1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

DT:  I agree…what they think of Turner’s future position and future promise could decide where they go in Rd 1 (DE/DT). 

Safety needs a clear starter drafted.  I don’t think we should get out of Rd 2 without taking one.  

WR depth:  Don’t sleep on Kalif Raymond.  I think he’s an upgrade over OZ but at the same time is not on par with DJ.  However, watching his highlights he did a lot of the same short stuff for Detroit that DJ did for us last year.  Likewise he caught a lot of passes similar to what we saw OZ do last year.  Walker will need to step up his game and fill in the intermediate and deep routes.  Hopefully Walker continues to perform well in the redzone as that could the biggest area we miss DJ experience.  If they choose to add one more on Day 3 or just add one more vet FA after the draft but I think we might already have some guys in Maurice Alexander or JP Richardson who can contribute as 5th WRs.  At least Ben was complimentary of those guys late last yeear.   

LT:  don’t see us fixing that via the draft.  Anyone with legit LT skills is likely gone.  Otherwise we’re going to draft a backup-low end starter OT talent.   Yet we have a few of those options already in house.  Time to rely on Roushar to get one ‘em right.  

Center:  Has to be a draft pick here likely by Rd 4.  They read the FA market correctly and went with a cheaper viable option which allowed us to address greater needs like S with a big contract.  Bradbury is good enough that this isn’t must have in the draft.  Again, deep draft at OC don’t over spend in FA. Hopefully someone good that can be our long term solution falls our way.  

RB:   Not looking to do anything earlier than Day 3 here and in that context  I like Kaytron Allen.  There’s no deep speed flashiness like Mike Washington has but he’s just productive in the same way that Monangai is productive.   I have to do more scouting of the Day 3 prospects to see if there is one who can add the sizzle to the offense without being a complete liability elsewhere (i.e passing game).  

 

This is well written. I think we see safety addressed early and for some reason I wouldn’t be shocked to see the add a wideout or other offensive weapon with first 3 picks (unless we see them add one more vet wideout).

I also expect a DT before DE but it all dependens on who is on the board. I will caveat I could see safety being first pick - but if it is I think it will be because they traded back 5-10 spots to pick up another pick. Maybe end up with 4 2nd rounders. 

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

DT:  I agree…what they think of Turner’s future position and future promise could decide where they go in Rd 1 (DE/DT). 

Safety needs a clear starter drafted.  I don’t think we should get out of Rd 2 without taking one.  

WR depth:  Don’t sleep on Kalif Raymond.  I think he’s an upgrade over OZ but at the same time is not on par with DJ.  However, watching his highlights he did a lot of the same short stuff for Detroit that DJ did for us last year.  Likewise he caught a lot of passes similar to what we saw OZ do last year.  Walker will need to step up his game and fill in the intermediate and deep routes.  Hopefully Walker continues to perform well in the redzone as that could the biggest area we miss DJ experience.  If they choose to add one more on Day 3 or just add one more vet FA after the draft but I think we might already have some guys in Maurice Alexander or JP Richardson who can contribute as 5th WRs.  At least Ben was complimentary of those guys late last yeear.   

LT:  don’t see us fixing that via the draft.  Anyone with legit LT skills is likely gone.  Otherwise we’re going to draft a backup-low end starter OT talent.   Yet we have a few of those options already in house.  Time to rely on Roushar to get one ‘em right.  

Center:  Has to be a draft pick here likely by Rd 4.  They read the FA market correctly and went with a cheaper viable option which allowed us to address greater needs like S with a big contract.  Bradbury is good enough that this isn’t must have in the draft.  Again, deep draft at OC don’t over spend in FA. Hopefully someone good that can be our long term solution falls our way.  

RB:   Not looking to do anything earlier than Day 3 here and in that context  I like Kaytron Allen.  There’s no deep speed flashiness like Mike Washington has but he’s just productive in the same way that Monangai is productive.   I have to do more scouting of the Day 3 prospects to see if there is one who can add the sizzle to the offense without being a complete liability elsewhere (i.e passing game).  

 

I like your takes, nice work. 

I know simulators are kind of a joke, but Ive been taking Mike Washington RB with our 3rd. He might make the top of the 3rd.  After him I dont see much flash except maybe a kid from Nebraska, Everett Johnson, last name might be off. 

Seen the Bears were one of the teams at Kansas St pro day, I believe for their C, Hecht.  I like Slaughter FL, Hecht KS St, and Glubin Mich St for Center prospects.  

2 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I like your takes, nice work. 

