BearFan PHX

according to the mocks anyway. It's MUCH harder to predict what we might do than any other draft I can remember. This is a testament to Poles and Johnson and the whole staff. Our roster, at least on paper, looks as complete as it's been in a while, and we could literally do anything in the draft other than QB. It's a new era of competency at Halas Hall!

Caleb on the cover of Madden 2025? LOL

Other than LT, of which this draft really has no sure fire studs, we don't really have any position of "need" - of course a stud Edge is always great to have, but we could use a superior player at pretty much any position other than QB, and we have a decent starter at every position. Looking down the road, we might also want (in addition to LT, in no particular order) OG, TE, HB, WR, Edge, DT, LB, S and CB. A case can be made for each. So really, I think after our amazing preseason so far, we are looking at Best Player Available now, and if that's a S, TE, WR or HB, so be it. If it's a DL so much the better. But HB Jeanty, WR McMillan, S Emmanwori, TE Loveland and CB Johnson would all make us better too. And quality developing depth at OG, DT and LB now will help us in a couple years to find cap room to keep growing. I dont think looking only at position and in comparison to this years roster is the way to think about this anymore. We're good right now. Holes are filled. Sure we could use a pro bowl LT or Edge, but if they arent available to us, It's time to get into a sustainable mode where we look at the roster 2 and 3 years out so we can take BPA every year going forward. I wish there was a stud LT I trusted. But there isnt, so BPA it is for me. At Edge or whatever position.

at 20, Emmanwori would be a GREAT pick. 10 is a little early, but he is a hell of a player and so is Starks.

honestly, we could draft ANY position at 10 and I wouldnt be shocked (other than QB) we really are in a BPA position. And McMIllan is widely mocked to likely go before we pick anyway.

fair enough - I wasnt looking to disagree, just wondering why. After watching tape I totally soured on Campbell, and Banks looked better to me. ANd like you, Im looking for more data, which is why I asked

no love for Kelvin Banks Jr?

It's good that we are looking at all sorts of positions. It means our roster is pretty solid, it means we wont have to reach for a position, and it means other teams dont know what we will do either. We are in good shape heading into the draft. Those two second rounders are going to bear fruit too. They could go anywhere.

I'm just saying, he's not a deep threat. Usually when people talk about a WR1, they are talking about someone that plays the X position? McMillan is a really good possession receiver, and he could really help us. So I dont think the question is whether he would be good to add to the team or not, that's a no brainer easy YES. The question is whether there is another player who could help more. And Im also saying, let's not make that choice based on positional need, but solely on the ability of the available players. Best player available other than QB or RT.

You know, here's the thing. Poles has done such a good job filling holes on our roster, that its not really clear WHO we might take. We can use help in a lot of areas, and we dont NEED help much anywhere from a rookie starter. OL - we could use a stud LT, and developmental players inside. The only one we cant use is a RT. WR - we could definitely use another good one TE - Kmet is OK, but I dont think anyone is scared of him. A real stud here could push him out after this year. HB - Same thing. We dont have a true stud here. QB - we are set. so on offense, the only thing we truly dont need to draft is QB or RT DL - you can always use more. We dont have a game wrecking top 5 Edge rusher, or DT. Grady is older. We can always use top talent here. LB - if you draft a young fast guy that Allen likes, you can save a TON of cap room letting Edmunds go after this year. Maybe Edmunds will make himself indispensable this year, but we could use a young LB stud going forward. S - Byard is getting older and Brisker has concussion problems. There are two excellent hard hitting SS in this draft. Either could help us. CB - Stevenson will probably be OK, but you can never have too many. Basically, we dont have many glaring holes where a rookie NEEDS to come in and start, but we could use a stud rookie at almost any position. We are in a place to truly look best player available, regardless of positional need. And with a new coach, honestly NO ONE knows what we will do. Other teams cant really predict us this year, and so I think us trying to do that is foolish too. Now it's totally cool to say who you think we OUGHT to draft - which players are best and could help us - but making the case that we need (or dont need) a certain position is really hard to say. *IF* you believe one of the LTs is a true stud, I think that would be the clearest positional need. But Im not sold that any are, so its impossible to say based on positional need what we might do - it's more a matter of player evaluation. We can all have our opinions, but I dont think you can say _______ is good, but we dont need an _________, unless its a QB or a RT. Every other position is a possibility IF you think the player is that good. For example, we might take a Safety at 10. People would be shocked, say it was a little too early etc, and Im not predicting it, but its a possibility like so many others. And if you think they are the best impact player on the board, and youd be happy with them at #14 or something, you can take em if you cant trade down.

