NFL.com – 10th (down three spots)
Minnesota managed to turn four draft picks into five (plus make the deal for Howell). … Is that good enough?
NFL Media’s Eric Edholm said he was a fan of Jackson – and not bothered by him flying off the board at 24 despite tagging him with a second-round grade – but wondered if the Vikings may have been better off trading down to score more bites of the apple. Edholm added, “I also worry a little about Minnesota’s cornerback depth — is it enough? The Lions, Packers and Bears all added pass catchers over the weekend, supplementing already-strong groups. That CB position is one that might be worth re-addressing as we get closer to camp. But the Vikings already cast most of their lot with a strong free-agent class and realistically should be considered among a top group of contenders if J.J. McCarthy is solid.”
In summary, four of five publications pegged the Super Bowl-winning Eagles as the team to beat right now; the outlier, ESPN, listed reigning AFC Champion Kansas City as King of the Hill pre- and post-draft.
As far as the division goes, Detroit received Top 5 recognition from every outlet, peaking at No. 2 in the FOX Sports Power Rankings, and just squeaking out that classification, at No. 5, in the NFL.com ordering.
The Packers were the next NFC North representatives, earning a spot in the Top 10 on all five lists. CBS Sports was the most confident in Green Bay after it addressed questions at corner, receiver and o-line.
Lastly, Chicago had a comparable variance in rankings to Minnesota, slotting in somewhere in the 14-21 range. Experts believe the Bears are much improved in 2025.