jason

A few quick questions: 1) Do you think the Bears will draft a TE? 2) Do you think they will draft him in the first four rounds? 3) What stats do you think Zach Miller, assuming he stays injury free, will have at the end of the year? The reason why I ask is, I really don't know how the Bears feel about TE and Miller. Do they trust him? Seems so since they resigned him and traded Bennett. But, as the detractors have said, he's not a spring chicken and he has had injury issues in the past. That alone should be enough reason to invest in a young TE fairly early. I honestly hope the Bears don't draft a TE early. I want to see nothing but Defense and OL for the first 4 rounds (5 picks). And I'd really like to see what Miller can do when given the true starter's role for the season.

Disagree here with the INTs. There have been multiple games and INTs analyzed in great detail, and it appears that more INTs happen when MB is in, and passes are thrown his way. Miller comes in and magically, for the most part, those issues disappear.

It's possible, if not probable, you are both right. The Bears likely needed a culture shift in the organization. Hence, it's good to get rid of malcontents. On the other hand, getting rid of probowl players for middle round draft picks isn't a great trade off. Sure, it's better than the nothing they would have gotten eventually at the end of the respective contracts, but it's essentially the lesser of two evils, not an actual great option.

Agree. This is a Bears board. Anything Bear related should be inbounds. Old players included.

Poorly written and argued article. 1. If Fox stayed in Denver last year, they still would have won. 2. There is no way the Bears do not draft a TE this year (in case Miller goes down). 3. Maybe the Bears weren't hiding Bennett? Maybe he was running poor routes? This has been hinted at before. I'm not 100% in favor of getting rid of Bennett, Marshall, or Forte, but at least the first two had sufficient enough personality clashes that keeping them was difficult.

Well, a trade has thrown us for a loop, and we have a dead-lock among board members on the first round. I don't see how TE isn't a bigger need for the Bears right now, and there are some prime candidates. As for the first round... 2 want OT in the 1st: bear trap, dawhizz 2 don't want OT in the 1st: Alaska, TD Until someone breaks that tie, we stay with the current layout. We also have the addition of a KR requirement from two. MOCK DRAFT VER 5.0 1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, ND 2. Vernon Butler, DE, LaTech 3. Jayron Kearse, SS, Clemson 4. Nick Vannett, TE, OSU 4. Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota 5. Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford 6. Demarcus Ayers, WR/KR, Houston 6. Dadi Nicolas, OLB, VaTech 7. Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern bear trap - (YES: OT in 1st, Buckner/Robinson at 5T, some RB depth), NO: (Lawson at 5T) dawhizz - (YES: KR/WR combo in 5-6, OT in 1st, DE early, OLB mid rounds, FS>SS) ashkum - (YES: SS higher than 6th, Can see TE early, Vernon Butler 2nd) scs787 - (YES: DE>SS, QB>RB, Vernon Butler 2nd) Alaska - (YES: QB/RB 1st), (NO: OL 1st) AZ54 - (NO: Zack Sanchez @ CB, Jalin Marshall @ WR) TD - (YES: KR/WR combo in 5-6), (NO: OL 1st) stinger - (YES: Hogan > Driskel)

Or, maybe, there is s very limited supply of people his size, and he's just a shinier turd than other turds? Maybe he's just a great locker room guy with all the intangibles and interviews well? He did go to a great academic college after all.

Nope. Everyone was happy with those picks, but there were plenty of previous F-Ups. Checkbox ring a bell?

It's OK. I like the addition of wild card, versatile players like Vitale. I also like Sharpe a lot for his sure hands and great routes. Exactly what Cutler needs.

Watch them use him as a 3-4 OLB and rack up sacks.

I am somewhat in agreement with you. Age and/or personality issues are not tolerated on the new Bears. I didn't like BM leaving because he was NOT expendable. I don't mind MB leaving because I believe he IS expendable. As for Forte, I guess he wasn't expendable because the team is trying to sign his (younger) replacement.

I can't ever remember there being a bunch of unified support for Angelo. He had too many mistakes for that. I was, however, always a fan of his salary cap management ability. Pace is doing great right now IMHO.

I'm all in. I like the way this guy operates. Compiling draft picks. Smart moves, good budget, building for future years, picks with upside. He seems to be doing everything right. Who is NOT a fan of this guy right now?

Maaaaaaaaybe Omiyale. That dude sucked.

I know Denver just won the SB, but I really hope the Bears don't just sign all former Denver players. Picking all the players up at the right time is paramount; otherwise, you just end up doing what Lovie has done in Tampa Bay (resigned Conte recently!).

