dawhizz

If the Bears don't take Carimi, I give up.

Sounds like the Bears caused it - Tried to trade up with Ravens.

If you're the Bears, don't you spend a 4th or 5th or whatever to jump ahead of the Chiefs for Carimi?

Vikings head coach apparently talking about the "great competition" between Joe Webb, Christian Ponder, and Rhett Bomar. Color me not scared.

The Bears would have to be thrilled with that. But I can't see any way Watkins is there at the end of the 2nd or Carpernter is there at the end of the 3rd.

My money says their first pick doesn't come until Friday.

Can someone tell me the last time a position change worked for the Bears? They moved Hester to CB, only to move him back to WR. They moved Idonije to DT, only to find him later have success after moving back to DE. Hell, they drafted Dustin Lyman to be a TE and that flopped. Jerry Azumah's about the only success story I can think of. Can we stop with the position changes please?

About 44 hours from the start of the first round, here's what I would do if I was the Bears: *Trade down - #29 for a high/mid 2nd, high/mid 4th, and 7th (unless Carimi or Liguit falls, I don't see value for the Bears)** 2a. Orlando Franklin, OT/OG, Miami - An immediate starter somewhere on the line, Franklin brings a nastiness sorely lacking on our offensive line. 2b. Drake Nevis, DT, LSU - Nevis isn't a great fit on a lot of teams, but he's a perfect fit here to replace Tommie Harris. 3. Mason Foster, LB, Washington - Incredibly productive LB from a lesser Pac-10 school taken in the third round, in a bit of a surprise, by the Chicago Bears? Hey, it worked with Lance Briggs. 4a. Ahmad Black, S, Florida - He slid down draft board when he ran 4.8 at the combine and he's only 5'9", but he's a pure playmaker who has experience sharing a secondary with Major Wright. The Bears use a 3-safety lineup as much as anyone, and Black is a great fit there, at the very least. 4b. Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia - I just think he has all the tools you want from a CB and just needs a mentor like Peanut to get his head on straight. 5. David Arkin, OG, Missouri State - Prototypical NFL guard size at 6'5" 300 lbs and has played all over the line. With him and Franklin, the Bears add two versatile linemen to upgrade the unit. 6. Jerrod Johnson, QB, Texas A&M - The Bears are talking like they want to take a project at QB, so here he is. Johnson lost his starting job this year, but has the size, arm strength, and, most importantly, work ethic to invest in, and he's just one year removed from a year where he threw for 3,500 yards and 30 TDs against just 8 ints. 7. Armon Binns, WR, Cincinnati - While I'd love to draft a big WR earlier, I just don't like that many this year. I don't see why Binns isn't getting more love considering he's 6'3", 210, runs a 4.5 40, has been a consistent red zone target, and averaged 1,000 yards and 10 TDs each of the last two seasons. I'll go to war with that team.

I'm personally tired of storing these undrafted FAs or busts on other teams on our roster. Asiata, Johnson, Horn, and Edwin Williams can all walk as far as I'm concerned and can take Lance Louis with them. Keep one if you want, but I want NFL players. Kreutz is obviously staying, though I pray this is his last year. Garza is a fringe starter/passable backup, which is at least useful. Webb showed me enough to keep around. I'm fine with Williams starting somewhere (guard or LT) if we upgrade elsewhere. Omiyale can stay or go. If it's me, I draft a starter at T/G within the first two picks, draft someone who can push for a job in the next three, and sign a FA starter. For instance, sign OG Marshal Yanda, draft Orlando Franklin, OT/OG, Miami in the second round, and David Arkin, OG, Missouri State in the middle rounds.

My dream was always that the draft and free agency would happen simultaneously, which would make for the craziest three days in NFL history. Now, there's a chance that might happen . . .

I'm looking forward to it. After three years of having the NFL draft during finals week, I'm hoping my work schedule allows me to return to my previously enjoyed "every single second of the NFL draft" devotion.

Here's what I'd do, at the moment: 1) Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin - The LTs will rise, the RTs will fall. I think Carimi can play either and the Bears have looked at him hard. 2) Orlando Franklin, OT/OG, Miami - The rebuild of the O-line continues. Frankline can probably step right in anywhere but center on the line and brings a bit of nastiness sorely lacking in the current O-line. 3) Jurrell Casey, DT, USC - Not the best fit, but he's a good penetrator and his lack of height may cause him to slide to around here, where the Bears still have to fill their need at DT. 4) Brandon Hogan, CB, West Virginia - If his head's on straight, he's got the pure cover skills to be a starter, so I'm more than willing to take a chance on him here. 5) Mark Herzlich, LB, Boston College - After recovering from a bout with cancer, Herzlich could go anywhere from the 3rd round to the 7th. If he's back anywhere near full strength, he's a bargain here. 6) Jeff Maehl, WR, Oregon - With Aromashodu likely gone, it's time to fill his slot as the WR who has talent but perpetually squanders on the practice squad.

