AZ54

I think we need 2 QBs to get drafted ahead of us and then someone will be there to entice a trade up. Rankings are already shifting around, Draft Network now has Will Campbell 9, Cam Ward 10, Josh Simmons 11, Jeanty is 12, Warren 13, Sanders 14, and Omarion Hampton now at 15. Donovan Jackson sits at 16. That's a good cluster of talent and someone might be willing to make a small move up to ensure they get their guy. Somebody who really needs a LT might be willing to make the jump up for either of Campbell/Simmons. Is it a big deal if we get Campbell or Josh Simmons at 10 versus Donovan Jackson at 14 or 15? Dropping from 10 to 15 is enough to get another 3rd Rd pick, maybe a little more. Most of the edges are now landing in 15-30 range but again that may shake up by next week. I think we're in that sweet spot where the trade up isn't too costly or we can grab the player that falls to us. The same can be said for the teams sitting at 8/9/10/11 which could make it a buyers market. If I were to pick this years wildcard workout warrior to shock everyone in the top 10 it's Shemar Stewart.

He'd mix in well with Swift as a 1-2 combo. He's got very good contact balance, power, and enough lateral agility to make a cut and get to open space. He has enough speed to get you some good chunk plays too.

We still have to be prepared for a trade down scenario.

It would be insance to go RB in the top 10 of this draft. It's not a premium position and on the flip side it's also one of the deepest positions in this draft. The first pick has to be in the trenches. Given the value of most top 25 players along with position value and need the most likely choice is a DE unless we trade back. Now if Mason Graham falls to 10 just punch the ticket. Now I have to go figure out where a freak athlete like Shemar Stewart fits in this equation. His production was meh for such a good athlete. Why?

I suspect it'll be Dalman. If we go that route I hope he's all that and a bag of chips. Having a stud at the pivot point of the Oline is a huge help and after all these years without one watching one will feel different. I'm so used to us giving up pressure off the A gaps.

Spread the wealth build the depth.

I'm surprised so many people put all their Oline marbles on Trey Smith signing here. Especially after the salary cap went up by so much it seemed clear there was no way KC was going to let him go. I figured they'd likely try to match any offer he got but they've now landed here: https://overthecap.com/chiefs-to-franchise-tag-guard-trey-smith "Smith’s asking price at this point should be somewhere around $25 million a year at a minimum."

Correct. I’d say Swift has one more year as a Bear.

Hmm... https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/2/26/24373563/mocking-the-mock-draft-nfl-mel-kiper-has-the-chicago-bears-taking-josh-simmons-ohio-state

As The World Turns: "The Lions traded Swift away " ...and promptly signed our "meh" RB for less money than the $10m Swift wanted at the time. Then they went and drafted another lightweight RB to replace the outside burst they lost when Swift left. Swift had injury issues during his time in Detroit so I don't think it was a big deal moving away from him, plus they needed someone tougher for the short yardage situations. Now we need someone better than Roschon to be our tough inside runner. It's always interesting to see former Bears players be successful elsewhere. Almost makes you think coaching makes a difference. I was curious about Jeanty last year but after seeing him in a bowl game he doesn't look special. He looks good and with the right line in front of him he'll destroy some DBs who are trying to tackle him. RBs who have to make a living off broken tackles don't usually make it for very long in the NFL. I expect he'll have a very good first 4-5 years. At the end of the day we all know what matters most is who is blocking for the RBs.

I don't think either Josh Sweat or Chase Young are a high end edge. They are better than what we've had but will also be much more expensive. Since Dennis Allen has experience with Young either way they go I'm good with it. That includes if they want to invest in FA Oline to get the experience in front of Caleb, and then build the D through a very deep defensive draft class.

We have a ton of gaps to fill this offseason. The calmer measured approach to improving multiple positions makes a lot of sense IMO vs going after 1 or 2 big names and then filling rest with Tier 3 FAs or rookies.

