NFL draft grades 2017: Not much love for Bears’ big move

The Bears made the biggest splash of the 2017 NFL Draft by trading away four picks to move up one spot in the first round. While that allowed them to make Mitchell Trubisky the first quarterback off the board, it also brought on scorn from draft pundits.

Chicago topped out at a “C+” in the earliest post-draft grades from pundits across the NFL. To make matters worse, division rivals like the Packers and Vikings earned “As,” deepening the gap between the top of the NFC North and the Bears’ spot at the bottom.

Green Bay shored up its most glaring weakness by adding a pair of dynamic athletes in the secondary. Minnesota found first-round talent despite not having a first-round draft pick. Detroit took quality over need, adding big prospects that won’t fix its problems at tailback or pass rusher.

The Bears? They got a project quarterback and a project tight end for their troubles. Here’s what analysts thought about the NFC North as a whole.

Chicago paid a king’s ransom at the draft to select Trubisky, just months after paying a fortune in free agency to give Mike Glennon the chance to start at quarterback. That’s a big gamble to take a passer at No. 2 overall in a draft notoriously weak at the position. That move limited their draft capital, but they paired their developmental QB with a developmental tight end in the second round — Adam Shaheen was a beast in college, but that was against Division II competition.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: C
Mel Kiper, ESPN: C+
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: D
Chris Burke, SI: C-
Nate Davis, USA Today: C-
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: C+

The Lions didn’t really address their biggest needs this draft, failing to pick up a running back despite a deep class and neglecting to add a pass rushing threat. Teez Tabor plays much better than his testing numbers and Jarrad Davis can come in and start from day one, but the consensus is Detroit could have done much more with its opportunities.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: C
Mel Kiper, ESPN: C+
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: D
Chris Burke, SI: B
Nate Davis, USA Today: C+
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: B

The Packers failed to address their tailback needs early in the draft, instead repairing a fractured secondary by adding Kevin King and Josh Jones in the first two rounds. They’d add two solid college backs on day three with Aaron Jones and Devante Mays, along with yet another receiving weapon in Malachi Dupre.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: B+
Mel Kiper, ESPN: B+
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: A
Chris Burke, SI: B+
Nate Davis, USA Today: B+
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: B+

Minnesota didn’t have a first-round pick but still came away with first- and second-round talents thanks to smart drafting. Dalvin Cook will provide an immediate boost for the league’s 32nd-ranked rushing offense, and Pat Elflein will help clear a path for him at the interior of the line. Bucky Hodges was a strong value pick who could give the Vikings a dynamic tight end tandem alongside Kyle Rudolph.

Dan Kadar, SB Nation: A
Mel Kiper, ESPN: B+
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: C+
Chris Burke, SI: B+
Nate Davis, USA Today: B
Chad Reuter, NFL.com: B+