NFL Draft 2012: NFC North Team Needs

Minnesota Vikings

Offensive Tackle: If Christian Ponder is going to have any chance of enjoying a long and prosperous career, the Vikings will need to find him a franchise-caliber left tackle that will keep Ponder protected and comfortable in the pocket.

Luckily for Minnesota, they will have a chance to draft Matt Kalil out of USC with the third pick in the draft. Kalil is not a masher in the run game, but he is very athletic and smooth and will excel as a pass blocker.

Cornerback: To say that the cornerback situation in the Twin Cities is a mess would be an understatement. Cedric Griffin is out the door, and Asher Allen has been anything but stellar. Perhaps the Vikings would shock the world by taking Morris Claiborne with the third overall pick.

Safety: The Vikings may have the worst safety situation in the NFL. They are in need of two new starters, and with limited options in free agency and a generally weak class in the draft, it will be quite a challenge to solve this need in one offseason.

Green Bay Packers

Outside Linebacker: The Packers had a huge defnsive drop-off last season, particulary against the pass. Outside of Clay Mathews, there is no other dynamic presense that can get to the quarterback on a consistient basis.

Safety: There is a decent chance that Nick Collins will never set foot on a field again. In any case, the Packers must have a contingency plan if they want to stop giving up so many big plays.

Running Back: James Starks is a decent player, but he doesn’t exactly strike fear into a defense. Ryan Grant is a free agent, so adding a compliment to Starks is a spot the Pack could fill in the draft.

Nov 13, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) go face to face during a fight in the second half at Soldier Field. The Bears defeated the Lions 37-13. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Detroit Lions:

Cornerback: The Lions were already weak at the corner position, but after losing the underrated Eric Wright to free agency, cornerback become the biggest need on the team. With a relatively deep class of corners in the draft, the Lions could add one at any point, including round one if the right guy falls.

Offensive Tackle: Jeff Backus is set to return for another season, but he had perhaps his worst season as a pro in 2011 and is clearly on the decline. If someone slips in the first round, getting a long-term replacement at the position before it becomes a bigger problem would go a long way in terms of keeping Matt Stafford upright.

Running Back: The Lions have a lot of options to fill the position, including Jahvid Best and Kevin Smith, but neither of them can be relied upon to stay healthy. They will be getting Mikel LeShoure back from an injury that ended his rookie season before it even started. Detroit needs to decide who is worth keeping on the roster as opposed to adding another body to the mix.

Chicago Bears:

Offensive Tackle: J’Marcus Webb is slated to get another chance to protect Jay Cutler’s blindside, but that is hardly a comforting thought for Bears fans. If they can find good value at the position in the draft, the Bears should pounce on it.

Center: Roberto Garza struggled in his move to center last season. Adding a mid-round talent to provide depth and competition at the position would be beneficial.

Defensive End: This is not necessarily an immediate need for the Bears, as they were able to hang on to Israel Idonije. However, in a division loaded with top-tier quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford, finding another young pass rusher opposite Julius Peppers is a priority, even if they can find someone to just play in a rotational role.

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