DABEARSDABOMB

Bill Polian has Ezekiel has his #1 player on his draft board.

Went back and watched some of his film, dude can play. He's an athlete and when I read more about his off-the field issues, the bigger concerns are of him just being a unique spirit, not being a guy with a major issue. He did have one huge mistake, but he's a massive man who is immensley athletic. I'm not advocating taking him @ 11, but I am advocating him as a no brainer in the 2nd round (if he is there) and I'd go as far as saying I'd be willing to either move down later in the 1st (to get him) or move up from the 2nd to get him. This is a guy who could be a true game changer on this defense (something we sorely need and lack). If he busts, oh well, shoot for the great is what I say!!! http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/15159447...mdic-nfl-future Thought the above was a good article / spin for those who advocate drafting him. Draft reports would make you think dude is some criminal or something. By all accounts his teammates loved him and he seems like a unique, but talented guy who has a good heart. Below is something that stood out about his football accumen: Bottom line, I think everyone on the planet overanalyzes the negatives heading into a draft and they are completely ignoring the fact that this guy is a top 5 talent who was a great teammate, doesn't have major legal issues (yes he had a dumb incident but it was an incident that only impacted him...never impacted anyone else).

Doesn't Jaylon project as a guy who can basically play any of the LB spots?

Honestly, I'm on board with Joseph in the 2nd and love Smith...I'd be in love with that draft. I don't know that you could draw out a better looking top 3 picks in my eyes. Never happens though (no way does Joseph fall to the 3rd).

Everything I've heard is Giants are locked in on an LT.

Oh I agree I wouldn't make it, it only works for the Rams if they truly think they have a franchise QB. I think they would hvae been better off taking Lynch at 15 and drafting another QB in the 3rd round as I don't think the difference between Goff or Wentz or Lynch is that significant.

I don't think that is enough to move down those 4 slots. I'd ask for one extra pick, but yeah, than I'm game (unless Bears graded Stanley as top on the board). On a sidenote, I don't think Stanley will be there. Giants are taking a tackle and you know Tunsill will be gone as well so I see at least 2 tackles going before our pick (possibly a third).

I think the Titans might actually look at our pick and move up if Stanley is there (and that possibility has increased given this trade). Titans will easily have the flexibility. If they don't move up, to your point, if a team goes another direction, we might get lucky and get a top 8 talent (which by all accounts is where the real talent gap drops off) at 11.

Good move by Titans but the quality LT at 15 vs. where they were picking is significantly worse. Still, they should be able to have multiple picks to help build a strong line in one draft while also addressing other needs. Great trade for them and for the Rams, if they truly think one of these guys is a franchise QB, than I can't fault them for it. But serious risk. I've long been a huge believer in the trade down philosophy.

Either way, if he is 95% of either of those, than getting him at 11 is a no brainer and a steal. Both are all time greats at the respective position.

The leader comment is the typical MO on him. Against the blitz he's rated very well, he has all the tools, performed very well in a pro style offense, etc. If it weren't for this "leadership" question mark because he wasn't anointed captain, he'd be a surefire 1st round pick.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/...th-bears-49ers/ Bears are clearly taking a QB somewhere in the first few rounds (given who are current back-ups are) and the fact that we are meeting with practically every QB (or so it seems).

Very informative read from Gabriel on setting a draft board. I always persumed teams evaluated player by round grade, but looks like it is more just lined up top to bottom and you pick whomever is on top regardless. I say that because I would have assumed someone may not have been on your board in the first but is on your board in the 3rd (say if a 1st round talent slipped). The way it looks, if someone isn't on your list, you stay away from them and I suppose it makes sense and that is why you might see a 1st round graded player fall and continue to fall (as plenty of teams just keep laser focus on who they scouted and evaluated and went with from the beginning). http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/04/07/gab...-a-draft-board/

Love Karl Joseph and that 3rd round pick scream great value. Honestly, love it. Probably my favorite mock I've seen and I'm not even a huge Shaq fan.

Georgia's system seems to overrate / overinflate its pass rushers stats and get them overdrafted. Doesn't mean Floyd isn't good, but we'll see.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000065...sses-at-pro-day

He still isn't the long-term answer. The knock on Lynch is that he is raw. The talent is there. He has a lot of physical tools and needs time. Jay Cutler buys you that time and can be the guy for the next two years while you transition (and ultimately if Jay is playing good and you also have Lynch who you like, that is a good problem to have, imo). QB's have a ton of value on the trade market (one of the few positions) and there are always teams looking for an upgrade. IF we need to we can always capitalize on Jay a year from now, etc (unless he seriously regresses and if he does, we can cut him and be glad that we drafted the QB when we did). Given what looks to be there, I don't expect one of the LT's to be available and don't see a difference maker OLB/Dlineman in 1st, so I either want an impact corner or a QB / Elliot. Never thought I'd even think about a RB but I just don't get that excited about a lot of the other candidates and do think Ezekiel / Langford can be a pretty special combo and given Fox's propensity for being a power rushing team with a strong defense which should allow any QB to maximize his abilities. Wish we had a shot at Buckner or Bosa. Note: Big Ben was a raw, talented QB from a smaller school who was the 3rd QB taken in his draft, coincidentally with the 11th pick in the 1st round by the Steelers.

