Now that all is said and done here is what I think about the NFC North and the 2010 NFL Draft.
The Lions cleaned up. I think the Lions did enough over the three days to move them ahead of the Bears in the division. The Lions got Ndamukong Suh with their first pick and then totally swindled the Vikings later in the first round to grab Javid Best. What the Vikings had in mind we may never know for sure, but it was the kind of decision the Vikings have made for decades and a major reason why they will never win a Super Bowl.
The main reason I think the Lions will surpass the Bears is the Bears simply have nothing. Yeah, I know they have some guy named Peppers, but he is over the hill. With nobody to compliment him, Peppers will be pedestrian at best. On offense the Bears have next to nothing. For the first time in 20 years they might have a QB but the don’t have anything else on offense other than a tight end. They don’t have a running back worth you-know-what and their receivers wouldn’t make most team’s practice squads. Cutler is a prime example of what happens to players who think they are bigger than the team – they get sent to Siberia.
Because of Cutler the Bears didn’t have squat for picks so basically Peppers was their only improvement in the offseason. Chester Taylor is a good role player, but like Forte, not a every down back. The Bears are headed to 4-12 or 6-10 and a fond adieu to Lovie Smith.
The Vikings, like the Packers, drafted according to their status, not many holes to fill so take the best player available. Giving up a first-round pick to the Lions and then moving up later to take Toby Gerhart is more than a little baffling. Why not just take Best? Whether or not Brett Favre returns, the Vikings aren’t likely to return to the NFC Championship game.
The Packers and Vikings are going to battle it out for the NFC North again this year. My gut feeling is the Packers will beat Favre and the Vikings at least once this year. If 2010 is the last year of football for a while, it at least should be a damn good one!