dawhizz

Wait a minute . . . We don't take a RB until the 3rd round and you think it'd be a "great draft"? Where's the snarky comment about taking an OT in the first? Where's the overt "Benson sucks" comment? It's like I don't even know you anymore...

The Bears seem to be looking at or vistiting or working out just about every 2nd/3rd round RB there is: Jamaal Charles, Kevin Smith, Felix Jones, Matt Forte. But I haven't heard anything about them looking at either Ray Rice (though the Bears went to Rutgers pro day, all sources I have seen said they were looking at Jeremy Zuttah) or Chris Johnson. Are we really not interested in them, or is this more smokescreen fun? I'm thinkint particularly of 2001, when every report leading up the draft said the Bears were focusing on Lamont Jordan in the 2nd, then he's there for them to take, and they select A-Train.

Pretty favorable, IMO. Besides the Colts (Week One, where hopefully we're actually healthy) and maybe the Jaguars, who scares you, non-division? Not predicting anything grand, but I like how this looks right now.

Not sure if this has been posted, but I think this just went up over the weekend, and it's a really nice resource for getting some video on the draft prospects. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...aft/2008/video/

I think they take him, and I think it's actually a pretty foreseeable scenario. The interesting aspect would be if the Dolphins were interested in moving up to get him at 14. The cost is about equal based on most value charts if the trade was #14 (1100) for #32 (590), #57 (330) & #64 (270). You would be out of the running for the top OTs,though Baker or Cherilus might be there at #32, and the top RBs (unless Stewart or Jones somehow falls), but the Bears would end up with 3 2nd round picks and 3 3rd round picks, which they could probably use to move back up into the 1st to get Stewart or Jones or whoever might be falling. It would be tempting.

Oops, I forget, we HAVE to go RB in the first round. Then how about this: 1) Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas 2) Early Doucet, WR, LSU 3a) Chad Henne, QB, Michigan That's better, right?

I wouldn't get too excited. Since he's from the University of Illinois, he probably doesn't count against the number of players the Bears can bring in for a visit (since local players don't count). So it may be less "we really like this guy" and more "why not bring him in?"

That certainly makes sense, but I couldn't bank on a WR like Manningham being there. If he hadn't lasted till my third round pick, I'm looking at Donnie Avery or Lavelle Hawkins instead of Manningham, which is a big drop-off to me, whereas waiting on a guard, there is traditionally good value to be found in the middle rounds. Basically, talent dropoff between the guards I thought I could get in the 3rd-4th (Zuttah, Greco, McGlynn) and Rachal was smaller than the talent dropoff between the WRs I though I could get in the 3rd-4th (Avery, Hawkins, Douglas) and Doucet. Turned out I was wrong, but I don't think many people would have expected Manningham to last to pick 70.