I dont see McMillan as a WR1 type. Hes not quite fast enough. but he's 6' 5" and runs between 4.46 and 4.55 - hes a possession receiver, a slot guy. Like Keenan but not the same exact style. hes like a WR/TE - great red zone target, great working across the middle. But not a deep threat. Like a faster TE split out. Like a Power Forward in basketball. He would help get Odunze and Moore open. Put him underneath in a high/low and SOMEONE is open. Johnson could use him as a chess piece for sure. And he could have a role similar to Laporta's. Kmet would still be inline to block, or release, and the nickel would have to fight McMillan's huge body. Too fast for a LB, and too big for a nickel or safety, and that would mean Kmet would have an even better matchup too. 11 personnel with Moore, Odunze, McMillan, Kmet and whoever the back is would cause a ton of problems for defenses. And we really do need a real 3rd WR. And again, I am just describing how McMillan could really help us, not arguing that he is a better choice than a DT, or an OT etc. But he would be a good choice for sure. If hes even still there at 10.

lol

maybe we need to draft a DT instead so we can grow some sacks

The best argument against taking McMillan would be simply to say another player who is a better choice. McMillan will be good for whoever drafts him, if we could get him without spending a pick, we'd be lucky to have him! But maybe there is another player who can help us even more, and that's a perfectly good argument.

It sounds like you're saying you want fewer weapons so that the two guys on the team will do better? I think that's backwards thinking. The idea is to win games. The more weapons the better. Let's say DJ and Odunze are good for 2200 yards together, and lets say Kmet adds another 800. If Caleb throws for 4,000 yards that means there are still 1,000 yards to throw around. Having another real target makes everyone more open, and there are still plenty of yards for everyone? And if Caleb throws for 4,000 yards and Odunze or DJ only gets 900, and we win a lot of games, thats not so bad either!

I put McMillan on a list of players Id love to see in a Bears uniform along with Jeanty, Kelvin Banks Jr, Colestand Loveland and some DT that I havent decided which one(s) yet. Some others, like TE Loveland, OG Booker and the two SSs Starks and Emmanwori would be too early at 10, so maybe a trade down to get there. If one was available at the top of round 2, that'd be a steal. But I am in no position to pick a single name right now as the best choice. I can rule some guys out that I dont like, and I can say some guys that i do like, but I cant say who the pick should be if i was making it yet. I still need to learn the DTs better. But if we ended up with McMillan, sure, I'd be happy.

you said it would slow Odunze's development, Im saying it wont because they play different positions. Itd be like saying taking a TE would slow Odunze's development, or taking a pass catching RB etc. It'd be similar to having Keenan Allen out there. He didnt slow Odunze's development. In fact, having another player for the defense to have to watch out for would help Odunze? Im not saying mcMillan should be the pick, but I am saying he is an option, just like Jeanty is.

McMillan plays the slot though, so it's not the same position. Hes kind of like a Sam LaPorta, but split out rather than TE, so i could see it. I also think Membou is moving up boards because of his combine numbers, but his film doesnt match it.

I wish there was a LT that was a no-brainer in this draft, but there isnt. Banks is my favorite, and I feel like 10 is a little early for him. McMillan doesnt get a lot of love, but hed be a great addition to the offense...

good point, but I was really excited about Will Campbell based on his highlight reel, and then you destroyed him with two LSU QB highlight reels LOL Ive never seen one player look so consistently bad on a teammate's highlight reel that he stuck out like that! But yes, the highlight reels do give you a sense of what they do well, so you can look for those traits and consistency in game film. And to your point - if the highlight reels dont pop, then no need to look further. I havent really seen too much yet from any of the Defensive linemen. I am able to disqualify SOME of the DEs for being too light for Allen, but some others I really need to study. What if someone falls to us? Like Mason Graham. I know its not gonna happen, but I need to see the film. Im also wondering whether we might package one of our 2nds to get back up into the late first round for someone. So I need to keep watching that film past the 10th pick too. In a draft where the talent drops off arouns 10 or 15 and then levels out for a while, a trade up seems unlikely, but if we take Kelvin Banks for example, maybe a trade up for one of the remaining DTs makes sense? Again, I gotta see the film and see where i think the tiers of talent are.

I'll check the highlights, but im also gonna find some endzone cam of complete games, hopefully against good competition. But thank you for these, the highlight reels are a good place to start.

Thank you AZ, Ill see if I can find some film on them!

Generically, in terms of position, Id like a LT, but Im not sure any are worth the 10th pick. I like Banks the best, but he isnt as sure a thing as Wright was for example. In terms of talent level, I like McMillan a lot. Is there a true stud DL out there that isnt set to go top 5?

Thanks for the this. I was discounting the 260 players as too small, but maybe 260 is the cutoff

I have him as the only LT I believe in in this draft. And Im not even that sold on him. He doesnt seem to be worth the #10 pick, but who is? Id probably end up taking him at 10 if he was there, and I couldnt get a trade down. I like McMillan too. But we need a LT.