Chicago Bears offseason

[UMFan83]

Interesting my nerdy ass noticed this week is the Bears have no DB jersey numbers available. Every number in the 20s, 30s and 40s is taken except retired numbers 28, 34, 40 and 42.

 

Means Jaylon Johnson will probably have to take a doubled up number of an offensive player like 29 (Cohen), 32 (Montgomery), or 35 (Nall) unless they cut a DB or force someone not making the team to change.

 

Sent from my moto e5 supra using Tapatalk

 

Are they allowed to do that in the NFL? I know it happens in college but can’t remember seeing that in the pros

[jersey cubs fan]

Interesting my nerdy ass noticed this week is the Bears have no DB jersey numbers available. Every number in the 20s, 30s and 40s is taken except retired numbers 28, 34, 40 and 42.

 

Means Jaylon Johnson will probably have to take a doubled up number of an offensive player like 29 (Cohen), 32 (Montgomery), or 35 (Nall) unless they cut a DB or force someone not making the team to change.

 

Sent from my moto e5 supra using Tapatalk

 

Are they allowed to do that in the NFL? I know it happens in college but can’t remember seeing that in the pros

 

In summer, sure, why not.

[WrigleyField 22]

Interesting my nerdy ass noticed this week is the Bears have no DB jersey numbers available. Every number in the 20s, 30s and 40s is taken except retired numbers 28, 34, 40 and 42.

 

Means Jaylon Johnson will probably have to take a doubled up number of an offensive player like 29 (Cohen), 32 (Montgomery), or 35 (Nall) unless they cut a DB or force someone not making the team to change.

 

Sent from my moto e5 supra using Tapatalk

 

Are they allowed to do that in the NFL? I know it happens in college but can’t remember seeing that in the pros

 

In summer, sure, why not.

No, the Bears now have to legally forfeit the pick now. Wtg Pace.

[UMFan83]

Draft grades are meaningless so I should probably stop this post now but since I know little about prospects I looked at a few. Everyone is panning the Kmet pick and loving the Johnson pick.

 

Love WalterFootball’s writeup on Kmet

 

Chicago Bears: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame - O'BRIEN Grade

Ryan Pace needs help. I don't understand why he thinks he needs to spend so many high resources on tight ends, especially when none of them are close to elite. He paid tons of money to Jimmy Graham this offseason, only to select a tight end in the second round? Why!? And why didn't he pick the tight end some teams had higher on their boards, Adam Trautman? Kmet was not the consensus best player at his position, and Pace could've obtained someone similar in the third round, or perhaps someone slightly worse early on Day 3. This is an "F" grade all the way. Pace needs to go.

[WrigleyField 22]

Draft grades are meaningless so I should probably stop this post now but since I know little about prospects I looked at a few. Everyone is panning the Kmet pick and loving the Johnson pick.

 

Love WalterFootball’s writeup on Kmet

 

Chicago Bears: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame - O'BRIEN Grade

Ryan Pace needs help. I don't understand why he thinks he needs to spend so many high resources on tight ends, especially when none of them are close to elite. He paid tons of money to Jimmy Graham this offseason, only to select a tight end in the second round? Why!? And why didn't he pick the tight end some teams had higher on their boards, Adam Trautman? Kmet was not the consensus best player at his position, and Pace could've obtained someone similar in the third round, or perhaps someone slightly worse early on Day 3. This is an "F" grade all the way. Pace needs to go.

What a stupid horsefeathering write up.

[Splendid Splinter]

Draft grades are meaningless so I should probably stop this post now but since I know little about prospects I looked at a few. Everyone is panning the Kmet pick and loving the Johnson pick.

 

Love WalterFootball’s writeup on Kmet

 

Chicago Bears: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame - O'BRIEN Grade

Ryan Pace needs help. I don't understand why he thinks he needs to spend so many high resources on tight ends, especially when none of them are close to elite. He paid tons of money to Jimmy Graham this offseason, only to select a tight end in the second round? Why!? And why didn't he pick the tight end some teams had higher on their boards, Adam Trautman? Kmet was not the consensus best player at his position, and Pace could've obtained someone similar in the third round, or perhaps someone slightly worse early on Day 3. This is an "F" grade all the way. Pace needs to go.

What a stupid horsefeathering write up.

 

Yep. Walter is a good read if you just want to see mocks/scouting reports/prospect visits/etc, but when it comes to analysis/actual scouting, it's not that good IMO. I like how he said "Pace could've obtained someone similar in the third round, or perhaps someone slightly worse early on Day 3". Apparently he didn't check to see what picks Bears have for this year's draft.

