dawhizz

It depends so much on what we are looking for. For instance: DT - If you're talking "big 330+ NT", then I think you're right about needing to get one in the first. But if its true that Fangio's scheme doesn't require that kind of size, then there's mid-late round guys (Chucky Hunter, Joey Mbu, Grady Jarrett, David Parry) who would fit the bill and be good value if that's what Fangio is looking for. OLB/DE - I would say there's value here in the 2nd round as well with guys like Eli Harold, Nate Orchard, the LB from Washington whose name I can't spell. For instance, I personally think there's less of a difference between those guys and Gregory/Ray/Fowler/Beasley than between a 2nd round WR (say Devin Smith or Agholar) and White/Cooper. But I agree it's pretty slim pickings after that. OT - I think value for a potential LT dries up in the 2nd and maybe the 3rd (Sambrailo? Donovan Smith?) and for a RT who might be able to play reasonably soon in the 4th (Daryl Williams, Jamon Brown, Rob Haverstein). OG/C - I see value around the 5th and maybe even 6th round. I think you can get the last man standing between guys like Gallik, Finney, Mason, Dismukes, and Garcia and still have a future starter at C/G. ILB - I think there's a little more depth here than you do. I think you're right that the value is probably in the second as far as getting a potential stud/immediate starter, but I like plenty of mid-round guys (Jeff Luc, Jake Ryan, Taiwan Jones). FS - I don't really see too many FSs I'm interested in that figure to be around after the third round, although given the lack of depth, I personally worry about a run on the FSs in the second. If Randall, Smith, and Harris go, suddenly you're staring at Gerod Holliman and his very questionable tackling ability. I'll also add WR. Everyone talks about this being a deep WR draft, and it is if you are looking for contributors, but if you're looking for a potential starter at an outside spot (as I presume the Bears are doing), you pretty much need to pull the trigger by your pick in the second at the earliest (if Agholar or Smith are still around) because the next batch figure to be slot guys (Dorsett, Lockett, Crowder), unless maybe a guy like Coates or Greeene slips or you really like Tre McBride. So maybe the lesson is to try to get as many picks in the 2nd/3rd as possibly by trading down and take advantage of some of the value in those rounds.

We must be moving the needle because new mock drafts from McShay and Doug Farrar (SI.com) both have the Bears taking Williams.

He also got cut by the Raiders and Titans, which does not fill me with confidence.

QB Tyler Wilson (2013 fourth round pick of the Raiders out of Arkansas) will participate in the Bears' minicamp next week. So, there's that.

Am I the only one who is starting to think Leonard Williams is a legit possibility at #7? - The Bucs are taking Winston. - Mariota is going #2 to the Titans or someone else - The Jags seem to be leaning edge rusher, probably Fowler - Possible here, but the Raiders desperately need a WR. - The Redskins signed Paea, Knighton, and Jean-Francois this offseason, so DL is a low priority, though maybe value dictates he goes here. - The Jets are pretty stacked on the line. Barring a trade up, I can definitely see Williams slipping into out laps.

I actually feel the same way. I think the worst thing we can do is reach for a S in a bad class based on need. If someone falls in our lap, great, but otherwise, they can start Rolle and Mundy and use Vereen similar to how Fangio used Jimmie Ward last year, maybe get a developmental S like Geathers or Eskridge in the late rounds.

With the draft coming up, I thought this might be a good "catch-all" thread for people's favorite or least favorite prospects, or things they've noticed, low round prospects who are underrated, player comparisons, etc. All I know is what I read and what I see on YouTube and Draft Breakdown clips, but: - I don't see a ton of difference in tape and measurements between 1/2 round pick Nelson Agholar, and mid/late round WR Kenny Bell from Nebraska. - I mentioned this in the Safeties thread, but I like Kysheon Jarrett from VT as a late round safety/rover. He reminds me some of Antoine Bethea and seems to cover well in the slot from what I've seen. - Everyone wants to project ILB Jeff Luc from Cincinnati as a FB, but I think he can play as a LB and like him in our scheme.

I think my main concern is that the Bears really need a FS, and I feel like there may not be any "plug & play" FSs in this draft besides Randall and maybe Derron Smith and a bunch of potential CB converts (Rollins, Shaw, Rowe, etc.). Harris and Prewitt seem more like SSs. Holliman and Drummond seem like really bad tacklers. Eskridge I like OK, but he came out early and will need another year. So, if you're the Bears, and you want a safety, do you draft a SS and put Rolle at FS, or do you possibly reach for a FS like Randall or Smith in the second based on need? Or would it be better to just get another body at S and plan on using Rolle and Mundy/Vereen this year? I don't know the answer to that. I like the mention of Geathers up in the OP. I like the tape I've seen. The other late guy I'm really warming up to Kyshown Jarrett from VT. He' small, but seems to consistently take on and take down bigger guys and shows some good recovery speed. Reminds me a bit of Antoine Bethea, who Fangio had last year in SF. Take a look:

Wisnewsi signed with the Jaguars. Not that he was a likely consideration after Montgomery signed, but worth a mention.

Here's an article from the ST on the Bears' O-line needs. Lots about Donovan Smith, who I've though might be a good mid-round OT target, but it also mentions that they might start giving Charles Leno, our 7th round pick last year and a college OT, snaps at C. Hadn't seen that mentioned before today. http://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-football...t-donovan-smith

Maybe so, but given the state if RBs in the NFL, it's hard for me to believe that three RBs (Gurley, Gordon, now Coleman) would go in the first round.

They were BPA.

