Pre-Free Agency Look at Mock Draft Favorites in the NFC North

The end of the NFL Scouting Combine and the looming start of free agency have helped make major changes on the mock draft favorites inside the NFC North. 

The combine provided an intimate look at this year's draft class, allowing analysts to mostly finalize player evaluations and catch up on how those inside the league are viewing the prospects. Needs still remain on shaky ground, as free agency—which officially opens March 10—may yet wreak havoc on how teams view holes in their respective rosters. 

While the 2015 NFL draft is still roughly two months away, projections are starting to become more refined. Pro days represent the final hurdle separating now and the actual draft, leaving much of the evaluation process in the rearview mirror. 

As you'd expect, early favorites for the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings are shifting. 

We scanned through the post-combine mock drafts of Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, Rotoworld's Josh Norris, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, CBS Sports' Dane Brugler and ESPN's Todd McShay to help recalibrate the tone of the first round following the combine and before free agency. The mock draft favorite changed for three of the four teams since the first rendition of this exercise back in early February. 

The tidal shifts of free agency and another two months of draft work figure to bring more change to the cast list. But for now, these are the preferred players for the four teams in the NFC North:

Chicago Bears

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NT Danny Shelton, Washington (Miller, Brugler, McShay)

Missouri edge player Shane Ray—Chicago's overwhelming favorite back in February—did not receive a vote this time around, but the goal for the Bears is still very clear: defense, defense, defense. 

With new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio transitioning Chicago to a 3-4 front, a massive, space-eating nose tackle has jumped high on the Bears' priority list. The position is vital for demanding double-teams and keeping the trailing inside linebackers clean to make plays. 

The consensus No. 1 nose tackle in this year's class is Shelton, a 339-pound behemoth with a Haloti Ngata-type game and Vince Wilfork-like potential. Miller called him a "classic 0-technique anchor" who can be "the foundation for a new era in Chicago." 

Brugler was on board, labeling Shelton as a "great building block to start with for Chicago's renovations on defense." 

The Bears need help at a number of positions, but few will fault them if they build from the inside out. The Packers once did the same thing during their transition to a 3-4, selecting nose tackle B.J. Raji in the top 10 of the 2009 draft before trading back into the first round to grab outside linebacker Clay Matthews. It's possible the Bears could be eyeing a similar acquisition plan for this year's draft, especially considering the unusually high number of quality edge players available. 

Others: S Landon Collins, Alabama (Norris); OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson (Jeremiah) 

Detroit Lions

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C Cameron Erving, Florida State (Norris, McShay)

The futures of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley still hang in the uncertain balance of free agency, but the Lions can't be ruled out from looking to the other side of the line of scrimmage come April. Few would doubt Detroit's need to get (much) better along the offensive line.

That said, taking Erving in the first round would be a tough sell in Detroit. 

Despite experience at left tackle, Erving's projected position in the NFL is at center—where the Lions just invested a third-round pick in Travis Swanson. It's possible one of the two could slide to guard, or Erving to tackle, but that's a lot of unnecessary projection in the first round. 

Norris noted that drafting Swanson last May "should not keep a team from selecting a better player at an extremely important position in the first round." 

The only way this scenario looks even remotely possible is if the Lions like their evaluation of Erving at tackle, where he has the length and athleticism to be a factor. Taking a center at No. 23 overall—just one year after addressing the future of the position with a top-80 pick—just doesn't add up. 

And there's no denying the potential impact of losing Suh and/or Fairley, which would create a massive need at defensive tackle. The Lions would appear much more likely to use their first-rounder on replacing Suh/Fairley or addressing offensive tackle. 

Miller postulated about the possibility of adding a monster interior defender such as Oregon's Arik Armstead, while Jeremiah thinks selecting Florida offensive tackle D.J. Humphries could allow Riley Reiff to slide to right tackle. Either result seems more likely than taking a center. 

Others: DT Arik Armstead, Oregon (Miller); OT D.J. Humphries, Florida (Jeremiah); OT Ereck Flowers, Miami (Brugler)

Green Bay Packers

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DL Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma (Norris, McShay)

What a difference a month makes. 

Back in February, four of the five analysts liked the Packers to take an inside linebacker at No. 30 overall. This idea made loads of sense, as Green Bay had (and still has) no bigger hole on the roster. While that hole only deepened with the expected cuts of Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk, the focus has actually shifted away from inside linebacker. 

It is simple to connect the dots on Phillips in Green Bay. The Packers are currently lacking a starting nose tackle, as both Letroy Guion and B.J. Raji are unrestricted free agents with uncertain futures. There's also Phillips' connection with new Packers defensive assistant Jerry Montgomery, who was Oklahoma's defensive line coach last season. 

He is talented too. 

Norris liked Phillips' ability to "put together flashes," especially against the run. At 6'5" and almost 330 pounds, Phillips has the size to demand double-teams for an otherwise soft middle of Green Bay's defense. 

Two of the five analysts actually slotted a cornerback to the Packers, which could make sense if both Tramon Williams and Davon House depart this month. Another gave Green Bay an offensive tackle, clearly with Bryan Bulaga's free agency in mind. 

No analyst mocked an inside linebacker at No. 30. It appears as if the perceived value at the position has dropped, with many—such as TCU's Paul Dawson, Miami's Denzel Perryman and Mississippi State's Benardrick McKinney—looking more like second- or third-round prospects. 

Others: CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State (Miller); OT Ereck Flowers, Miami (Jeremiah); CB Quinten Rollins, Miami (Ohio) (Brugler)

Minnesota Vikings

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WR DeVante Parker, Louisville (Miller, Brugler); CB Trae Waynes, Michigan State (Norris, McShay) 

We've finally arrived at the repeat portion of the program. Unlike the three other teams, the Vikings have remained steady with their favorite from a month ago.

But a new name has joined Parker as a potential No. 11 pick.

Waynes, who blazed through the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, is the fast-rising newcomer. He could team with Xavier Rhodes and Captain Munnerlyn to give Mike Zimmer an attractive trio of cover cornerbacks for his ever-attacking defense. 

Norris notes Waynes is the  "top corner in every anonymous scout’s mind." Jeremiah has him off the board at No. 6 to the New York Jets. 

However, Miller isn't giving up on the Parker-Teddy Bridgewater reunion. 

"The two Louisville Cardinals need each other—Teddy needs a legitimate No. 1 receiver and Parker will step into an NFL offense begging for his ability in the red zone," Miller wrote. 

West Virginia's Kevin White received a single vote back in February, but his impressive combine has likely taken him out of Minnesota's reach. He was off the board before No. 11 in all five mocks. 

That reality leaves Parker and Alabama's Amari Cooper. The Vikings would likely be happy with either receiver. And if defense remains the preferred avenue, a cornerback like Waynes or the best available linebacker looks like the most likely option. 

Others: WR Amari Cooper, Alabama (Jeremiah)

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2