Vikings and GM Rick Spielman enter the 2018 NFL draft with eight total selections and the 30th overall pick on the first night.  With free agent signings at the quarterback and defensive tackle positions, the Vikings brass will focus on improving their offensive line, defensive backfield and offensive skill positions like wide receiver and tight end through the draft.

While picking near the end of the first round is very hard to gauge when looking at mock drafts, the commonality in almost any Vikings mock draft for the first round is at guard.  Isaiah Wynn, Connor Williams and Will Hernandez, three of the top guard prospects in the draft, are common names that come up for the Vikings.  With a need at cornerback as well, Jaire Alexander and Donte Jackson are also projected to the Vikings in some mock drafts.

Knowing that they’ll face the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford each twice every season for the foreseeable future, I think the Vikings shy away from the offensive line prospects early in this draft and focus there later on.  I think that the need for solid defensive backfield play will be too much for Spielman to look past in the first round when they hit the clock with the 30th overall pick.

Prediction:  Donte Jackson – Cornerback - LSU

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Ryan Brunner is an avid Packers fan hailing from Chippewa Falls, WI.  He is a firm believer that punters are NFL players too!  Follow him on Twitter @brunwardo

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Comments (10)

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TKWorldWide's picture

April 25, 2018 at 06:12 am

I’m hoping our NFC North friends all come away with the next Mandarich, Buckley, and Harrell.

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flackcatcher's picture

April 25, 2018 at 07:57 am

Hope springs eternal......

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stockholder's picture

April 25, 2018 at 07:19 am

Bears Edmunds. Lions Landry. Vikings Bryan.

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dobber's picture

April 25, 2018 at 07:36 am

Living in Lions territory, I agree. They won't go RB in round 1, and if either Landry or Davenport is still on the board, they'll run to the podium with that pick.

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Community Guy's picture

April 25, 2018 at 12:31 pm

agree on Lions going D, the Bears could trade back, Vikings likely go best iOL guy.

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dobber's picture

April 25, 2018 at 09:42 am

Spielman's track record for drafting offensive talent in Minnesota mirrors TT's track record of drafting on the defensive side of the ball...it's pretty poor. If there's a reason why Spielman goes defense when he knows he has to have OL, that might be it.

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LambeauPlain's picture

April 25, 2018 at 08:44 am

I hope the Bears, Lions, and Vikings all draft QBs in the first round.

(I didn’t say it was likely, but a fella needs to dream once in awhile.)

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DetroitSUCKS's picture

April 25, 2018 at 09:28 am

Hopefully the Detoilet Lions draft the gargstra Guice immature wanna be mafia , inner city garbage the next Hernandez . How much will he contribute from prison ?

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Royalty Free GM's picture

April 25, 2018 at 10:31 am

This will change their future draft strategies:

GREEN BAY PACKERS will definitely draft WR RIDLEY with their first pick.

Edge is not our biggest need, because we kept overpaid Matthews. When you fire Matthews, then you draft edge.

Cornerback is a need, but CB draft is so deep this year that we can get very good corner(s) at round 2-3.

WR need is a BIG. Gute fired Jordy. WR Ridley goes 12th-16th in most mock drafts, so he will be perfect BPA for Packers. He will be a truly offensive weapon we haven’t had since great #84 Sharpe! Multiple probowls coming. Let’s once make our offense so strong that our opponents have to start drafting against it.

We will see soon, if Brian “TT” Gutekunst follows predecessor’s cowardly steps and keep selecting defense. Maybe he has guts to make this team Superbowl winner by drafting WR with the first pick...

Brian “TT” or “Guts” Gutekunst?

Packers will look so silly in coming years, if they let this rare opportunity to slip away. Otherwise Ridley will demolish Packers in future playoffs (Cardinals or Cowboys).

Make the wisest decision and draft Ridley!
It’s time stop being defensive all the time. It’s time to attack!!

GREEN & GOLD !

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kevgk's picture

April 25, 2018 at 12:58 pm

I like Ridley, but I read he doesn't have the top speed Sutton has. Would be pretty neat though, I agree with everything else you said

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