National Football League

Scout.com: Top NFC North prospects

Published Aug. 31, 2009 6:33 p.m. ET

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PROSPECT RANKINGS BY DIVISION:

NFC: East | North | South | West

AFC: East | North | South | West

CHICAGO BEARS Team Page \| Roster \| Depth Chart \| Draft Board Top Prospect: RB Matt Forte
No.	Pos.	Prospect	NFL Exp.	Birthdate
1	RB	Matt Forte	2	12/10/85
2	TE	Greg Olsen	3	3/11/85
3	OT	Chris Williams	2	8/26/85
4	WR	Earl Bennett	2	3/23/87
5	CB	Zack Bowman	2	11/18/84
6	S	Kevin Payne	3	12/5/83
7	WR	Juaquin Iglesias	R	8/22/87
8	DT	Marcus Harrison	2	7/10/84
9	DE	Jarron Gilbert	R	9/30/86
10	S	Corey Graham	3	7/25/85
The 2008 draft featured one of the best running back classes in recent memory, and the Chicago Bears took full advantage of the deep class by adding the best running back in franchise history since the late great Walter Payton, former Tulane sensation Matt Forte. Since Payton, the Bears have seen flashes of brilliance from runners like Neal Anderson, Thomas Jones, Anthony Thomas, Rashaan Salaam, Cedric Benson, Raymont Harris and James Allen, among others. But not one of them looked as good as Forte in their first year. Full prospect breakdown ...

DETROIT LIONS Team Page \| Roster \| Depth Chart \| Draft Board Top Prospect: WR Calvin Johnson
No.	Pos.	Prospect	NFL Exp.	Birthdate
1	WR	Calvin Johnson	3	9/25/85
2	QB	Matt Stafford	R	2/7/88
3	LB	Ernie Sims	4	12/23/84
4	RB	Kevin Smith	2	12/17/86
5	TE	Brandon Pettigrew	R	1/23/86
6	DE	Cliff Avril	2	4/8/86
7	OT	Gosder Cherilus	2	6/28/84
8	S	Louis Delmas	R	4/12/87
9	WR	Derrick Williams	R	7/6/86
10	LB	Jordan Dizon	2	1/16/86
You don't have to look far to discover the ineptitude of the Detroit Lions franchise. Any team that selects four wide receivers in the top 10 during one decade has to have some serious issues. Not only did the Lions select four wide receivers, they selected a wide receiver three years in a row: Charles Rogers No. 2 overall in 2002, Roy Williams No. 7 overall in 2003 and Mike Williams No. 10 overall in 2004; all of whom are no longer with the team. However, as the saying goes, "Save the best for last." The Lions scored in a big way with the fourth receiver they selected with the second pick in the 2007 draft, former Georgia Tech phenom Calvin Johnson. Full prospect breakdown ...

GREEN BAY PACKERS Team Page \| Roster \| Depth Chart \| Draft Board Top Prospect: RB Ryan Grant
No.	Pos.	Prospect	NFL Exp.	Birthdate
1	RB	Ryan Grant	3	12/9/82
2	DT	B.J. Raji	R	7/11/86
3	WR	Jordy Nelson	2	5/31/85
4	QB	Brian Brohm	2	9/23/85
5	LB	Clay Matthews	R	5/14/86
6	WR	James Jones	3	3/31/84
7	K	Mason Crosby	3	9/3/84
8	CB	Tramon Williams	3	3/16/83
9	RB	Brandon Jackson	3	10/2/85
10	TE	Jermichael Finley	2	3/26/87
The journey to the NFL is different for every player; they all have a story. Some guys are high first-round draft picks that make millions of dollars before they even play a down in the NFL, most guys get drafted beyond the first round and have to prove that they were worthy of that selection before they get their respect, while others take the long road as undrafted free agents and have to fight their way onto a roster and work their way up a depth chart. And then there are those remarkable stories, stories that defy all odds, and with a glimmer of hope, they turn out for the better. Full prospect breakdown ...

MINNESOTA VIKINGS Team Page \| Roster \| Depth Chart \| Draft Board Top Prospect: RB Adrian Peterson
No.	Pos.	Prospect	NFL Exp.	Birthdate
1	RB	Adrian Peterson	3	3/21/85
2	WR	Percy Harvin	R	5/28/88
3	S	Tyrell Johnson	2	5/31/85
4	DE	Ray Edwards	4	1/1/85
5	OT	Phil Loadholt	R	1/21/86
6	WR	Sidney Rice	3	9/1/86
7	DE	Brian Robison	3	4/27/83
8	C	John Sullivan	2	8/8/85
9	CB	Asher Allen	R	1/22/88
10	DT	Letroy Guion	2	6/21/87
The first round of the 2007 NFL Draft produced a lot of great young players who have already left their mark on the game and are still improving: Calvin Johnson (Detroit Lions), Joe Thomas (Cleveland Browns), Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers), Darrelle Revis (New York Jets), Jon Beason (Carolina Panthers) and more. But no one has had a greater impact on the league than the player who had many questions surrounding him leading up to the draft, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Full prospect breakdown ...

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