I know simulators are kind of a joke, but Ive been taking Mike Washington RB with our 3rd. He might make the top of the 3rd.  After him I dont see much flash except maybe a kid from Nebraska, Everett Johnson, last name might be off. 

Seen the Bears were one of the teams at Kansas St pro day, I believe for their C, Hecht.  I like Slaughter FL, Hecht KS St, and Glubin Mich St for Center prospects.  

Figuring out which OC fit our scheme is the hard part for me.  Using Dalman as the reference followed by our choice to trade for Bradbury who both move well for centers.   I think Hecht has similar movement skills.  Reading draft profiles for Slaughter and Glubin they both will have limited range in run blocking that can affect our limit outside zone plays.  Yet they both seem to anchor better in pass pro than Hecht.  
 

The first two likely have the higher floor especially in year one.  Hecht might have the most upside long term for a team that is willing to be patient.  
 

What does Ben prioritize most in the traits he wants in a center?   

8 hours ago, AZ54 said:

Figuring out which OC fit our scheme is the hard part for me.  Using Dalman as the reference followed by our choice to trade for Bradbury who both move well for centers.   I think Hecht has similar movement skills.  Reading draft profiles for Slaughter and Glubin they both will have limited range in run blocking that can affect our limit outside zone plays.  Yet they both seem to anchor better in pass pro than Hecht.  
 

The first two likely have the higher floor especially in year one.  Hecht might have the most upside long term for a team that is willing to be patient.  
 

What does Ben prioritize most in the traits he wants in a center?   

I know I've heard BJ say pass pro for LT is more important than run blocking. Hecht should be able to add strength to help his anchor.  His draftbuzz profile says he lacks movement skills for outside zone schemes though.

Conner Lew, Auburn, seems like the perfect developmental guy if his torn ACL recovers right. He is younger than most prospects at 20, so has youth on his side. Has outside zone movement and like all the athletic prospects will struggle against big NTs. 

Logan Jones is another name from Iowa. He was the most athletic tested at combine, but lacks anchor.  Parker Brailsford Alabama is the same, lighter and can move.  So if the Bears want movement for run schemes, they have options. 

I feel confident that there are enough center prospects that the Bears should find one and hopefully get the one the rank the highest for them. 

13 hours ago, AZ54 said:

DT- upgrade/depth - they have Jarrett, Dexter, Gallimore, Street.  I see Turners physique as another DT more than DE.

Finding at least one prospect that can push for a starting job with Jarrett and Dexter both possibly gone after 2026. Turners health and progress could mean 2 are needed. 

That's what they drafted him for.  Booker's preseason injury caused Turner to get reps at end, for depth purposes.  For that same purpose, they said Dayo could potentially see some 3T reps.  The whole interchangeability idea that was floated was out of poor depth.

I fully expect us to draft two DL within the first three rounds.  Poles has made me wrong about the trenches 95% of the time.  Hopefully, he starts following the Eagles and Seahawks plan. 

On the OL, I'll be surprised if we draft an LT.  I'm not sure we draft a center either.  Bradberry is a decent center and only 30 years old.  Unless, I'm missing something, the Patriots got fleeced on this one.

We really could have used that comp pick this year to fill out LB and safety.  I'd love to see two DL, LB and S with the first four picks.

3 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

That's what they drafted him for.  Booker's preseason injury caused Turner to get reps at end, for depth purposes.  For that same purpose, they said Dayo could potentially see some 3T reps.  The whole interchangeability idea that was floated was out of poor depth.

I fully expect us to draft two DL within the first three rounds.  Poles has made me wrong about the trenches 95% of the time.  Hopefully, he starts following the Eagles and Seahawks plan. 

On the OL, I'll be surprised if we draft an LT.  I'm not sure we draft a center either.  Bradberry is a decent center and only 30 years old.  Unless, I'm missing something, the Patriots got fleeced on this one.

We really could have used that comp pick this year to fill out LB and safety.  I'd love to see two DL, LB and S with the first four picks.

Linebacker has some depth, Bush, Edward's, D Jackson. Sewell1 & 2, Hyppollite, so I don't see the Bears taking any except for ST.

DT, id be happy with 2, Peter Woods and Gracen Halton would go a long ways.

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Linebacker has some depth, Bush, Edward's, D Jackson. Sewell1 & 2, Hyppollite, so I don't see the Bears taking any except for ST.

DT, id be happy with 2, Peter Woods and Gracen Halton would go a long ways.

Sewell and Hyppollite suck. The linebackers are super talented this year. I'd lay money we draft one.

