NFL Draft Aftermath: Winners and Losers from the NFC North

As part of our post-NFL Draft coverage, we’ll be bringing you winners and losers from each and every division of the NFL. Now that all the speculation of where the rookies will land is over, the landscape of the NFL and dynasty leagues has changed dramatically. Keep it here at DLF this Spring and Summer for all the coverage you can possibly imagine to help you dominate your dynasty or conventional fantasy football leagues. We continue our post-draft winners and losers with the NFC North.

Winners

Ameer Abdullah and Zach Zenner, RBs DET

Not only did Abdullah land in one of the best offensive situations in the NFL, but he only has holdovers Joique Bell and Theo Riddick to contend with (in addition to Zenner). He may not win this one outright from day one, but he has a unique skill set that includes a home run gear his competition lacks. Keep in mind, the Lions were 28th in rushing yards per game, so keeping this backfield status quo was not really an option. Add in the first round selection of top rookie guard Laken Tomlinson and Abdullah gets a run blocking dynamo who will open up the necessary running lanes well into the future. Currently, I have Abdullah as my third ranked rookie running back and ninth overall among the rookies.

Zenner is coming aboard as an undrafted free agent but the #ZZSlop movement was in full effect before the draft. He had over 2,000 rushing yards in each of the last three years at South Dakota State including a 202 yard performance against Nebraska. With Abdullah the higher regarded prospect, I see Zenner becoming the thunder to his lightning as soon as 2016. Bell and Riddick are warned.

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

Teddy Bridgewater, QB MIN

The first win comes in the form of two offensive linemen in T.J. Clemmings and Tyrus Thompson, the former was expected to be a first round choice before injury concerns caused him to slip. While Bridgewater led the league in accuracy under pressure, any chance to push former first rounder Matt Kalil and holdover Phil Loadholt can only be seen as a positive for a team that struggled with consistent play at the tackle positions.

Add in a couple of other offensive depth choices in tight end MyCole Pruitt and Stefon Diggs who will only help Teddy Bridgewater in 2015. Pruitt does not translate his athleticism from the track to the field but he has great hands and a solid understanding of the game, two traits that will get him on the field consistently. Diggs was a five star recruit out of high school who struggled at Maryland. I could see him battling for snaps in three receiver sets while contributing as a return man.

Jeremy Langford, RB CHI

Langford went to the Bears in round four and shows the versatility to be a three down back and eventual successor for Matt Forte. He is still learning the position after playing as a wide receiver and cornerback in the past so this situation will only help accelerate his learning curve. John Fox is the type of coach who excels with integrating a running back into the offense so there are many positives to Langford’s landing spot. Don’t forget, Forte is angling for a new deal, which expires after the 2015 season.

Brett Hundley, QB GB

The slide into round five was unexpected but Hundley was not at all ready to start. Landing with the Packers guarantees a first class education from Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers as well as an elite supporting cast if he is forced into action earlier than expected. He will benefit from throwing to Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, and others even if it is only in practice. I don’t think he will be a starter in Green Bay but I do believe that he will eventually leave in free agency or, more likely, be traded with the expectation (and ability) to become a starter.

The Muddled Middle

Matthew Stafford, QB DET

Adding Tomlinson and the aforementioned Abdullah will help, but the Lions failed to address their painfully thin depth at wide receiver. This was a draft that saw several solid prospects fall deep into day three (Tre McBride for one) but the team opted for a luxury pick in round five (fullback Michael Burton) instead. Stafford received some solid help offensively and the team was brilliant in addressing defensive needs in the secondary and at defensive tackle so there is little to nitpick here. I think Stafford steadily remains a strong QB2 post-draft.

Kevin White, WR CHI

This was an expected move by the Bears as he was mocked at this position extensively during the pre-draft process. White will benefit from being the number two receiver next to Alshon Jeffery while he learns to improve his routes and gain experience at the professional level. On the flip side, Martellus Bennett and Forte will both be active in the passing offense so the number two receiving role is not necessarily the number two option. White has all the talent to be the top option here (and I expect he will be at some point) but does John Fox give him that chance and is Jay Cutler going to be patient while he improves? This is about as neutral a landing spot as White could have found, which may be a slight win considering some of the draft alternatives.

Eric Kendricks, LB MIN

My IDP abilities don’t come close to some of the great writers dedicated to that side of the fantasy game. That said, Kendricks landed in a position to start early in the middle for this Vikings defense and shows some solid versatility. Why I am cautiously optimistic is the fact he may be better suited as an outside linebacker, where competition is much tougher and would include former UCLA teammate Anthony Barr. He could easily become a solid contributor for IDP leagues but his lack of bulk could cause him some early struggles.

Losers

Ty Montgomery and Jeff Janis/Jered Abbrederis, WRs GB

Some might suggest going to a team with Aaron Rodgers is a win (and normally that is true) but Montgomery is entering the league’s deepest receiver depth chart. Had he been on the team even a few months ago, some would have made the argument that he could have been a legitimate option to replace Randall Cobb. That’s not the case though and unless he becomes a full time running back, which is a real option, I don’t see how he makes an immediate impact outside the return game.

Why include Janis and Abbrederis? Well, Janis was a darling of the metrics community coming out of 2014 draft class while Abbrederis seemed poised to come back this year and compete for snaps. I don’t think the Green Bay brass would have made this choice if they had the same affinity for these two that some in the dynasty world share. This will be a fun summer for the Green Bay offensive roster.

Theo Riddick and Joique Bell, RBs DET

All the praise in the early offseason of Riddick becoming a dynamic part of this offense faded away the second Abdullah was selected. This could be the 2015 Lance Dunbar where the hype may continue but the results don’t approach expectations.

Bell was never expected to be a long-term solution at age 29 but even his 2015 production is now in jeopardy. For every positive trait he has (receiving, pass protection, inside running), either Abdullah or Zenner are more dynamic. Bell should have some short-term value but the ceiling is crashing down on him quickly.

Matt Forte, RB CHI

That sound you hear is the negotiating advantage Forte had blowing away in the wind. By drafting Langford, the Bears’ brass has effectively shut the door on any chance a Forte holdout ends in a new contract. He shouldn’t lose value for 2015 but is there reason to believe this could be his last for the Bears (unrestricted free agent after the season). Call this a delayed loss for Forte.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR MIN

It is not even that I believe Diggs will be a good receiver, but the fact the team drafted a guy who shares much of the same post-catch and return abilities that Patterson does should put the youngster on notice. It seems like the former first rounder is taking the offseason seriously, focusing on route running and catching the football. That’s good news because those deficiencies led to his removal from the starting lineup and into the dog house of offensive coordinator Norv Turner. This is just another legitimate threat on his playing time and with Mike Wallace having already joined the team via trade, Patterson’s countdown is rapidly approaching zero.

[/am4show]