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The NFL draft has come and gone, and as a result teams are now looking ahead to their first chance to work with their new prospects at rookie minicamp.
In the NFC North, each of the four teams has aspirations of reaching the postseason. As a result, the draft afforded them an opportunity to add key pieces and help them achieve that goal.
Here is where each team in the NFC North stands following the NFL draft, with insight from OnSI publishers across the division.
Detroit Lions
Most intriguing player: The Lions gave up three total third-round picks over this year and next to go get Arkansas wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. He's an easy player to root for amongst the fan base as a local product who began his college career at Hillsdale. However, he didn't have eye-popping production at Arkansas and there are concerns that his standout testing numbers may not translate. If he's able to unlock his physical gifts, the Lions will reap big rewards.
The good and the bad: Detroit's front office faces a challenge much different than when it first started. Instead of picking early, the Lions are now forced to try to find standouts at the end of the first round. As a result, the overall class was solid given the fact that each of their first four picks could be instant contributors. They may have waited too long to find an EDGE, but Brad Holmes has made it perfectly clear he will not reach, regardless of position. It was a trademark Lions draft, as they got stronger in the trenches and took a chance on a high-upside talent at a skill position. — John Maakaron, Lions OnSI.
Minnesota Vikings
Most intriguing player: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Georgia. This pick is quite exciting because this Vikings front office has had a knack for finding undersized talent in the late rounds or even as undrafted signees. Ivan Pace Jr. was one of the best linebackers in the country at Cincinnati before going undrafted, and he was an instant impact starter in the middle of Minnesota's defense. Ingram-Dawkins fits the undersized bill as a bit of a tweener playing on the defensive line. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, he doesn't fit the bill of a modern monster at defensive tackle, but the Vikings will be able to develop him into a versatile player who can rush from the edge and use his elite athletic traits to put pressure on quarterbacks from the interior. There's no rush to play him since Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen and Harrison Phillips will command the snaps in 2025.
The good and the bad: Getting Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton in the third round could be a steal. He's lightning-quick with explosive return traits. If Jalen Nailor doesn't make another jump in 2025, Felton could have the inside track to WR3. That could be a WR2 role right away since Jordan Addison could be facing a three-game suspension to start the season.
We're also waiting way too long to address the first-round pick, Donovan Jackson. He's an instant starter at left guard and should secure the final weak spot on Minnesota's offensive line. If he's legit, the Vikings will offer excellent pass protection for J.J. McCarthy while also having potential to dominate on the ground with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason toting the rock.
The only bad part of the draft was the limited number of picks. Minnesota entered the draft with four picks and left it with five. The risk is that none of their picks are guaranteed to succeed, and that's dangerous for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who is on a lame-duck contract and completely whiffed on his first draft three years ago. — Joe Nelson, Vikings OnSI.
Green Bay Packers
Most intriguing player: While Matthew Golden got the hype as the team picked a receiver in the first round for the first time since 2002, fellow receiver Savion Williams could be a big-time difference-maker.
A scout called him “Deebo Samuel-light,” though there’s nothing light about the 6-foot-4, 222-pound former TCU star. There’s nothing slow, either, with 4.47 speed. Williams is unpolished as a route-runner. His hands are suspect. But he was a tackle-breaking, playmaking machine as a receiver and runner, with power, athleticism and a wicked open-field spin move. “The only thing that limits you in terms of your creativity is your imagination,” coach Matt LaFleur said.
Williams should be an immediate weapon on screens and jet sweeps. Because of his talent, he should impact the game even when he doesn’t get the ball.
The good and the bad: The Packers desperately needed to upgrade their receiver corps. Green Bay’s end-of-season offensive funk coincided with Christian Watson’s knee injuries. While not a premier player, his elite combination of size and speed had to be accounted for by defenses, which opened things underneath.
Golden should help fix that. With 4.29 speed in the 40, he was the fastest receiver in the draft. At 5-foot-11, he doesn’t have Watson’s imposing size but he’s a more polished player. With Golen’s big-play ability and Williams unique skill-set, Jordan Love should have plenty of options alongside receivers Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks and tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave.
The second-round pick, offensive lineman Anthony Belton, was deemed a reach by the pundits but he fits with Green Bay’s desire to play with size and physicality up front.
The problem is the defense was largely unaddressed. The pass rush wasn’t good enough last season; the Packers added Barryn Sorrell, who had decent production at Texas, and Collin Oliver, who had great production at Oklahoma State but is undersized. The only cornerback was a seventh-round flier on Tulane’s Micah Robinson. — Bill Huber, Packers OnSI.
Chicago Bears
Most intriguing player: First-round tight end Colston Loveland is intriguing down to his core mainly because of his head coach's creativity. Second-round wide receiver Luther Burden III normally might rate even or as a more exciting pick because of his great speed and elusiveness as a slot receiver. But the fact coach Ben Johnson has a history of running 12-personnel with two tight ends, and now has two quality tight ends to do it with, has stirred up great anticipation he'll devise new ways to use Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet. Loveland's toughness and ability to get downfield give him the role of the move-tight end to Kmet's Y- or in-line spot. Loveland also has the quickness to be a slot receiver.