Just now, Mongo3451 said:

Sewell and Hyppollite suck. The linebackers are super talented this year. I'd lay money we draft one.

I agree. Sewell stinks - maybe special teams at best. Hyppo couldn’t even get on the field. I know he had some injuries but if he doesn’t flash this offseason I think he’s at risk of getting cut.

Edward’s is solid but that injury will further slow him down and speed was never his strength - feels like a spot they add a player in the draft.

5 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I know I've heard BJ say pass pro for LT is more important than run blocking. Hecht should be able to add strength to help his anchor.  His draftbuzz profile says he lacks movement skills for outside zone schemes though.

Conner Lew, Auburn, seems like the perfect developmental guy if his torn ACL recovers right. He is younger than most prospects at 20, so has youth on his side. Has outside zone movement and like all the athletic prospects will struggle against big NTs. 

Logan Jones is another name from Iowa. He was the most athletic tested at combine, but lacks anchor.  Parker Brailsford Alabama is the same, lighter and can move.  So if the Bears want movement for run schemes, they have options. 

I feel confident that there are enough center prospects that the Bears should find one and hopefully get the one the rank the highest for them. 

I’m not thoroughly searching across the internet but it does appear that rankings for Centers are quite varied depending on the site you visit. Slaughter who I usually see as a top 3 Center is ranked 9th on NFL.com and doesn’t even have a starters draft grade. Meanwhile Draftbuzz shows him as the best OC prospect this year. Maybe the guy from Iowa is a better fit or we take a chance on the recovery of Conner Lew?

https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/prospects/c/all-colleges/all-statuses/2026?page=1

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Logan-Jones-DL-Iowa

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Connor-Lew-OL-Auburn

6 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I know I've heard BJ say pass pro for LT is more important than run blocking. Hecht should be able to add strength to help his anchor.  His draftbuzz profile says he lacks movement skills for outside zone schemes though.

Conner Lew, Auburn, seems like the perfect developmental guy if his torn ACL recovers right. He is younger than most prospects at 20, so has youth on his side. Has outside zone movement and like all the athletic prospects will struggle against big NTs. 

Logan Jones is another name from Iowa. He was the most athletic tested at combine, but lacks anchor.  Parker Brailsford Alabama is the same, lighter and can move.  So if the Bears want movement for run schemes, they have options. 

I feel confident that there are enough center prospects that the Bears should find one and hopefully get the one the rank the highest for them. 

In other NFL news, KC Chiefs trade a 2027 6th round pick for Justin Fields. He will now change his jersey number to 2 since he believes wearing #1 is disrespectful to Mahomes.

I always said, he'd make a fine kick returner and gadget play guy. He's excellent when he's running int he open field. But you can have your starting QB take those kind of hits. Hes not good with the passing game. Maybe a one read and run kind of thing, but if he is willing to do something OTHER than play QB, he could be really good for them.

I always though of him kinda like Devin Hester. Same homerun ability int he open field, and also doesnt really play his position (WR for Hester, QB for Fields)

If he's willing to swallow his pride and use his talent, he can be a great KR and gadget guy.

DA has put out there what he likes on his defense, speed and length. Draft Buzz gives lots of information and if the Bears want speed at S, Dillion Thieneman is listed as the 34 th rated player at 4.35 is heads above anyone else. Also great at press. If available, he could be our first pick.

The DTs and edge that have length and speed fall in the second round area. After Thieneman the speeder Ss fall to mid round area.

Lots of C prospects this year and the 89 or 129 pick could get one easily. If they want Hecht, he will go in the second round area.

We have depth at LBer in house with Edwards and Bush as starters and Jackson backing them up. Sewell is a ST guy but Hyppolite still could develop. They aren't writing him off over his lack of showing anything last year. I expect one in later rounds.

LT was addressed in house as they stated with bringing back Braxton and then added Willis. He's a wildcard that played well before his injury problems.

All of this information has been brought up in this thread before and I also think they could trade back early 2nd round and get an extra top 100 pick. I heard the bears might sue the NFL over that comp pick that either ends that policy or gets us that comp pick.

If would be nice to have 6 top 100 picks.

Thieneman is an excellent player. A true stud.

Unless there is some free agent addition on the DL, I suspect we will draft Illinois DE Gabe Jacas. I know people will say it's too high etc, but this is what i see, at least now here on March 16th.

We might also trade the pick down, or trade for an Edge like Cam Jordan.

14 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

Thieneman is an excellent player. A true stud.

Unless there is some free agent addition on the DL, I suspect we will draft Illinois DE Gabe Jacas. I know people will say it's too high etc, but this is what i see, at least now here on March 16th.

