AZ54

I'd say we are ok at OT, LG, C, but RG is big concern for me. I don't see a whole lot available in FA. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/guard/all/

I don't think we have an option when it comes to addressing Oline early. We're not in a position to draft someone who needs a year, or more, to develop. We need a starter at RG. As badly as we need a 3-tech to help the D, Fields can be the future of this team. By the way I'm very thankful we're not looking for a QB this year. If Fields were in this draft he'd be gone top 5, if not #2 to Detroit.

Great video and analysis. He's got some names I haven't even heard of that are high and others that are way lower than expected.

Great video and analysis. He's got some names I haven't even heard of that are high and others that are way lower than expected.

I had forgotten about that but I still think it's worth looking into. I highly doubt he'd want to play in Chicago as he'd likely prefer to go to a playoff team if he has that opportunity.

I'm not sure. I assume Baltimore would have first crack at signing him but they usually have a good defense so I doubt they'd be interested. How many teams have as many holes as we do with as few picks as we have?

Given our situation where we really need help and leadership in the defensive backfield I'm all in on Poles kicking the tires here. As long as he is healthy and in shape I'm in...sign him. Considering the style of defense we're moving toward which is much more see-it-and-react is what Thomas excelled at we should be ok with him on the field. I'm not expecting him to be great but unless we draft a S in Rd 2, which is unlikely, his leadership and experience is going to be a plus over any other option we have. Earl was the heart beat of the Seahawks great defense. A 1yr rental to help us right the ship will help us if for no other reason than teaching the young players to be successful. He is also the type of player and vocal leader, one of very few, who might be able to get Eddie Jackson's head on straight and return him to his true potential. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10033486-earl-thomas-ready-for-nfl-return-won-super-bowl-48-with-seahawks

More sleepers. https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/2DARON BLAND22-nfl-draft-sleepers-prospects-weston-bland-dykes I took a quick look at some highlights of the players on that list. Beyond a couple DBs who might be practice squad candidates I have to say that, along with WRs like Danny Grey, Isaiah Weston absolutely should be on our radar on day 3. He's 6'3" 214lbs with 40" vert, 135" broad jump. While you have to carefully watch for it he's got some decent lateral movement but I don't see much in terms of route running and timing passes. In the highlights it's clear he just ran past everyone at the FCS level and usually had to wait on the ball to arrive. If it's upside you want as a day 3 prospect he's got it but he'll need time, good coaching, and a good work ethic. If we want to, there are plenty of good options to fully stock the WR room in this draft. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/isaiah-weston/32005745-5373-3679-5418-3d4dbbc6013e

That had to be the easiest decision you ever made.

Somebody needs to get on the wayback machine because I think Davenport was in some pre-draft discussions here years ago as an OT option on Day 3 or UDFA. Unless something has changed he's got really slow feet. At best he's competing for a backup OT role but that's ok. If he has improved his technique with his length he can be a viable backup. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2706642-julien-davenport-nfl-draft-2017-scouting-report-for-houston-texans-pick "A two-time team captain and four-year starter at left tackle, Julie'n Davenport has two things you can't coach—size and length. At 6'7" and 318 pounds, he has 36 ½-inch arms and massive 10 ½-inch hands. He's the first guy you want coming off the bus. Davenport has an excellent reach, and his best asset is his punch. He has a quick strike and can get to defenders much earlier than his peers. At the Senior Bowl, we saw him knocking back pass-rushers with nice timing and power on the limbs he calls arms. Davenport is a great fit in a zone-blocking scheme, where his length and his movement skills would allow him to cut off defenders in the running game. From a size and strength perspective, Davenport is prototypical." David Moore is absolutely in the mix and will push Dazz to earn a roster spot. Plus it's a small world and he's got some family tradition to live up to.... https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-sign-wr-moore-cb-stroman Moore is ultra-excited to follow in the footsteps of his second cousin, James Allen, a Bears running back from 1998-2001 who rushed for 1,978 yards and four touchdowns on 515 carries while appearing in 50 games with 27 starts.

That rookie deal only logic makes sense to me. After that the teams are on the same competitive ground to wheel and deal as they choose.

Depending on who is on the board at 39 I could take the Dallas proposal. But if it's Watson I'm taking him.

I'm ok with the late round developmental strategy at LT versus reaching for one. In Rd 2 it's very likely we can draft a good starting OG, and maybe even Linderbaum falls to 39. If he doesn't, it just makes it more likely one of the OGs does. The only thing Poles has to watch for is that after losing out on a couple upgrades the entire league knows he wants Oline players and that makes us an obvious target to trade ahead of should someone drop. You can say we need/want WRs too but the fact remains Poles was more willing to commit cap space to fix the Oline than he was for WR. I think that priority carries forward into the draft.