The good and the bad: The obvious bad is the Bears didn't draft a running back until Round 7. Although they like seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai from Rutgers as a smaller, power type, he wasn't a Day 1 or 2 pick. The other bad was they failed to come up with a legitimate edge rusher, although their third second-round pick, Shemar Turner, had his best season when he was a Texas A&M edge in 2023. Turner, though, earned rave reviews for the pressure he generated rapidly off the snap as a three-technique last year and they'll start him out backing up there and as part of a regular pass rush rotation.
The good was Burden's explosiveness as a player who really should have been taken in Round 1 and can do many of the things Johnson did with Amon-Ra St. Brown in Detroit. In fact, he's faster (4.41 in the 40) than St. Brown (4.51). Fundamentally sound 6-foot-8 tackle Ozzy Trapilo should compete for left tackle and could eventually take the spot from Braxton Jones while they found extra depth at guard in Round 6 with Michigan State's Luke Newman. The goal was increasing defensive speed and they did this with fourth-round linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II from Maryland and Texas State cornerback Zah Frazier in Round 5. — Gene Chamberlain, Bears OnSI.
More from Lions OnSI:
More must-reads:
- Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
- Nick Saban responds to speculation about coaching return amid NFL rumors
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Nick Saban responds to speculation about coaching return amid NFL rumors
Shortly after former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy shared that someone "in the know" believes there's a possibility Nick Saban — who retired in January 2024 — might return to coaching, NFL insider Albert Breer suggested that the Dallas Cowboys could be a potential destination for the seven-time national champion. According to Mike Rodak of 247Sports, Saban was asked during a Friday appearance on Fox News if he intends to come out of retirement. "No, I'm really happy with what I'm doing right now," Saban responded. "It's exciting to still be involved in the game. It's exciting for me to work with athletic directors, conference commissioners, people in Congress to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to be able to create opportunities to help young people create value for their future that will help them be successful in their life, which is what we always try to do as a coach." Saban, now working as an ESPN analyst, will be 74 in October. Per Christian Datoc of the Washington Examiner, President Donald Trump could consider having Saban "lead a new commission examining problems arising with the growth of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and coinciding changes to the NCAA transfer process." Meanwhile, it's thought that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones could look to hire a big-name candidate if first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer fails to impress during the 2025 campaign. Additionally, Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd recently hinted that Saban could be interested in becoming the head coach of the Cleveland Browns if the team selects Texas quarterback Arch Manning as the first pick in the 2026 draft. "There is no opportunity that I know of right now that would enhance me to go back to coaching," Saban added during Friday's segment. "I enjoy what I'm doing. I did it for 50 years. I loved it. I loved the relationships with the players. I loved the competition. But it's another station of life now. I enjoy what I'm doing right now and want to continue to do it — spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children. It's been really, really good." The "right now" portion of Saban's comments attracted the attention of Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, who was quick to point out he did not say "no for good" regarding a return to coaching. In short, it seems that rumors about Saban's future could hover over the college and pro football communities through at least the rest of the year.
ESPN Predicts Mets-Twins Trade One Week Before Deadline
The New York Mets are a half-game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL East, but their pitching staff is still injury-ravaged despite the recent returns of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas. Brandon Waddell (hip), Dedniel Nuñez (elbow), Max Kranick (flexor), Paul Blackburn (shoulder), Tylor Megill (elbow), Griffin Canning (Achilles), Drew Smith (elbow), A.J. Minter (lat), Danny Young (elbow), and Christian Scott (elbow) are alll on the Mets' IL. The MLB Trade Deadline is July 31 at 6 p.m. EST, so the front office has one week to add healthy arms from around the league this season. ESPN's David Schoenfield predicted on Thursday that New York would trade for a Minnesota Twins reliever. "One guarantee of the trade deadline: The Mets will add to the bullpen, probably with more than one trade. Though the rotation still ranks fifth in ERA, that was built off a hot start," he wrote. "More importantly, the only Mets starter to complete six innings since June 7 has been David Peterson. As a result, manager Carlos Mendoza has run relievers Reed Garrett, Huascar Brazoban, Jose Butto and Ryne Stanek into the ground. The bullpen had a 2.78 ERA through May, but that figure is over 5.00 since the beginning of June (ranking near the bottom of the majors)." "The Twins have two high-profile relievers in [Jhoan] Duran and [Griffin] Jax, both of whom are under team control through 2027, so they'll be much more expensive than your usual short-term relievers if the Twins decide to trade one or both," he continued. "Duran would be harder to deal -- but bring more in return -- so we'll say Jax will go. Don't be fooled by his 4.09 ERA: He has 68 strikeouts and 12 walks in 44 innings with a 97-mph heater. He's an elite strikeout reliever, the type you want on the mound in October." The Mets are hot despite their injuries, as they're on a four-game winning streak and just swept the Los Angeles Angels. Next up is a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres. New York right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48 ERA) will face Giants right-hander Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08 ERA) on Friday.
