2 hours ago, dawhizz said:

The two real problems with trying to put together a mock draft of what you think the Bears might actually do are (1) they really seem to be committed to, for the most part, going BPA, and (2) Poles just has guys he falls in love with based on vibes which I think pushes them up their board beyond where they might otherwise be, like Hyppolite last year, Travis Bell, etc. I can think, like TJ Parker is better than Dani Dennis-Sutton (for instance) but if they have calls with those guys or visits and one makes a better impression than the other based on attitude, loving football, preparation, etc., I feel like, for better or worse, that matters to this staff.

I don't disagree with anything you said or Ashkum. No matter who BPA is at 25, I don't think they will take a WR, RB, IOL or TE. They will have a player in a need area that they will say is their guy. I think probably trade back to fill more spots whether starter or rotational.

If you look at free agency they got bodies at LT, LB, DT which suggests to me they won't take the any of them as the top pick. IMO They need a starter at S and a better DE to put in the mix.

Players that seem to fit DA's defense are Theinaman, TJ Parker, and Keltric Faulk that will be picked high. It could easily be a CB or a stud LBer and if a LT drops. It depends on how their board falls for them.

There are some others I like but think they are more 2 nd round picks. I think they fall back and have 3 2 nd round picks and try to get another top 100 pick.

It appears the comp pick may still be in play that would be nice.it will be pick 100? Am I wrong on that?

I must have put my email on there site but everyday NFL Mock Draft Database sends me any published mocks. 18 today.

Four have us taking Messidor . He's a beast but I don't think we are going to draft a 26 year old rookie that has an injury history.

3 has us taking Theinaman. I don't think he makes it to us but would like that pick.

It's not that I think any of these sites have a clue where they will go after pick 15 but it's a point for discussion.

Didn't know where to stick this but PFF has been purchased and people are getting laid off. I don't know if how it changes but something is happening.

There's always a place for stats but to much credit was given to a flawed system. Cris Collingworth was the original owner.

Teams want out of the top ten but who wants in. This is not a good draft among top ten. At almost any position you could trade back 10 picks and get similar talent. Mendoza being the exception and he doesn’t really have to 5 talent.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/04/giants-eyeing-trade-down-move-from-no-5-other-teams-interested-in-trading-back#ref=home

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

Teams want out of the top ten but who wants in. This is not a good draft among top ten. At almost any position you could trade back 10 picks and get similar talent. Mendoza being the exception and he doesn’t really have to 5 talent.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/04/giants-eyeing-trade-down-move-from-no-5-other-teams-interested-in-trading-back#ref=home

This is a decent team filler draft but it's not looking like an all-pro type.

I can see the Bears moving up to 10-15 if a player like S Caleb Downs goes that far or Edge David Bailey. I think it will be hard to move down because I see most teams looking for that opportunity. A top 10-12 team might want more picks if they are rebuilding.

A mock draft from the Bears Talk simulator. I was graded C+, but I'd say a drafting a starting DE, S, and LB with a rotational DT, a gadget RB, and developmental C and DE is at least a B.

Dont sleep on Patrick Payton, 6'5 260 4.65 speed, he has the tools to be a good pass disruptor. He needs strength to set the edge and hold up in the run, so a good year or two can make him an asset. They developed Dominique Robinson from WR to DE, so maybe take another swing.

This draft will be graded by what rookies made first year contributions, not 3 years from now.

The first 3 picks have to contribute. A safety will start, A DE will be rotational anyways. Same for DT. A LT will probably need to develop, a center will be a future starter. Unless Edwards isn't healthy, a LB wouldn't be a starter right away. A high CB pick would be the 4th or 5th CB to start. WR would be the 6 th pass catcher, RB third on the depth chart.

Because we didn't get the comp pick, 75% chance we move back instead of forward. Last year there were 3 trades between 25 and 32. Many teams always want to get there guy and reach late in the first round.

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

This draft will be graded by what rookies made first year contributions, not 3 years from now.

The first 3 picks have to contribute. A safety will start, A DE will be rotational anyways. Same for DT. A LT will probably need to develop, a center will be a future starter. Unless Edwards isn't healthy, a LB wouldn't be a starter right away. A high CB pick would be the 4th or 5th CB to start. WR would be the 6 th pass catcher, RB third on the depth chart.

Because we didn't get the comp pick, 75% chance we move back instead of forward. Last year there were 3 trades between 25 and 32. Many teams always want to get there guy and reach late in the first round.

Drafting Trotter, Edwards or whoever is expenable. He will be your Singletary or Urlacher of 2026 and beyond.

38 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Drafting Trotter, Edwards or whoever is expenable. He will be your Singletary or Urlacher of 2026 and beyond.

If they draft a Urlacker type LB, I m all in but who is that? Edwards will probably be gone after this year but Demarco Jackson is probably his replacement to go with Bush. Every year we should draft every position but we don't have enough picks for that.

I think 1 DE, 1 DT , 1 S, 1 CB, 1 WR, 1 RB, and a C . If we get extra picks, then a LB will be addressed but I don't think it will be a priority in this draft. Hyppolite is counted on to improve, if not then we draft another one.

9 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

If they draft a Urlacker type LB, I m all in but who is that? Edwards will probably be gone after this year but Demarco Jackson is probably his replacement to go with Bush. Every year we should draft every position but we don't have enough picks for that.

I think 1 DE, 1 DT , 1 S, 1 CB, 1 WR, 1 RB, and a C . If we get extra picks, then a LB will be addressed but I don't think it will be a priority in this draft. Hyppolite is counted on to improve, if not then we draft another one.