My picks at the moment: Trade out of first for early 2nd and early 4th 2) Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami 2) Orlando Franklin, OT/OG, Miami 3) James Brewer, OT, Indiana 4) Brandon Hogan, CB, Virginia Tech 4) Brandon Fusco, C, Slippery Rock 5) Karl Klug, DT/DE, Iowa 6) Jabara Williams, OLB, Stephen F. Austin

From what I've heard, there won't be any UDFAs this year, since the lockout keeps teams from signing any players at all. It'll be interesting to see how that affects teams drafting and whether there will be more of a premium on 7th round picks. Not that the Bears have to worry about that (thanks, Harvey Unga!).

How about the Bucs? Gets to play with his brother and they could use a compliment to Blount.

Like others here, I've started to look to the draft and we've seen a lot of names thrown out. Any guys that are potential targets for the Bears you really want them to stay away from? I'll start: Jon Baldwin, WR, Pitt. Seems like the big WR the Bears need and may be around when the Bears pick in the first, but he doesn't make anyone miss, looks like a TE when he runs, and he body-catches way too much (even when he catches with his hands, he seems to need to hold the ball against his body to steady it). Mix in attitude/maturity concerns and I'm out. I'm also weary of Mike Pouncey in the first. I think if his name was Mike Jones, he'd be a third round pick.

I'm not impressed. Looks like a poor man's Brian Finneran. Mike Hass never got a real shot here. Marcus Monk never got a real shot here. Freddie Barnes never got a real shot here. I don't see why this guy is any different.

This not necessarily what I want him to do, but what I think he will do: Trade out of first to early 2nd & get a 4th (AKA the JA Special) 2) Aaron Williams, CB, Texas - Big corner from a school JA trusts and Bears bloodlines (uncle Ken Taylor) 2) Danny Watkins, OG, Baylor - Will be a 27-year-old rookie, but can probably step right in at guard, and JA knows he needs a new starter on the line to make fans happy. 3) Martin Parker, DT, Richmond - A JA draft needs at least one small school player taken higher than he should be, particularly on the D-line. 4) Greg Little, WR, North Carolina - Around the time JA picks BPA from someone who is falling down the board. 4) Lee Smith, TE/OT, Marshall - A college tight end that JA will draft as an OT project. Another JA special. 5) Doug Hogue, LB, Syracuse - The standard late round flier on a fast, undersized LB. 6) Rick Elmore, DE, Arizona - Productive college DE a la Ervin Baldwin, Mark Anderson, Claude Harriott 7) Nathan Enderle, QB, Idaho - Martz pokes his head in and asks for a QB with Collins gone at Hanie as the back-up. JA obliges.

Dwayne Boew, Hakeem Nicks, and Mike Wallace all had productive rookie seasons as well and were not top 3 picks.

I let Kreutz go. I know he's a captain and everything, but there were games when he was the weak link on the O-line and that's saying something. I don't know what the rest of the FA center crop looks like, but I'd be fine moving on. Other than that, keep Graham (great on ST), Manning if the price is low (ditto), and Maynard (though I'd take a long look at a P in the late rounds to challenge him). None of the LBs have distinguished themselves, so I'd sign the one that's most cost effective (probably Iwuh) and look to upgrade in draft or FA. The rest can go spit, though Adams has been pretty decent this year.

Now that the season is over, here's how I'd like to see the Bears draft shake out: 1) Best OT available. Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin or DeMarcus Love from Arkansas would be fine. 2) Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami - Big. Strong. Fast enough. Dynamic. 3) Best CB available. I like the two guys from Virginia Tech - Ras-I Dowling and Rashad Carmichael. 4) John Moffitt, OG/C, Wisconsin - Experienced Big Ten o-lineman who can compete at guard and center. 5) Pure pass rushing DE (Sam Acho, Texas) 6) Typical Bears undersized speed OLB (Brian Rolle, LB, Ohio State) 7) Best available. Maybe another DT if Anthony Adams leaves.

I'm not putting words in your mouth. You wrote " I'd like the Bears to target and possibly get 2 of the 3 if at all possible, at minimum one." That sounds to me like you want the the Bears to target and get at least one of those three players, if not two. And I'm saying I don't see that happening. Furthermore, we aren't "right back where we were last year" because last year we were coming off a 7-9 season with a coach and GM who needed to save their jobs and make a big splash. This year Lovie will get a new contract and the team will be coming off a season where they barely lost in the NFC Championship with their 3rd string QB playing. Sure, this team has problems. But if you can't see the difference between those two situations, I can't help you.

You're crazy if you think this team is going to shell out the money for one, let alone two, of the top free agents this year after breaking the bank for Peppers last year. It's just not happening.

This. Knowing Terrible Todd Collins is warming up, you have to score on that play. He had two teammates trailing him (Tillman and someone else). If he can't get past Rodgers, he has to get it to one of the other guys. Urlacher played a great game, but that's a killer.

Of course, if this was the Bears, you'd be loving it. If the Bears don't like it, stop them.