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I remember your post and share similar thoughts on that comparison but you fall under the singular "fan" and not the generic blogosphere and podcast world of "fans" I intended to refer to. Stinger... Caleb Banks is not a clone of Dexter by any means. He has a very quick lateral step and can work to the edges of blocks or between blocks (i.e. double team) far better. On top of that he's incredibly strong. In all the years of watching draft analysis I can recall two players who can ragdoll Olinemen to the ground: Jalen Carter and Caleb Banks. I think the pad level issue is being over done and it's not an every down issue. Besides that every lineman that is 6'6" tall will have the same issue. For comparison this was the weakness of Chris Jones ten years ago: "WeaknessesWill lock­out his long legs on too many snaps. Upright play style limits his leverage and balance against down­ blocks. Motor will run out of gas if he's forced to chase after play for very long. Average ball instincts. Change of direction can be inconsistent due to pad level. Flashes pass rush talent, but too content to lay on blockers when early rush fizzles." This analysis is using 2024 film.

IMO. Williams, Burden, Loveland, and Odunze are all untouchable. Those four players, with Ben Johnson, are the future of the Bears.

Fans know about Banks. This particular one shared a video of him with you, claiming he was a Chris Jones clone. If his pro day goes well, I believe he'll climb in the draft. If he's out of shape, he may fall to us.

I agree with all of that.

I just don’t think this is a good “smaller, pass-rushing DT” draft if that really is what we’re looking for. While Banks and Wood’s seem to have some of the tools, neither has really done it well at the collegiate level. The next wave are more NT run defense types (McDonald, Hunter, Miller). There are maybe a couple more middle round guys who fit the bill (Halton, Durant, maybe Proctor) but really think that’s why we saw the Bears get a bunch of guys who fit the mold they are looking for in free agency (Gallimore, Street, Lynch) and maybe they don’t even go DT in the draft, see what these guys do, and reassess next year.

Just because pundits say it doesnt make it true. Also, no way we trade Burden or Loveland, and Odunze isnt going anywhere either. Not this year anyway. If Garrett wont play, the Browns will have to cut their losses. Part of why Garrett wont play is theyre ripping the team down to the studs to rebuild, like we did when we got rid of Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith. So they're going to be all about dead cap anyway right now. They want picks. If multiple teams are bidding, and Garrett has OK'd them all as destinations, then the price will be high. But if there are not many teams bidding, or if Garrett says he only wants one team, then the price falls. And if Garrett wants to go to a winner, then he is smart enough to know that having the team hes going to lose a ton of draft picks doesnt get him closer to the SB. So it is in his interest to keep the pool of teams bidding small. The Browns might just have to eat it.

I have listened to many pundits about this and 2 first round picks and a good player isthe floor. There is no reason for them to take a high paid player back. I would say they would ask for Rome Odunze, Luther Burden or Loveland. They have to take a 41 mil Cap hit to trade him before June 1. They have to deal with moving on from Watson in the next two years. They won't want a big contract player back.

Caleb Banks could be the best DT taken this year but he has injury concerns. He also has the same problem as Dexter, he plays to much with a high pad level. I'll pass as our first pick, maybe in the second round is worth the risk.

Im glad you see it and have shared previously. I've mentioned it a few times as well. The DEs are the big boys that contain while everyone else could possibly attack.

I've posted this multiple times but in one of his early press conferences with Bears media Dennis Allen said "pass rush does not come from the edge, it comes up the middle." That indicates we need one of the best pass rushing DTs in this draft and that he prefers pocket containment with his edges. The top 2 interior pass rushers are Peter Woods (going off reports of his 2024 tape where he played more 3-tech) and maybe the best upside interior rusher is Caleb Banks. Banks is getting no attention from Bears fans and media which is eerily similar to Loveland last year. Yet the team showed they were willing to be patient while Loveland rehabbed even early into the season because they wanted the upside. Perhaps we should be keeping that in mind. Banks reportedly will be ready around the Jun time frame so he'll miss some of the summer camp stuff (as did Loveland). https://www.thedraftnetwork.com/2026/01/15/caleb-banks-scouting-report-nfl-draft "Pass-Rush Upside: When scouting Banks, his first-step quickness and overall athleticism show clear upside as a pass rusher. He gets off the ball quickly and works upfield to beat offensive linemen to the quarterback. Even when he does not reach the quarterback, his length remains disruptive, as passers can feel and see his presence. With proper development, Banks can become an impactful interior pass rusher at the NFL level."

This is not who I would exactly draft but who i see the Bears drafting. McDonald and Young have top 30 visits. Young fits DAs defense, so i can see it. I think we see the DEs roles different from him. He dont want a guy losing his gap to pursue the QB all the time. I would not be shocked to see Gennings Dunker round 2. If Trapilo can man the LT Dunker can.

Love all those picks except Zion Young, but I think you're thinking the right way about the picks. If the board falls a certain way, it might be an OT or CB too.

