2024 NFL Draft

[profisme]

12 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Caleb Williams declared for the 2014 draft

A bit late for that.

[sweetpeteman]

1 minute ago, profisme said:

A bit late for that.

That's how desperate he is to avoid the Bears.

[Brian707]

18 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Caleb Williams declared for the 2014 draft

[Tryptamine]

Is Sirianni gone if the Eagles lose this? This team has completely melted down over the last 1/3 of a season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not a draft question, imo

[Irrelevant Dude]

Hurts holding onto the ball for that safety was as bad, is not worse, as anything I saw Fields do all season.

[raw]

2 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Hurts holding onto the ball for that safety was as bad, is not worse, as anything I saw Fields do all season.

Yeah, that takes him off my draft board for sure

[jersey cubs fan]

2 minutes ago, Irrelevant Dude said:

Hurts holding onto the ball for that safety was as bad, is not worse, as anything I saw Fields do all season.

Hurts is not good. Blessed by elite roster and quality play design. 

[jersey cubs fan]

1 minute ago, raw said:

Yeah, that takes him off my draft board for sure

He may be eligible for supplemental draft

[Irrelevant Dude]

8 minutes ago, raw said:

Yeah, that takes him off my draft board for sure

My fault.  I clicked on the wrong thread.

But yes, I wouldn't draft him either.

[scarey]

I think it's 99% probability that Caleb, Maye, and MHJ all go top 3. The 1% I'll reserve for a possible Daniels reach.

That leaves 5 picks between the Bears and the 9 pick. Assuming they stay in the 1 spot and draft Williams, I am dreading a nightmare scenario where those 5 picks are Nabers, Odunze, Alt, Fashanu, and Bowers. I think the talent drop off after those 8 players is massive and the Bears will have missed out.

I do think there's a good chance that 1 or 2 QBs will be picked in there somewhere. Personally, I'd be thrilled if one of Alt or Fashanu were to fall to 9. I am sick of relying on plan C/D/F for left tackle and the O-line in general.

I'd be thrilled with either of Nabers or Odunze.

So that leaves Bowers. I have heard a lot of hype on what Bowers will be able to do at the NFL level. I'm curious for those among us that put a little more into evaluating college talent (Raw?) if Bowers has enough receiving ability to be consistently split out. Does he project as a better blocker than Kmet?

I guess I'm wondering out loud how much sense does it make to draft another tight end. I think we can all agree that Kmet's production the last 25 games or so has been really good. I want to maximize this pick and if we're only seeing one of Kmet or Bowers on the field at a time consistently, I just don't know if it's a worthwhile pick despite Bowers' talent level.

Edited January 16, 2024 by scarey

[jersey cubs fan]

If they draft a TE early in the first nothing would preclude them from running 2 TE sets the majority of the time. A smart coordinator takes advantage of the opponents weaknesses by utilizing his team’s strengths 

[BigbadB]

1 hour ago, scarey said:

I think it's 99% probability that Caleb, Maye, and MHJ all go top 3. The 1% I'll reserve for a possible Daniels reach.

That leaves 5 picks between the Bears and the 9 pick. Assuming they stay in the 1 spot and draft Williams, I am dreading a nightmare scenario where those 5 picks are Nabers, Odunze, Alt, Fashanu, and Bowers. I think the talent drop off after those 8 players is massive and the Bears will have missed out.

I do think there's a good chance that 1 or 2 QBs will be picked in there somewhere. Personally, I'd be thrilled if one of Alt or Fashanu were to fall to 9. I am sick of relying on plan C/D/F for left tackle and the O-line in general.

I'd be thrilled with either of Nabers or Odunze.

So that leaves Bowers. I have heard a lot of hype on what Bowers will be able to do at the NFL level. I'm curious for those among us that put a little more into evaluating college talent (Raw?) if Bowers has enough receiving ability to be consistently split out. Does he project as a better blocker than Kmet?

I guess I'm wondering out loud how much sense does it make to draft another tight end. I think we can all agree that Kmet's production the last 25 games or so has been really good. I want to maximize this pick and if we're only seeing one of Kmet or Bowers on the field at a time consistently, I just don't know if it's a worthwhile pick despite Bowers' talent level.

They need another TE desperately. However, it can be a later round developmental/fringe TE or a free agent pickup that's better than Tonyan. 

I don't think you have to fear one of Odunze or Nabers not being there at #9. The combine will have new guys skyrocketing to the upper tier of the first round with crazy numbers. There's also Keon Coleman from Florida St. He's 6'4" and might pair nicely with DJ. There is another dude named Xavier Leggette from South Carolina that will be creeping up draft boards. He's 6'3" and ran a 4.29 40. Not sure how good he is at running routes or catching balls, but he is getting talked about. 

I'm sure one of Nabers or Odunze will be there, though. 

What I want to know is how willing Ryan Pace will be willing to cough up a haul to get Justin Fields. He's sitting in a place in the draft where he will miss out on at least the top 3 QB's. Probably more realistic he's learned his lesson and will go after Cousins, Wilson or the like. But, Fields is from there and it is Pace's guy. 

[jersey cubs fan]

6 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

. 

What I want to know is how willing Ryan Pace will be willing to cough up a haul to get Justin Fields. He's sitting in a place in the draft where he will miss out on at least the top 3 QB's. Probably more realistic he's learned his lesson and will go after Cousins, Wilson or the like. But, Fields is from there and it is Pace's guy. 

Ryan Pace doesn’t run the Falcons. The team is in flux, but he is way down the list of decision makers in that organization. He’s not even listed as a part of the front office on the teams website. Pace might have affection for Fields and might recommend to the leadership that they acquire him, but the last time he traded picks to acquire Fields he lost his job. 

[raw]

5 hours ago, scarey said:

I think it's 99% probability that Caleb, Maye, and MHJ all go top 3. The 1% I'll reserve for a possible Daniels reach.

That leaves 5 picks between the Bears and the 9 pick. Assuming they stay in the 1 spot and draft Williams, I am dreading a nightmare scenario where those 5 picks are Nabers, Odunze, Alt, Fashanu, and Bowers. I think the talent drop off after those 8 players is massive and the Bears will have missed out.

I do think there's a good chance that 1 or 2 QBs will be picked in there somewhere. Personally, I'd be thrilled if one of Alt or Fashanu were to fall to 9. I am sick of relying on plan C/D/F for left tackle and the O-line in general.

I'd be thrilled with either of Nabers or Odunze.

So that leaves Bowers. I have heard a lot of hype on what Bowers will be able to do at the NFL level. I'm curious for those among us that put a little more into evaluating college talent (Raw?) if Bowers has enough receiving ability to be consistently split out. Does he project as a better blocker than Kmet?

I guess I'm wondering out loud how much sense does it make to draft another tight end. I think we can all agree that Kmet's production the last 25 games or so has been really good. I want to maximize this pick and if we're only seeing one of Kmet or Bowers on the field at a time consistently, I just don't know if it's a worthwhile pick despite Bowers' talent level.

Teams are usually pretty good at not reaching top 5-10. I think those will be the top 3 picks, but I doubt they all go to the top 3 teams. There will be trades, especially with NE if they really want to go QB. Someone would willingly trade up for MHJr (Giants, Chargers, wouldn't hate the Bears doing it if the price is right). 

I'd imagine Daniels goes top 8, he put together a really solid season and there's QB needy teams all through the top 8. NE, NYG, and Atlanta could all take him, not to mention a team could trade up. A team like the Giants could take Daniels and sit him a year, which would probably be an ideal situation for him.

As for Bowers, I almost look at him as the 4th WR in this class. He 100% can split out. In fact, he's more of an H-back, U TE, big slot than he is an inline TE like Kmet. I don't think he projects as a better blocker than Kmet, but Cole hasn't been as good as he can be blocking yet either. I think of Bowers like an Evan Engram type. Engram quietly had a 114 catch season this year, just under 1000 yards. He's not quite the Kelce height mismatch. He's not quite as big as Kittle. He's probably not as versatile as LaPorta. But I honestly think he's going to be close to Vernon Davis and his record TE athleticism. He's more explosive than Engram and he can block unlike Engram, though I prefer him as a move blocker rather than inline. 

I don't really see the Bears drafting Bowers. That being said, all the OCs they have interviewed really like 12 (2-TE) personnel, so they can definitely play Bowers and Kmet together. I just don't know if they would want to spend top 5 money and a top 10 pick on the same position.

[BigSlick]

I wouldn't say the Bears are desperate for a TE. Their #1 guy is playing pretty well and is pretty young and locked up - it would be nice to have a second guy, for sure, but I would place that as a moderate need well below WR, Inside OL and Tackle. 

"Weapons" in general is what they need. WRs that can run routes and catch balls and maybe even have some special talent. 

Edited January 16, 2024 by BigSlick

[raw]

29 minutes ago, BigSlick said:

"Weapons" in general is what they need. WRs that can run routes and catch balls and maybe even have some special talent. 