If I hadn’t seen so many highlights of college DEs running right around Campbell I’d be more optimistic about him at OT. There wasn’t a video I was just checking out most of the top 50 DE prospects. I always try to take into context who are they rushing against? Incredibly small sample size but it’s all I’m going to get. Nothing gets easier in the NFL. That and some QB named Daniel’s helped him avoid a sack on a few of those plays.

Everyone is banging the table for us to sign one or two former 4/5th Rd picks to fix our interior. I certainly don't mind being wrong but I'll stand by my opinion that Kiran has a higher LT ceiling versus either Banks and especially Campbell. He also has a lower floor. However, Kiran at least deserves a full offseason of strength and conditioning, plus this year we should try to give him some practice reps before we put him on the field in a real game. Then we can start to see what we have on our hands. The LT you want, and I want, is Josh Simmons. I'm just sitting back waiting on his medical report at the combine. My plan would be to put him at LG. I'll have a decent backup on board to start the season so he can work his way in as he recovers. A quick search shows that almost every team after pick 10 (at least their fans) is watching him, starting at 11. I'll be surprised if we don't meet with Simmons in the last week prior to the draft to get one last assessment on his recovery. Then again I'm sure every interested team will be thinking the same. https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/49ers-select-ohio-state-ot-josh-simmons-in-latest-mock-draft-01jfz9nmg3ra https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/news/potential-chicago-bears-2025-nfl-draft-target-dubbed-high-risk-high-reward-prospect

Kiran is a better LT prospect than any on that list. LT is far from our greatest need even with the occasional bull rush issues. There is no elite LT prospect in this draft except for Simmons who is injured. Fix the IOL and watch Caleb shine.

I think they go hard early at the top options. Shelton isn't a week 1 FA other teams will want to sign. Keep him on speed dial but see if we can get the bigger fish first. Nobody has convinced me yet that Dalman is the bigger fish but he's definitely the bigger contract. He's also still young and can improve so that's where we like to spend our big FA money. I still like the 2 for 1 and would prefer Dalman/Zeitler combo versus say Trey Smith/Shelton. Draft a rookie to fill LG, then get your 2-3 vet backups to mix in with Kiran, Murray, Theo Benedet, and Stromberg and let 'em all compete.

I saw someone point out that this could be a move that benefits both team and player. We have Terrell Smith who is a little stickier in man coverage than Stevenson, but less good at tackling around the LOS. Given the new defensive scheme is going to rely on man on the outside more often and our lack of depth at safety this could be a win win. I could see Stevenson playing the role Brisker has played for us and doing it well.

Sorry to hear that. My mother suffered from debilitating arthritis. The second link, far infrared, helped my mother walk around the house again but it was just temporary relief. The first link I didn't find until just before she passed but that research is now accelerating. I'm not a doctor but with the internet there's a lot of research papers around the world to read. I've never looked into it but I'm sure you can find plenty on the proposed stem cell therapy so you know what questions to ask. 4 years ago doctors told my wife her disease was incurable, two weeks ago he asked her what she was doing that was healing her body. Best wishes. DM me if you want more info. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37085956/#:~:text=Ivermectin treatment also showed a,the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9091720/

From Nov: https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/the-ryan-bates-situation-was-reportedly-way-worse-than-believed/

Bates = arthritis = adios

Zero chance I'm trading Kmet with all the other blocking issues we have. Average NFL salary is ~$5mil/yr (based on $270m/53). He's making $10? This is not a big contract to worry about until we have his replacement in the fold. Let's try using him first and go fix the positions that are big problems.

Gerald Everett absolutely should be missing paychecks just like he was missing blocks.

I don't think so either. I'm just enjoying watching teams way overpay at the position.

WR madness...After losing AJ Brown, and then later his job, it's no surprise Vrabel will want to pay for Higgins. https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/02/teams-picking-in-top-five-may-look-to-trade-back

I don't know where to put this and I don't want to start a new thread.... but nobody wants to stay in the top 5 this year. I have no clue who would possibly want to trade up into the top 5 either. Trade value is going down fast. However once you get to around 10 you get into the value stream. It'll be interesting see how the top 10 plays out this year. https://www.profootballrumors.com/2025/02/teams-picking-in-top-five-may-look-to-trade-back