Chicago Bears
Fans in Chicago are never happy when the Bears aren't winning. following a 5-11 season, the Bears made some big changes. Head Coach Marc Trestman was replaced with John Fox, star receiver Brandon Marshall was traded to the New York Jets, and veteran corner Charles Tillman left for Carolina. They did make some additions, bring in Ray McDonald, and later releasing him after yet more off field issues. They also brought in veterans Pernell McPhee, Antrel Rolle and Eddie Royal. Even with these additions, the Bears had a lot of holes in their depth chart. The 2015 Draft had to be a good one for Chicago, and I believe they hit a home run.
Best Pick- Eddie Goldman (DT, Florida State)
Chicago has had a huge hole on the defensive line for some time, and finally addressed it with Goldman. Goldman was seen by many as a sure shot first-round pick, but with very few defensive tackles taken in the first round, he slipped to Chicago at pick 39. Goldman will likely be a starter right out of the gate, replacing Stephen Paea. Goldman is a great player who can contribute in both the running and passing games. He is a big bodied tackle, but has a lot of athleticism. The only knock on his game is his inability to stay on the field, so with work on his endurance, he could be a potential Pro-Bowler.
Underrated Pick- Hroniss Grasu (C, Oregon)
Grasu is a special player. He doesn't have overwhelming power, but finds ways to move bigger players around. His knowledge of the game makes him a good fit for any offense, which will help him get playing time in Chicago. Even though he doesn't do many things that jump out on film, he doesn't do anything that turns you off on him. He is a solid player that should be a career starter in the NFL.
Final Thoughts
The Bears had so many things they needed to address that it could have been easy to mess this draft up. Chicago played all their cards right and wound up as huge winners. Kevin White will slide right into the gap left by Brandon Marshall and has tremendous upside. Goldman and Grasu will surely be key contributors for the Bears, and running back Jeremy Langford will be the likely successor to Matt Forte's spot. There may be some other spots that Chicago needs to fill, but the players they brought in with this draft class will surely be the start of a good young core that the Bears will rely on in upcoming seasons.
Minnesota Vikings
Considering that Minnesota played an entire season while superstar Adrian Peterson was suspended for violating the leagues personal conduct policy, the Vikings had a pretty successful season. They watched as Teddy Bridgewater emerged as the best quarterback from the 2014 class, and found a hidden gem in Charles Johnson. The defense seems to be on the rise, and adding on some key players will be crucial to keep the Vikings in contention with the rest of the NFC North.
Best Pick- Erick Kendricks (LB, UCLA)
It will be interesting to see how the Vikings utilize Kendricks, since he is versatile enough to play both inside and outside linebacker. Putting him inside would give them an athletic run-stopper with the ability to drop in coverage and lock on to tight ends and backs. Sliding him outside would pair him with second year player Anthony Barr, who blossomed in Mike Zimmer's scheme. My guess in Kendricks slides inside, allowing Barr and Chad Greenway to play outside, and fully utilize their talented linebacking corps. Kendricks was my highest rated inside linebacker, and should be a major force in the NFL for years to come.
Underrated Pick- TJ Clemmings (OL, Pittsburgh)
Clemmings came into the draft with a first-round grade and talent. The slide into the third round was due to injury concerns, but if healthy he can be a great asset to Minnesota. He will likely play right tackle, although he may not see the field this year. The eventual pairing with left tackle Matt Khalil could wind up be the best duo in the league, and will be lethal when considering they'll be blocking for Adrian Peterson. Clemmings is very athletic for his size, and moves his feet well. He is a mauler in the run game and shows the tools needed to be a viable pass blocker.
Final Thoughts
Minnesota wound up with ten picks in the 2015 Draft. They didn't let many of them go to waste. Trae Waynes is a perfect fit for Zimmer's defense, and excels in man-to-man press coverage. Danielle Hunter may be my favorite mid-round selection, and is very underrated. Kendricks comes in as a day-one starter, and Clemmings will likely fill the spot of Phil Loadholt who is on a one-year deal. Stefon Diggs is an interesting pick, since the Vikings already have such a talented group of receivers, but Diggs should be able to learn the offense from the sideline, and eventually contribute to a young, talented offense. I don't think the Vikings are getting as much credit as they should for their haul in the draft, and many analysts will be kicking themselves for it.