We might also trade the pick down, or trade for an Edge like Cam Jordan.

I think there are some excellent safety prospects here - goal at 25 has to be find a blue chipper and when you look at his irony of draft it feels like your best path to find one in this range is at one of those less sexy positions like safety or interior line or even LB (DB). Premium positions like LT, DE and QB tend to get overreached in this window.

This safety crop has a few guys that look like they can be legit all pros - that said - if I go there I’d probably try to move back (presuming I had a few of them similarly graded). You also have a shot at a guy in this range who fell for whatever reason.

One scenario I wouldn’t bet against is Poles moving up - package one2nd rounder with this pick and they could certainly jump up if they saw a premium end or LT prospect dropping. This scenario would have been more likely had they got the comp picks.

Hopefully they can hit a couple more legit pieces this draft and as a few of you have said we see more development out of the existing core and get some flashes of those that haven’t yet shined (Shemar / Frazier / Hyppo)…but reality is I think Shemar is only one with some hope of that group.

Unrelated but Cam Jordan is a free agent. Definitely think real chance they sign him at some point to 1 year deal.

1 minute ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

I think there are some excellent safety prospects here - goal at 25 has to be find a blue chipper and when you look at his irony of draft it feels like your best path to find one in this range is at one of those less sexy positions like safety or interior line or even LB (DB). Premium positions like LT, DE and QB tend to get overreached in this window.

This safety crop has a few guys that look like they can be legit all pros - that said - if I go there I’d probably try to move back (presuming I had a few of them similarly graded). You also have a shot at a guy in this range who fell for whatever reason.

One scenario I wouldn’t bet against is Poles moving up - package one2nd rounder with this pick and they could certainly jump up if they saw a premium end or LT prospect dropping. This scenario would have been more likely had they got the comp picks.

Hopefully they can hit a couple more legit pieces this draft and as a few of you have said we see more development out of the existing core and get some flashes of those that haven’t yet shined (Shemar / Frazier / Hyppo)…but reality is I think Shemar is only one with some hope of that group.

All true. But Jacas will be there at 25, and I think he's worth it the way Loveland was worth his pick. under the radar for sure, and talking heads will laugh, but I think hes the right one.

20 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

All true. But Jacas will be there at 25, and I think he's worth it the way Loveland was worth his pick. under the radar for sure, and talking heads will laugh, but I think hes the right one.

He reminds me a bit of Alex Brown - good solid player, but I fear doesn’t have the high end tools to be an impact player. With one of our 2nd rounders, heck yeah, but at 25 I think I’d rather go with one of the 3T options, trade back (maybe to get your guy Jacas but at a better spot) or grab a DB/Safety where I think we can get an impact player if they do it right.

9 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

All true. But Jacas will be there at 25, and I think he's worth it the way Loveland was worth his pick. under the radar for sure, and talking heads will laugh, but I think hes the right one.

I think he's a good player but he’s not worth 25 overall. I’d be happier with Thieneman who at least has Pro Bowl type talent. Jacas will just be a good DE and before that I prefer to add a good DT where our need is greater.

I saw someone throw out a what-if scenario if a top WR falls to us. A top CB? In those cases I’m thinking trade down because someone will want to trade up. However a top CB might be tempting.

2 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I think he's a good player but he’s not worth 25 overall. I’d be happier with Thieneman who at least has Pro Bowl type talent. Jacas will just be a good DE and before that I prefer to add a good DT where our need is greater.

I saw someone throw out a what-if scenario if a top WR falls to us. A top CB? In those cases I’m thinking trade down because someone will want to trade up. However a top CB might be tempting.

I think a CB falling that Bears like is a real probability and I easily could see them selecting said player. It is a big need given Stevenson was in doghouse for a while and the 3 best DBs on team all missed substantial time (JJ, Kyler and Smith).

I also think I wouldn’t be shocked if Bears went WR earlier than we think. If a player Ben likes is there I could easily see them go back to that well (ala Luther) with one of the 2nd rounders. I don’t think they would do it at 25 and as you mentioned in that scenario I think trade down offers would be good.

Re: safety the Toledo safety would pair nice with Bryant too. Physical. Penn States safety would be great in 2nd round. Really wish we had that extra 3rd!

I know the book on Jacas, and if that's all i knew, id agree with you guys. And Im not trying to change your minds either. Im just saying, I saw his film, and he is better than is being said in the normal outlets, just like Loveland.

No one has to agree, and maybe in time ill change my mind, but right now, i think he could be the pick.