EAGAN, Minn. – Collectively, the NFC North division gained 34 new players through the 2021 NFL Draft (not counting the college free agency pool).
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and his personnel department led the way with 11 selections, followed by the Packers with nine. Chicago and Detroit made seven draft picks apiece. All four teams had a Round 1 selection, with Green Bay being the only team in the division to nab a defensive player first.
The 2021 NFL schedule is slated to be released on May 12; but regardless of specific dates, Vikings fans can know with certainty that Minnesota will face its division rivals twice each. So we took a look at the draft moves by each NFC North team. We also noted ESPN's Todd McShay’s favorite selection and CBS Sports’ top-graded pick from each; grades and assessments were made by Pete Prisco and Chris Trapasso.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
| Round | Overall Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | Christian Darrisaw | T | Virginia Tech |
| 3 | 66 | Kellen Mond | QB | Texas A&M |
| 3 | 78 | Chazz Surratt | LB | North Carolina |
| 3 | 86 | Wyatt Davis | G | Ohio State |
| 3 | 90 | Patrick Jones II | DE | Pittsburgh |
| 4 | 119 | Kene Nwangwu | RB | Iowa State |
| 4 | 125 | Camryn Bynum | S | California |
| 4 | 134 | Janarius Robinson | DE | Florida State |
| 5 | 157 | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | WR | Iowa |
| 5 | 168 | Zach Davidson | TE | Central Missouri |
| 6 | 199 | Jaylen Twyman | DT | Pittsburgh |
McShay's favorite selection: Chazz Surratt
Surratt has sideline-to-sideline range, fast eyes and great instincts. He is a former QB who has good recognition and the closing burst to make plays. There is a lot of upside when it comes to coverage, and he shows the ability to stay with running backs and tight ends. There's some nickel linebacker potential there.
Minnesota has Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr at the second level, but Eric Wilson signed with Philadelphia. Surratt provides depth there. He was my No. 51 prospect, and the Vikes did a nice job landing him in the third round. He packs more power than you'd expect from a former quarterback, and I think he will play a big role for Minnesota down the road.
CBS Sports' top-graded pick: Christian Darrisaw (A)
I love this pick. I believe he will be the best tackle in the draft. It fills a need in a big way. – Pete Prisco
CHICAGO BEARS
| Round | Overall Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Justin Fields | QB | Ohio State |
| 2 | 39 | Teven Jenkins | T | Oklahoma State |
| 5 | 151 | Larry Borom | G/T | Missouri |
| 6 | 217 | Khalil Herbert | RB | Virginia Tech |
| 6 | 221 | Dazz Newsome | WR | North Carolina |
| 6 | 228 | Thomas Graham, Jr. | CB | Oregon |
| 7 | 250 | Khyiris Tonga | DT | BYU |
McShay's favorite selection: Justin Fields
[The] Bears did a great job seeing the board come together and reacting, moving up nine spots to get my No. 4-ranked QB. Chicago finished No. 25 and No. 27 in QB [rankings] in 2020 and 2019, respectively. [The Bears] tried to land Russell Wilson, but it wasn't in the cards, and free-agent acquisition Andy Dalton wasn't calming the QB concern as the consolation prize. The Bears had to figure something out.
Fields can certainly be the answer. He is extremely accurate, drives the ball with velocity and gets the ball out quickly with a snap of the wrist. And I love his [physicality] and how tough he is in the pocket, using his mobility and strength to break tackles and extend plays. Through it all, Fields keeps his eyes downfield and can frequently hit receivers as they come open late. My knock on Fields is that he often wants to see the receiver come open, though, and he needs to work on his anticipation. But it will come, and the Bears landed themselves a potential top-tier NFL starter.
CBS Sports' highest-graded picks: Teven Jenkins (A+) and Thomas Graham, Jr. (A+)
Jenkins: Home-run selection for [Bears General Manager] Ryan Pace. Jenkins' film is first-round caliber. Nasty technician. Punishes people on a routine basis. Good length too. Big need at right tackle no more for Chicago. – Chris Trapasso
Graham: Not the biggest nor the most athletic, but always around the football. Elite ball production in college and plays bigger than his size at the catch point. Serious zone instincts. – Trapasso
DETROIT LIONS
| Round | Overall Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Penei Sewell | T | Oregon |
| 2 | 41 | Levi Onwuzurike | DT | Washington |
| 3 | 72 | Alim McNeill | DT | N.C. State |
| 3 | 101 | Ifeatu Melifonwu | CB | Syracuse |
| 4 | 112 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | USC |
| 4 | 113 | Derrick Barnes | LB | Purdue |
| 7 | 257 | Jermar Jefferson | RB | Oregon State |
McShay's favorite selection: Penei Sewell
[For] a rebuilding organization with a new coaching staff, landing a foundational tackle is a game-changer. The Lions allowed 42 sacks last season, and Sewell is the top lineman in the class. His upside is immense.
