Filled with young and ascending teams, the NFC North is one of the most intriguing divisions in the league. Heading into the draft, there’s one perfect fit for each NFC North team.
One Perfect Draft Fit For Each NFC North Team
Chicago Bears
Jalen McMillan – WR Washington
Caleb Williams is a near-lock to be the next quarterback of the Bears. The depth chart at receiver in Chicago is solid but could use improvement. Adding Keenan Allen was savvy, but the team could move on from him after this season. D.J. Moore has proved to be a valuable asset but could use help. McMillan projects as a high-end slot player, which the Bears could use after moving on from Darnell Mooney. Injuries shortened his 2023 season at Washington, but McMillan made an impact for the Huskies as a deep threat. Williams possesses a strong arm like Michael Penix Jr., which could create big-play opportunities for McMillan in Chicago. Given their lack of picks, the Bears could land McMillan if they swing a trade early in the draft and acquire extra capital.
Detroit Lions
Keon Coleman – WR Florida State
For a team that finished with the league’s second-best passing offense (per ESPN stats), drafting a wide receiver early might seem like a reach. The Lions, however, stuck to their board in the 2023 NFL Draft and went with players that many thought were reaches at the time. So far, that philosophy has paid off for Detroit. Coleman enters the draft as a fringe first-round pick. His days at FSU were highlighted by jump balls and downfield shots by Jordan Travis. Although his 40-yard dash time might knock him down boards, Coleman has all the tools to be successful in the NFL. He uses his frame well to box out defenders and can make acrobatic catches. Detroit could use their first-round pick on Coleman. There is also a chance that the Lions trade back if a team calls looking for a quarterback at the end of round one. Detroit has other needs, but Coleman fits the offense and could take it to another level.
Green Bay Packers
Cooper DeJean – DB Iowa
With 11 picks in the draft, the Packers have ammunition to move up. They will likely need to be aggressive to land a talent like DeJean. The organization has had luck drafting defensive players out of Iowa, and the school has a strong track record of developing them into quality NFL players. With elite ball skills and athleticism to play different positions in the secondary, DeJean has serious sleeper potential in the draft. The Packers could use a player like DeJean to hold down the slot corner position but could also play him at safety in different packages. This fit is perfect for the Packers and DeJean and would make for one of the top draft fits in the NFC North.
Minnesota Vikings
Michael Penix Jr. – QB Washington
The Vikings enter the 2024 NFL Draft with plenty of flexibility. After acquiring an additional first-round pick, the consensus around the league is that Minnesota will trade up for their guy. Nothing guarantees this will happen, though. The Vikings have other needs along their roster and could use pick number 11 on a cornerback like Terion Arnold or Quinyon Mitchell. With the 23rd pick, Minnesota could be in a prime spot to land Penix. As the draft draws closer, the buzz on Penix is growing. Penix could develop under Kevin O’Connell and learn from Sam Darnold in this situation. If the Vikings needed Penix in a pinch, he could play in 2024. But with a year to sit and learn, the sky could be the ceiling for Penix.