Von Miller was also the #2 overall pick and racked up 27.5 sacks in his final two seasons. Floyd had 17 in his final two years. Stats don't say anything and neither do statistics. Bottom line, I'm fine with Floyd and like the fact that he's a good athlete but just because they have some similar measurable's doesn't make them the same player (although to Jason's point, I'd agree that athletically he is the closest out of the other comps but that doesn't mean they are the same).

I'm not going to claim I'm smart enough to know who is going to be an impact player or who isn't. I'm only smart enough to go, oh god, that isn't a potential need or I can't see why we would do that given who else was on the board (relatively speaking from other positions). Bottom line, we need playmakers on defense and if the Bears think Floyd is that guy, I hope they take him. I tend to think the best bang for the buck would be Hargraves, but I don't know if he is there (by all accounts he seems to be that playmaking corner who has great athleticism). That said, I also think Elliot fits the bill and I still am of the belief that if Goff or Wentz is there, we take one of them. There are quite a few of these next tier OLB / DE types and I think outside of Myles Jack (who might be there, most likely not), none of them really separate much from me and I have no freaking idea anyway.

We don't agree often, but when it comes to oline and its importance we agree every time and I have zero problem taking a tackle early this year if we think that is the best player on the board (or close to it). I feel the same way about the dline, especially pass rushers.

An alternative would be staying at 11 and swapping Alshon for Wilkinson and than maybe Treadwell becomes a more viable option.

And the flipside. Gabriel is a very good follow given his ties to the org (which still seem to exist to this day, despite the fact that Pace is in now). Pretty successful overall career and he's had some good tidbits on potential Bears move this season so I consider him well connected. Greg Gabriel ‏@greggabe 17m17 minutes ago These "insiders" throwing Mo Wilkerson to Bears rumors are just throwing darts at a wall. Nothing to it as of NOW Greg Gabriel ‏@greggabe 8m8 minutes ago The real experts like @BradBiggs laugh at these "rumors". These so called experts are looking for followers and make stuff up Greg Gabriel ‏@greggabe 9m9 minutes ago The people who get hurt by this BS are the fans who want reliable information Greg Gabriel ‏@greggabe 4m4 minutes ago I've been around GM's my whole adult life. They tell nothing to the media this time off year. I've seen more lies this year than ever 1/2 Greg Gabriel ‏@greggabe 3m3 minutes ago 2/2 more lies than ever as to this GMsaid certain things about certain players. It's 95% made up by these Twitter experts

Doug Moore ‏@DMooreNFL 2h2 hours ago Still hearing that the #Bears are as of right now, the front runners for #Jets DL Muhammad Wilkerson. Lots of factors involved though. #NFL Doug Moore ‏@DMooreNFL 2h2 hours ago Doug Moore Retweeted Doug Moore Biggest factors are compensation for #Jets & also for the #Bears to negotiate a long term extension w/ DL Wilkerson.

I look at the teams above the Bears pick and believe the Browns, Cowboys, Niners, and Philadelphia could all use a QB and might all pick one high. I pretty much have 99% confidence that the Browns select one and presuming the Niners trade Kaep (and even if they don't), think with pretty high confidence the Niners take a QB. I also view the Rams as a team who has a strong need and could move up, however, I don't know that they will. To be honest, I would be thrilled if a QB fell to the Bears and I think both of those QB's are worthy of being top 10 picks so I'm fine with the value at 11 and am on board with drafting them and having a future in place as Jay ages (in fact, if the QB ended up proving to be ultra worthy, Jay's deal will actually be pretty friendly and attractive so we could likely capitalize on a good pick when the time is right to move Jay even). That said, I don't see two QB's getting past those four teams in particular. If the Browns pass, than I think the odds increase of one coming to us. I could also see the Jets being extremely interested in moving up as well. I actually think this is a pretty good QB draft, maybe not the sure fire #1 overall selection, but lots of players who have intriguing possibilities (whether it is Goff or Wentz or even the plethora of potential later round picks).

If Goff or Wentz are there when we pick, we are either trading them to another team or we are taking them. I can't see us passing on one of those QB's at 11. I also see almost zero scenario where either of them are on the board when we pick. I would not draft the wideout. I'd rather trade down or give up our 1st for Wilkerson and a 2nd or the Jets 1st rounder) or take one of the CB's (such as Apple).