2023 NFL Draft grades: Biggest winners and losers
2023 NFL Draft Grades – NFC North
Chicago Bears
The trade back from No. 1 with Carolina netted Chicago WR D.J. Moore and a bunch of draft picks, which GM Ryan Poles utilized well.
Getting Darnell Wright at No. 9 adds a key lineman to protect Justin Fields while a litany of Day 2 picks were able to address holes on the leaky defense.
This was an excellent start for Chicago, which can hope to make a big leap forward in 2023 thanks to the depth of this group.
Grade: B+
Detroit Lions
The Lions had two of the most confusing picks of Round 1 when they took a running back and an off-ball linebacker instead of investing in more premium positions. While the prospects they took were intriguing, Detroit emphasized positions that have become less important in the modern NFL as Dan Campbell looks to take the Lions back to 1993 football.
Getting Hendon Hooker in the third round was a good developmental project at quarterback in case Jared Goff regresses but this class was a wasted opportunity for the Lions to fully capitalize on their prime draft picks.
Grade: C-
Green Bay Packers
The post-Aaron Rodgers era begins with a ton of draft picks for Packers’ GM Brian Gutekunst, who added 13 players to his roster to improve the supporting cast around Jordan Love.
Lukas Van Ness should be a help in the pass rushing department right now while Rodgers is undoubtedly bothered that Green Bay took a tight end and wide receiver in Round 2 after ignoring his requests for help for years. There is a ton of upside in this class and the Packers should get an extra first-rounder next year as well if Rodgers simply stays healthy in New York, making this a massive win.
Grade: A
Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Addison should be a seamless fit opposite Justin Jefferson as the Vikings’ No. 2 receiver but it is fair to wonder if they should have made improving their secondary a bigger priority.
Mekhi Blackmon and Jay Ward should help the defense, along with fifth-rounder Jaquelin Roy, but using a Round 1 pick there would have made more sense.
It is also worth questioning whether the Vikings should have looked at Levis or Hooker with Kirk Cousins’ deal nearing its end but this class was good, not great.
Grade: B