2025 NFL Draft Team Needs for the NFC North | Bears, Packers, Vikings & Lions Rookie Targets (Ep. 229) - FantasyPros Dynasty Football Podcast

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome back to the NFL Draft Season Fantasy Pros. Today's
episode the penn Ultimate NFC North Team Needs, part seven
of our eight part series. But before I get to
breaking down the team needs for the NFC North, if
you want a chance to win a signed DeAndre Swift
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(00:23):
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new videos are up and to claim your prize. Let's
not waste any more time, get right into it. Kicking

(00:47):
things off with the Chicago Bears. One of the biggest
needs that the Chicago Bears needed to address this offseason
was improving the offensive line. They got ahead of the
free agency frenzy by acquiring Joe Tuney from the Chiefs
for a twenty twenty six to fourth round pick. This
was the second move they made during the off season
to improve the offensive line, having already acquired Jonah Jackson
from the Rams for a different six round pick. Ex

(01:08):
Falcons senat Drew Dolman also joined Chicago on a three
year deal. They are finally getting the much need to
protection for second year quarterback Caleb Williams, who is one
of the biggest winners after the first week of free agency,
but the offensive lines still might not be complete. Offensive
tackle Braxton Jones entering the last year of his rookie contract,
and he could be upgraded from the offensive line is

(01:29):
complete from an overhaul perspective with three new starters, but
they can still make it even better in the NFL Draft.
Take no chances, in my opinion, if Will Campbell from
LSU is there or another high ranked tackle, just take them.
Potential round two targets include Doavid Jackson from Ohio State,
Tyler Booker from Alabama, or offensive guard from Arizona Jonah Savanaya.

(01:51):
Besides that, though, I think that this pre draft twenty
to thirty five Bears roster looks pretty solid on paper.
Shortly after the Falcons the least defensive tackle, Grady Jarrett,
he signed with the Bears. They also signed defensive vando
O Jingbo in free agency, so bolstering that pass rush
alongside Montes sweat seems like the most sensible move to
make if they go away from doubling down on the

(02:13):
offensive line in Round one. They have the second shortest
betting ons to select a defensive line or edge prospect
with their first overall pick, and that could be Georgia's
edge Keel Williams or Texas A and M's Shamar Stewart
as potential top ten picks. Safety might also be in
under the radar need. Shquin Brisker has concussion history. Brisker
and Kevin Byerd are also in the last years of

(02:35):
their respective deals, as his linebacker TG Edwards is in
the last year of his deal. To go along with
the potential out and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds contract, Texas safety
Andrew Kuba fits the need in the back end. Georgia
linebacker Jaylen Walker might be the perfect fit for them
if he falls to the tenth overall pick. I also
want to make a point. In such a great running

(02:56):
back class, I could see new head coach Ben Johnson
wanting to get his guy. DeAndre Swift has an out
in his contract after the season where he can be
released for a very small dead cap hit. The Bears
are heavy favorites to select a running back with their
first pick, with a popular choice being Boise States Ashton Genty.
If they wait, or if Genti is selected ahead of them,

(03:17):
they could draft someone like Iowa's Caleb Johnson, Arizona's Canascatabo,
for Shark Smith from SMU, or even North Carolina's o
Marion Hampton. The Bears also have two second round picks
at thirty nine and forty one. Next up the Green
Bay Packers. According to ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Packers would
have liked to add a veteran wide receiver to their

(03:38):
roster this offseason. Makes sense, give it the injury to
Christian Watson playing in a contract year and Romeo Dobbs
also playing in the last year of his rookie contract
after dealing with the flurry of concussions in twenty twenty four,
But all the Packers have done so far is add
Mikole Hartman. They're going to draft a wide receiver at
some point, but history suggests it's not going to be

(03:59):
a Round one, especially in a class that lacks premiere
Alpha number one wide receiver prospects. It would be very
ironic for them to finally select the wide receiver in
round one in a lesser class. Just watch them signing
Mary Cooper off the scrap heat. Note that when asked
about the wide receiver room, the Packers head coach and
GM said they were okay with its current form, part
of the course for a team that vomits at the

