What say you?

I'm going to go OT - I think they move up a few spots and grab the Utah prospect. If not OT, I think it will be a DB and think it would be the Tulane safety or a trade down and they grab the IU DB.

My guy would be Akheem Mesidor.

My #1 priority in this draft would be to give our DC a 3 down player who can start day one, game one, THIS YEAR, and pressure/sack the QB. Yes, he's 25. Yes, he had foot surgery a few years back. But players like Bain will be long gone. I think Mesidor will be the last one standing when we pick at #25 to fill the role I want Poles to address.

If no one is available to fill the role I want to prioritize, I want to trade down and get another round 2 pick.

Guy I want the most who won't be there - Dillion Thieneman, S, Oregon

Guy I want the most who might be there - Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami

Guy I don't want I'm worried they might take - Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

Dark horse pick I can't quite commit to predicting (but I want to look like a genius if he's the pick) - Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Actual Prediction - TJ Parker, DE, Clemson

I think we are looking at OT with the first pick. My guess is Blake Miller from Clemson, possibly Lomu or Iheanachor.

In round 2, I think Edge and S. Joshua Josephs or Dani Dennis-Sutton at Edge and Emanuel McNeil-Warren or AJ Haulcy at Safety.

In the 3rd, I think we are looking at a Center or a Wide Receiver. Hecht at Center, or Bryce Lance or DeZuan Stribling at WR.

It's possible that we will go safety a little lower and target Bud Clark, in which case, we might see an earlier WR like Germie Bernard or a CB like Colton Hood.

And somewhere in there, itd be nice to see a 3T like Gracen Halton.

And I wouldnt mind doubling down on DE later with a guy like Nadame Tucker. He's a situational pass rusher, so not an every down player, but a great piece to add with a later pick.

Biggs floated a rumor that Bears have a team they are set to move up a few spots for if the player they want gets there. Not sure who that might be. I think Mesidor fits as do some of these OT's as I don't think any of them get to the Bears pick. Key here is - do Bears see a material fall off between who they can get 3-5 spots higher vs. where they sit and is the value there. I'm hoping cost to move up wouldn't be that bad.

I also think if it doesn't go there way, plenty of possibilities they move back a bit.

38 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

Biggs floated a rumor that Bears have a team they are set to move up a few spots for if the player they want gets there. Not sure who that might be. I think Mesidor fits as do some of these OT's as I don't think any of them get to the Bears pick. Key here is - do Bears see a material fall off between who they can get 3-5 spots higher vs. where they sit and is the value there. I'm hoping cost to move up wouldn't be that bad.

I also think if it doesn't go there way, plenty of possibilities they move back a bit.

you may be right about the OTs. I sure hope not, but it's not crazy to think that at all.

39 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

Biggs floated a rumor that Bears have a team they are set to move up a few spots for if the player they want gets there. Not sure who that might be. I think Mesidor fits as do some of these OT's as I don't think any of them get to the Bears pick. Key here is - do Bears see a material fall off between who they can get 3-5 spots higher vs. where they sit and is the value there. I'm hoping cost to move up wouldn't be that bad.

I also think if it doesn't go there way, plenty of possibilities they move back a bit.

Maybe Thieneman?

EDGE - Messidor

Love some excitement now in the offseason. I think they'll go DB in first round unless a DE or LT slides down.

I said CB in another thread and I’m staying with that if we stay at 25. Colton Hood seems like the one to be best available

Like everyone else I’d love a good trade down just a few spots to late first or early second.

There are rumors of trading up, and rumors of trading down, so with many variables I will stay at 25 and take BPA that I see the Bears eyeing.

A. Zion Young DE - he is a DE that will hold his edge. As a pass rusher, he lacks the elite athleticism to be a constant threat since he relies on bull rush. At pick 25, you get a solid DE who could refine technique to improve

B. Chris Johnson CB- I like him better than Hood if the Bears feel CB is bpa.

C. Caleb Lomu OT- he has the best skill set for zone blocking and a natural LT where Trapilo is a natural RT, who can fill if needed at LT. After 2026 season, Jones and Willis are FAs and Trapilo coming off injury with a ? on his movement/strength, they will need an solid answer.

Hate to say it, but I have the Bears going LT Lomu. The Bears have a future gem in Caleb Williams and investing in him should be top priority.

How it could look after Friday night.

Get a future LT and C, a versatile S to pair with Bryant and DE to add to rotation with Sweat, Dayo, and Booker. I know we want elite pass rushing, but you have to sacrifice a 3 down player for a situational player.

I've said I prefer an Edge as our pick if we do not trade down; however, I can certainly understand drafting a left OT in the first. The thing I see when I view images of Lomu is a tall, skinny guy, yet he is supposed to weigh 311.

21 minutes ago, Pixote said:

I've said I prefer an Edge as our pick if we do not trade down; however, I can certainly understand drafting a left OT in the first. The thing I see when I view images of Lomu is a tall, skinny guy, yet he is supposed to weigh 311.