Seems like we almost have this figured out, unless there is more debate about the potential of a 1st round OT. If that changes, we may have to completely restructure. Eric Murray is added in as a scrappy CB, and Tajae Sharpe, a great hands/route guy, is the new WR in the mix. MOCK DRAFT VER 4.0 1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, ND 2. Vernon Butler, DE, LaTech 3. Jayron Kearse, SS, Clemson 4. Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota 5. Jeff Driskel, QB, LaTech 6. Tyler Higbee, TE, WKU 6. Tajae Sharpe, WR, Mass 6. Dadi Nicolas, OLB, VaTech 7. Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern bear trap - (YES: OT in 1st, Buckner/Robinson at 5T, some RB depth), NO: Lawson at 5T dawhizz - (YES: OT in 1st, DE early, OLB mid rounds, FS>SS) ashkum - (YES: SS higher than 6th, Can see TE early, Vernon Butler 2nd) scs787 - (YES: DE>SS, QB>RB, Vernon Butler 2nd) Alaska - (YES: QB/RB 1st), (NO: OL 1st) AZ54 - (NO: Zack Sanchez @ CB, Jalin Marshall @ WR)

Changes are coming soon, but I am a fan of both those guys. More Sanchez than Miller. Sanchez may be skinny, but that dude is a ball-hawk, a real play-maker. He's one of those guys who doesn't always impress, but he's got a winning, explosive quality to him. He's a fighter. As for Jalin Marshall, he is kinda slow, but he's another play-maker. I wasn't thinking of him as a punt returner.

Are you saying you do or do not want OT? And are you saying you want QB in a specific round? Or early/late?

I think you hit the nail on the head. I don't see why they are searching for RBs unless this is the concern. They must be trying to find a 1C rather than a potential 1B. There is no way they would have let Forte walk if they didn't think Langford was already a 1A option.

Starts almost how I had my "everyone agrees mock". I don't know why, but I really think the brass is going to try to find the next Von Miller.

Russell Wilson better buy some life insurance quick.

MOCK DRAFT VER 3.0 1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, ND 2. Vernon Butler, DE, LaTech 3. Jayron Kearse, SS, Clemson 4. Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma 5. Jeff Driskel, QB, LaTech 6. Tyler Higbee, TE, WKU 6. Jalin Marshall, WR, OSU 6. Dadi Nicolas, OLB, VaTech 7. Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern bear trap - (YES: OT in 1st, Buckner/Robinson at 5T, some RB depth), NO: Lawson at 5T dawhizz - (YES: OT in 1st, DE early, OLB mid rounds, FS>SS) ashkum - (YES: SS higher than 6th, Can see TE early, Vernon Butler 2nd) scs787 - (YES: DE>SS, QB>RB, Vernon Butler 2nd) Alaska - (YES: QB/RB 1st), (NO: OL 1st)

I'm still up. Make it quick and dirty... MOCK DRAFT VER 2.0 1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, ND (FWIW - I no longer believe he'll be there) 2. Jeremy Cash, SS, Duke 3. Bronson Kaufusi, DE, BYU 4. Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma 5. Tyler Ervin, RB, SJSU 6. Tyler Higbee, TE, WKU 6. Vernon Adams Jr., QB, Oregon 6. Dadi Nicolas, OLB, VaTech 7. Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern bear trap - (YES: OT in 1st, Buckner/Robinson at 5T, some RB depth), NO: Lawson at 5T dawhizz - (YES: OT in 1st, DE early, OLB mid rounds) ashkum - (YES: SS higher than 6th, Can see TE early)

Well, it's about time to start this discussion back up. We probably have a minor signing or two left, but otherwise the team is set. Remember, please do not submit another mock. No trades. Both include too many what-if scenarios. I'll fire up a mock, then everyone chime in with your thoughts, suggestions, recommendations, etc. List the players you hate at the round mocked, where you think specific positions need to be addressed. I'll try to stay out of it for the most part, and I'm trying not to interject what I want. I'm putting what I think the Bears might do based on their moves this offseason. This is the previous draft we all agreed upon: MOCK DRAFT VER 8.0 1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, ND 2. Sua Cravens, ILB, USC 3. Jayron Kearse, SS, Clemson 4. Bronson Kaufusi, DE, BYU 5. KeiVarae Russell, CB, ND 6. Dak Prescott, QB, MSU 6. Halapoulivaati Vaitai, OG, TCU 6. Silverberry Mouhon, OLB, Cincy 7. Glenn Gronkowski, TE, KSU The new post-FA mock draft is as follows: MOCK DRAFT VER 1.0 1. Shaq Lawson, OLB, Clemson 2. Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas 3. Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor 4. Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma 5. Fahn Cooper, OT, Ole Miss 6. Vernon Adams Jr., QB, Oregon 6. Elijah Shumate, SS, ND 6. Dadi Nicolas, OLB, VaTech 7. Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern Alright. There's my complete remake of what I think the Bears are steering towards. What are your inputs? Hate someone? Love someone? Think someone is too high/low? Bad/great fit for the team? Let's see if we can all agree again!

Wentz...hell no. The other two? Sure.