Identifying the biggest need for every NFC North team

theScore goes division by division to identify the biggest positional needs for all 32 NFL teams entering the 2017 draft, which will be held from April 27-29.

AFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST
NFC
EAST | NORTH | SOUTH | WEST

Chicago Bears

Biggest need: Wide receiver

Other needs: Offensive tackle, defensive end

The Bears got to work this offseason replenishing their barren roster. Their free-agency gains have netted a quarterback and a capable secondary, but holes remain.

The first order of business should be to find talent at the wide receiver position to grow with the club's other young players. Mike Glennon will spend the majority of 2017 throwing passes to Cameron Meredith, Kevin White, Markus Wheaton, Kendall Wright, and Deonte Thompson. That collection of wideouts does not strike fear in the heart of defenses.

This draft is notably thin on offensive tackles. Chicago would do well to find a prospect who could blossom into a tackle of the future, however.

Potential draft targets: It's anybody's guess what the Bears will do with the third overall pick. Selecting a receiver that high is likely out of the question, but Chicago is rumored to be looking to trade out of that draft slot. If the team can accomplish that goal and drop into the middle of the first round, Illinois native Corey Davis would be a perfect fit with the Monsters of the Midway.

If the Bears keep their pick near the top of the second round, they may luck out and land tackle Garett Bolles out of Utah.

Sticking in the midwest, Michigan defensive end Chris Wormley might find himself at home on the Bears' defensive line.

Detroit Lions

Biggest need: Linebacker

Other needs: Running back

The Lions cut ties with oft-injured linebacker DeAndre Levy and while the team has had to manage without him for much of the past two seasons, a long-term replacement has yet to be identified.

Detroit spent the majority of free agency rebuilding the protection around quarterback Matt Stafford with the additions of Ricky Wagner and T.J. Lang. The next order of business should be improving on the league's 30th-ranked rushing offense by adding a new running back.

Potential draft targets: Reuben Foster will be off the board by the time the Lions pick at No. 21. They'd count themselves fortunate if Haason Reddick is still available, however.

Also working in Detroit's favor is the depth of talented running backs available in this year's draft. The Lions can afford to wait until their 53rd overall pick and could still come away with Alvin Kamara, Joe Mixon, or Kareem Hunt.

Green Bay Packers

Biggest need: Offensive guard

Other needs: Running back, defensive end

Aaron Rodgers' interior protectors were poached in free agency, leaving the Packers with some holes to fill. While it isn't ideal to place rookies in charge of keeping one of the best players in the league clean, that's the modus operandi of the Packers, a team that avoids free-agent shopping like the plague.

The Packers made it public they were open to bringing back Eddie Lacy, but he signed with the Seahawks. Ty Montgomery will make the full conversion from receiver to running back this upcoming season, but Green Bay would be wise to draft their back of the future, or at least add some insurance in the event Montgomery is injured or ineffective.

Julius Peppers went home to Carolina this offseason. The Pack added Ricky Jean-Francois but could use some youth at the position.

Potential draft targets: The Packers just might luck out and land Forrest Lamp or Dan Feeney late in the first round. They should hope for such a scenario as the talent level falls off at the position after those two.

Green Bay will likely have a bounty of viable backs with which to choose from when their second-round pick rolls around. D'Onta Foreman, Samaje Perine, and Jeremy McNichols would all look good running in the Lambeau snow.

Seniors DeMarcus Walker and Derek Rivers are each defensive ends of the plug-and-play variety that could be available when the Packers make their third-round pick.

Minnesota Vikings

Biggest need: Offensive guard

Other needs: Wide receiver, center

The Vikings' decrepit offensive line has two new starters in offseason signees Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers. The guard position requires reinforcements as well.

Minnesota managed to make it through 2016 with Stefon Diggs, a career season from formerly undrafted Adam Thielen, and one catch from first-round draft pick Laquon Treadwell. If the Vikes hope to make good on the promise the rest of their roster provides, it goes without saying they'll need more options at wideout.

Joe Berger has started every game he's played for the Vikings in the last two seasons. He's entering his 14th season, however, necessitating the search for his eventual replacement.

Potential draft targets: Unless they work out another trade, the Vikings will be without a draft pick in the first round. With pick 16 in the second round, the Vikings could target Dion Dawkins at guard or look to add a receiver in the mold of Curtis Samuel or Chris Godwin.

LSU's Ethan Pocic might still be on the board when the Vikings pick 15th in the third round.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)