2013 NFL Draft: Grading the NFC North
For the final division in this series, Jared Counterman takes a look at one of the most interesting divisions in this draft, the NFC North. Whether it was the Vikings making a big splash in the first round, Green Bay grabbing two starting quality running backs, or Chicago making a surprising first round selection, the NFC North added quite a few new faces that will likely be making an early impact.
Which team put together the best class?
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Between the quarterback drama in New York, the rebuilding projects in Miami and Buffalo, and the never-ending reign of the Patriots at the top of the AFC, there's rarely a dull moment in the AFC East. That was true during the draft as well, as both the Bills and the Jets made some surprising moves that shake up the division for years to come.
In the NFC South, there's no shortage of superstars on the offensive side of the ball. Between players like Cam Newton, Drew Brees, Julio Jones, and Doug Martin, it's rare to see a divisional match-up with out the potential for some serious fireworks.
There may not have been more interesting division to follow during the draft than the NFC East. What strategies would the new look Eagles employ? Who would Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have their eyes set on? Would it be the Giants or Redskins that would find the pieces to get them to the next level?
For 3/4 of the AFC West, the mission for the draft was simple: try and catch up to the Broncos. Meanwhile, Denver had quite a different goal, as they're looking to make it to the Super Bowl with a very talented roster and an aging quarterback.
The NFC West was one of the most competitive divisions in the league last season, and that's only become more true after both Seattle and San Francisco put together stellar off seasons prior to the draft. In the mean time, St. Louis is still a team on the rise and Arizona is looking to undergo a culture change in 2014.
A team's success in the draft is important regardless of what division they play it, but when it's a division that is home to the Super Bowl champions, keeping up is even more important. That's the task for the teams in the AFC North this season.
Every season there a few undrafted free agents that go on to have succesful careers. The key to that surprising success? Finding the right fit to sign with in April.
For all 32 NFL teams, the end of the draft Saturday night wasn't the end of the process, but instead it was the start to another key part of the offseason: signing undrafted free agents before another team convinces them to sign elsewhere.
With the 2013 NFL Draft now in the books, it's now time for the yearly tradition of analyzing every pick each team has made. While it's impossible to truly grade a draft until each player has had a couple of seasons under his belt, it's still interesting to evaluate the class that each team put together.