I think our pick comes down to these players: Kayden McDonald DT, Zion Young DE, Dillon Thieneman S, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S. Couple sleepers: Peter Wood DT, havent heard anything connecting him to Bears. Makai Lemin WR - bc why not make the offense scarier.

I see your point about players. I was just thinking who we could give, not who theyd want - it's a good point. It seems like they are in teardown mode, and they already have a ton of dead cap, and can actually afford more. It reminds me of the year we got rid of Khalil Mack and Roquan Smith.

Good Lord, that's chasing chickens with Von Miller quick.

I doubt CLE wants Bagent. They are still paying Watson, and just drafted Sanders and Gabriel. At CB, they already have Ward and Campbell both making $20M a year, so I doubt they would want Stevenson or Johnson. At TE, they have Fannin, but Kmet could be a vet option. So Sweat makes the most sense, they would get a downgrade at Edge, but gain multiple picks. Instead of creating a hole that you ultimately have to fill with one of the picks. The other thing to think about is the cap situation, if the Browns trade Garrett before June 1st, which would be required if they wanted to get picks in this year's draft, they would accelerate an additional $17M to this year's cap while adding the new player's salary (if a player was traded to them). It can be done, but makes for challenging situation. They would ultimately be better off doing a post June 1st trade, but then wouldn't get any picks until 2027.

Remember when Angelo found SB studs and then Lovie got GM power and the drafts went to hell. At least I feel better about Ben directing Poles. I want to see him rocking in his chair rubbing his hands again this draft.

I thought we preferred guys who could jump out of pools?

Well for sure Garrett wants to be traded. We know this because hes holding out, and it's not for money. And you make a good point, that Garrett has a no-trade clause, so it stands to reason, given that he's holding out, he must have particular teams in mind that he'd like to be traded to. A lot of money changed hands on edge rushers this offseason, so there are potentially fewer suitors at this moment than, say, a month ago. Crosby's possible availability also may cool the market some. I would imagine that the Bears are interested, but the hurdle would be the price of the trade. If Garrett really wants to come here (or anywhere), he can also tell the Browns that he doesn't want any other team, and that would also soften the trade price. And help the team hes going to to get closer to that Superbowl. Having his new team lose a bunch of picks doesnt help him reach his goal, so he'd be motivated to narrow that list I think? I can also imagine that if the Bears are considering this, they'd want to be sure Bain was off the board at pick 25. I could see this trade happening on draft day, whether it's us or any team. I think it all hinges on who Garrett wants to play for. If hes open to 6 teams, the trade price goes up, if he is pushing for one or two, it goes lower. I'd sure love to see him in a Bears uniform, but not for three first round picks. Two and Bagent would work, but I wouldnt go higher. And if Garrett really wants the Bears, it's because he wants to get a ring here. So maybe he could hold out for just the Bears (or any one team) and drive that price down to a First, a Second and a player. I would be willing for that player to be Jaylon Johnson, Tyson Bagent, Montez Sweat, Cole Kmet or Tyreek Stephenson.

Garrett had to approve the contract restructure. Plus I thought he had a no trade clause in this contract? There has to be at least one “approved” team in serious discussions for that restructure to get done From the AI: Search Assist Myles Garrett's contract includes a no-trade clause, meaning he must approve any potential trade. The recent contract modifications make him easier to trade, but as of now, the Cleveland Browns have no plans to move him.

Not “my guy” yet, but if you are looking for this year’s Hyppolite pick that Poles might fall in love with, this might be the guy:

I think you may be right. But no sane GM would trade three first rounders for an edge player who is 30 years old. Maybe there is an insane GM out there, maybe several I dunno. But as much as I want the guy, Im not paying that for him. Meanwhile the Browns are stuck, because he isnt speaking to them. Hopefully that pressure lowers the price?

If you take Roushar at his word that these visits are to clear up some details on issues with prospects and not necessarily firming up profiles on the guys you like. Zion needs to account for his DUI but I'd expect they already did that at either Senior Bowl or Combine. Then you have McDonald with no character or medical issues I'm aware of. Seems like lying season is in full swing.

The Cleveland plan is making sense now. They requested the NFL make a rule change to allow teams to trade draft picks up to 5 years. Currently it is limited to 3 years (i.e. 2026, 27, 28). Cleveland already has two first round picks this year. It appears if they trade Garrett they would like to get first round picks in 27,28, and 29 so they'd have four years in a row with 2 first round picks. That makes sense given that this year is not a good year for finding a QB so they don't necessarily want 3 first round picks this year. I'd say Garrett is about to get traded and the Browns have committed to a full tear down and rebuild. Garrett is one of the best defensive players in history but three first round picks is giving away a lot of future draft leverage especially if they want those picks all the way out to 2029. No NFL GM has a clue what is roster will look like in 4 seasons or if they'll even have a job.