NFC North: NFL Draft Round 1 Review

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama) poses for a photo with commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number twenty-one overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The first round of the 2014 NFL Draft is over and in the books. Are we happy with the Chicago Bears 14th pick Kyle Fuller? I don’t know yet. I was really thinking that the Bears were going to go with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but that’s okay. The Packers got him instead. Then I was hoping that the Bears would be able to at least get Deone Bucannon, but the Cardinals snagged him up. The Bears choices are thinning at safety going into the second round. Let us take a look at what our fellow NFC North teams did in the first round of the draft.

Vikings

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) is introduced to the stage before the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

One of the biggest needs for the Vikings is a quarterback. Johnny Football was still on the board and the Vikings move from the 8th pick to the 9th pick. Then they pick Anthony Barr OLB out of UCLA. Linebacker is another need for the Vikings, but I know I was worried if the Vikings decided to pick up Johnny Manziel. Can you imagine playing against an offense with Johnny Manziel at QB and Adrian Peterson as RB? I’m happy with the Vikings pick. But wait, the Vikings traded back into the first round to close up the night to grab Teddy Bridgewater with the 32nd pick. This was a smart move by the Vikings. Crap. Double crap. He is a lucky guy. He will be handing off to the best running back in the league and he upgrades their quarterback position by 10 fold. Good move by the Vikings. Bad move for the rest of the NFC North.

Lions

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Eric Ebron (North Carolina) stands with former running back Barry Sanders and commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number ten overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The Lions did exactly what I thought they would do. They drafted an offensive playmaker in the 1st round in TE Eric Ebron. This pick scares me. The lions needed another playmaker on offense, and after adding Golden Tate in free agency, this selection just makes their offense that much better. Ebron is not a blocking TE, he is a play making receiver. Good think the Bears picked up a corner who can cover Tight Ends. Maybe Phil Emery knows exactly what he is doing.

Packers

May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Alabama) poses for photos after being selected as the number twenty-one overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Stupid Packers. They picked the guy I wanted. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was one of the higher rated safeties in the draft, and Ted Thompson swoops in and grabs him. It was a strong need for the Packers and honestly, it was an expected move. The Packers were lucky that he was still on the draft board when it came to the 21st pick. Was it me or did Ha Ha not look happy when they called his name? Was it just the butterflies flying around in his stomach? Or maybe it was the whole living in Green Bay Wisconsin thing. Regardless, he automatically upgrades the Packers secondary. Good pick by the Packers.

What will the Bears do in the 2nd and 3rd rounds? What will the rest of the NFC North do? Make sure you put your ideas and comments below. Go Bears!