 

IIRC, I think he said Jaylon Johnson is a natural zone corner/limited to zone scheme when basically everyone else says the opposite.

[raw]

A lot of the Cole Kmet hate is based on, "There was better talent there, they could have taken him at 50 or traded down". It's clear they wanted Jaylon Johnson. So best case scenario was they take Johnson at 43 instead of 50. Then they clearly wanted Kmet so who knows if they would have been even able to trade down. And who knows if they would have gotten him beyond 50 (I'm about 100% sure they would have been able to get him still at 50).

 

So the likely alternatie was Johnson at 43 and Kmet at 50. And IDC what anyone says, Kmet was the consensus #1 TE. That much is clear based on the fact that no other TE went for almost 40 picks. The only way you grab the best player at a position in the draft, is to grab the first one. I was fine with him doing it for Trubisky at the time, even though I thought Watson was the best (we both were wrong), and I guess it's OK for Kmet. They clearly value TE in this offense more than I do. Mitch's best games the last 2 years came when Burton and Shaheen were either hurt or non-factors and the Bears went 3-4 wide.

[raw]

Best talent on the Board Day 3 for the Bears. Not going to include any TEs or CBs, because I don't see the Bears picking another of either.

 

Curtis Weaver, Edge, Boise State

Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State

Saadiq Charles, OT, LSU

Bradley Anae, Edge, Utah

Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn

Kenny Willikes, Edge, Michigan State

Ben Bredeson, OG, Michigan

K'Von Wallace, S, Clemson

Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota

Tyler Biadazs, C/OG, Wisconsin

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan

Logan Stenberg, OG, Kentucky

Ben Bartch, OT, St John

Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon

John Simpson, OG Clemson

Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane

Geno Stone, S, Iowa

Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland

[BigbadB]

I really don't understand all of the "we have 10 TE's in camp" comments. Several of those guys were on the roster last year and TE was a huge black hole on offense and in an offense that heavily utilizes the TE position. It seems like Pace had that vision in mind when he drafted Shaheen and added Burton. Unfortunately, neither of those guys worked out. Mahomes has Kelce. Wentz has Ertz and Goedert. Foles can't or couldn't go into this season with Holtz and Harris as his primary TE's.

 

The Graham signing made me cringe. He hasn't shown much the last few years. However, he will potentially excel in 2 TE sets and having him there so that Kmet can be an understudy in training camp should be a bonus. This team needed help at that position. There is no denying that Pace has spent more time at that position than any other, but it is a position of need if this offense is going to take a step forward.

 

They've got 5 picks today that they can find competition at S, EDGE, ILB, OL, QB, WR and RB. Pace has done a pretty good job of landing quality guys in the later rounds and even a few finds in UDFA. The consensus is that both of the 2nd round picks were 1st round talent, so that's what I'm hanging my hat on. Putting Graham in a heavy TE oriented offense might just be the motivation he needs to make a last stand while Kmet learns the ropes. I love the Olsen comparisons. That was the biggest head scratching trade of the Martz era. I get that he wasn't a blazing fast WR for his offensive scheme, but he was a pass catching WR and getting rid of him left a huge hole at that position for years.

[Soul]

Fromm is still there? I’d take him.

[jersey cubs fan]

The consensus is that both of the 2nd round picks were 1st round talent, so that's what I'm hanging my hat on. .

 

I do not believe that is close to being consensus.

[BigbadB]

The consensus is that both of the 2nd round picks were 1st round talent, so that's what I'm hanging my hat on. .

 

I do not believe that is close to being consensus.

 

You are right. But Kiper did have Kmet ranked 29th and Jaylon Johnson ranked 44th, so the value is there based on his analysis. Not sure how you rate Kiper's analysis, but I've always respected it.

[Soul]

The consensus is that both of the 2nd round picks were 1st round talent, so that's what I'm hanging my hat on. .

 

I do not believe that is close to being consensus.

Plus why would anyone give Pace’s draft picks the benefit of the doubt.

[BigbadB]

The consensus is that both of the 2nd round picks were 1st round talent, so that's what I'm hanging my hat on. .

 

I do not believe that is close to being consensus.

Plus why would anyone give Pace’s draft picks the benefit of the doubt.

