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I might add the surprise name of WR Tetairoa McMillan to that list too. I could imagine Johnson doing amazing things with him. I wont predict it, but he is a dark horse, and has enough skill to make the list I think. And of course I assume we are leaving guys like Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter out of the conversation because they will never be there at 10... Your point about the depth of the draft is a good one too, pointing back to Banks. That's also part of why I think if Banks is there at 10, we will take him. Im on the record with this one firm prediction now. If Im wrong about it, then you all can call me out later! If Banks is gone though, then Im off the hook LOL

OK, Im gonna go on the record with this prediction: If Banks is there at pick 10, we will take him.

Its a good point. We do need to bring in some personalities at times, and the McCaskeys have been afraid of that. I do think that we made the right decision on Carter, but what youre saying is also right. Now that we have a real coaching staff, maybe we can keep a couple guys in line who have talent and troubled egos. You wouldnt want to pass on Deion Sanders, Randy Moss or Ray Lewis just because they might swear on Hard Knocks. Hopefully we are building a team that can handle more than the Trestman/Nagy/Eberflus approach in the future.

Everyone knew Carter would be great. The question was whether he would get into trouble, become a locker room cancer. In Philadelphia, they have the veteran leadership on the line to keep that from happening. There is nothing that says that if we had picked him that he would do for us what he has done for Philly. I really wonder how he would have handled last year on our team. Also, we took Wright over Carter, not Dexter?

I think you have to add Banks to that list. If he is available at 10, I think he is the pick.

It's just two plays, so it isn't proof of anything, but i just saw this on X, and thought I'd share it because it is indicative of the kind of thing I saw a lot of of on Will Campbell's tape. He is a horrible handfighter, and got destroyed here twice. Neither was a sack, so his stat still looks clean for the writers who just look at the numbers, but the tape tells another story.

That's really interesting. I am more sure that Membou is a bad choice than I am about Campbell. DIfference of opinion makes the world go around i suppose...

well Campbell only gave up 4 sacks over 3 years, but he also had extremely mobile QBs. Arms aside he is an imposing specimen, and he has good footwork. He is a first round OL, but i dont think he will make it as an NFL Left Tackle, and like Ive said, I am not sure of that, but to my eyes he looks like he belongs around pick 20 or something? He plays too high, and loses handfighting, so he's gonna need some coaching for sure. But can I say that Roushar wont turn him into a pro Bowler? Of course I cant say that I know that. I just wouldnt personally bet on it - based on Campbell not Roushar Ive watched a bunch of film on Campbell now, and it just doesnt look like a #10 LT ought to. Hes not smooth, and dominant. It doesnt look like he belongs there in the NFL to me. Banks on the other hand does look smooth. He does look dominant. He looks the part to my eye. Simmons, if he didnt have the medical issues looks amazing to me. He is very fluid and looks the part. But the medical is a BIG question. Banks isnt perfect, but he'd be my pick. And there are others who are not first rounders per se who Id be happy with, but Membou is NOT one of them for a bunch of reasons. He takes plays off, his heart isnt in it, hes never played the left side and he is undersized.

I guess, but I think we are making too much about the arms narrative. I thought Skoronski was a terrible OT. He was a catcher, he didnt meet contact until it was on him. I dont remember what my other concerns were at the time, but i didnt want any part of him, and i thought Wright was the clear choice over Skoronski. Because of the tape! Measurables only say so much. Now I get that Campbell has short arms too, and maybe that's a problem. But he also plays too high, is too slow to counter outside moves and worse yet, is a terrible handfighter that gets beat INSIDE. That should never happen. I cant predict what Campbell could become with NFL coaching. I wont sit here and say that I have a crystal ball and Campbell will never be an NFL LT, but I do believe that right now, he is a weak candidate to be one. If the Bears take him, I will of course defer to their better experience and information on him. And Ill root for him to prove me wrong. Im not saying I know he will fail to the level that I knew Fields sucked, or Eberflus sucked. Those things i KNEW once I knew them, because they were proven on NFL fields. Campbell is not at that point, and I am not as sure about his shortcomings as i was about those other two (and Charles Leno!) But if it were me, and i think we are all glad it isnt LOL, I would take Banks over Campbell all day long. Depending on how I felt about the medical possibilities, I might take Simmons over Campbell, and I think I like Ersery better too. Theres a guy from W&M that looks intriguing and there are others too for 2nd or 3rd round consideration. The only player I like less than Campbell as our LT is Membou! Membou is another narrative driven prospect. He was nowhere until his combine numbers. The so called underwear olympics. LOL Banks looks good to me, i hope he is there at 10.

I dunno how the Bears evaluate Campbell. Some have him really highly rated, others don't. Even forgetting about his arms, his film looks bad to me. I definitely prefer Banks. So I wonder where the Bears are on those two.

