BearFan PHX

great draft. I just posted something similar to your rational here on the "Bears on the clock" thread. I do think this draft falls off the table around the 18th player, so coming down a bit from #9 to grab a DE makes a lot of sense. I had been kind of thinking that WR would be the pick at #9, especially, if Nabers or Harrison drop (not likely!) and then i thought that building up Caleb is important, so an OT might be the pick, but maybe it is as simple as simply looking at the two positions Poles hasn't upgraded yet: Quarterback and Defensive line. We have needs at DE and DT so I dunno where that would go, or if any of the defensive linemen this year are really all that good, but generically, assuming all player ratings are equal to their draft position (for the math here, obviously never true) a defensive lineman wouldn't surprise me. In order of importance, the most important position on the field is the QB, and so the second most important position is the guy that knocks the QB down.

Waddle and Silvy talking today about something that I'd read before, but "bears" repeating. A few things come into play with this draft. First is that apparently there is an unusual amount of good players electing to stay one more year in college due to the NIL money, resulting in a draft with the fewest underclassmen in memory. If this is a new but ongoing trend then everything will be back to normal next year and going forward as players stay an extra year each year, then this one draft has a deficit, kind of like a leap year. The second thing is that Poles said that if they don't trade back this year, they would still have made 25 picks in three years, which averages out to 8+ a year, so the roster is good in terms of age progression if we dont trade back. In effect, because of the talent deficit, and needs/availability of some free agents, we basically drafted Sweat with the 2nd round pick, Bates with the 5th round pick, and having traded away the 6th and 7th rounder as well. It feels like there is a solid justification for picking a blue chipper with that 9th overall pick, without feeling pressure to trade down to get more players. Now that said, there is every reason to trade the #9 pick down a few slots, if the player youre targeting is likely to still be there. If, for example, the top three WRs go, and the next guy on your list projects to go 15th, you might take him at #13 instead of #9, and if that nets you another 3rd rounder, then that's great. But the strategy would be making that trade to avoid overpaying for that blue chipper, not having to trade down because you need that 3rd round pick. This all feels very professional, and well planned out, including having extra picks next year. Either we are getting really lucky, or we finally have a great GM in the building, or both.

no, it often takes a minute for any quarterback to get used to the new speed of the NFL game, and then learn to do what they can already do but at the new tempo. Maybe our plan is to start him right away, but if it is, its OK if he takes a minute to get used to the new speed with these reps. It has nothing to do with how good he will or wont be in December. You were giving Fields more benefit of the doubt right up to the end of this third season, so I think you can spare a little grace for a rookie. or dont, I dont care. It's where he ends up that matters, not how he starts. What you hope to see early are flashes, proof of concept. Consistency and wins sometimes come later.

I think it's going to have to be Waldron, Joseph and Thomas Brown to teach Caleb. I suspect Brown is the secret weapon, who can play the role a vet QB might have in addition to the OC and QB coach?

Yeah I'm not crapping on Penix - I would rather have him than Daniels or Maye if that was the choice. Im just saying there are historical reasons why his value should be lower. But I cant say that he wont continue to grow in the NFL. Im just glad it's not a bet I have to make!

I think youre right. Bagent is in case of injury.

Thats how I see it too. Penix is a stud, but hes older, so maybe his future ceiling is lower, having already grown, and i think he has a bunch of injuries, but the ball sure does come off of his hand hot. Also the three you mentioned are the ones who read the field the best - the do the best "quarterbacking"

good one - I like Fiske if he is available somewhere after the first two picks we make.

If there is that much interest in Nix and Penix, then i hope they go before 9 so even more players fall to us or we are able to trade down a bit to get the same players. Very cool.

As a vet to be around Caleb, cool, but i sure hope we keep Bagent, i thought he had real promise too.

Thanks for answering adam, I'm not sure I agree, but I'll need to see this in action to see what the real word effects are. I suspect a lot of innovation, and hopefully that is to our advantage.

I'm so new to this rule, I must be missing something. Why is muffing less of a problem now? Isn't it still a fumble?

Good article, thanks.

I thought in 2022 that I saw Fields beat guys in the open field all the time. I agree he doesnt have wiggle, but he was able to abruptly change his line and accelerate and it seemed to be really hard to stop. Not so much of a juker as a cutter. But back in reality, who is our kick returner? Scott?

I'm not sure how it's going to play out. I can imagine there will be a lot more trick plays like reverses and throwbacks. It does basically kill the trick onside play, which is good because you get can get way too much value for a fluke. If you think your team is the stronger one, you dont want or need surprise onside kicks. The good news is that apparently our own ST coach Hightower was one of the people pushing hardest for it, so he might have some stuff in mind about how to game this best. We need a real kick returner now. I don't want Velus again. Maybe someone with a good arm who can throw to the other side, and runs really well in the open field. Damn! We shoulda kept Fields! LOL (yeah I'm kidding, he'd never agree to be just a kick returner, and if he did, he'd be too expensive for that role. Hed probably be great at it though. I always thought of him as similar to Hester)

Ah too bad. Thanks for telling me. I agree with Pix, we definitely need one!

theres also that punter who was amazing in college but wasnt acquired by a team last year because of an accusation of rape that turned out to be bogus. If hes available, id say lets get him!

I think WR in the first round is likely. But Im not sleeping on OT or DL either

for sure

Yeah I have mixed feelings. I'd personally LOVE to see it, but if it's a distraction, I'd rather avoid it.

THIS is a dumb post Literally ALL of it is wrong. And im not even gonna bother correcting it anymore.

If i think it's dumb, then Ill say so? I think we are in an amazing place, and I'm very excited about Williams. No one held back telling me I was wrong about Fields, I dont see why i should hold off saying people are wrong about Williams when they are? It's just football talk.

its good luck indeed.

It really does feel that way.

I totally agree. We are doing this the right way.