 

Because one draft pick failure does not necessarily mean all other draft picks will be failures. GM's miss out on picks all of the time. There are plenty of draft picks starting for the Bears, so I don't know why we can't give the benefit of the doubt when they weren't "reaches".

 

I guess I'm just not at the doom and gloom stage of my fandom. The defense is among the best in the league. A more capable QB with some added weapons on offense could make their 2020 look more like 2018 than 2019.

[Soul]

 

I do not believe that is close to being consensus.

Plus why would anyone give Pace’s draft picks the benefit of the doubt.

 

Because one draft pick failure does not necessarily mean all other draft picks will be failures. GM's miss out on picks all of the time. There are plenty of draft picks starting for the Bears, so I don't know why we can't give the benefit of the doubt when they weren't "reaches".

 

I guess I'm just not at the doom and gloom stage of my fandom. The defense is among the best in the league. A more capable QB with some added weapons on offense could make their 2020 look more like 2018 than 2019.

 

I’m looking at the past 3 drafts and I see last year was a total failure. Going back to 2017 I see 15 picks; Smith, Miller, and Jackson who I can honestly say are decent. Beyond that though? Who?

 

3 of 15 and we are supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

And this feels like very familiar territory to me. They’ve made a couple picks and people are trying to see it, trying to find a way to believe these are finally the impact players they’ve been waiting for.

[WrigleyField 22]

Fromm is still there? I’d take him.

Yea, he'd be a steal in the 5th.

 

I'd put odds on Pace trying to move into the 4th. Next years 4th and one of the 6ths, something like that. Though trading activity seems down across the board this year too.

[WrigleyField 22]

Plus why would anyone give Pace’s draft picks the benefit of the doubt.

 

Because one draft pick failure does not necessarily mean all other draft picks will be failures. GM's miss out on picks all of the time. There are plenty of draft picks starting for the Bears, so I don't know why we can't give the benefit of the doubt when they weren't "reaches".

 

I guess I'm just not at the doom and gloom stage of my fandom. The defense is among the best in the league. A more capable QB with some added weapons on offense could make their 2020 look more like 2018 than 2019.

 

I’m looking at the past 3 drafts and I see last year was a total failure. Going back to 2017 I see 15 picks; Smith, Miller, and Jackson who I can honestly say are decent. Beyond that though? Who?

 

3 of 15 and we are supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

And this feels like very familiar territory to me. They’ve made a couple picks and people are trying to see it, trying to find a way to believe these are finally the impact players they’ve been waiting for.

You've graded a draft a total failure one year removed from said draft?

 

Okay.

[Soul]

 

Because one draft pick failure does not necessarily mean all other draft picks will be failures. GM's miss out on picks all of the time. There are plenty of draft picks starting for the Bears, so I don't know why we can't give the benefit of the doubt when they weren't "reaches".

 

I guess I'm just not at the doom and gloom stage of my fandom. The defense is among the best in the league. A more capable QB with some added weapons on offense could make their 2020 look more like 2018 than 2019.

 

I’m looking at the past 3 drafts and I see last year was a total failure. Going back to 2017 I see 15 picks; Smith, Miller, and Jackson who I can honestly say are decent. Beyond that though? Who?

 

3 of 15 and we are supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

And this feels like very familiar territory to me. They’ve made a couple picks and people are trying to see it, trying to find a way to believe these are finally the impact players they’ve been waiting for.

You've graded a draft a total failure one year removed from said draft?

 

Okay.

Come on.

 

Montgomery, Ridley, Shelley, Whyte, and Denmark.

 

How does that get better with time?

 

I guess if you really feel Montgomery still has something to offer above random replacement RB.

[Soul]

Fromm is still there? I’d take him.

Yea, he'd be a steal in the 5th.

 

I'd put odds on Pace trying to move into the 4th. Next years 4th and one of the 6ths, something like that. Though trading activity seems down across the board this year too.

If Pace moved up to take Fromm that would significantly improve my outlook.

[BigbadB]

I guess if you really feel Montgomery still has something to offer above random replacement RB.

 

Montgomery is a fine RB. The problem last year was the inability to spread the field so that running lanes could be created.

 

Get a QB in there that can actually hit an open receiver, get a TE in there that can catch the ball that will knock down double teaming of the receivers and Montgomery will excel. The entirety of the 2019 season was Trubisky's inability to scare the defense, which handicapped the entire playbook.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I dont get the hate towards Kmet. I may be higher on him then I should be, but he was far from a reach at 43, and like others have pointed out, we have no bona fide #1 at the pos

[David]

 

I’m looking at the past 3 drafts and I see last year was a total failure. Going back to 2017 I see 15 picks; Smith, Miller, and Jackson who I can honestly say are decent. Beyond that though? Who?