(04:21):
idea of a true number one wide receiver, although there
are still some options for them in this draft. Isaiah
Bond and Matthew Golden from Texas are two wide receivers
they could consider at various points during the draft, with
Golden being the round one pick who could break the
mold for Green Bay. Maryland's Ted Felton and Ohio States
and meek Egbuka are also alternative options. The Packers also

(04:43):
need an impact making pass rusher. GM Brian Goodigan's has
been very clear with his goal to become better at
pressuring opposing quarterbacks at the scouting combine, the Packers GM
said via Yahoo Sports, we need to affect the quarterback
more in our front four with just four players. I'm
excited about the guy we have in the room. We'll
see if we have to add to it, but that's
going to get better. For going to accomplish the goals

(05:05):
we want to accomplish in this season. As noted by
Lombardy av dot Com, the team fired defensive line coach
Jason Rebrovich at the end of the season, highlighting the
need for change. Demarks Comington was hired as his replacement
after spending twenty seventeen through twentousand twenty four in several
roles with the New England Patriots run stuffer to Darryl
Slayton also left a free agency signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.

(05:28):
Schmar Stewart Texas A and m Michael Williams from Georgia.
James Spears, junior from Tennessee lsu ed rusher Braden Swinson,
and linebacker Todd Campbell all can provide pass rush relief
for the Packers. Old missus Walter Nolan can also provide
relief from the defensive interior. Cornerback Jarrel Alexander. His time
with the Packers seems coval but reached its conclusion. Even

(05:50):
if he comes back to the team, he cannot be
trusted to stay healthy and with multiple depth cornerbacks gone
Eric Stokes, Corey Valentine, Robert Rochelle, the secondary lax reliable depth.
Packers did sign former Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs, but they
still need more. Schevon Ravel from ECU makes sense in
round two at cornerback, along with notre Dames Benjamin Morrison

(06:11):
or old Missus Tree Amos. Round one, if they go
cornerback could be Today Barren from Texas. That's a Pat
Fitzmorris approved selection. Also something to note, Elton Jenkins is
expected to kick inside at center with newcomer Aaron Bnks
filling at guard. So I think the offensive line for
the Packers is in a good spot. But before I
get to the next two teams, guys, we have to

(06:34):
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(06:57):
Fantasypros dot com. Slash simulator. Let's get back to the show.
Bring it back with the Minnesota Vikings. The Sam Donald
JJ McCarthy discourse finally reached its conclusion during free agency.
Minnesota is ready to roll with JJ McCarthy. According to
ESPN's Adam Schefter, after Sam Donald signed with the Seattle Seahawks,

(07:18):
JJ McCarthy is going to start behind a revamped offensive line.
Center Ryan Kelly and offensive guard Will Fries are both
signed during free agency to bolster the offensive interior after
they moved on from underperformers such as Garrett Bradbury, Ed
Ingram and Dalton Riser. The Vikings could also add one
more interior offensive alignment at left guard to complete the
rebuild upfront by US. Caleb Etien or Josh Connery. Ohio

(07:42):
State's Jonathan Jackson produced Marcus bo or Arizona's Jonas Savania
are notable draft options, but they will eventually have to
add somebody else to the quarterback room. JJ McCarthy is
coming off a sears injury, and the other other quarterback
they have on the roster is Brett Rippon. The team
wanted to bring back Aaron Jones, inked him on a
two year deal. To stay with the Minnesota Vikings. Running

(08:03):
Back Jordan Mason will back up Jones. After the Vikings
were able to work out a trade with San Francisco
to acquire the running back, they signed Mason to a
two year deal worth ten point five million dollars. But
given the Vikings lack of draft capital, they only have
four picks in the two inside the top one hundred,
it seems very much like a stretch to see them
drafting a rookie running back before day three. Considering this
as a team needs show, I have to take a

(08:26):
low hanging fruit here. Minnesota probably needs to trade down
at some point in stockpile more picks in this draft.
The Vikings desperately need quarterback depth, give the departures and
Stefan Gilmour Shkill Griffin who are entering free agency. However,
they signed quarterback as a Rodgers in free agency, retain
Byron Murphy on a three year contract extension. They also

(08:46):
signed Jeffakudah and to heavy Year Thomas to one year deals.
But depth I think is still needed given that Makai
Blackman is coming out of toward a cl injury that's
forced him to miss the entire twenty twenty four season
old Miss quarterback Tree Amos, Texas cornerback today Baron or
Ecu Sivo Ravel are potential targets. The Vikings were favored
in the betting market to select the cornerback with their