Green Bay Packers
The NFC North divisional winners finished their season in an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, a loss that will surely sting for a while. The Packers have one of the most talented rosters in the league, and will remain competitive as long as they keep it that way. The 2015 draft wasn't necessarily a great one for the Packers, but they took some chances that could pay off huge.
Best Pick- Brett Hundley (QB, UCLA)
I don't think we need to talk about what happened the last time the Packers drafted a quarterback while they had an elite talent at the position. Hundley was way higher on my board than most analysts, mainly because I never agree with quarterback scouting. Hundley will likely be compared to Russell Wilson because of the similarities in play style and draft proximity, but I think that learning under Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers might help him eventually become a better passer. I always remind people that if Hundley had declared for the 2014 NFL Draft, the likely would have been a first round selection. Green Bay could be developing the next great quarterback, and successor to the Rodgers throne.
Underrated Pick- Quenten Rollins (CB, Miami OH)
Rollins is a pure athlete who only played one year of college football. A four year basketball player for Miami of Ohio, he had a year of eligibility which he rolled into football. He is a very smooth player who uses his basketball background to his advantage. He is quick in and out of his breaks and attacks the ball at it highest point. He is going to have to be coached up in the NFL, but if he learns the game, he will be a great corner. Taking this gamble on Rollins early could be a boom-or-bust pick, but you can't deny Rollins' athletic ability.
Final Thought
Green Bay took some chances in this draft. The payoff could be huge, but if these prospects don't pan out in the NFL, the Packers could miss a step later on down the road. At first glance, I didn't like the first round selection of Damarious Randall, but he is a versatile player that can play safety, corner or nickel linebacker. Quenten Rollins, Brett Hundley and outside linebacker Jake Ryan were all solid college players, but need some time to be judged at the pro-level. We are going to look back at this class in five years and either think "Man, I wasn't high enough on these guys." or "I was spot on when I said this class wasn't that good.".
Detroit Lions
The Lions didn't exactly live up to expectations last season. What could have been a deep run with a talented roster, turned into a flop of a season. This inevitably led to a number of key players departing in the offseason. Defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley both left Detroit, as well as oft injured running back Reggie Bush. With key players still in place, the Lions looked to the draft to keep themselves afloat in the NFC North.
Best Pick- Ameer Abdullah (RB, Nebraska)
Abdullah was one of the running backs that the casual fan may not have known about since there was so much hype surrounding first-round selections Melvin Gordon and Todd Gurley. Abdullah can be a game changer, although he may not be an every down back. He has great hands, and shows good speed and acceleration in and out of cuts. Pairing him with Joique Bell could lead to a nice one-two punch for Detroit.
Underrated Pick- Gabe Wright (DT, Auburn)
Wright wasn't as productive in his last year of college as he was in others, but he does bring a skill set that could be valuable in the NFL. Replacing Suh and Fairley is impossible, but grabbing Wright when Detroit did was a smart move. He is a monster run-stopper and is quick to react to plays which will help him stay in the backfield during the length of a game. He has some tools in place to be a productive pass-rushing tackle as well. Detroit might have found themselves a solid starter, at a time when they needed to address a hole in their roster.
Final Thoughts
It wasn't a flashy draft for the Lions, but they gained some valuable players. Abdullah will assume the role that Reggie Bush vacated as the third-down back, unless Theo Riddick can show the team he can be trusted come game day. Wright will be part of a rotation that features Haloti Ngata, whom Detroit acquired via a trade with the Ravens. Guard Laken Tomlinson is a mauler inside, and will definitely be a starter out of the gates. I would have liked to see the Lions address their weak secondary a little better, since Alex Carter and Quandre Diggs leave much to be desired. I do like a majority of the pick made by Detroit, but I don't see it being enough to get them over the hump and into the playoffs.
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