2023 NFL Draft Grades: NFC North

With the 2023 NFL Draft complete, theScore's NFL editors hand out their initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.

NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST

Chicago Bears

Grade: B

Wright is an immensely powerful tackle who takes care of a major need up front, and the interior tandem of Dexter and Pickens provides some much-needed pass-rush upside for a defense that had no such thing. All in all, a solid first three rounds for a team that needed to start stacking talent. Ryan Poles' best work came on Day 3 - he found major value in Scott, giving his quarterback a vertical weapon. Star talent from this group may be minimal, but this draft could prove to be an important foundational step for the future in Chicago.

Detroit Lions

Grade: C+

It's easy enough to look at the names on this list and get excited - the Lions are adding quality talent to the organization. In the end, that may be all that matters. But asset management matters, too, and there's just too much to dislike about the process here. Gibbs at No. 12 after a trade down is an irresponsible reach, and the same can probably be said about Campbell at No. 18. However: LaPorta is the perfect addition to the Lions offense at tight end, Branch is one of the best value picks in the entire draft, and Hooker was worth a gamble in the third round. Those picks, along with the group's overall quality, save the grade from bottoming out. You can only do so much to rebound from that first round, though.

Green Bay Packers

Grade: B+

The Packers put in work in the draft room. Van Ness may not have the production you seek from early-round edge rushers, but the traits are off the charts. His best football certainly appears ahead of him. Day 2 was spent silencing the crowd begging for Green Bay to add offensive weapons, as Brian Gutekunst used all three picks on pass-catchers with tons of upside. Reed is one of the draft's most underrated receivers, and a duo of Musgrave and Kraft is a heck of a way to solidify a tight end position that was arguably the most pressing need on the roster. Drafting Clifford over a number of other quarterbacks in the fifth round was bizarre, to say the least, but everything else about this class is money.

Minnesota Vikings

Grade: C-

Minnesota had to come away from this draft with a running mate for Justin Jefferson, and Addison was always one of the more intriguing options to fill that need. A dynamic playmaker who dominated at both Pitt and USC, he should be a natural fit working alongside the NFL's premier pass-catcher. The Vikings' mid-round picks didn't yield the most exciting returns, but keep an eye on Hall as Kirk Cousins heads into the last year of his contract. The BYU product is a talented passer who can also make plays with his legs. While he likely projects as a backup, there's some starter upside there.