If there is a guy they believe will be a blue chip player regardless who is already signed, you do it. There are 3 or 4 LBs that could be there Hill, Rodriguez, Trotter that would become team captains when you are transforming the whole defense, its as good as a time to bring that voice in.

They filled DT in FA, so they may not draft one. CB, WR, RB, and C all have players too but yes depth and upgrades should be considered.

The Bears can go anywhere position wise and that is what keeps us confused trying to predict outcomes.

This the way I look at it.

They brought in DTs, LBers, LTs and one starting Safety. Also added a WR with Walker expected to contribute. No DE.

They have to find a starting S , otherwise we have players everywhere else. I think they bring a S maybe two, a DE and DT.

Could be any other positions applying the BPA theory.

My preference, trade back from 25 5 to 10 spots and get an extra top 100 pick.

In any order they have their board laid out.

Jacas , Parker , Young, D- Sutton , Lawrence, Moore. DE

Stukes , Kilgore, Ramsey, Bud Clark. Payne S

Miller, Halton, Benny, Proctor, Capehart DT

Parker, Slaughter, Jones, Hecht, Kuhn C

Tienen, Shelton, Bowery JC Davis LT

Hill, Trotter, Louis, Perkins, Boettcher, Rolder LB

Tacario Davis, Muhammad, Neal, Demming CB

These are players that could fit our scheme. IMO

My best guess one week out:

1) Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami - I believe he's falling due to age and I also believe Poles doesn't care. I think now that the Bears are at playoff team the goal is "get me grown men who can play now" and not "get me young guys who can develop (as you will see with my other picks. I would not have thought this pick was possible even a month ago but I think this is pretty possible now.

2a) Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona - Yes, another 25 year old. Has the speed and versatility the Bears defense appears to be looking for this offseason.

2b) DeZhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss - Came in for a Bears visit. Can play inside and outside and one of the better blocking WRs in the draft, which Ben will surely appreciate. Seems to be rising into this range, but maybe a trade down into the beginning of the third and picking up a 5th or something would work as well.

3) Logan Jones, C, Iowa - The third 25 year old - this probably won't happen but he seems to fit what the Bears want on the offensive line as far as combining movement skills with aggressive demeanor, and should be ready to challenge Bradbury right away or take over next year.

4) Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin - This probably where you get another body at outside CB. I went back and forth between Demmings, who is fast but will have level of competition concerns, and Devin Moore from Florida, who might be more ready to play but has a concerning injury history, but I decided Moor was a little too much like Terrell Smith with the injuries.

7a) Aaron Graves, DT, Iowa - Just dart throws at this point, but Graves has played inside and outside and fits the Dennis Allen type.

7b) Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas, Tech - Even with an earlier safety, the Bears might need another body there as the depth is not great. Wisniewski is big and can play in the box in a safety/linebacker hybrid role.

19 minutes ago, dawhizz said:

My best guess one week out:

1) Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami - I believe he's falling due to age and I also believe Poles doesn't care. I think now that the Bears are at playoff team the goal is "get me grown men who can play now" and not "get me young guys who can develop (as you will see with my other picks. I would not have thought this pick was possible even a month ago but I think this is pretty possible now.

2a) Treydan Stukes, S, Arizona - Yes, another 25 year old. Has the speed and versatility the Bears defense appears to be looking for this offseason.

2b) DeZhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss - Came in for a Bears visit. Can play inside and outside and one of the better blocking WRs in the draft, which Ben will surely appreciate. Seems to be rising into this range, but maybe a trade down into the beginning of the third and picking up a 5th or something would work as well.

3) Logan Jones, C, Iowa - The third 25 year old - this probably won't happen but he seems to fit what the Bears want on the offensive line as far as combining movement skills with aggressive demeanor, and should be ready to challenge Bradbury right away or take over next year.

4) Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin - This probably where you get another body at outside CB. I went back and forth between Demmings, who is fast but will have level of competition concerns, and Devin Moore from Florida, who might be more ready to play but has a concerning injury history, but I decided Moor was a little too much like Terrell Smith with the injuries.

7a) Aaron Graves, DT, Iowa - Just dart throws at this point, but Graves has played inside and outside and fits the Dennis Allen type.

7b) Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas, Tech - Even with an earlier safety, the Bears might need another body there as the depth is not great. Wisniewski is big and can play in the box in a safety/linebacker hybrid role.

I really like this draft with exception of a WR in the 2nd. I'd much prefer another DL.

49 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

I really like this draft with exception of a WR in the 2nd. I'd much prefer another DL.

I just have a hard time finding a fit. Beyond just not liking this DT class much, it seems like DA doesn't like the big, run-stuffing NT type which is, if anything, the strength of this class. By the end of the 2nd where we're picking, I can't get excited about any of the players really. Gracen Halton seems like the closest to a fit to what DA likes that might be worth that pick, but is he giving this team anything different than playing Shemar Turner/James Lynch/Kentavious Street/Dayo those snaps?

This is a quote from an article I read about Kevin White being the worst draft bust in the past 25 years.

Poles constantly getting extra picks has paid off, more darts to throw. LOL

This is why experienced general managers prioritize volume.

More draft picks increase the odds of landing impact players. Each selection carries risk, but a larger pool of picks improves the chances of finding long-term contributors.

And finally, the Bears appear to have turned a corner in recent years.

Their 2024 and 2025 draft classes now form the foundation of a young, ascending roster. If Ryan Poles delivers another strong class in 2026, Chicago will strengthen its path toward sustained contention.

The margin for error in the NFL Draft will never disappear.

But the Bears finally look like a team learning how to manage it.