dawhizz

I hate to even type it, but I think it's Lawrence Okoye. http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/4/15/4226...-olympic-discus

The other big takeaway from this draft for the Bears IMO: Don't listen to any "experts" in the media when it comes to the Bears. We hear all sorts of people from the Trib or the Sun-Times or national media or bloggers say what they are hearing as far as guys the Bears like. I'm pretty sure we never heard either Kyle Long or Jon Bostic at any point.

I'm really impressed by the tape of Da'Rick Rodgers. He could learn a lot from Marshall. Maybe former SEC will be good enough . . . Also think we'll trade down at least once today and come away with a QB, WR, DT, and CB.

Intersting that both of the Bears' picks had fathers who played in the NFL.

It sounds like they were wrestling in the draft room between CB and LB. Hard to say what happens between now and the Bears pick, but some really good fits at CB are left at the moment (including B.W. Webb, Jordan Poyer, Marc Anthony, Steve Williams, Nickell Roby). I have to think someone will still be around, though the value at QB (Barkley? Nassib? Wilson?) or WR (Swope? Patton? Bailey?) might be too much to pass up. Or do they further boost the OL with a center (Jones? Schwenke?)? Two really interesting names to me, given the Bears obvious focus on great atheletes (and past history with small school players) are Brandon Williams, DT, from Missouri Southern State and Da'Rick Rodgers, WR, from Tennessee Tech. Lots of ways to go. And after all that said, I will probably be some projected 6th round kicker . . .

I thought it would be Brown too, but the Bears did plenty of homework on Brown and apparently liked Bostic better, probably because he's a better potential fit at MLB, is a bit faster, and has fewer durability concerns. I like the depth at CB and WR more than at LB, so I'm OK with this pick.

Surprised it wasn't Brown, but the Bears obviously did a lot of homework on him and liked Bostic more. He was one of the faster LBs at the combine and is probably a little bit better fit in the middle than Brown. I don't think this is a very deep MLB draft (whereas I think there's some depth at CB and WR), so I'm OK with it.

Press conference for Mr. Long supposed to be at 3 pm. Perhaps we'll have more to place in the appropriate column after that . . .

Interesting that there's no Kyle Long on this list, though hearing Emery's quotes, they obviously met with him.

I now fully expect this year's draft to mirror last years: Reach in the first, followed by the best available WR in the second to ease the sting. I'm thinking Robert Woods.

I wonder if that would have been Kyle Long had the Bears not taken him . . .

I don't necessarily love the pick, but considering how fast OL prospects were coming off the board, the Bears couldn't feel comfortable that a guy they would want would be there in the 2nd, and they don't have a third. If you wanted OL addressed in this draft (and most did), and the Bears really didn't have any suitors to trade down, I don't see how this is a "terrible" pick.

I'm pretty convinced the rumors we're hearing are calculated to prompt a trade. The Te'o stuff is trying to entice the Vikings and the Ravens to move up, and the recent Trufant rumor is to get the attention of the Falcons (who are thought to be targeting a CB). I really don't put much stock in it.

The more I think about it, while he makes some sense from a fit standpoint, I really don't see the Bears drafting Teo. Teo doesn't need any more attention than he's already going to get on an NFL team, and the Bears probably don't want any more attention on their next MLB than they are already going to get either. Drafting Teo would put so much pressure on him to be the next Brian Urlacher and no one should have live with that. It's a media circus that would endure all season.

Agree. I would swap Taylor for DeAndre Hopkins or Sly Williams, and Otten for either Barrett Jones (even with Schwenke, he's a steal in the 5th) or Nickell Robey and be reasonably happy.

I don't have a huge problem with it, except I'm very much not in the "draft a TE" camp and would actually like the draft very much if Ertz was swapped out for a WR. After this same staff (including Emery) kept making sly comparisons between E-Rod and Aaaron Hernandez, I don't know why you don't give him a chance to perform like it withe Bennett in the Gronk role. If that doesn't work, fine, let's grab a TE early next year. But let's give him a chance to live up to the comparisons they've been making. Meanwhile, our fourth WR is Eric Weems and Earl Bennett hasn't exactly stepped up. Give someone like DeAndre Hopkins or Keenan Allen at #35, and I'm happy.