The way the talent is allotted in this draft makes a trade down a very good option. Then again, by your own argument, if you believe there is a difference maker, at LT, at HB, at DT whatever, then you can take them, even if it's a few picks early, or too high for a position. I think youre right about the talent vs draft value curve here, but each player is an individual too, and if Johnson and the staff like a guy, if I'm Poles, rather than trading down and getting credit for a GM move, Id just grab the guy. Especially with 2 high 2nd rounders to play with. I guess another way to say this is that I can see a ton of different smart options for us, and the team is in a great spot in terms of being able to do pretty much anything they want. So your point is right, and a trade down is a win. The point about Jeanty is right, and could be amazing. Adding a DT or LT even if its a little early makes sense. If Johnson likes a skill player, a surprise WR ot TE or even an edge! it ALL makes sense, as long as the player evaluations are right. In short - I have no freakin idea!! We are in a very flexible position. Well played, Poles.

There is logic to that analysis, in terms of maximizing value. But if you think a guy is worth pick 15, and you think he will help your team, it's Ok to pick him at 10. You dont want to reach too far, and especially not to the point where you couldve gotten him a round later, but it's OK to take a player you believe in a few picks early. I guess another way to say this, is the Bears may have different valuations on a player than we do? For example I see Kelvin Banks mocking as early as pick 4, and as late as 17 or 20 area. If you love him, you grab him at 10? But similarly, and to your point, if you love Jeanty, and think 10 is a little early, it's OK to take him too!

Because if we believe in a RT, and they play well it and complete our line, it will win more games for us, and make any HB we have look good. That's the justification for why not. Another justification for why not, is if you beoieve there is another difference maker, maybe on DL that will help more? It's a difficult choice. Id personally take Kelvin Banks Jr over Jeanty, but if we do take Jeanty, i will be happy about it of course.

just by position, HBs usually need the least amount of adjustment, and contribute immediately. Everyone else has a steeper learning curve. I suppose you could make the pass protection argument relating to HBs, there is probably some learning curve there, but when you give them the ball, they just hit the hole with their talent. So my answer to this question would be to pick your favorite HB. And for me that's probably Jeanty?

Good points about QB needs. The only thing is that it wasnt specifically meant for Bears fans because it was part of Tennenbaum's mock. But we can agree that he wasnt a very good GM then or now.

Carolina v2.0?

OK so here's some awesome draft BS... Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, who wasnt especially good at being a GM, predicts that if Colorado QB Shadeur Sanders slides out of the top 5, he'd be targeted as a trade up to pick 10. In a recent mock, he has the Steelers trading up with us like this: Chicago gives 1st round Pick (10) [369 Hill pts] 5th round pick (148) [10 Hill pts] Pittsburgh gives 1st round pick (21) [261 Hill pts] 3rd round pick (83) [52 Hill pts] 4th round pick (123) [23 Hill pts] 2026 1st round pick [100 ish pts] In this draft especially, I'd do that in a heartbeat. 2 firsts next year?! I doubt Pittsburgh would pay that much. Like I said its a bunch of BS, be we have nothing better to talk about, and the trade chart says: Chicago 379 for Pittsburgh 433 or a difference of 54 pts which = a mid round 3rd Maybe the value works out if youre getting a good QB, but who here wouldnt take that deal in a second? Probably why it would never happen. But if it did, that'd be amazing.

based on what youve said, he and a couple other names are primed for a 2nd round pick, and I suppose it just comes down to our scouts and staff evaluations. Having not seen film on him, but just based on what youve said, he is definitely intriguing.

especially if Banks is off the board already IMO

its weird this year re: arms - everyone seems to have 33 1/2" arms this year. I just looked up Jackson on draftbuzz and they have him with 33 1/2" arms too. I heard there is some question as to how they are measuring at the combine, and getting shorter numbers than the pro days? Armgate? LOL But at the combine he was 33 1/2" for what it's worth - I personally dont care about arms, but film. He played guard most of his career, and then injuries forced him to LT where he did well against good competition amid a run to a national championship. He did not allow a single sack throughout the college playoffs. He was not on my radar until your post here - now I gotta go watch some film.

It's starting to feel this way to me now too. DT first round, LT second round: first round = DT, or some skill player that Johnson covets second round = LT could be Ersery, Conerly or Grant from W&M - and a DT or skill player Johnson covets third round = RB, WR, S, CB even LB maybe OL depth

Yeah, his knee is gonna be the question.

One wildcard sleeper at OT: Minnesota LT Aireonte Ersey Hes great in the run game, has all the strength and size you want, wins heads up pass protection reps, shut out Abdul Carter one on one this past year, and looked good against competition at the senior bowl - but his big knock is that he needs to do better reading and picking up stunts and games. If he interviews confident and smart, and we think we can coach him up, he could be a real sleeper and a great pick in the 2nd round. We could go DT with pick 10, and come back to the 2nd round for Ersey at LT and BPA of HB/WR/S

Its a good argument, especially if Banks is gone, and you dont know how Simmons will recover. even more true given that Allen likes his DEs a little bigger than the league generally does. When you favor a less popular body type, they can be available a little later in the draft.

This bodes so well. Wouldnt it be amazing if our defensive line became a real threat?