dawhizz

As a counterpoint, Mike Mayock's new mock draft has Donald going, incredibly, #23 to the Bengals (with Bears taking Pryor). I'm actually slowly coming around to the idea that Donald will be available - every year somone is the popular riser that everyone talks about but ends up just being a smokescreen or an attempt to get others to trade up. I'm starting to think Donald is that guy this year. Detroit makes no sense, and Minnesota doesn't make much sense. I get it a little with Tampa, but the first team picking ahead of the Bears that I think really fits is the Giants.

Who is "we"? Are you saying you will be mad if conventional wisdom says 4-5 guys are similar value, and we pick one? Because it seems to me that happens quite often, and if a team picks a guy its because either they like that guy more or they can't find a partner to trade down with. If by "we" you mean "the Bears", you're probably never going to hear from them "we liked six guys here, so we just picked one", they'll always say "This was the guy we targeted at the position."

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-nfl-draft.html I don't even know where to begin, except to say that if Hub could find a ranking or mock draft down in the last month that has Aaron Donald ranked 40th, I will give him $1000. Ditto for one that has a RB with a top 20 ranking. As for "biting the bullet" and going offense over defense despite need, rather thatn "reaching" for the 19th best player at pick 14, I can't even.

Because I have to stop. 1) Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville - Donald and HaHa are gone, making this an easy pick. **Trade down in 2nd for extra 4th and 7th** 2) Kelcey Quarles, DT, South Carolina - I'm not convinced there's much difference in the 2nd/3rd round DTs and I'm not sure the Bears do either, which is why a trade down makes sense. Guys have a history of either underachieving (McCullers), injury (Easley), weight (Sutton) or something. The Bears take a healthy guy who big question mark is "How much better did Clowney make him look?" The Bears spent time with him at the combine and they love their SEC players. 3) Marqueston Huff, CB, Wyoming - This seems like where the Bears take a CB who can play some safety and talk about his versatility. I think they would consider Pierre Desir (who may be gone) and Jaylen Watkins, but I'm guessing Huff is the pick. 4) De'Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon - Bears need a speed option on offense and a return man to replace Hester. This solves that problem. 4) Jordan Zumwalt, LB, UCLA - Versatile LB who could project anywhere and has the special teams demeanor the Bears look for. 5) Storm Johnson, RB, Central Florida - Two RBs? Makes some sense if the Bears see Thomas as a slot/return/low touch RB and want some competition as primary back-up RB with Draughns and Ford. 6) Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon - Makes too much sense. Lyerla's highlights are incredible (especially how he always carries guys forward) and the Bears have a great atmosphere for him to succeed with a strong position leader in Bennett, one of Lyerla's few positive role models in Long, and an offense where he can be brought along slowly. Bears showed they are willing to gamble on character late with Marquess Wilson. 6) Jeff Mathews, QB, Cornell - Emery says he won't draft a QB on the third day. I don't believe him. 7) Xavius Boyd, LB, Western Kentucky - When in doubt, take a small school LB with special teams value.

These extra weeks until the draft are killing me. I'm sure I'm like this every year, but my productivity at work is running on empty and I'm just wandering around in a daze. Can't we fast forward to Thursday night already?

Any pick, any round, what would make you mad, either if the Bears picked them or passed on them (assuming they are available)? At this point, if Donald, Pryor, or Clinton-Dix are there at #14 and the Bears don't take one of them I will be mad. I would reserve the right to be retroactively OK with it depending on the pick (Dennard, Gilbert, or Mosely) how the rest of the draft shakes out, but in the moment, I would not be happy.

Not a fan of Chris Davis, but really like the rest of the picks.

Brooks is my guy too. Watching highlights (and I realize they are highlights for a reason) I see him making all the tackles I wish Conte would have made. Plus he's got speed.

Now down to three days, after hearing Emery's press conference, here's what I think the Bears see themselves doing in the draft (thought this is not necessarily how I would go - a little too risky for me): 1) Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville - They would love Donald, but between rumors of Bucs, Vikings, Lions, Titans, and Giants taking him, I think they have to consider him gone. 2) Will Sutton or Dominique Easley, DT - Two guys the Bears have had their eye on with issues (weight and injury respectively), but they want another starter and after missing out on Donald, this is where they get it. 3) Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood - CB is more of a future need, so Bears take a developmental prospect with perfect size and hope he's more Charles Tillman than Roosevelt Williams. 4) Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU - Reporters ask Emery, "I thought there was no reason to take a 3rd day QB?" Emery replies that they had 2nd round grade on him, so they don't see him as a 3rd day prospect. 5) RB - I think they would prefer James White because he does everything pretty well (running, receiving, blocking) so he's a good scheme fit but De'Anthony Thomas is a possibility. 6) BPA on offense - This is around the time the Bears take someone who has been sliding and has been on Mel Kiper's "Best Available" for a round or so (See Cornelius Washington), but isn't a clear need. 6) Xavius Boyd, LB, Western Kentucky - Depth at LB who has that "special teams demeanor" the Bears place a premium on.

Bears didn't even go to Manziel's pro day.

