The picks that the Packers, Vikings, and Bears made in the 2026 NFL Draft that the Lions should be concerned about

The three draft picks the Lions’ NFC North foes made in the 2026 NFL Draft that could cause problems for Detroit

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman is selected by the Chicago Bears as the number 25 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman is selected by the Chicago Bears as the number 25 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about the Detroit Lions’ draft class, as we should, because that’s the team we cover at AtoZ Detroit. But part of the job is also taking a look at what the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers did in the draft to see what that should be concerning.

Let’s talk about the one pick that each of the Lions’ NFC North foes made that should be a concern for Detroit.

Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks

I don’t know if this one is going to be a problem in 2026 since Banks has been dealing with a foot injury during the offseason, but I do see how it could be a problem in 2027 and beyond. Banks is a good interior defensive lineman. He’s a good run stuffer and a good pass rusher. Once he’s healthy, he should be expected to start for them right away.

The ioe good thing to consider is that Pro Football Focus has graded him not very well at all in the tackling department over the last two years.

Chicago Bears: Dillion Thienemen

The Bears did lose a lot on their secondary, but Thieneman is a guy who, much like Vikings legend Harrison Smith, can be around for a long time and cause problems for the Lions.

He had a 91.1 coverage grade at Oregon last year and an 87.1 tackling grade. The good news is that despite that, he still allowed a passer rating of 80.4 when targeted. But he’s going to get his tackles and his pass breakups.

Green Bay Packers: Dani Dennis-Sutton

I know a lot of Lions fans were interested in him in the later rounds, but the Packers wound up getting him in the fourth. With Micah Parsons presumably out to begin the season, Dennis-Sutton is likely to be their guy in his spot. He has a lot of Sam linebacker possibilities that intrigue me as to what exactly they do with him. But he can get to the quarterback.

The good thing is, like Banks, he has a penchant for missing tackles a little more than Packers fans might be comfortable with.

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