I think I finally found one we can all agree on: 1) Kevin White, WR, West Virginia 2) Leonard Williams, DT, USC 2) Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa 3) Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State 4) Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia 5) Landon Collins, S, Alabama 6) Jamies Winston, QB, Florida State Undrafted Free Agent - Vic Beasley, LB, Clemson

I don't know why you think I'm "muddying the waters" with my criticism of Grasu in the 3rd and Mason in 5th. Our weakest position on the line, I assume we would all agree, is RT, and probably next is LT. So if we want to upgrade THIS YEAR, we either need to add a T who can start, or add a guard that can start and move Long to T, which doesn't seem like that difficult a task (your subsequent mock with Laken Tomlinson achieves this, for instance). But adding a center in the 3rd and guard in the 5th probably doesn't do that unless you think Shaq Mason can start right away, which I don't, or start Grasu at G, but everything I've read said he's a natural center. I didn't mean to cause a kerfuffle. Just giving my opinion.

I would be OK with this.

It does if I think Donovan Smith can beat out Jordan Mills, which I do.

I don't think we're going to find a consensus. I'm not a big fan of a 1st round pick with 30% body fat and a second round pick that might be the next Josh Gordon. With the trade down, noting the various opinions, this would be my proposal: 1 - Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State 2 - Carl Davis, DT, Iowa 2 - Damarious Randall, S, Arizona State 3 - Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State 4 - Jake Ryan, LB, Michigan 5 - Javorious Allen, RB, USC 6 - Max Garcia, C/G, Florida

Also, Breshad Perriman visited the Bears today. Bears are certainly doing their homework on the top WRs. Interesting that they've had visits with what is probably the consensus top 4 WRs (Cooper, White, Parker, Perriman) and not one after that, except Tony Lippett, who may be a CB.

Interesting tidbit that I have some tangential involvement in - Patrick Finley tweeted a comment by NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah saying that Danny Shelton was "made to play the nose tackle" in the Bears' new 3-4 defense, and I tweeted (yep that's me down there) something I had noticed and posted about here, that Fangio didn't use big NTs in SF. Jeremiah, who as a scout and assistant in Baltimore from 2003 to 2006 (the last year of which would have been when Fangio was special assistant to the head coach and LB coach in Baltimore), replied and mentioned that there was size at NT in Baltimore when Fangio was there. Now, I would argue the defense in SF is more indicative of the type of defense Fangio wants to run and the types he's interested, but I figured I would pass it along, since Jeremiah might have some insight into Fangio's preferences from their time in Baltimore. Exchange is below: Patrick Finley ‏@patrickfinley · 30m30 minutes ago NFL Net's @MoveTheSticks on who #Bears should take at No. 7: "Danny Shelton was made to play the nose tackle in that defense." Greg Flatt ‏@gcflatt · 23m23 minutes ago @patrickfinley @MoveTheSticks Maybe, but Fangio never used big NTs in SF except Sopoga, who he inherited and let go when his contract ran Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks · 23m23 minutes ago @gcflatt @patrickfinley he was around in Baltimore when I was there...plenty of size at NT during that time

Pure class: http://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-football...go-newspaper-ad

My problem is that it doesn't really address any of our offensive holes this year, unless Grasu starts over Montgomery. It forces either Royal or Wilson to start at the outside receiver with Jeffery, something I don't think either are suited for, and makes Mills the starting RT by default, unless you envision Long to LT, Bushrod to RT and someone to G (Mills, Ola, Mason?). I'm also not much of a Mannion fan.

Was up with my crying daughter in the middle of the night, so this was how I passed the time and thought I would share. I think I'm getting to the point where I'm getting a pretty good idea of where I see value and how I'd like to see the draft progress, not that it ever actually goes that way . . . 1) Kevin White, WR, West Virginia - I remain a WR at #7 guy and would prefer White over Cooper by a hair, but I figure only one will be there any way. 2) Jake Fisher, OT, Oregon - An upgrade over Jordan Mills, who regressed last season, is sorely needed, and he can start at RT out of the gate and then move to LT whenever cutting Bushrod makes sense. **trade down in 3rd, pick up a 4th and a 7th** 3) Anthony Harris, S, Virginia - I have generally been against this safety class, but Harris is pretty versatile and can shift Vereen into a nickel safety/CB role that I think suits him better. 4a) Marcus Hardison, DE, Arizona State - Big fan of his and he can fit in anywhere in our line as a starter or rotational guy. 4b) Markus Golden, LB, Missouri - Despite all the additions, I think Pace still wants to add a pass rushing LB, and I'm counting on Golden's tweener profile to push him down here, where Fangio can move him around as a rush LB/DE. 5) Shaq Mason, G/C, Georgia Tech - I like pretty much all the mid-round C prospects, but Mason is a favorite because he can play guard and center and is probably one of the better pure run-blocking interior linemen in the draft. Give him a year then hopefully hand the C reigns off to him. 6) Mario Alford, WR, West Virginia - Double dip for WV receivers. Mariani was OK last year as a returner, but only in comparison to what we had and he adds nothing else and is injury prone. Alford has big-time return ability and can contribute readily as a speed/slot receiver. 7) DeVante Bausby, CB, Pittsburgh State - CB from the small school John Brown came out of last year with this size (6'2" 180) and athleticism (4.42 40, 37.5" vertical) that fits the Fangio scheme.

I would split up OL into two needs - C/G and OT, and downplay ILB. There's no one on the roster currently to step in if Will Montgomery gets hurt and Jordan Mills was bad last year at RT.

Although didn't the Bears' receiver coach actually work him out on his pro day? I think that happened. Edit : it did http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000047...-proday-workout Edit #2: He apparently told Sirius NFL on radio that he has a visit lined up with the Bears.

In case you haven't seen it, here 's Aaron Leming's compilation of prospects who have visited with the Bears: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18kV...=1&sle=true