I GMed the NFLfans Mock Draft this past weekend for the Bears over on www.nflfans.com, so I thought I'd let people know how things went (spoiler alert: BEST DRAFT EVER!). Ok, not really. But considering the holes the Bears have and the guys I got, I think this would really help the talent base on the team in some key places and hopefully put the Bears in position to get back to the top of the division where they belong. The breakdown (with video highlights when I could find them): 1) Branden Albert, OT/OG, Virginia - I was planning to go OL in the first and had my choice of Albert, Williams, and Otah. For me, the decision was between Williams and Albert. I took Albert because while Williams MAY be the better LT right now (and recent workouts suggest the difference is closer than you might think), Albert is a better everything else. With a line that underachieved and lost two starters, Albert is a sure-fire starter right away SOMEWHERE, whether it be guard or either tackle position, and can hopefully take over for Tait at LT by next year. http://youtube.com/watch?v=7L1h1uZfk4M 2) Early Doucet, WR, LSU - The one pick that I had hardly even considered before I picked him. I was pretty much set on going WR in the second, but I never considered that Doucet would be the one available. Another poster a good point that Earl Bennett may be a better fit in the offense, particularly when Doucet's propensity for injury paralells Bradley's. Still, Doucet has the bigger upside and is more athletic than Bennett, and is likely the better deep threat on a team that doesn't really have one at the moment. http://youtube.com/watch?v=DBkslmBHx-s http://youtube.com/watch?v=hv-t9WiZzdY 3a) Chad Henne, QB, Michigan - I didn't come into the draft with QB as a huge need. I was basically planning to get a developmental guy in the 5th-6th round (Kevin O'Connell or Bernard Morris or Dennis Dixon). Nevertheless, I had a second round grade on Henne, and the QB position is hardly settled in Chicago. I strongly considered Josh Johnson here (who I like a lot), and if I had it to do over again, I might have waited, as Johnson didn't go until the 4th round. But Henne is much more ready to play than Johnson, and with an unsettled QB position, it's not at all unthinkable that a 4-year starter at a big-time program like Henne could start for this team next year. He may duplicate some of Rex's strengths, but at least he doesn't appear to duplicate his weaknesses. 3b) Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas - A pick I was originally lukewarm on (I probably would have taken Choice over him) I have subsequently decided was not just a right selection, but maybe even a necessary selection. If Charles soft? Maybe. Do I love drafting another Texas back? Not really. But what Charles has is speed, and that's something I feel comfortable saying I have never seen from a Bears RB. Think about it. Can you name a Bears RB, starter or backup, who could run a sub-4.4 40? I feel like I have to go all the way back to Gale Sayers (who worked out OK). In this day and age, that's a ridiculous. We tried bruising backs (Curtis Enis, Cedric Benson). We've tried shifty backs (Thomas Jones, James Allen). We've passed over speed backs (Rashaan Salaam over Napolean Kaufman). It's time to get with the times and get some real, NFL speed in the backfield. Accordingly, I've gone from a Charles skeptic to really hoping he goes to the Bears, especially if it's this late. 4) Jeremy Zuttah, G/T/C, Rutgers - The offensive makeover continues, as I intend to give that unit the protection and the playmakers to succeed next year. Zuttah is versatile enough to play guard, RT, and even center (where we're going to need a replacement for Kreutz before long). He showed enought althleticism in workouts to suggest he would best fit as a guard at the moment, but I'll take his help anywhere he can give it. With Zuttah, Albert, and Beekman from last year, the Bears are situated nicely along the offensive line going forward. And he catches passes... 5) Craig Steltz, S, LSU - First defensive player I took is a big-time steal for the Bears. I actually took Steltz in the 3rd round in the other mock I did. This safety class isn't great, so I was fully prepared to go with one of my sleeper safeties at the end of the draft (Pig Brown from Missouri or Haruki Nakamura from Cincinnati). Steltz has a lot of Mike Brown qualities in that he's a smart, hard-hitting safety, with zone experience, and adds size the Bears don't really have at safety and should at the very least excel on special teams. Between Steltz, Brown, Manning, Payne, and McGowan, we should have two heathy, decent safeties. Worst case scenario is Todd Johnson, which I'm fine with in a 5th round pick. http://youtube.com/watch?v=6WKU97E2M28 6) Jerome Felton, FB, Furman - Back to offense with this pick. McKie certainly seems like a decent FB, but he's not good enough that he can't be upgraded. With J.D. Runnels' situation in limbo (I can't even tell if he's officially still on the roster), Felton should at least be able to take Polite's place on the practice squad until he develops a little bit. He's got the size and willingness to block to be a great lead blocker, but with the running instincts and running power to be a factor