Exactly. I'd probably splurge for a top RB on the FA market, simply because the Bears need another weapon. They'll likely not spend on a big time WR, so you're likely counting on a rookie WR. It's a lot to expect a rookie to be your 2nd best offensive weapon even if he's a top 10 pick. Give me Saquon, Jacobs, Ekeler, or Pollard, if for nothing else for the underneath threat to open things down field and both RBs under contract (Herbert and Roschon) were horrible pass blocking. 

[BigSlick]

I wouldn't mind upgrading at the RB position - though I'm not sure I would shell out for any RB over the age of 25. It's brutal what's happened to that position but aside from a few freaks of nature... you really don't want to spend money on a guy who's in his late 20s. It's a huge shame but it is what it is. (What Aaron Jones is doing is nuts, good for him) 

But I'm out on Herbert. I never loved the way he runs, he's not a guy you can really count on to gut out short yardage, and on top of that he's not an amazing receiver. I liked what I saw from Foreman in the short period of time when he played, what happened with him down the stretch? Was he a healthy scratch? Injury? I never got info on that. Roschon has been ok - some promising bursts, some blah. 

I'd definitely be ok with a guy who's a great blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield. I'm just pretty sure you can find that in like, the 5th round, lol. 

[Tryptamine]

I'm pretty confident in saying Herbert wont be on the Bears next year. The only question is if Roschon will be the lead back or not.

[scarey]

1 hour ago, raw said:

Exactly. I'd probably splurge for a top RB on the FA market, simply because the Bears need another weapon. They'll likely not spend on a big time WR, so you're likely counting on a rookie WR. It's a lot to expect a rookie to be your 2nd best offensive weapon even if he's a top 10 pick. Give me Saquon, Jacobs, Ekeler, or Pollard, if for nothing else for the underneath threat to open things down field and both RBs under contract (Herbert and Roschon) were horrible pass blocking. 

I thought Johnson had a reputation of a very good pass blocker. I remember him making some amazing blocks this year.

Edited January 16, 2024 by scarey

[profisme]

22 minutes ago, scarey said:

I thought Johnson had a reputation of a very good pass blocker. I remember him making some amazing blocks this year.

I had the same thought, but I also didn't get to watch every snap of his.  He seemed like he was far and away the best pass-protecting RB they had on the roster.  

[Hairyducked Idiot]

It's a pretty good offseason to be looking at a QB. I mean it always sucks not to have a QB, but there's tons of options.

If you are rebuilding you'd rather just draft your own and it's a pretty QB heavy draft, there's six guys who could go in the first two rounds.

If you wanna win now or just have a caretaker for a partial season, there's Cousins, Flacco, Mayfield, Tannehill, Wilson and Minshew.

If you wanna split the difference and make an upside play that isn't a pure rookie, there's Browning.

And there's tons of cromulent backups to go around, guys like Winston, Mariota, Wentz, Garroppolo.

Maybe I'll eat these words, but I'd be surprised if any team feels pressured to offer up a haul for Fields.

[BigSlick]

I consider Fields equal to or better than Winston, Mariota, Wentz, Garoppolo, Browning, Minshew and has more upside than the old broken guys. I think there'll be some takers. But I wouldn't be shocked if the Bears have to settle for a 3rd rounder. 

[raw]

3 hours ago, BigSlick said:

I wouldn't mind upgrading at the RB position - though I'm not sure I would shell out for any RB over the age of 25. It's brutal what's happened to that position but aside from a few freaks of nature... you really don't want to spend money on a guy who's in his late 20s. It's a huge shame but it is what it is. (What Aaron Jones is doing is nuts, good for him) 

But I'm out on Herbert. I never loved the way he runs, he's not a guy you can really count on to gut out short yardage, and on top of that he's not an amazing receiver. I liked what I saw from Foreman in the short period of time when he played, what happened with him down the stretch? Was he a healthy scratch? Injury? I never got info on that. Roschon has been ok - some promising bursts, some blah. 

I'd definitely be ok with a guy who's a great blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield. I'm just pretty sure you can find that in like, the 5th round, lol. 

The thing about the RB market, is you don't really have to pay guys that much. I think you can give a guy a 1-2 year deal and don't have to pay more than 12Mil AAV to get the top guys. I'm good with a late round RB as well, but I'd have no qualms about a short term deal for a RB in their late prime (27-29) if they are truly a difference maker. 

Foreman was a healthy scratch and was not happy about it. 

[raw]

2 hours ago, profisme said:

I had the same thought, but I also didn't get to watch every snap of his.  He seemed like he was far and away the best pass-protecting RB they had on the roster.  

He had some solid highlight blocks, as opposed to Herbert who had 0 blocks at all. But overall, Johnson was not very good blocking from my eye test.