NFC North Notes: Packers, Bears, Raiola

Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ranks the Packers‘ positional needs on a scale of 1-10. The safety position tops the list as Green Bay has been searching for a solution there ever since losing Nick Collins to a career-ending neck injury in Week 2 of 2011. The Packers haven’t drafted a safety in the first round since 1993, but there’s a good chance they snap the streak this year. More from the NFC North:

  • Many third-round picks in Packers franchise history have been major successes, writes Martin Hendricks of the Journal Sentinel. To give you an idea of how well Green Bay has done in the third round, tight end Jermichael Finley occupies the tenth spot on the top 10 list.
  • The Bears have a big weapon in tight end Martellus Bennett, but GM Phil Emery could be looking for depth and a little competition in the upcoming draft. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune looks at the tight ends Chicago could consider, even though the team’s need at the position is relatively low.
  • The Bears probably aren’t going after defensive ends following their additions of Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, and Willie Young, but, hey, you never know. Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com looks at some potential fits for Chicago on the bookends to help give them insurance in case of injury. Injuries ravaged the Bears in 2013, so they know the overall importance of depth.
  • Longtime Lions center Dominic Raiola is okay with the Lions drafting his successor, writes Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. The Lions have already met with USC’s Marcus Martin, widely considered the top center in the draft, as well as Colorado State’s Weston Richburg.
View Comments (0)