This is the first in a nine-part series leading up to the NFL Draft.

Since Dave Just is the resident baseball expert and Brian Klein is the Illini townee, I guess that makes me the football guy. So it’s my duty to do my best Mel Kiper Jr. impression and preview the NFL Draft by conducting each team’s draft projection. With the big day less than two weeks away, we’ll take a division-by-division look at each team’s draft needs and a few projected picks. At the end of the series, I’ll finish it off with my overall draft “big board” and mock draft.

So let’s start with everyone’s favorite division, the NFC North, in order of last year’s finish.

Chicago Bears
Last Season Finish: 13-3, Division Champion, Conference Champion, Super Bowl runner-up
Picks: 31 (1), 37 (2-from NY Jets), 94 (3), 130 (4), 168 (5) 221 (7-From SF through Cle), 241 (7)
Glaring Hole: None
Team Needs: OLB, G, T, DT, WR, TE
Draft Outlook: With recent Super Bowl losers failing to make the playoffs the following season in recent years, the Chicago Bears will have their work cut out for them in the draft to break that trend.The Bears passed up their opportunity to move up to the No. 6 spot and get rid of complaining linebacker Lance Briggs. Probably for the best since no one in that spot is worth the money or fits into the Bears’ need. They solidified the secondary by trading for Adam Archuletta. But the Bears’ once deep D-line rotation took a hit due to free agency and Tank Johnson’s recent jail sentence (he could be repremanded by the commisioner’s office as well.) They signed Anthony Adams from the 49ers who fits well into their Cover 2 scheme and 2006 pick Dustin Dvoracek will come back from a season-long injury. Still, the line needs to be strengthened, as well as the aging offensive line. But the team has no major needs and is in prime position to go far again, despite recent runner-up failures.
Projected First Pick: Ben Grubbs, OG, Auburn
If Grubbs falls to the end of the first round, which non-top tier O-linemen usually do, then the Bears should not hesitate to snag Grubbs, who will be a great replacement for an aging Ruben Brown. They can address tackle letter in the draft or next year.
Dark Horse: Drew Stanton, QB, Michigan State
Jerry Angelo has a history of taking the best player available and if Stanton is there the Bears would be lucky to have him. Maybe the most underrated QB in the draft, Stanton would easily compete with Rex Grossman in the next few years for the starting job. Maybe he won’t take over, but at least it’ll make Grossman think about his job a little harder. The Bears have been too adament in handing the reigns to him. Stanton would make him work at being a better playcaller and competitor Monday-Friday. Maybe he won’t be taken with the 31st pick, but possibly the Bears’ early second-round pick.

Green Bay Packers
Last Season Finish: 8-8, 2nd place NFC North, Did not make playoffs
Picks: 16 (1), 47 (2), 78 (3), 112 (4), 157 (5), 193 (6), 228 (7), 243 (7)
Glaring Hole: RB
Team Needs: QB of the future, DT, DE, CB, S
Draft Outlook: Brett Favre is back for the 2007 season and he even let his team know before minicamps started. Still, nobody is sold on former first-round pick Aaron Rodgers taking over this team after Favre hangs up his cleats. But make no mistake about it, this team needs a running back. Ahmad Green bolted for the bucks Houston offered him, leaving the Packers with four sub-par replacements. They need to find a feature back to survive the 2007 season. The offensive line is great when its healthy, but has the potential for holes, though Favre’s backside is well protected by left tackle Chad Clifton, and left tackle is the cornerstone for any team. The defense over-achieved in 2007, but it won’t fall too far off last year’s numbers. AJ Hawk will be a stud middle linebacker and Charles Woodsen, though old, adds valued experience to a desperate secondary.
Projected First Pick: Michael Bush, RB, Louisville
The Packers would love to get their hands on Marshawn Lynch, the Cal RB, however, unless they move ahead of the Bills, who currently have Anthony Thomas slated to be their starting back, that won’t happen. Michael Bush is the next-best option, a polished prospect, but a risk coming off that leg injury that sidelined him for much of Louisville’s ‘06 season. Still, the Packers need a running back too badly to not draft Bush.
Dark Horse: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
Being the best corner in this year’s crop doesn’t say much, but Hall still would be a good pick here for the Packers, who could use some secondary help. Maybe not top playing speed, but he’s physical and can make plays.

