All Activity

From the league meetings, it sounds like Trapilo will be out for the entire season.

I guess it depends on the DT. Like I said above, I don't really think this draft is good for the type of DT that Dennis Allen seems to prefer - it wouldn't have to be Aaron Donald but even guys like Walter Nolen, Calijah Kancey, Byron Murphy, Bryan Bressee, or Jer'Zhan Newton would be great fits for what Dennis Allen wants and would be good theoretical end of first round targets. But the guys likely to be there and worthy of the pick are Banks (questionable 3T fit, not a lot of production, and several foot issues), Peter Woods (quesitonable 3T fit who seemed to get worse last year), and Kayden McDonald (pretty clearly more of a NT than 3T). Now, if the Bears wanted to pivot and take a bigger NT guy, I wouldn't actually have a problem with that - I think the Bears run defense last year was at least as much of an issue as their pass defense and getting a run stopper would make some sense, but that's not what the history of Dennis Allen defenses suggests they would do.

yes for sure.

The Mock Draft Consensus has McNeil-Warren, McDonald, Woods, and Young as the highest probable. On the Big Board, 25-29 have some good players (Woods -DL, McNeil-Warren-S, Parker-Edge, Miller-OT, McDonald-DT) with 3 of the top 5 listed as probable for the Bears. I would not be too upset if they went Safety at 25, BUTTTTTTT, I would hate to put that much capital into the Safety position considering they just gave out their biggest FA contract to Bryant. DT needs some love.

Yeah, I think those guys are untouchable; you could probably extend that to include Darnell Wright as well.

Banks is one of those guys that you see rare length with athletic ability. He would need a lot of work on his run stop ability and that is what the Bears need most, so it comes down if they feel he can develop in that area. Big boys with foot issues is also a concern. If the Bears believe he can overcome those two issues, he would be a monster for us in the middle. He would also have former gator Dexter take him under his wing. Dexter should have extra motivation going into a contract year. The hard part is do the Bears go DT early after adding free agents. I feel they need to so they have long term talent, but they may have bought themselves a year to fill other positions

There is a good chance he may still be available when we draft (unless Buffalo, who has a need for a DT, leapfrogs us to grab him) I love the guy, hell of a player, but his recurrence of foot injuries is a major concern.

I would like Caleb Banks in the first, then Derrick Moore in the second. Then, Jacob Rodriguez and Genesis Smith in the second and third, if we're lucky.

I agree, although if Odunze has another year with a ton of drops that could change, but right now I agree with you 100% and I expect Odunze to be better this year.

When young players are so dominant, they don't have to work as hard on technique to win. Just like Jones and Carter, Banks should ascend after playing against real men.

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.