 

3 of 15 and we are supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

And this feels like very familiar territory to me. They’ve made a couple picks and people are trying to see it, trying to find a way to believe these are finally the impact players they’ve been waiting for.

You've graded a draft a total failure one year removed from said draft?

 

Okay.

Come on.

 

Montgomery, Ridley, Shelley, Whyte, and Denmark.

 

How does that get better with time?

 

I guess if you really feel Montgomery still has something to offer above random replacement RB.

 

Both Montgomery and Ridley could both easily be valuable players. What? Montgomery had flashes and was overall disappointing but probably was also misused and the victim of an offensive line (and a QB) that didn't let the offense do anything. I was disappointed in his first year but I wouldn't declare him a bust yet.

 

And Ridley just did what pretty much any mid-late round rookie wideout would do. I didn't think he was particularly good or bad given the circumstances and how much playing time he was likely to get. I'd at least wait until I see if he makes any sort of meaningful contribution in year 2 before declaring him a nothing (again, operating under the overall mindset that, yeah, most of these guys are going to be nothings anyway).

 

They barely even played, which is pretty much what you'd expect from a team that was expected to contend for a Super Bowl going into the season and was always wishfully hanging around enough that they didn't go into an all out tank mode with doling out reps and there were too many guys ahead of them anyway. I have no idea what someone like Duke Shelley is. Supposedly had a pretty good camp last year but he was never going to see the field much barring a complete decimation of our secondary by injury.

 

Do I think they'll amount to much? No, but that's because they're mid-late round picks and that's pretty much all we know about them. It was always going to be a surprise if most of those guys amounted to much and that's still the case just like it will be with any late round guys we take this year, but beyond that reasoning I'm not sure why we'd declare them to be any more nothing than any other guys that get drafted that late onto a team expecting to contend with a bunch of guys with established positions and roles.

[WrigleyField 22]

 

I’m looking at the past 3 drafts and I see last year was a total failure. Going back to 2017 I see 15 picks; Smith, Miller, and Jackson who I can honestly say are decent. Beyond that though? Who?

 

3 of 15 and we are supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

And this feels like very familiar territory to me. They’ve made a couple picks and people are trying to see it, trying to find a way to believe these are finally the impact players they’ve been waiting for.

You've graded a draft a total failure one year removed from said draft?

 

Okay.

Come on.

 

Montgomery, Ridley, Shelley, Whyte, and Denmark.

 

How does that get better with time?

 

I guess if you really feel Montgomery still has something to offer above random replacement RB.

All those guys still have potential to carve out niche roles (although with Whyte unfortunately it won't be with the Bears)

 

Beyond the guys mentioned, he got 4 solid starting years out of Amos which turned into a comp 4th. Goldman a starting NT on a great D. Whitehair a long term starter.

Kwit was a great backup who ended up being a key injury replacement last year. Bush and Houston-Carson just meh, but have managed to at least be solid backup/ST.

A couple 1k seasons out of Howard. Cohen a pro bowl returner, and still should be a good 3rd down back, but needs to be used better. Nichols already is a solid starter. Daniels still working through some things but still has a decent foundation he can build on and become a long term starter (improved immensely last year once moved back to G). Wims is meh, but could still find a niche 4th WR role. Not ready to write off Ridley or Shelley at this point, both could develop into starters still.

Shelley in particular I think has a decent chance to replace Skrine at Nickel in 2021 . Iggy/Denmark don't look that promising, but if they can become just special teamer you're salvaging something from day 3 picks. Obviously not all those guys will continue to progress, but it's silly to grade drafts after a year or even 2 because not every guy is picked with the same developmental track.

[Wilson A2000]

I have never understood the argument, at least in the first few rounds of the draft, of risking losing a player you really like and you have a need for by trading down a few spots with the hope that he's still there and getting another later pick. If Kmet is your guy, it's too risky to lose him for a late round pick someone would have given you.

[WrigleyField 22]

I dont get the hate towards Kmet. I may be higher on him then I should be, but he was far from a reach at 43, and like others have pointed out, we have no bona fide #1 at the pos

As a "hater" I think the thing thats tough about him, as a fan, to get excited about is lack of anything that really stands out. Like he doesn't appear to have tons of weaknesses, but also nothing that goes wow.