Minnesota Vikings
Last Season Finish: 6-10, 3rd place NFC North, Did not make playoffs
Picks: 7 (1), 41 (2), 72 (3), 106 (4), 146 (5), 182 (6), 217 (7)
Glaring Hole: QB
Team Needs: RB, WR, DE, LB
Draft Outlook: This team lacks talent at any play-making position. The receivers corp is three No. 2 wideouts, the running backs have potential, but oft-injured/suspended and the team doesn’t have a quarterback, which is usually a problem. Steve Hutchinson leads a good offensive line with no one to block for. The defense is not bad, especially on third down, the strong point being the secondary who underachieves at times, and safety Darren Sharper isn’t getting younger. The team is on pace to continue its fall to the bottom of the NFC. The linebacking corps is young and only one of them, All-rookie Ben Leber, can be counted on for consistent contribution in ‘07. This team enters the draft needing a lot of help.
Projected First Pick: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
Lucky for the Vikings that none of the teams ahead of them need a running back, otherwise this pick would stink for them. Peterson is as close to a sure thing this draft has, even coming off the fluke injury. Minnesota needs Brady Quinn or DeMarcus Russell, but Russell won’t drop to seven and if Quinn does, head coach Brad Childress won’t pull the trigger. Plus, the draft has some talent at QB they can get in the second and third round. They need a wideout, but none are worth the No. 7 pick outside of Calvin Johson, who they won’t get.
Dark Horse: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
Polished, big and beastly. If he slips through the Redskins, he might be tough to pass up, even though this team needs O, not D.

Detroit Lions
Last Season Finish: 3-13, 4th place NFC North, Did not make playoffs
Picks: 2 (1), 34 (2), 66 (3), 101 (4), 139 (5), 145 (5-from Miami), 154 (5-from StL), 158 (5-from Den), 255 (7-compensation)
Glaring Hole: QB
Team Needs: TE, S, CB, WR, DT, DE, LB, G
Draft Outlook: The Lions find themeselves in a familiar position–at the top of the draft. They need a lot, so it’s a good thing they have so many picks in the first five rounds. Jon Kitna is not a starting quarterback in the NFL, period, and neither is Josh McCown. The team needs a wide receiver to compliment Roy Williams, but I’m sure Matt Millen would be hesitant to waste a top pick on one after recent busts (Charles Rogers and Mike Williams … maybe), even though Calvin Johnson is the top talent in the draft. But even with Johnson, they don’t have anyone to throw it to him. The defense is not good, ranking fifth to last in total defense in 2006. The offensive line is a group of untalented journeymen and practice-squad players, outside of center Dominic Raiola and recently aquired tackle George Foster. But position players are a top priority.
Projected First Pick: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson after trade with Tampa Bay
Matt Millen is not a good draft-day GM … or any day GM. With all the talent in the first five picks in three positions he needs to address for his team, Millen wants to trade out of the No. 2 spot. He’ll only find a suiter if the Raiders don’t take Calvin Johnson and it could be the Bucs, who would love to get a guy like Johnson for Chris Simms to throw to. Millen might get another few picks and Adams is a stellar pass rusher, but this is like passing on Reggie Bush for Mario Williams. Peterson, the two QBs or Johnson would help this team A LOT, but that’s besides the point–its the Lions.
Dark Horse: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
It’s not often the best player in the draft is a dark horse, but that’s Matt Millen for you. Only he would be dumb enough to take four wideouts with the top pick in his tenure, and only he would be dumb enough to pass on Johnson.

The Chicago Bears rejected the Washington Redskins’ trade request for linebacker Lance Briggs on Tuesday. The trade consisted of the Bears giving up the disgruntled Briggs and their first-round pick (31) for the Redskins’ first round pick (6). The Bears had until Tuesday to accept or reject the offer as it was without any chance to counter.

Briggs and agent Drew Rosenhaus, who also represents Terrell Owens, have been attempting to shop the Pro Bowl linebacker after he was given the franchise tag early this offseason.  The Redskins were the only team to make a serious offer to the Bears.

Briggs originally threatened to sit out the 2007 season and forgo the $7.2 million he will earn under the tag, but has now said he will play the final six games of the season, the minimum required to earn his full salary. Lovie Smith is still optimistic Briggs will play for the Bears next season.

“Lance is a part of the Chicago Bears. He has a contract with us. There’s nothing more to say that that,” Smith said at the fan convention. ”I’m a father and from time to time my kids don’t like me a lot, but they always come back around. I assume Lance will do the same.”

The only difference is Briggs is a grown man with on of the stingiest agent in all of sports. He can afford to sit out because he will be paid big bucks after the 2007 season. I don’t think thinks Smith’s kids’ allowances are over $7 million per year. But, if the Bears honestly think Briggs will play and that by drafting at the six spot they would have taken a big salary cap hit or would not be able to trade the pick and move down in the draft, then maybe they made the right decisioin. By drawing the hardline, GM Jerry Angelo avoids similar situations in the future. Still, it would have been nice to go after someone with early-first round talent, especially with how old the O-line is getting and a need for a consistent big play wide receiver.