I don't really know what to make of those comments. I mean, one one hand, it's pretty intuitive - you don't generally get long-term starters in later rounds. But to say that means the Bears wound't draft a later round QB presumes that long term starters are the only type of QBs that have value in the league, which is certainly not true (and a brief review of Bears history would tell you as much). So, while I don't think the Bears see a QB they draft in this draft as the long term solution/heir apparent to Cutler, that doesn't discount the possibility that they draft one with the intention of getting a quality backup (which this team could definitely use), a short term starter, or coaching him up and trading him in the future.

There has to be one Long / McClellin reach that they really like. So I'll say Donald, Pryor, Clinton-Dix, Gilbert, Dennard, and Deone Bucannon. Just a hunch.

Maybe we can find a way to squeeze in the Canadian offensive lineman (reportedly rising) Laurent Duvernay-Tardif?

Tough, tough call. In real life, I would probably target a trade down. I probably would have taken Brooks, but I'm higher on him than most.

Just a joke (mostly), but in truth an all Florida State draft would address a lot of holes on this team and isn't too unrealistic, I don't think: *Trade down in first and 5th for extra 3 & 4 1) Timmy Jernigan, DT 2) Terrence Brooks, S 3) Lamarcus Joyner, CB 3) Christian Jones, LB 4) Devonte Freeman, RB 4) Telvin Smith, LB 6) Bryan Stork, C/G 6) Kenny Shaw, WR Any other "one college" drafts that would work?

They could have just rerun the piece the ran on him last year. I'm not holding my breath - he might have great athletic ability, but he couldn't catch last preseason, where he was given every opportunity to earn a spot, which is kind if important for a potential H-back. He was so bad, we had to go out and get Rosario, who wasn't even used.

Here's a nice write-up on Bears needs/strategy from CBS Sportsline: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-dra...bears-spotlight

I wouldn't, but that's just because I like the top two safeties a lot too and would have no problem with one of them as our first pick. The nightmare scenario, of course, is if somehow both safeties AND Donald are gone, like in Pat Kirwan's recent mock draft (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pat-kirwan/24538525/nfl-mock-draft-manziel-only-qb-in-round-1-watkins-moves-up). I would think if the Bears saw two of those guys go, they would do whatever they could to move up to get whichever of the three is left, take Dennard (like Kirwan does) or move down and target one of Jernigan/Hageman/Tuitt/whatever safety they like.

What I would do: 1) Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt - Love him and don't really like the other DTs **Trade down in 2nd for extra 4th & 7th** 2) Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State - Like his tackling and coverage more than any non 1st round safety. 3) LaMarcus Joyner, CB, Florida State - His size might push him down, but he's tough and can learn a lot from Jennings. 4a) Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU - Not comfortable with Jordan Palmer as a backup. QBs always go lower than they are expected and Mettenberger has the size and arm that Emery & Trestman like. 4b) Trevor Reilly, LB, Utah - Versatile LB to help after the iinevitable DJ Williams injury. 5) Storm Johnson, RB, Central Florida - Bruiser with some shiftyness to spell Forte 6a) Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon - Tremendously gifted TE with excess baggage. Was at his best when being mentored at Oregon by - wait for it - Kyle Long. Worth a shot, I say. 6b) Cornelius Lucas, OT, Kansas State - Potential swing tackle to develop. 7) Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan - I just like him. What I think the Bears will do (that I wouldn't hate): 1) Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville - Vision of Conte missed tackles convince them to take the hardest hitting and best tackling safety in the draft. 2) Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State - Bears have worked him out, and his junior numbers were almost identical to Donald's. Then he added weight and lost effectivness. Bears hope he can regain past explosion. 3) Shayne Skov, LB, Stanford - Looks like Bostic is going to be tried at OLB, so they take one of the more NFL-ready LBs to back-up the middle and take over after Williams. I'm not a big fan, but it makes sense. 4) Alfred Blue, RB, LSU - Bears get cute and take physically gifted but little tested Blue. Bears will tout his special teams experience immediately. 5) Walt Aiken, CB, Liberty - Prototypical size for CB position and former Illinois DB. 6a) Jeff Mathews, QB, Cornell - Mettenberger-lite - good size and big arm for Trestman to mold. 6b) Jon Dun Duncan, TE, Dixie State - Pass-catching TE who can make the squad as a long-snapper (since Mannelly may be done) while he develops.

What were these draft slots based on? Seems pretty unrealistic to me, but I guess you never know.

1 year deal of course. Not exactly the depth I was looking for. Has some return experience.

http://chi.scout.com/2/1395781.html Interesting interview with a (former?) scout. Some tidbits regarding Bears. Guy loves Donald.

Agree. I like Larod Stephens-Howling and Tashard Choice as "take a flier" RBs.

I like Joyner at CB more than safety - I think he could learn a lot from Jennings as a shorter corner with the aggressiveness and smarts to compete against bigger guys. The guy I like at safety is his teammate, Terrence Brooks. After watching highlights of the safeties, I've not been very impressed outside of the top two until I watched Brooks. He's a little overaggressive sometimes, but that's a nice change after watching Conte stand and whiff, and he can really tackle when he has someone in his sights. I'd love to see our first three picks as Donald, Brooks, and Joyner.

VERY misleading title . . .