2025 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC North

Three of the four NFC North teams finished with 11 or more wins and represented the division in the playoffs last season. Although the Bears missed out, they’ve since poached former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be their head coach and attempt to lead them to the 2025 postseason.

The same three teams that made the playoffs — the Lions, Packers and Vikings — also finished inside the top-10 in points per game last season. Chicago will look to join them there in 2025. Which players selected from each team’s 2025 NFL Draft wish list will have major implications toward these goals.

(Stay tuned for the full NFL Draft Wish List series: AFC East | NFC East | AFC North | AFC South | NFC South | AFC West | NFC West)

2025 NFL Draft Wish List: NFC North

Chicago Bears

• First pick: 1st round, 10^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 7

As the only NFC North team to miss the 2024 playoffs, the Bears have a broader 2025 NFL Draft wish list than their three divisional rivals. Protecting second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams, should remain Chicago’s top priority. According to FTN StatsHub, Williams was the sixth-most blitzed, fourth-most pressured and the most sacked quarterback of the 2024 season.

Even after trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, the Bears should still be in a position at 10^th overall to draft a top offensive tackle. Will Campbell (LSU), Armand Membou (Missouri) and Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) are likely all in the mix.

The Bears did allow the fifth-most rushing yards per game (136.3) in 2024. They also ranked in the middle of the league in total sacks (40) last season. Chicago could very will target a defensive lineman with the 10^th overall pick.

Next offseason, if the Bears release running back D’Andre Swift, they’ll save $7.5 million toward the cap with just a $1.3 million dead cap hit. For fantasy purposes, Chicago will likely target a running back with one of their four top-75 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bears notably possess the 39^th and 41^st overall picks at the top of the second round.

Either of the Ohio State running backs, Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson, should be targets with one of those picks. Judkins is the clearer three-down back who can handle a heavy workload in the run game. Henderson has the potential to do so, as well, but is a more dynamic, situational back with speed, is excellent in pass protection, and can mix in as a receiver. Again, Swift is not long for the Bears. Don’t let any running back selected by Chicago be viewed negatively in regard to sharing the backfield.

Green Bay Packers

• First pick: 1st round, 23^rd overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 8

A wide receiver should be at the top of the Packers’ 2025 NFL Draft wish list. It’s definitely at the top of Josh Jacobs’ wish list. Green Bay’s lead running back is on record this offseason claiming the Packers “need a guy that’s proven to be a No. 1 wide receiver already.” Green Bay has selected just five total wide receivers in the first round in franchise history. They haven’t taken a wide receiver in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.

The Packers haven’t had a wide receiver draw more than 100 targets since Davante Adams (169) in 2021. Only one Packers wide receiver (Jayden Reed, 55) logged more than 50 receptions in 2024.

If Green Bay does decide to draft a wide receiver with the 23^rd overall pick, Emeka Egbuka of Ohio State would be a major upgrade to the position. Egbuka is one of the more polished receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft. He boasts a school record of 205 total receptions as well as two seasons of 1,000-plus yards in college.

Egbuka would be the Packers’ primary slot receiver in this scenario. That would force a decision to move Reed to the outside or move on from him altogether one way or another.

History suggests the Packers will wait until Round 2 or 3 for a receiver and perhaps double-dip the position later, too. If so, Jalen Royals of Utah State would be a great fit. Royals has great burst and makes plays after the catch. He is arguably the best field stretcher in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Green Bay will be without Christian Watson for most, if not all, of 2025 due to a Week 18 torn ACL last season. It’s also the final year of his and Romeo Doubs’ contracts. Which wide receiver(s) and when the Packers select in the draft will be one of the biggest stories for fantasy football. We might not get answers until later as Green Bay are likely targeting edge defenders and cornerbacks from their 2025 NFL Draft wish list.

Minnesota Vikings

• First pick: 1st round, 24^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 4

The Minnesota Vikings have the fewest selections in the 2025 NFL Draft. They traded their own 2025 second-round pick last year in a package to receive an additional 2024 first-round pick. The Vikings then traded their 2025 third- and fourth-round picks to move up six spots from their newly acquired 2024 first round pick to select Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner.

After the 24^th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Minnesota doesn’t select again until the 97^th overall pick, at the end of the third round. Their draft wish list may simply start with acquiring more picks. The Vikings have plenty of 2026 NFL Draft capital to bargain with if they so choose.

The Vikings were extremely active in free agency. They retooled their offensive line by signing Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, both formerly of the Colts. Their defensive free agent acquisitions notably include DT Jonathan Allen (WAS), DT Javon Hargrave (SF), CB Isaiah Rodgers (PHI) and CB Jeff Okudah (HOU), while retaining CB Byron Murphy Jr. If they stay put at 24^th overall, the best defensive back on their board should be the pick. Georgia safety Malaki Starks or Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston top the wish list.

It appears clearer each day that the Vikings are handing the keys to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy Last year’s 10^th overall pick missed the entire regular season due to a torn meniscus. He steps into an offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Rondale Moore to throw to.

Minnesota’s wish list doesn’t have a pressing need for offensive playmakers. There shouldn’t be any major impact on fantasy football from their incoming rookie selections.

If anything, the Vikings could add a running back. Aaron Jones Sr. (30) signed a two-year extension last month. However, with $13.5 million guaranteed, he’s a cut candidate in 2026. Minnesota also traded for Jordan Mason (26), who then signed a two-year deal with just $7.2 million guaranteed.

Acquiring Mason is more cost-efficient than using the 24^th overall pick on the position for this win-now team. Using the 97^th overall pick, or trading higher up, for a running back would be worth the attention from fantasy football managers.

Detroit Lions

• First pick: 1st round, 28^th overall
• Total first-rounders: 1
• Total selections: 7

Similar to the aforementioned Vikings, the Detroit Lions have their 2025 top offensive playmakers in place. Jahmyr Gibbs is entering his third season. David Montgomery just signed a two-year extension last season that runs through 2027. Even with an offensive coordinator change, the two rank as top-20 fantasy running backs with Gibbs notably in the overall RB1 conversation.

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are the top two receivers in Detroit. Beyond these two, the Lions’ depth chart includes Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy. Selecting a receiver like Savion Williams from TCU would add another layer to this offense.

Williams has a solid combination of size and speed with a history of creative usage, exemplified by his 51/322/6 rushing line in 2024. Detroit holds the last pick of the third round (102), the 28^th pick in the fourth round (130) and then don’t select again until the 196^th pick in round six. This could be a sweet spot for a receiver like Williams.

Before that, the Lions have to take care of business with their first two picks, 28^th and 60^th overall. At the top of their 2025 NFL Draft wish list should be a starting-caliber defensive end and offensive lineman. Luckily, there are plenty to choose from, especially in the first round.

Even with Aidan Hutchinson seemingly slated to return from a broken leg by Week 1, there’s not enough juice on the edge for Detroit. They traded for Za’Darius Smith following Hutchinson’s injury, but he has since departed in free agency. If Shemar Stewart from Texas A&M is available, he would be a slam dunk pick. Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) or James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee) are likely also at the top of Detroit’s draft board.

If Detroit does target an offensive lineman with their first pick, that’s a low-key win for fantasy football managers looking to target Gibbs, Montogomery or any other piece of this offense. Kevin Zeitler, who played over 90% of the snaps at guard in 2024, signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency.