BearFan PHX

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.

Here are four 2 round Mocks on DraftBuzz with no trades. In all four, i got S Nick Emmanwori in the second round. A good replacement for Brisker. In 2 of them I got HB Ashton Jeanty at 10, paired with either TE Coleston Loveland or G Tyler Booker In the other 2, I got HB Omarion Hampton in the 2nd round, paired with either OT Kelvin Banks Jr or WR Tetairoa McMillan with the #10 pick I have a hard time believing the talent that was still available in the 2nd round in this mock, but I would be thrilled with any of these drafts if they happened.

serious question, was Johnson wrong to draft Gibbs at #12 in 2023?

you gotta look at the guy tho - Banks Jr, sure. Some like Cambpell, i dont, but I could get that. But Membou? Hes a RT who will probably play guard and is short for each.

At impact positions, arbitrary projections from NFL.com Mock draft: We are obviously not picking a QB at 10 At Edge, The big name ends are not as heavy as Allen likes. Abdul Carter (proj 4th) is 250 pounds Ezeiruaku (proj 15th) is 248 pounds Williams (proj 23rd) is 260 pounds Tuimoloau (proj 29th) is 265 pounds compare to Odeyingbo at 286 pounds These are all lighter faster guys, and so I think you can rule them out at 10. LT (or OL) would make sense, but... Campbell has real flaws to me (plays too high, gets beat inside too much AND not wide enough when protecting outside, where shorter arms dont help) Seriously, thats the trifecta: too high, vulnerable to the outside, vulnerable to the inside. no way to me Banks could be the pick. but admit it: you're not jumping up and down about it. The rest: Booker (proj 17th) is a guard, I dunno if we're spending the 10th pick on any guard, and we just paid three interior players big money. talent in the pipeline is good, but to take Booker at 10 and then have him sit feels like a weird move. Still he is a good player, so he can go on the also ran list. Membou (proj 19th) Plays RT, but probably should be a Guard. Good technique, but undersized AND lacks killer instinct. Surely not a LT, and maybe not even a RT. I cant see him at 10. If I was gonna take a guard, it'd be Booker before Membou Simmons (proj 20th) at least he is an actual LT. He is a good physical specimen, but he makes a lot of mental errors, especially in reacting stunts. Plus he's coming off an injury. He might grow to become a good OL, but he has a way to go AND hes coming off an injury. I cant see him at 10 at all Savaiinaea (proj 28) is a project at guard. not even a mid first round pick. Conerly (proj 32) needs to add strength. He is a developmental player with good upside after a year in the weight room. We know the offensive skill players are WR Travis Hunter will be long gone before we pick HB Ashton Jeanty (proj 6) TE Warren (proj 9) Jeremy Shockey comp, big, tough rumbling, may not be able to beat man coverages in the NFL. Gets manhandled more than you want for a physical type with no real vertical threat. Honestly Kmet is better at this. I dont think he is a Johnson fit TE Loveland (proj 16) More of a power forward giant receiver than a pure bruiser. 6' 6" 248 makes him a monster in the slot, not unlike Sam Laporta did for Johnson in Detroit. I think this is the kind of mismatch player that Johnson covets. If you cover him with a LB, he's open, if you use a DB, he will use his height and strength, or you run the ball. WR McMillan (proj 12th) big target, can work the middle and provide a similar benefit as Loveland, but he has the speed to challenge deep too, so if Johnson wants to make his LaPorta a tall slot receiver instead of a TE, McMillian could fit the bill. Hes got great hands - a possession receiver at 6' 5" runs a 4.5 40, wins contested catches so more of a physical threat We have no need at LB and no MLB superstars are available. At S, there is only Malakai Starks (proj 22) to consider. He's a hard hitter, great against the run. Can play S or Nickel. Gets caught on breaks in man coverage sometimes. Maybe a replacement for Brisker. A great toy for Allen? honorable mention to Nick Emmanwori (proj 55) - another big physical safety who has some zone coverage issues but has tremendous size and speed to match up with TEs, and come down into the box against the run I will leave CBs and DTs unexplored, because I havent really done any work on them yet. So first round pick players I would be happy to see in a Bears uniform are: OT Kelvin Banks Jr OG Tyler Booker HB Ashton Jeanty TE Colston Loveland WR Tetairoa McMillan S Malakai Starks S Nick Emmanwori (I have a first round grade on him, if we get him in the 2nd round, Ill be thrilled) WR Travis Hunter (and CBs and DTs I havent scouted yet) I think Banks Jr, Jeanty, Loveland or McMillan are most likely at #10 if we dont trade down and will be the pick unless a CB or DT I havent scouted yet makes the grade. Don't sleep on Loveland or McMillan! They are auditioning for very similar roles, and we need that kind of player.

Jahmyr Gibbs was drafted at #12 in 2023... He's a top talent, but not used as a load back. I think that NFL defenses switch to 2 high safeties is changing the calculus on RBs. We're not reading more about it because the writers havent caught on to it as a narrative yet, but there is definitely a new correlation between success and the running game this past year. Now that said, again, Im not at all saying we need to draft Jeanty. I dont know enough to project who he will be in the NFL. But if hes gonna be great, then #10 isnt that much higher than #12? It all comes down to Jeanty's evaluation. Or any running back or player.

I dont have a clip, but i do think someone asked Johnson about Swift, and he gave a lukewarm generic answer, so I think youre on the right track.

Since it would help us so much on the cap, and if we are drafting a RB too, maybe we could trade him cheap? That was why I thought of packaging him in a trade down - which would be a pretty unique scenario for sure.

for sure, and with the way Swift's contract is, even if Johnson already knows he wants to move away from him, we might have to wait for next year to do it. But that doesnt mean we won't draft his replacement this year in the first few rounds. Edit: If I am reading OTC right, while the cap hit is a lot of cutting him, trading him would be quite a savings. Interesting. CUT = 500k of cap space opened up, and leaves 8M of dead cap TRADE = 6.6M cap opened up and only 2.6M dead cap space Who knew? Deandre Swift is trade bait! Here's a wild idea: trade Deandre Swift and the 10th pick overall for a trade DOWN to get a lower first, a high to mid second, high to mid third and maybe something else? Who needs a RB? https://overthecap.com/player/dandre-swift/8775

this is a logically sound argument. A better OL generically makes QBs and RBs better generically. The questions are the pros and cons of players who are better or worse than average in specific traits. I think Swift has a vision problem. he doesnt read holes well. I think Jeanty has incredible balance to take a hit and stay on his feet. When you plug in an above average player, it takes advantage of what the OL gives him, and when you plug in someone with issues, it can squander what the OL gives him? I would be THRILLED to have Jeanty on our team. But the real question is who else is available at 10, and whether they are a better choice. So while I think Jeanty would be a huge upgrade over Swift, Im not convinced that an OT wouldnt be a bigger upgrade over Jones for example. So Im not saying to draft Jeanty, but I AM saying I dont like Swift that much. Also, generically, people believe that HBs are a less important position than they were in the 90s. And this is generally true. You surely dont want to spend a big part of your cap on one. But here are three counter arguments for drafting a back high: 1) Rookie contracts dont eat up the cap, so it's just draft capital youre spending 2) Defenses are recently now playing more two high safety looks to beat the modern passing game, and this increases the opportunities for HBs to impact the game 3) Generic arguments about position overlook those handful of game changers that can come at any position. For example, no one thinks to draft a safety in the top ten, but youd think twice if it was Troy Palomalu or Ed Reed. Now none of this is to say that I am sure that Jeanty is LaDanian Tomlinson. In not. Im just saying each person has to make that determination on the player himself, and not just on the generic valuation of the position. And same with OL. If all the players in the draft this year were of equal talent, my first pick would be OT or DL. But theyre not, and so we have to look at the players. Maybe Jeanty is the right choice. Maybe the TE? Maybe OL! But the idea that HB isnt that important, or that there are more decent HBs later in the draft shouldnt ignore whatever someones valuation on Jeanty is. And neither should the generic argument that our OL is better, so it matters less. But all that said, if someones argument is that Jeanty just isnt that good, then that's totally legit. Thats where the decision should be made in my opinion.

For sure! I think Banks is probably the best OT in the draft.

I went with the TE, but i could easily have gone with Jeanty if I had two votes. If Kelvin Banks Jr had been on the list, Id have picked him first though. EDIT - after more research, I had TE Warren's type confused with Colston Loveland, so now I wish I'd taken McMillan or Jeanty.