Trade #20 to Falcons for #30, a 3rd, 4th, and 7th this year and a 4th next year. 1) Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State - Can challenge Anderson and Williams for a starting spot this year. 2) Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama - Just what the Bears need - someone who can step in and start at whatever their weakest position on the OL is. 3) Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia - Immediate slot contributor and his production last year suggests he could be much more. 4a) Leon McFadden, CB, San Diego St. - Good fit at the nickel and hopefully can learn from Tillman and Jennings. 4b) Bennie Logan, DT, LSU - Good all-around tackle to go with Melton and Paea. 5) Zac Dysert, QB, Miami (OH) - QBs always seem to go lower than you think. I like his ability to throw on the move and at least he has experience taking sacks . . . 6) Cameron Lawrence, LB, Mississippi St. - Need to get younger at LB. 7) Wes Horton, DE, USC - Not great production, but he's got tools to work with and his father was Gemini from American Gladiators. What more could you want from a 7th round pick?

I agree that this team needs a speed WR. But Austin isn't the only speed WR in the draft. Swope, Goodwin, Stills, and Boyce all ran sub 4.4 and Wheaton's not much farther behind. Plus, guys like Woods and Bailey are really elusive in the open field, which helps them to avoid hits just as much as someone with straightline speed. I watched some highlights of these guys, and I don't see where Austin is worth an entire round (or two) above the other guys I've mentioned.

I have a really hard time spending a #1 pick on a WR who is 5'9" 174. That's one of the lightest WRs in the draft. I know he blazed the 40 and was very productive, but if you're going to work in the slot in the NFL, you're going to get pounded and you need to be able to hold up. So either he puts on a little bit of mass, which probably means he loses speed, or he stays at his current weight and you take you chances. I would much rather wait a round or two and get whoever's left of Robert Woods, Stedman Bailey, Ryan Swope, or Markus Wheaton (in that order), all of whom are nearly as dangerous in the slot and have at least 15 pounds on Austin.

Peter King tweeted that the Falcons are apparently looking to move up in the draft from #30, though it's not clear how far up they want to move or what/who they are looking for. Might be a good trade match for the Bears.

I saw a Tribune article from today on Emery's comments during minicamp. Apparently they have a standing offer out to Idonije. He also talked about the depth of the CB position in the draft, that they were looking at 12-15 players in the draft who they saw as immediate contributors.

I like the fact that we are stocking this roster with NFL players at pretty much every position. While there are certainly weak spots, there's no gaping hole with no one currently on the roster who can compete for a starting job. I foresee a very BPA type of draft.

Know who else was pegged as an immediate starter at tackle? Gabe Carimi.

Keith Pough, LB, Howard - The Bears have shown interest and he seems like the kind of versatile LB we could use to get younger at that position. Nickll Roby, CB, USC - Probably won't be picked until at least the fourth round because he's so small (5'8"), but the Bears have done well with undersized CBs, he comes from a legit program where he was tested and performed well, and could be an immediate nickel/dime contributor.

Undrafted FA in 2011 out of Humboldt State (where) formerly of Jets who has not appeared in a regular season game. Probably just another guy, but at least the Bears are getting bodies to back up nearly every position. Led the blocking for HSU's running game, which accumulated a GNAC-best 2,239 yards. He also anchored a unit that ranked fifth overall among NCAA Division II programs for least quarterback sacks allowed, surrendering only eight in 11 games. Boggs has twice been honored as a Strength and Conditioning All-American. 2nd Team JB Scouting All-American; 1st team All Super Region 4; GNAC offensive Lineman of the year; 1st team unanimous all GNAC team; 2nd team CDS pre season all american; JBS scouting pre season all american honorable mention; JBS Mid Season all american second team; NSCA strength and conditioning all american; Team Captain; Team offensive lineman of the year