The NFC North could look wide open in 2026, and that means the draft picks who land outside the first round may end up swinging the division more than anyone expects. Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota all came away with rookies who could matter fast - and in a few cases, maybe matter a lot.
The names to keep in mind are Sam Roush, Derrick Moore, Brandon Cisse and Domonique Orange. None of them were first-rounders, but each one walks into a situation where his development could change what his team looks like this season and beyond.
Chicago’s pick at No. 69 overall raised some eyebrows because the Bears already have second-year tight end Colston Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet in the room. Still, Sam Roush gives Ben Johnson another weapon for the kind of heavy-personnel looks he likes to use.
At the very least, he’s a useful depth piece behind Loveland and Kmet. At best, he’s the kind of tight end who can help redefine the group.
Roush comes in as an elite in-line blocker with the athleticism to pick up yards after the catch, and his 4.70-second 40 at the NFL Combine points to real speed for the position. If he keeps developing, Chicago could eventually have another complete tight end in the mold of Tucker Kraft and Sam LaPorta.
And if that happens, the Kmet era in Chicago could be coming to a close, with Caleb Williams benefiting from a Loveland-Roush pairing.
Detroit used its first two draft picks to address major needs, starting with offensive line help in Blake Miller before turning to Derrick Moore with the first pick of Day 2. Moore is the one who could become the bigger difference-maker.
The University of Michigan edge rusher is set up to work as a rotational pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, and his track record suggests real upside. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, Moore led the Wolverines with 10.0 sacks in 2025 and showed off an elite bull rush while using his size, arm length and mix of power and speed to get after the quarterback.
With Hutchinson drawing attention on the other side, Moore has a path to becoming a problem for NFC North offenses for a long time.
Green Bay didn’t have a first-round pick after the Micah Parsons trade, so its top selection came at No. 52 overall, where the Packers went after cornerback Brandon Cisse from South Carolina. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are projected to start when training camp opens, but Cisse has the athletic tools and speed to push for snaps and eventually claim one of those jobs.
His press-man ability and physical style make him a tough matchup, and the scary part is that there’s still room for him to grow despite the production he already showed in college. If he finds his footing quickly, Green Bay may finally have the shutdown corner it has been looking for.
Minnesota attacked the interior of its defensive line after moving on from veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. The Vikings doubled up at defensive tackle in the draft, taking Caleb Banks at No. 18 and Domonique Orange at No.
- Banks will get plenty of attention, but Orange is the rookie NFC North rivals may need to worry about most.
At 322 pounds, the Iowa State product brings a reputation as a run-stopping machine. Minnesota is asking a lot from Banks, but it also needs Orange to become a real contributor.
If both young tackles develop into a cheaper, younger version of what Allen and Hargrave gave the Vikings, that front can stay one of the league’s most physical units.
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