He is only 21, so he has time to add strength. Started 3 season at LT for Utah, so we can review his performances against some pro caliber ends. He kind of reminds me of Lane Johnsons frame

13 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

He is only 21, so he has time to add strength. Started 3 season at LT for Utah, so we can review his performances against some pro caliber ends. He kind of reminds me of Lane Johnsons frame

My only question with Lomu is that I see a lot of evaluations saying he's going to be good but might not be good right away. I'm not remotely qualified to opine on that, so I really have no idea how true that is, but I would think given the position that the Bears are in, if they want a LT in the first round, they want someone who they think can start right away. Or maybe even Lomu starting right away is better than your in house options. I don't know. I guess we'll know in 12 hours or so . . .

1 hour ago, Pixote said:

I've said I prefer an Edge as our pick if we do not trade down; however, I can certainly understand drafting a left OT in the first. The thing I see when I view images of Lomu is a tall, skinny guy, yet he is supposed to weigh 311.

He was good enough that their starting LT got moved to RT (who is also going to go in the draft). I think Lomu is very projectable. There is definitely risk but this guy profiles to develop into an above average LT. Maybe not plug and play - but I like him a LOT more than Trapillo (who to his credit was passable - but Trapillo still to me is a RT or maybe a guard longer term). If Bears move up - I'm doing it to make sure I get this guy (presuming they do have him graded as an above avg LT). I also believe in the Bears oline coach to develop someone like this.

I also am less enamored with the dline candidates sitting there at 25 and I think the dropoff to the next group of LT candidates is non-existent (ie if you don't take one at 25 - don't bother addressing LT in this draft). At same time - don't reach, has to be you really see this guy projecting out. At same time - if he was that good, in a draft with few LT candidates, the next question is why is he actually dropping to the high teens / early to mid 20's? Maybe small school works here.

28 minutes ago, dawhizz said:

My only question with Lomu is that I see a lot of evaluations saying he's going to be good but might not be good right away. I'm not remotely qualified to opine on that, so I really have no idea how true that is, but I would think given the position that the Bears are in, if they want a LT in the first round, they want someone who they think can start right away. Or maybe even Lomu starting right away is better than your in house options. I don't know. I guess we'll know in 12 hours or so . . .

I think of it as - push him in training camp and push him hard with the staff - but know you have Jones and Benedet as bridges until you are ready. If you think in a year or two he's a probowl / well above average LT - than you got to get him. I'm not worried about whether he's ready day 1 - I worry about do they think he's got the elite skillset and has he shown enough on tape and is he the type of guy who will respond to coaching and maximize his potential (cause he seems to have a very projectable future).

33 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

I think of it as - push him in training camp and push him hard with the staff - but know you have Jones and Benedet as bridges until you are ready. If you think in a year or two he's a probowl / well above average LT - than you got to get him. I'm not worried about whether he's ready day 1 - I worry about do they think he's got the elite skillset and has he shown enough on tape and is he the type of guy who will respond to coaching and maximize his potential (cause he seems to have a very projectable future).

The Bears have the best coach to know and get the player ready. We always think for now, but rarely do these rookies make huge impacts right away. The draft needs to be for long term success because guys like Thuney and Jackson won't be long term and we dont want a fall off once they go.

19 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

The Bears have the best coach to know and get the player ready. We always think for now, but rarely do these rookies make huge impacts right away. The draft needs to be for long term success because guys like Thuney and Jackson won't be long term and we dont want a fall off once they go.

Which is where is Trapillo a great bridge guy who can slide out and give versatility but he ends up after he gets healthy sliding into a guard spot and become a mauler for whomever he replaces. I'm really digging the idea of the Utah LT if we can get him and Bears see him growing into a top 10 type of LT. Getting that type of value out of 25 on the long-run on a rookie deal would be huge. And to be honest - I think this upcoming year is going to be hard, probably a bit of a pull back (harder schedule / less turnovers / and D can't turn on a dime)...so I really want to make sure they are focusing on the long haul.

It is why another player I like a lot with one of the 2nd round picks is the Louisville wideout who is coming back from the ACL injury. I think like Luther - he's a guy you go get knowing when you get to tail end of the season you have another high-upside guy and are getting a Top 20 talent with one of our 2nd round picks. I also think with what we are trying to do offensively, using the Moore pick on a young cheap receiver with upside is a good thing.

With the other 2nd rounder - I think I might move back and get 2 picks and go with a safety, db and dlinemen with the other 3 picks. Basically put - WR/ LT, Safety, Dline, and DB are where I go. I may be punting on Dline a bit - back to my concept of take a step back - because the value of the draft just might not be there this year and I don't think we are superbowl ready anyway. I also think we'll have a lot more cap space next year and we'll have gotten to see if Booker can take a step forward. I do think there are some really intriguing safeties if we hold off to round 2 / round 3 at that spot and the IU DB looks pretty good.

No idea if we could pull it off - my dream draft:

1st Utah LT

2nd IU DB or Tennessee DB

2nd Kyle Louis (safety) or Trevon Sykes

2nd Chis Bell (Wideout - ACL Injury)

Dline or Center 3rd

Dline or Center with our next pick