Yankees have finally found their third baseman in Ryan McMahon
After years of speculation and nothing materializing, the New York Yankees have at last acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies, per the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz are headed to the Mile High City in return. They were the number eight and 21st-ranked prospects in the Yankees' farm system, per MLB.com. Given the Yankees' struggles at the third-base position over the last few years, bringing in a guy who was an All-Star in 2024 and will be much more reliable is a win. Former MLB player and current analyst Cameron Maybin certainly believes that, as he was pushing the McMahon-to-New York narrative over the last week and feels it could be a great fit for both sides. "The third baseman they need plays in Colorado...I'm telling you! Defensively more than adequate and Taylor made for the ballpark offensively," Maybin wrote on social media. Maybin went on to mention how McMahon will feel reinvigorated joining a World Series contender like the Yankees after the last six-and-a-half years of being at the bottom in Colorado. The 30-year-old is not having his best season, slugging 16 home runs and 35 RBI with a .217 average through 100 games with the Rockies, per MLB.com stats. However, he's consistently been a 20-plus home run hitter who drives in runs at a strong rate and has a large sample size of doing so. Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez (.252 average, 36 HRs, 86 RBI) has seemed to be No. 1 target for most teams, and for good reason, but given the Yankees' current situation and weaknesses, McMahon made more sense. Not only does he play a better third base, which New York desperately needs, but he has another two years of control after 2025, whereas Suarez would have been a rental. The acquisition cost was nothing crazy, and adding a lefty bat with some power to potentially take advantage of the short porch at Yankee Stadium is always a bonus. Some may not be satisfied until they see McMahon positively impacting the New York Yankees, but rest assured, this is a very solid pickup.
Why the Toronto Maple Leafs should trade Easton Cowan now
The Toronto Maple Leafs have practically given Easton Cowan a 0% chance of making the opening night roster next season. Even with Mitch Marner gone, the additions up front have the forward corps completely jammed. Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, Nic Roy, and Michael Pezzetta are the new guys. Steven Lorentz will be back, and so will Scott Laughton. Even Nick Robertson should be back, barring a trade. They’ve given Cowan no shot of making the team. He won’t play on the fourth line, and he won’t instantly be in the top-six. He’ll start the year in the AHL and could get a shot when an injury happens, but even that isn’t a guarantee. For these reasons, now is the time for the Leafs to trade their No.1 prospect. Peak value Cowan was actually seen as a reach at the draft, but he’s proven the scouting team right so far. Cowan has been dominant in the OHL and is easily the Leafs’ top prospect, as he has been for two years. He’s one of the only Leafs forward prospects with actual pedigree. His absolute peak value has likely already been reached. He would’ve been worth more last summer, coming off a 96-point campaign in his D+1. But he’s still worth a lot, especially after a dominant playoffs in 2024–25. Cowan is too good for the OHL and would’ve benefited from playing in the AHL last season. No one knows how his rookie season as a pro will go. Cowan could be overmatched against grown men and take years to develop. But that won’t help the Leafs in any way, not during their Stanley Cup window with Auston Matthews under contract. Their only goal should be success now. The chances of Cowan raising his value are super low. Unless he sets the AHL on fire, other teams aren’t going to covet him more than they do now. The most likely scenario is that he looks fine on the Marlies and looks overmatched if he gets called up. Other teams won’t like that! The Leafs don’t have a roster spot for him and can’t afford for his value to drop. The time to trade him is now. A clear need Toronto would be fine to let Cowan take as long as he needs to develop if they didn’t have such a glaring hole on the roster: a top-six winger. Maybe Cowan can be that one day, maybe not. But he can’t be that this year, and unfortunately, the Leafs don’t have time to let him grow. They need someone to play in the top-six, and Cowan is the easiest way, by far, to make that happen. There are players out there. Jason Robertson, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, Jordan Kyrou, just to name a few. Cowan can’t fetch one of these guys by himself—not many prospects in the whole league could—but he can be a headliner. Brad Treliving hasn’t taken a big swing yet as the Leafs’ General Manager, but if he wants to (and he should), Cowan is the guy to move. The Pittsburgh Penguins make the most sense. They have Rust and Rakell and are the only team in the league in a full-blown rebuild. Kyle Dubas might have some hard feelings for Toronto, but Brendan Shanahan is gone. If he and Treliving want to cook up a trade together, there’s plenty of reason it could happen. A big risk There’s no doubt trading Cowan is risky. There’s a chance he’s a top-six contributor making under $1M in just a couple of years, and it would suck for Toronto to miss out on that. However, if the right trade presents itself, for one of the players listed earlier, Treliving must pull the trigger. Toronto isn’t in the business of development right now; they’re in the business of winning. Who knows how much longer their window will be open, but they have to take every chance they can to improve their NHL roster. Cowan is a great prospect, and they’ve held on to him for a reason. But with such a clear path to improvement, one that Cowan can help with, Toronto should take every opportunity to improve. That means moving on from Cowan.
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