The Detroit Lions came out of the 2026 NFL Draft with a class viewed favorably by most. Check out our analysis and draft grades if you missed them. While the Lions have their own group of new blood to be excited about, the other teams in the division have also added several talented players. Since the Lions square off against the Packers, Bears, and Vikings twice a year, draft picks of those teams are of utmost importance to the Lions. Any of those players developing into stars could throw a wrench into Detroit’s hopes of finally reaching the Super Bowl. With that in mind, here are the rival NFC North 2026 Draft picks who could be big problems for the Detroit Lions:
Rival NFC North 2026 Draft Picks Who Could Be Big Problems For The Detroit Lions
Any of the prospects taken by the Lions’ three divisional nemeses can end up becoming NFL superstars. However, a few whose names were called by the Packers, Bears, and Vikings instantly stood out as cause for concern. It was inevitable that each of the Lions’ sworn enemies would wind up with excellent players. Unfortunately for Detroit, a few really jumped off the page. Here are the creme of the crop of the rival NFC North teams’ draft classes:
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears, after experiencing a huge resurgence in their first year under Ben Johnson, drafted an impressive class. Like Detroit, the Bears added seven new players, many of whom would have looked great as Lions. The ones who could be the biggest problems for the Detroit Lions are:
Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon
With their first pick, 25th overall, the Chicago Bears selected Dillon Thieneman. The Oregon safety put on a phenomenal showing at the Combine in February and has the talent to become a superstar.
Squaring off against Thieneman twice every year will be no easy task for the Detroit Lions. Thieneman is a dynamic playmaker and also a turnover machine. Jared Goff will need to be aware of where Thieneman is on the field at all times. The Lions passed on Thieneman to select OT Blake Miller in the first round. Although Miller was an excellent choice, the Lions may rue the day they allowed Thieneman to drop to a division rival.
Jordan van den Berg, DT, Georgia Tech
The Bears traded up in the sixth round to select Georgia Tech DT Jordan van den Berg, who has almost unlimited ceiling. An athletic marvel, I had van den Berg mocked to the Lions a round earlier. The Lions ultimately went in a different direction, taking DT Skyler Gill-Howard five spots ahead of van den Berg. If the former Yellow Jacket reaches his enormously high potential, it could have dire consequences for the Lions.
Aside from Thieneman and van den Berg, Stanford TE Sam Roush can also be a difference maker for the Bears. Roush was one of my top targets for the Lions throughout the buildup to the draft, though I think the Bears picked him very early. Projected to go in rounds four or five, Chicago took Roush at pick 69.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings walked out of the 2026 NFL Draft with eight new faces. Like the Bears, a couple of Minnesota’s selections could be big problems for the Detroit Lions.
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati
In the middle of the second round, the Vikings made their best selection, taking Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday. Golday, whom I listed as one of the top available targets for Detroit in round 2, is an incredibly productive linebacker. Compared to Lions’ star LB Jack Campbell, Golday was one of the most NFL-ready prospects in the entire draft.
Golday should start immediately and be a difference maker for the Vikings. If he even comes close to becoming as good as Campbell, Golday will be a massive problem for the Detroit Lions. I loved the Lions’ pick of Derrick Moore in the second round. Watching Jake Golday being picked by the Vikings, though, was a gut punch.
Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F Austin
Another player I hoped would wind up on the Lions, the Vikings drafted Charles Demmings with pick 163 in the fifth round. Demmings is an incredibly gifted cornerback with supremely high athleticism. At the Combine, Demmings combined his 4.41 speed with an explosive 42-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump.
Demmings will begin his career in Minnesota behind Byron Murphy Jr, Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre on the depth chart. However, Demmings is a good bet to develop into a pivotal member of Minnesota’s defense. Demmings has the potential to be a thorn in the Detroit Lions’ side for a long time.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers only made six total selections during the 2026 NFL Draft (and one was a kicker). One, specifically, could be a problem for the Detroit Lions.
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
The Packers, due to their trade for Micah Parsons, were without a first-round pick in 2026. Though they had to wait until round 2 to make a selection, they got a first-round talent in CB Brandon Cisse.
Cornerback was arguably the Packers’ biggest need. Landing Cisse at pick 52 was a blessing for Green Bay. Cisse, out of South Carolina, provides the Packers with much-needed size, length, and speed at outside corner. Though Cisse’s production in college didn’t quite match his physical traits, he could become a dynamic defender in the NFL. If Cisse develops into the player he can be, he will be a nightmarish problem for the Detroit Lions.
Now that the NFL Draft is over, we are one step closer to the start of the 2026 season. While the Lions should be very pleased with their own draft haul, their three top rivals all came away with very talented players of their own. All the new NFC North players listed above can become big problems for the Detroit Lions.