(09:07):
first pick, but I thought it was a steaky spot
for safety to come off the board when they made
their selection. I bet this when it first came out,
and the odds have since shifted to a tie between
the Vikings going cornerback or safety with their first overall
draft pick. Again, just another reason to be part of
the betting pros discord where we would be notified as
soon as I fire on any bets for the upcoming

(09:30):
NFL Draft. The Vikings lost safety can buy him to
the Colts in free agency, and Harrison Smith isn't getting
any younger. Safety Jovian Tellus is also in the last
year of his contract. I will say that the Vikings
re signing safety Theo Jackson was under the radar move.
He was very solid on a small sample size last season.
Miss upgraded with defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, a two time

(09:52):
Pro Bowler. Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave across the interior defensive line,
but these guys are a bit on the older side,
so an injection of youth and the defensive interior, I
think is still a must. Oregon's defensive tackle Derek Harmon,
Texas A and M defensive tackle Schmart Turner make a
ton of sense as a potential interior fits. Last, but
not least, the Detroit Lions defense lift lines down to

(10:14):
the back half of twenty twenty four. Losing in Hutchinson
was a major blow, and Detroit cannot afford to enter
this year without more pass rush juice. Former Cardinals nose
tackle Roy Lopez was added for a tier depth along
with defensive tackle Leve Onzourique, but they're both on one
year deals. Although the defsive tackle signings were ideal given

(10:36):
how poor they were in between the tackles. Defensively, this
class has a ton of great defensive line edge prospects,
so it's a great problem to have for Detroit. But
this hasn't gotten unnoticed by the majority of the sportsbooks.
With Detroit listed with very high odds to select a
defensive lion sled edge prospect with their first overall pick.
They're some of the highest juiced odds of any team

(10:58):
to position listed among this sports books. Some options include
Texas A and M's Shamar Stewart, Ohio State's Jack Sawyer,
Texas A and M's Nick Scarton, and Aubert's Jaylen McLeod.
But if we want long shots, the Lions have also
showed an interest in Alabama linebacker Johad Campbell, and if
he were to fall due to his shoulder injury, it
would be hard to see Detroit not pulling the trigger

(11:19):
based on him being the best player available. In addition
to the trenches, the secondary needs love and Detroit. The
Lion secondary struggled in twenty twenty four a lot of
the third most passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Austin injured Emmanuel Moseley are gone,
and Amik Robinson is in the final year of his contract.
That did sign DJ Reid, but another quarterback is needed.

(11:41):
Io State cornerback Darian Porter is an interesting option along
with Kentucky's Maxwell Harriston Cordon. To Sports Illustrated, offensive guard
Graham Gaslow's performance also declined in twenty twenty four. He
about thirty six pressures and earned a Pro Football focused
grade of fifty seven point nine, highlighting the need for
an upgrade. Kevin Zeitler also left the team signed with
the Titans in free agency. North Dakota State's Great Zabel

(12:03):
would be an ideal fit along with Arizonas Jonah Savanaya
and Ohio State's Donovan Jackson. Quick recap of the final
NFC North team needs. Chicago Bears edge, safety, linebacker and
running back, Green Bay Packers cornerback, edge, wide receiver and
defensive tackle. Minnesota Vikings cornerback, safety, your tier, offensive line, quarterback,

(12:26):
and defensive tackle. And lastly, Detroit Lions edge, offensive line, cornerback,
and wide receiver. Those are the top team needs for
the NFC North heading into the twenty twenty five NFL Draft.
If you found this helpful, be sure to give it
a like, subscribe and share with all your friends and
let me know in the comments. Do you agree or

(12:47):
disagree with the team needs for the NFC North and
what does your team need to do in the upcoming
NFL Draft. But before you do, you have to check
out the Fantasy Pros Dynasty Rookie draft simulator can run
at full rookie mock draft adjust minutes with no waiting
between picks. Premium users can even test trades using their

(13:07):
actual draft capital, customize your weak settings, crush your rookie,
or startup draft prep now fantasypros dot com Slash simulator.
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(13:29):
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2025 NFL Draft Team Needs for the NFC North | Bears, Packers, Vikings & Lions Rookie Targets (Ep. 229)

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