Every pick has the chance to change a franchise. No matter the spot-first overall or Mr. Irrelevant-a player could flourish into a superstar.
This article highlights the biggest steal from each draft class in the NFC North (and the overall biggest steal of the division). Of course, there will be some honorable mentions at the end since it is not always definitive.
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Chicago Bears: Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers (Round Seven)
Yes, the Bears will have a more popular name in the honorable mentions. Do not fret.
Monangai was a workhorse for Rutgers. His ability to bounce off tacklers is the perfect complement to D’Andre Swift’s homerun-hitting ability.
Here is an excerpt from another one of the site’s articles on Monangai: “The blend of physicality, contact balance, and short-range burst combines well with his vision to give a formidable short-yardage back for any system. His athleticism may be limited (he ran a 4.6 forty-yard dash), but it rarely hampers Monangai’s effectiveness on the field.”
The comparison for the Rutgers product is a cheaper version of Ashton Jeanty. That sounds like an absolute fleece in the seventh round. Look for Monangai to potentially leap into the RB2 spot immediately.
Minnesota Vikings: Kobe King, LB, Penn State (Round Six)
It is safe to say that the Vikings had a solid draft, but not an awe-inspiring one.
Tai Felton was selected at an adequate spot, but he was the other pick in consideration for this article.
King is a respectable athlete. His 8.03 relative athletic score (RAS) was commendable. King weighs 236 lbs, making him more of a prototypical build than most linebackers in this class. Combined with a sub-4.7 40-yard dash, the Penn State product is an ideal depth piece for Brian Flores.
Penn State has been producing NFL defenders for many years, and nothing is changing. In the sixth round, the risk is worth the potential reward.
Green Bay Packers: John Williams, OT, Cincinnati (Round Seven)
The Packers, like the Vikings, handled their draft by consistently selecting prospects with fair value.
Discounting their first-round pick (which was not a crazy steal-just a relief that the organization is willing to go wide receiver in the first), Williams was the best pick for the value.
The Cincinnati product turned heads in Dallas as one of the top linemen at the Shrine Bowl. With multiple tackle contracts coming due, it makes sense to replenish the floor as a new starter takes hold. Williams should be a nice relief option in the future.
Detroit Lions: Miles Frazier, G, LSU (Round Five)
The Lions will get a ton of hate for their expensive trades in the draft. Honestly, the criticism is valid; however, there were some really good value picks littered across this class.
Frazier was one of the highest floor interior offensive linemen. His play in Mobile at the Senior Bowl highlighted that with several high-end one-on-one reps. He even took reps at tackle. Granted, there is no clear path for Frazier to play there, but it is nice to have that option in case of injury.
With so many puzzle pieces being shifted on the interior, the fifth-round pick may end up getting reps early in his career. Frazier could end up being one of the bigger steals of the draft.
Biggest Steal: Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears
It was a tough choice between the Lions’ Frazier and the Bears’ Monangai. What ended up being the final straw was an early opportunity.
Monangai could easily be an early contributor with 10+ touches a game. Misfortune would most likely play a major part in seeing Frazier hit the field with 2024 draftee Christian Mahoghany and 2025 second-round pick Tate Ratledge leading the charge.
Honorable Mentions
There were lots of picks across most drafts that one would call ‘steals.’ Below are a few of the biggest for the NFC North that missed the top spot.
Chicago Bears: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (Round Two)
Feathers were probably ruffled by this not being the ‘biggest steal’ for Chicago, but the reason Burden fell justifies him being an honorable mention. Teams noted him being tough to deal with, especially his representative team. The drama apparently associated with that group played a factor, and it seemed to impact Burden’s focus on the field. Several plays in a game displayed blatantly low effort. That will not fly in Chicago, so hopefully that is in the past.
Detroit Lions: Dan Jackson, SAF/ST, Georgia (Round Seven)
Dan Jackson fits this organization so well. He is a hard-hitting, high-intensity player who will contribute on special teams early on. Having that energy in the locker room is contagious. Jackson is listed as FS2 currently by Ourlads, but things can easily change. Regardless, it was well worth the pick.
