This is the sixth in a series of eight posts from Adam analyzing the 2010 NFL Draft and what it means for each franchise.
Brett Favre had his all-time best statistical season last year and it still was not enough for the Vikings to win it all. Another year older with another year of hits and another offseason surgery, can Favre even come close to matching last year's production? Nope. The Vikes will be good again, but not dominant like they were last year. Chester Taylor is gone, the offensive line is getting old, and the defensive secondary is still searching for consistency. The Packers are the favorite because Aaron Rodgers is a full-fledged superstar and is my pick for MVP coming into this year. Last year's Achilles' heel, pass protection, vastly improved over the course of the season and was addressed this offseason as well. The defense is good but not great and there are concerns in the secondary. I love the Lions' plan and future, but they have not arrived yet. The Bears made some big splashes but still do not have enough weapons for Jay Cutler or have the ability to protect him, which makes them especially vulnerable with offensive coordinator Mike Martz's pass-happy offense.
Chicago Bears
7.11 Webb, J'Marcus, OT, West Texas A&M
Once again the Bear hardly have a draft, but considering the signings of Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor, this offseason does not look like a total waste. Still, Peppers and Taylor are on both on the wrong side of thirty and will cost major money. Additionally, the Bears still have a lot of holes on defense, offensive line, and at the receiver position. This team has enough talent to tread water this year and maybe for the next couple of years, but ultimately this is not near a championship-caliber team, and they will have to start the painful process of rebuilding sooner or later.
Detroit Lions
7.48 Toone, Tim, WR, Weber St.
I think this will always be viewed as a good draft for the Lions because they are getting an all-time great player in Suh. I don't think the other defensive tackle at the top of this year's draft, Gerald McCoy, is near his level. Suh and free agent acquisitions Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams give the Lions a good defensive line, which they haven't had in years. I don't understand trading away your best defensive player, Ernie Sims, for a tight end when you already have Brandon Pettigrew, a former first-round pick who played well a year ago as a rookie. Still, it gives the Lions a plethora of young weapons. I think Matthew Stafford is going to be very good while Kevin Smith is decent and should nicely complement Jahvid Best. Calvin Johnson is a superstar athlete but needs to stay healthy and focus on doing all the little things. The offensive line is still shaky and the defensive back seven is questionable outside of Louis Delmas. This is a team one more good draft and a year of proression away from playoff contention.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers are a team that ended their run last year looking to be one or two significant players away from being a Super Bowl contender. The question is, did Green Bay do enough this offseason to push themselves to that elite level of competition? I say, not quite. I think this team needed one more explosive player on offense and badly needed to address the cornerback position. They also needed a pass rusher. Yet, offensive line was given top priority, reasonable considering the investment the Packers have in future MVP Aaron Rodgers. They did well to get Bulaga where they did. He should come in and start from day one, already one of the Packers' top-3 linemen. He can play guard while Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton take their farewell tours. If those tackles can hold up, this can be a solid offensive line. I think they could have drafted a guard in the first three rounds, but they decided to go elsewhere. I like adding depth to the defensive line and Mike Neal may become a very solid player for the Pack, but it just didn't seem like the most pressing need with Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett, and BJ Raji already forming a very stout rotation. Still, they make that an even bigger strength and make the defense as a whole better for it. Morgan Burnett was the best secondary player available when Green Bay traded up to pick him and he may play at both corner and safety. If he can be a starting-level player, the Packers may have found that second impact player, in addition to Bulaga, that they need to get over the top. I like that they spend a fifth-round pick on another tackle to be groomed to replace either Tauscher or Clifton. James Starks was a guy Mel Kiper Jr. liked and could turn out to be a gem. With Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley all legitimate Pro Bowl-level players, the question is if the offensive line can set the table for these stars. The defense should be good, although that corner spot has to be a question with 34-year-old Al Harris coming off an ACL injury.
Minnesota Vikings
5.30 Degeare, Chris, OT, Wake Forest
5.36 Triplett, Nate, LB, Minnesota
6.30 Webb, Joe, QB, UAB
7.07 Shuler, Mickey, TE, Penn St.
7.30 D'Imperio, Ryan, LB, Rutgers
Chris Cook alone is not enough to repair a mediocre secondary. The front seven is what makes this defense tick. EJ Henderson is aging and has health troubles, although Chad Greenway is an excellent young backer. Fat Pat Williams turns 38 this year but is still very good and his linemate Kevin Williams may be the best defensive tackle in the game. Favre is most likely back, but his best statistical season ever wasn't enough for this team last year, and at 41 there is no way he can duplicate those numbers. I doubt he finishes the season if he plays. Adrian Peterson is a force but has taken so much punishment. Gerhart may be a nice player but won't be a game changer. Everson Griffen is a nice value but not at a need position. That offensive line is getting older and worse by the year, and that could spell trouble for Favre. I think the Vikings will compete for the division but ultimately finish behind the Packers.
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