A few sleepers at OT: https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/2022-nfl-draft-offensive-tackle-day-2-3-prospects

I don't think either Raimann or Smith are ready to start at LT as a rookie. For Raimann we have to keep this in mind and that's based on a lot of NFL history or data points if you prefer. I'm not saying he'll never develop into that technician like Slater but there is nothing I've read about his game that says he has those skills today. https://trenchwarfare.substack.com/p/ol-scouting-notebook-2022-nfl-combine?s=r Central Michigan T Bernhard Raimann - Raimann’s arm length came in at 33 inches at the Senior Bowl and 32 7/8 at the Combine. Left tackle Rashawn Slater measured in at 33 inches at the Combine last year and was a Second Team All-Pro as a rookie in 2021, but Slater is also an exceptional case and an absolute technician. The reality is that having 33 inch arms and under at tackle is a rarity and an obstacle to overcome rather than an asset for Raimann. Smith has poor technique and simply being the bully on the field can work against lesser competition like he faced at Tulsa but it will get him beat often in the NFL. He at least has the physical tools to develop into a LT but IMO he's best served starting out on the interior until he gets his technique down, or he's going to ride the bench for a year while he learns. We have too many holes to fill to park one of our top 3 players on the bench for a year. If we don't feel they can play inside then I'd pick someone for any other position with a higher floor. IMO if the team feels either can play well inside then go ahead and draft them, we need help inside. We can survive with Borom and Jenkins as our OTs and there is still the option of a FA LT as a stopgap. If they develop into LT then we take it off our list next year. I just don't think I'm prepared to bank on that in 2022.

Watson is 1, then I'm between Pickens and Pierce. Since I have to choose I'll stay with the healthier and stronger/faster player in Pierce 2, Pickens 3. I agree with the thought to have one taller receiver in the mix especially for redzone options. Some recent feedback I've seen: TDN on Pickens - he's limited in ways he can win and separate. Great at adjusting to the ball, great hands, but is he going to handle press coverage and still get into his route on time? In his defense he's had the injuries and less time to develop those route running skills. https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/george-pickens-nfl-draft-player-breakdown Moore - quite a few analysts have high praise for his game even as a late 1st Rd pick. I like him but I'm a bit less enamored than that, plus he's a slot WR and I still prefer we find an X especially one who can get open deep to take advantage of Fields' skillset. https://www.nfl.com/news/2022-nfl-draft-which-prospect-might-not-be-a-first-round-pick-but-should-be

Yes. I finally finished listening to Eberflus interview with Chris Collinsworth. The two lines below are exactly what he said our offense is going to be. https://thedraftnetwork.com/prospect-rankings "Linderbaum is still best projected to the Shanahan systems but I have enough belief in his tools that I wouldn’t consider him a scheme-exclusive candidate;" "Scheme tendencies: Wide zone, play-action pass-heavy, screen-heavy"

That's probably all we need at TE for the season. Kmet, Griffin, O'Shaughnessy, Hosted. We won't commit early picks to TE and we won't find anyone on day 3 ready to contribute more than these guys. I expect we'll focus on other priorities in the draft.

Which puts him around 120 unless someone gets crazy and takes him late 3rd. I'm not that high on him. He seems like someone who, at best, can replace Nichols production which is not a bad pick on day 3, but I'd say that's his ceiling. We might add him late in the draft to help with depth but he won't be someone we build around and he's definitely not someone I'd put into Eberflus' "likely starter" category. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/haskell-garrett/32004741-5244-3684-c6f4-4959ba1721da "Three-technique with average size and athleticism who needs to play in a one-gapping front where his ability to find the gap can be made useful. Garrett has a good football IQ and is skilled, but he's not able to impose his will across all levels of competition. He can discard the average guard with efficient hand work but he's missing the length to play read-and-react, and the anchor to occupy space against most double teams. He's not explosive but does have the tools to help threaten a pocket as a rusher. Haskell is a scheme-dependent, middle-round prospect with rotational value."

Matt Waletzko is a good target for that role on day 3.

Smith (move him inside), and Watson. I have to admit I love Pitre's game and he'd be a great pick too but I have to stick with my priorities.

I agree we should have good options at our first 3 picks for each of the needs with the exception of 3-tech. I think that is spot you either get at 39 or not at all. I only see Wyatt and Winfrey as good fits to start there with Leal behind them but he seems a bit more project and there's nothing special about his physical traits. It's possible Winfrey drops to 48 but players who can rush the passer like he did at the Senior Bowl tend to go higher than lower. Looking at Draftek they list 3-tech: Wyatt 26th, Winfrey 46th, and Leal 47th overall. After those 3 players they drop to 120 with Haskell Garrett and I don't even think that's an ideal fit for him. That's not a drop off it's cliff in terms of talent.

I agree not many and it's not a must-have worth focusing on. Just get a good WR corps and a TE that can get separation.

"What's nice about this draft is that it's deep," Eberflus said. "It's deep just because of the whole COVID thing; guys stayed in [college] another year. We feel that it's a good draft to have where we are: 39, 48, 71. We feel pretty good we're going to pick up three starters there or have potentially three starters based on the development of those players. So, we feel real good about it." https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/chicago-bears-matt-eberflus-ryan-poles-2022-nfl-draft-starters That's exactly where I'm at and any trade back must be met with the same expectation on the end result.

Valid points combined with the fact the new coaches noted that the timing between Fields and Mooney was off. I don't know that I'd go as high as saying Mooney can be a #1 WR winning against double teams consistently but he's a really good #2 and he's going to get a very nice contract next year. Any offense can be really good with a couple WRs like that.