bradjock

At least we all agree on WR . . . we have about 10 picks to go

I'm hoping for Dwayne Harris, WR E Carolina

Hub Arkush was on the SCORE saying Paea easily would have been a first round pick if not for the injury. Arkush thought we were targeting Paea and then Austin. Once Austin was gone, there was no way Paea was going to be there when we picked.

The Bears continue to be in excellent shape in terms of salary because they frontload so many of their contracts. While they were the biggest spenders in free agency last year, they weren't even in the top 10 in terms of overall spending. Basically, we have a lot of money to spend. Offensive guard is one position of need where we can certainly buy a good starter. I don't see us spending the amount of money it would require to significantly upgrade DE, OT or WR. That and there many not be that many premier free agents available.

We did pick up a nice running back in the 7th with Harvey Unga. He's a good blocker/receiver and was said to be a 4th/5th round talent. Hopefully, after having a year off in the weight room he'll be ready to contribute this year.

The Queens have had a god-awful draft, but Ballard is a steal in round #4.

I think it's far from a given that Manning will be gone. We offered him an extension, but he opted to test his services on the free agent market. He was our best safety last year and Lovie has an enormous man-crush on him.

Todd McShay said Boling had the ability to start immediately for a team . . . but we're so happy with Asiata, Lance Louis and Edwin Williams, why upgrade? It's more important to have a back-up for Chris Harris/Major Wright/D Manning. Not to mention there's a slight chance Conte would have been gone when we picked in the 5th . . .

I'm not nearly as worried as spending a 5th & 6th round pick on offense as I am spending money through free agency on offense. I'm hoping we sign a top-tier starting guard such as Robert Gallery.

With the drafting of Chris Conte, there's an assumption the D Manning is gone. The thing is, will Manning even be a free agent? Pending more court rulings, there's a good chance the lock-out will again be lifted and that the NFL will use 2010 rules. Under those rules, Manning would again not be a free agent. On a side note, Manning had a good season and after 5 years, we finally discovered his best position is SS. I wouldn't mind having him back.

My two cents: I would much rather have had a guard or a WR, at least in principle. But Moffitt, Hudson, and Rackley were gone, and none of the remaining guard prospects were slam-dunks to be starters. Same thing with the receivers: you'd be looking at #2/#3 types like Tandon Doss or Cecil Shorts, or developmental projects like Edmond Gates. Guard, WR, CB . . . all 3 were far greater needs. I'd have been happy with Conte in the 5th but not in the 3rd. I've yet to read anything that warrants him being drafted this high. It reminds me of the year we drafted Dan Bazuin, Michael Okwo, and Garrett Wolfe. All 3 were reachs and the thought was "trust Angelo." With Conte, either Angelo sees something nobody else does or we made a big mistake taking him this high. If Conte turns out to be an OLB, then I like the pick. We really did need to get a developmental LB in this draft: both Urlacher and Briggs are getting up there, and Pisa's always hurt. Even if we can re-sign Nick Roach, we needed to address the position. Plus, I do trust Angelo and Lovie to manufacture OLBs. They always seem to be able to pick guys on the cheap and coach them up at that position. Angelo already said Conte would play FS. At 197, Conte would need to gain 30 pounds to play linebacker. As for coaching up outside linebackers, that's easy to do when you're flanked by Briggs & Urlacher. If Conte's really a safety, though, then he better turn into the next Chris Harris. It's one thing to spend a 5th-7th on a safety, like Angelo does every year. It's not a big deal if those guys are just special teamers and backups. The last time we spent a 3rd-rounder on a safety, though, it was Major Wright; that early in the draft, you're expecting to get an eventual starter. Chris Harris was a 6th round pick. We never particularly liked him with this defense and often bench him on passing downs. There are high expectations with 3rd rounders.

Thanks for posting that list. I was just looking for those. Man there are a lot of good players available. Unfortunately there's going to be about 60 more picks until we're up again. If Paea is as good as advertised, I have no complaints about losing our 4th.

I forget about the last couple of years, but JA has had a history of success with mid-rounders, which means "too bad we don't have a 4th", but it also means that he might have seen something important in this kid that he'll be right about. I don't think that's true anymore. Angelo developed this reputation after he drafted Tillman & Briggs, then the following year Berrian & Vasher. Since then he's had far more misses then hits. Let me ask you this: When was the last time Angelo really reached for a player that turned out to be good? Some of the "reaches" we complained about: Mark Bradley--2nd Dan Bazuin--2nd Garrett Wolf--3rd Michael Okwo--3rd All these guys were perceived to be reaches and we were told, "JA has had a history of success with mid-rounders . . . trust him." I wish I could feel good about this pick but nothing I've read indicates he should have been picked before the 5th round. Hell, I can't find anything that indicates he has the instincts or coverage skills to play free safety. Either Jerry Angelo is smarter then everyone else or this is a real bad pick. It was a reach for a position that wasn't a great need.

The 127 pick overall . . . I like Paea. I hope it's worth giving up a 4th to go up 8 spots. We must not like the 4th round very much. We seem determined to get out of it. Either that or we plan on trading down our 3rd to get back in it (that seems more likely) I can't believe we'd have taken Paea if the Chiefs had drafted Carimi. Weird. Weird, weird, weird.

Is that official we gave up our 4th?

it's got to be Peae

waiting

It's Richard Dent. They announced that last week. Hall of fame and all

It's still open

Agreed Madlith. They have officially leapfrogged the Lions as the worst team in the NFL North.

I thought for sure the Vikings would take him at #43 . . . hell, I thought they'd take him @ #12. He ain't going to be around much longer.

Our DT's are putrid and there ain't much availble. Round #2 seems ideal. Possible options: Steven Paea, Marvin Austin, Jurrell Casey, Christian Ballard, Terrell McClain, Jarvis Jenkins, or Drake Nevis. I'll be shocked if one of those guys don't go to the Bears in Round #2.

Baldwin was considered a reach when he was taken. Why would the Bears trade up for a reach? I'd also throw out that Martz doesn't like the bigger WR's.

Sheesh. I called Sherrod a first round reach which shows how much I know. Everything indicates that Carimi is head and shoulders better then Sherrod. Nice pick for the Bears.

As per Brad Biggs, "The Chicago Bears had a scenario they hoped would pan out unfold Thursday night as Wisconsin's Gabe Carimi fell all the way to them at No. 29, making a would-be trade to get ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs to No. 26 unnecessary." Ok, he doesn't actually come out and say it, but he implies we were wanting to move up for Carimi. Particularly since most mocks had Carimi going to Kansas City at #21.