Best and Worst Picks for Every NFC North Team in NFL Draft

The NFC North might be the best division in football.

With the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, there are four teams who could conceivably make a playoff run. The Lions, Packers and Vikings are all coming off of impressive 2024 seasons, while the Bears improved drastically in the offseason.

Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, all four teams have improved even more, and are looking toward next season with loft goals.

Of course, while there were plenty of great picks around the division, not every pick for each team was a home run, either.

So with that in mind, let's take a look at the best and worst picks from the NFC North in the 2025 NFL Draft:

Chicago Bears

Best Pick: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Caleb Williams desperately needed a find a safety valve in the Bears offense, and with Colston Loveland, he gets just that and more. Loveland is an athletic tight end that can play all over the field, open up the playbook, and make things easier for Chicago's receivers to operate as well.

Worst Pick: Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland

Many experts projected Ruben Hyppolite to go undrafted, so for the Bears to take him as high as they did in Round 4 seems like a reach. He also comes in at a position that is already well-built for the Bears and is largely undersized at 5-foot-11, 236 pounds.

Detroit Lions

Best Pick: Tate Ratledge, OL, Georgia

Tate Ratledge was one of the best offensive linemen in the SEC last season when healthy, and will immediately help solidify the Lions offensive line. Getting a player with that kind of mean streak and physicality for the offensive line that can immediately start in Round 2 is a huge win for Detroit.

Worst Pick: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas

Isaac TeSlaa was an interesting pick for the Lions. The talent and athleticism is certainly, but in terms of production, he struggled with the Razorbacks. If the Lions can tap that potential this could be a solid pick, but as of now, it stands as a questionable on this high in Round 3.

Green Bay Packers

Best Pick: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Matthew Golden has blazing speed, clocking in a 4.29 40-yard dash, and the versatility to play anywhere on the field. He also has sure hands and exceptional route-running ability, but his biggest attribute might be his ability to show up in crunch time.

Golden was one of the most complete prospects at the position and ready to step into the No. 1 receiver role in Green Bay.

Worst Pick: Anthony Belton, OT, NC State

Picking Anthony Belton in Round 2 for the Packers was a bit of a reach. He is raw and was projected to go later in the draft. Combine that with their obvious need at corner, and the decision is a questionable one at best.

Minnestoa Vikings

Best Pick: Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State

Donovan Jackson was a force with the Buckeyes, and was a leading force in one of the best offensive lines in the country out of Columbus alongside Josh Simmons, even helping his team take home a national title.

He fits in well with the Vikings' culture and helps solidify their needs along the front.

Worst Pick: Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pittsburgh

There is nothing inherently wrong with the Bartholomew pick for the Vikings, but they needed to try and find someone to add to the safety room at some point, and they never got around to doing that. TJ Hockenson is already elite at the position and Ben Yurosek could beat out Bartholomew as an undrafted free agent.