I keep saying that it's a $20 cab ride to get around Sewell when rushing the passer because of his length, and he shows really good hand placement on his initial punch in pass protection. But he also will make an impact as a run-blocker, with elite foot speed as a zone blocker and power to move defenders off the ball.
CBS Sports' highest-graded picks: Levi Onwuzurike (A-) and Ifeatu Melifonwu (A-)
Onwuzurike: Fun, versatile defensive lineman who won at nose tackle despite being smaller. Heavy hands. Deceptive first-step quicks. Hand work could improve slightly. Seems like a big-time Dan Campbell pick. – Trapasso
Melifonwu: Long, insanely explosive outside corner who can stay with receivers because of good agility too. – Trapasso
GREEN BAY PACKERS
| Round | Overall Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 | Eric Stokes | CB | Georgia |
| 2 | 62 | Josh Myers | C | Ohio State |
| 3 | 85 | Amari Rodgers | WR | Clemson |
| 4 | 142 | Royce Newman | G | Ole Miss |
| 5 | 173 | Tedarrell Slaton | DT | Florida |
| 5 | 178 | Shemar Jean-Charles | CB | Appalachian State |
| 6 | 214 | Cole Van Lanen | T/G | Wisconsin |
| 6 | 220 | Isaiah McDuffie | LB | Boston College |
| 7 | 257 | Kylin Hill | RB | Mississippi State |
McShay's favorite selection: Amari Rodgers
How the Aaron Rodgers situation plays out is still up in the air, but the Packers did land a really good and super versatile wideout in Amari Rodgers. […] [With] or without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers needed to target a receiver. They passed in Rounds 1 and 2, which might worry some fans. But Amari Rodgers has a lot of potential, and I think Aaron Rodgers would really appreciate the way he understands different routes and finds holes in the defense.
The Clemson product is built like a running back and is very tough after the catch. But his best trait is his ability to adjust to the ball, showing great focus as a pass-catcher and controlling his body through the catch.
CBS Sports' highest-graded pick: Amari Rodgers (A-), Royce Newman (A-) and Kylin Hill (A-)
Rodgers: Reminds me of Deebo Samuel Lite. Defenders glance off him. Just enough athleticism to get open underneath and tracks it well downfield. Smaller, shorter arms and not much vertical juice. Finally, a WR for the Packers! – Trapasso
Newman: Can play anywhere up front. Balance. Great hand work. Agile. Just has to get stronger and add more girth to his frame. Smart pick by Green Bay. – Trapasso
Hill: I don't know if Packers need another RB, but Hill has serious ability. Bouncy, authoritative type who flashed quality hands down the field. – Trapasso
View college action photos of every Vikings pick from the 2021 NFL Draft.
T Christian Darrisaw, First Round (No. 23)
T Christian Darrisaw, First Round (No. 23)
T Christian Darrisaw, First Round (No. 23)
T Christian Darrisaw, First Round (No. 23)
QB Kellen Mond, Third Round (No. 66)
QB Kellen Mond, Third Round (No. 66)
QB Kellen Mond, Third Round (No. 66)
QB Kellen Mond, Third Round (No. 66)
LB Chazz Surratt, Third Round (No. 78)
LB Chazz Surratt, Third Round (No. 78)
LB Chazz Surratt, Third Round (No. 78)
LB Chazz Surratt, Third Round (No. 78)
G Wyatt Davis, Third Round (No. 86)
G Wyatt Davis, Third Round (No. 86)
G Wyatt Davis, Third Round (No. 86)
G Wyatt Davis, Third Round (No. 86)
DE Patrick Jones, Third Round (No. 90)
DE Patrick Jones, Third Round (No. 90)
DE Patrick Jones, Third Round (No. 90)
DE Patrick Jones, Third Round (No. 90)
RB Kene Nwangwu, Fourth Round (No. 119)
RB Kene Nwangwu, Fourth Round (No. 119)
RB Kene Nwangwu, Fourth Round (No. 119)
RB Kene Nwangwu, Fourth Round (No. 119)
S Camryn Bynum, Fourth Round (No. 125)
S Camryn Bynum, Fourth Round (No. 125)
S Camryn Bynum, Fourth Round (No. 125)
S Camryn Bynum, Fourth Round (No. 125)
DE Janarius Robinson, Fourth Round (No. 134)
DE Janarius Robinson, Fourth Round (No. 134)
DE Janarius Robinson, Fourth Round (No. 134)
DE Janarius Robinson, Fourth Round (No. 134)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Fifth Round (No. 157)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Fifth Round (No. 157)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Fifth Round (No. 157)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Fifth Round (No. 157)
TE Zach Davidson, Fifth Round (No. 168)
TE Zach Davidson, Fifth Round (No. 168)
TE Zach Davidson, Fifth Round (No. 168)
TE Zach Davidson, Fifth Round (No. 168)
DT Jaylen Twyman, Sixth Round (No. 199)
DT Jaylen Twyman, Sixth Round (No. 199)
DT Jaylen Twyman, Sixth Round (No. 199)
DT Jaylen Twyman, Sixth Round (No. 199)