running the ball (in fact several profiles compare him to Jerome Bettis). Check out his blocking and running style below, which suggests he might even have special teams potential: 7a) Steve Johnson, WR, Kentucky - I wanted to get another WR in the draft that I felt like you could send down the field and would go up and get a jump ball. Johnson came out of nowhere to lead the SEC in TD receptions and turned in a number of clutch catches for Kentucky this year (including the game winning TD catches against Louisville and LSU).He also seemed to step it up against top competition, with over 100 yards against Arkansas, LSU, Florida, and the bowl game against Florida State. He's pretty raw in routes, but he has good height, decent speed, and looks really strong catching the ball. His freestyle rapping is just the icing on the cake. http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/draftguys...ve-johnson---wr 7b) Barry Booker, DT, Virginia Tech - I love our DTs when they are all healthy. But we have yet to see Dusty Dvoracek play a meaningful game, and Harris hasn't exactly been the picture of health, so bringing in another body to put in the rotation seems like a pretty good idea to me. Booker fits the undersized, attacking style of the Bears' defense with 10.5 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks last year. He might not make the team ahead of a guy like Matt Toeaina, who flashed some ability at the end of last season, but he's a smart DT who could step off the practice squad and do a nice job. 7c) Joe Jon Finley, TE, Oklahoma - Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark are a great set of receiveing TEs, but the Bears lost their 3rd TE/blocking specialist when John Gilmore left. Finley is one of the few TEs in this draft who seems to relish and excel at blocking defensive ends and while he's not very fast, he is a big target that can make some red-zone catches just like Gilmore did. Plus, it's not a Bears draft recently without an Oklahoma pick. 7d) Reggie Corner, CB, Akron - The Bears are set at CB for the foreseeable future, with Tillman and Vasher locked up long term and McBride doing very well in limited action. Beyond that, Ricky Manning, Jr. has been increasingly inconsistent and Corey Graham hasn't seen much game experience at corner, so another undersized, ball-hawking corner (pun only slightly intended) would be a wise investment. Corner had 7 ints and 19 passes defended last year and is a pure cover-2 corner with good short-area speed, who could be a good enough fit in the defense to justify cutting Manning loose if he can impress. I'd like to hear what you think of my selections, so do your worst. And here's the whole draft, if you're interested in who was available where. I tried to cut and paste the list, but the numbers didn't translate, so you're just going to have to figure out the numbers, cause I'm sure not adding them all : Round 1 Player Selected Kansas City (From Miami-Mock Draft Trade) -Jake Long/ OT / Michigan St. Louis -Chris Long / DE / Virginia Atlanta -Glenn Dorsey / DT / LSU Oakland -Vernon Gholston / DE / Ohio St. Miami (from KC - Mock Draft Trade) -Ryan Clady / OT / Boise St NY Jets -Darren McFadden / RB / Arkansas New England (From SF - Joe Staley) -Keith Rivers / OLB / USC Baltimore -Matt Ryan / QB / Boston College Cincinnati -Sedrick Ellis / DT / USC New Orleans -Dom Rodgers-Cromartie / CB / Tenn St Buffalo -Leodis McKelvin / CB / Troy Denver -DeSean Jackson / WR / Cal Carolina -Derrick Harvey / DE / Florida Chicago -Branden Albert / OL / Auburn Detroit -Chris Williams / LT / Vanderbilt Arizona -Mike Jenkins / CB / USF Minnesota -Phillip Merling / DE / Clemson Houston -Rashard Mendenhall / RB / Illinois Tennesee (trade Phi) -Devin Thomas / WR / Michigan St. Tampa Bay -Malcolm Kelly / WR / Oklahoma Washington -Aqib Talib / CB / Kansas Dallas (from Cleve - Brady Quinn) -Jonathan Stewart / RB / Oregon Pittsburgh -James Hardy / WR / Indiana Philadelphia (trade Ten) -Kenny Phillips / S / Miami Seattle -Jeff Otah / OT / Pittsburgh Jacksonville -Kentwan Balmer / DT / UNC San Diego -Antoine Cason / CB / Arizona Dallas -Reggie Smith / CB / Oklahoma San Francisco (From Indy - Tony Ugoh) -Gosder Cherilus / RT / Boston College Green Bay -Tracy Porter / CB / Indiana *Forfeit (By NE - Spygate) NY Giants -Jarod Mayo / LB / Tenn Round 2 Miami -Dan Connor / MLB / Penn St. St. Louis -Sam Baker / OT / USC Atlanta (from Oak - DeAngelo Hall) -Brian Brohm / QB / Louisville Kansas City -Trevor Laws / DT / Notre Dame NY Jets -Curtis Lofton / ILB / Oklahoma Atlanta -Carl Nicks / OT / Nebraska Baltimore -Felix Jones / RB / Arkansas Denver (trade w/ SF) -Pat Sims / DT / Auburn New Orleans -Fred Davis / TE / USC Buffalo -Limas Sweed / WR / Texas San Francisco (trade w/ Den) -Dre Moore / DT / Maryland Carolina -Anthony Collins / OT / Kansas Chicago -Early Doucet / WR / LSU Detroit -Lawrence Jackson / DE / USC Cincinnati -Martellus Bennett / TE / Tex A&M Minnesota -Quentin Groves / DE / Auburn Atlanta (From Houston - Matt Schaub) -Cliff Avril / DE-OLB / Purdue Miami (From Philly Mock Trade) -Shawn Crable / DE-OLB / Michigan Arizona -Erin Henderson / LB / Maryland Washington -Calais Campbell / DE / Miami Tampa Bay -Earl Bennett / WR / Vanderbilt Pittsburgh -Justin King / CB / