Understand the pick but felt that was a little early. Feels like they could've gotten him at the next 2nd rounder.

2 minutes ago, adam said:

Understand the pick but felt that was a little early. Feels like they could've gotten him at the next 2nd rounder.

For sure, but he must have been a must have. Hope they can move down a few slots and gain a 4th or 5th.

Matt Miller thinks he can step in a be a rookie starter. Not sure that was the plan drafting him but bring on the camp competition.

4 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Matt Miller thinks he can step in a be a rookie starter. Not sure that was the plan drafting him but bring on the camp competition.

He’s real talented. Hopefully he pairs with Caleb for a long time

I expected he'd be a target for us but not that early. He seems to fit everything Ben likes in a center.

I wouldn't be surprised if Poles was looking at Lucas, saw NEP leapfrog us to draft him, and decided he wasn't going to take a chance on losing Logan Jones. I'm Okay with taking him early.

3 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I expected he'd be a target for us but not that early. He seems to fit everything Ben likes in a center.

BJ values the center position and doubled down with as some say is the best center in the draft. With the picks we are seeing it tells me the Bears place more value with existing players than fans and pundits do. If they arent rushing for DEs and DTs it makes a statement.

I have to give you credit for your prospect eye. Marlin Klein was the third TE off the board and most pundits had him rated around the 10th rated TE. You mentioned him a long time ago and the NFL agreed with you. Kudos to you.

13 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

He’s real talented. Hopefully he pairs with Caleb for a long time

Just dont do a James Daniel. We finally have our next Olin Kreutz. Now find a Richard Dent.

He's getting Linderbaum comps. I need to watch some film...

27 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

He's getting Linderbaum comps. I need to watch some film...

Heck yeah, this kid will become the heart and soul of the line. Rimington award for best C in college, just like fellow Iowa alumni Linderbaum

Here is The Beast profile on Jones. His comp with several pundits is Drew Dalman. If he's our upscale C for 8 yrs, Im all in.

Jones is an undersized, sawed-off blocker with aggressive technique and athletic ability, although his sustain struggles might be tough to overcome. A center-only prospect, he is a mid-round version of Linderbaum.

He looks like a stud, and he can get out into the 2nd level easily, great movement.

Oddly our new OC was a high school sprinter. Easily replaces Dalman

The second round was the spot they still had the chance to grab a few edge players. When the run started at 35 they would had to move up 15 spots that would have cost them their 89 and something else. There was Zion Young, Derrick Moore and then later Jacas. Someone asked Poles and he said Zion Young was to expensive to move up. I think they thought they could still take Jacas when NF moved of which was to late to do anything. Took Jones, someone they valued and get two picks out of the 60 trade, Sam Roush and Zavion Thomas. They looked to take volume players to the edge. Some fans are complaining that they traded for Bradbury and then took Jones. They didnt know they could get Jones so they doubled down.

In a few years we will see a pro bowl Center and a high powered offense that includes Roush and Thomas. I understand their choices.

I saw where the Baltimore GM was asked why they didn't draft a center and he said they had someone they liked, but they were drafted in the second. That means they probably liked Jones and Slaughter. Now, Baltimore could have drafted either but got Zion Young instead at 45. Their next pick was at 80 I think, but maybe if the Bears don't take Jones Baltimore jumps up before the Bears can get him in the second - the Bears need and interest in centers was not exactly a secret. Then again, maybe if Jones emerges as a starter sooner rather than later, Baltimore becomes someone you could flip Bradberry to if they have issues there going into the season.

I think they have a good idea what teams might take at certain positions. It's about when they take them. They probably could have gotten him at 60 but if they traded back to 66 , not sure they would have gotten him. If he's Tyler linderbaum, a few spots isn't going to matter if they wanted him that bad.

My belief is you need to draft oline about every year between rounds 2-4, or LT round 1. You need a pipeline of hawgs so your not buying 3 pieces to be competent.

On the D line, same, they play 4 at a time but heavily rotate. The Bears haven't bought into that philosophy it seems. Better make it up next draft. Even having Sweat, Booker, and Turner fo a few years at end. I assume Dayo gets cut next year unless he becomes an 8-10 sack man. DT, needs to add a couple with Dexter a FA and Jarrett likely a cut.

52 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

My belief is you need to draft oline about every year between rounds 2-4, or LT round 1. You need a pipeline of hawgs so your not buying 3 pieces to be competent.

On the D line, same, they play 4 at a time but heavily rotate. The Bears haven't bought into that philosophy it seems. Better make it up next draft. Even having Sweat, Booker, and Turner fo a few years at end. I assume Dayo gets cut next year unless he becomes an 8-10 sack man. DT, needs to add a couple with Dexter a FA and Jarrett likely a cut.

I agree, we need to draft OL, DL, and CB every year to replenish the positions so you dont have to pay big contracts .

5 hours ago, dawhizz said:

I saw where the Baltimore GM was asked why they didn't draft a center and he said they had someone they liked, but they were drafted in the second. That means they probably liked Jones and Slaughter. Now, Baltimore could have drafted either but got Zion Young instead at 45. Their next pick was at 80 I think, but maybe if the Bears don't take Jones Baltimore jumps up before the Bears can get him in the second - the Bears need and interest in centers was not exactly a secret. Then again, maybe if Jones emerges as a starter sooner rather than later, Baltimore becomes someone you could flip Bradberry to if they have issues there going into the season.

Its so interesting how the Max Crosby thing affected all of this. Baltimore lets Linderbaum go, and then we get ahead of them for his replacement (to them) twice. In free agency and then again in the draft. Course we didnt get a DE, so the whole thing is kind of interesting.

The more film I watch on Jones the more I love him. Hes a beast. Jones and Roush are going to improve our run game a lot once they are both in.

Interesting and the Bears were correct to draft Jones where they did.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/05/ravens-gm-eric-decosta-discusses-center-need-team-could-trade-for-c#ref=home

yup, and hes going to be a stud for us when hes ready. Maybe right away, maybe after a bit, but we wont need as many cute trick and pass plays for 3rd and 1 when hes in there.

On 5/3/2026 at 10:12 PM, AZ54 said:

Interesting and the Bears were correct to draft Jones where they did.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/05/ravens-gm-eric-decosta-discusses-center-need-team-could-trade-for-c#ref=home

I think Jacas and Jones were their top 2 guys at 57, Jacas goes at 55, so you could with C#1 at 57. It does make sense. I guess the only argument you could make is trading back from 57 to get more in return than 60, but then you risk getting sniped at 58 and 59.

1 hour ago, adam said:

I think Jacas and Jones were their top 2 guys at 57, Jacas goes at 55, so you could with C#1 at 57. It does make sense. I guess the only argument you could make is trading back from 57 to get more in return than 60, but then you risk getting sniped at 58 and 59.

I think it clearly points to they wanted Jones because BJ values C a great deal. If Jacas was there, I think they would have taken Jones at 60. The chance at him going at 58 or 59 was in their favor. I have been seeing rumors of which I think are all pundit generated , is if Jones is outstanding, trade Bradbury to the Ravens who lost Lindenbaun and didnt appear to replace him. Doubt they do that but they have Newman to backup Jones that they were talking about moving to C before Dalman retired.

This is too funny. With Declan Doyle in Baltimore presumably to setup some form of Ben Johnson's offense it's pretty clear what type of player they want at Center. Of course the whole Linderbaum saga, Iowa Hawkeyes (hate 'em but respect 'em), Logan Jones being his replacement seems all too perfect. Prior to the draft Baltimore did nothing to shore up the position and kudos to Poles because he wasn't waiting. As soon as Dalman retired, a mere 3 days later, he took out an insurance policy to protect his star QB via trade for Bradbury. Again, getting ahead of the Ravens.

Draft day comes along and at 57 the Bears just grab their guy. Poles knew exactly who the Ravens and Declan were targeting. The internet world goes nuts because Jones is a 3rd Rd value at best and we suck or something like that. Poles and Johnson don't care because in their eyes what is the value in protecting your QB? Plus the value of having the right Center to execute the type of running plays that challenge a defense sideline to sideline.

Declan must be wondering what he got himself into. Lamar Jackson must be wondering if he can get more money for having to play behind some no-name center. Now Lamar Jackson's strengths as a QB do not line up with Caleb's so I doubt Declan will be heavily mimicking all of Ben's plays. I think the passing game will be more simplified with less read options. Still, there has to be some component where he wanted a mobile center to help stretch the field in the running game. Plus at a minimum you need a guy who can hold up in pass pro for a few seconds because pressure right up the middle is a killer for any QB.

https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/onsi/one-trade-the-baltimore-ravens-should-still-be-pushing-after-the-draft-01kqfpkykg3r

"Bradbury would be a great fit in the outside zone scheme the Ravens are expected to heavily implement under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford."

41 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

This is too funny. With Declan Doyle in Baltimore presumably to setup some form of Ben Johnson's offense it's pretty clear what type of player they want at Center. Of course the whole Linderbaum saga, Iowa Hawkeyes (hate 'em but respect 'em), Logan Jones being his replacement seems all too perfect. Prior to the draft Baltimore did nothing to shore up the position and kudos to Poles because he wasn't waiting. As soon as Dalman retired, a mere 3 days later, he took out an insurance policy to protect his star QB via trade for Bradbury. Again, getting ahead of the Ravens.

Draft day comes along and at 57 the Bears just grab their guy. Poles knew exactly who the Ravens and Declan were targeting. The internet world goes nuts because Jones is a 3rd Rd value at best and we suck or something like that. Poles and Johnson don't care because in their eyes what is the value in protecting your QB? Plus the value of having the right Center to execute the type of running plays that challenge a defense sideline to sideline.

Declan must be wondering what he got himself into. Lamar Jackson must be wondering if he can get more money for having to play behind some no-name center. Now Lamar Jackson's strengths as a QB do not line up with Caleb's so I doubt Declan will be heavily mimicking all of Ben's plays. I think the passing game will be more simplified with less read options. Still, there has to be some component where he wanted a mobile center to help stretch the field in the running game. Plus at a minimum you need a guy who can hold up in pass pro for a few seconds because pressure right up the middle is a killer for any QB.

https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/onsi/one-trade-the-baltimore-ravens-should-still-be-pushing-after-the-draft-01kqfpkykg3r

"Bradbury would be a great fit in the outside zone scheme the Ravens are expected to heavily implement under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford."

yes to all of that. I dunno if Jones will be ready to start the season, but all those stars certainly do seem to align.

And if a player isnt going to be there when you draft again, and you want him, then it isnt a reach to take him when you can.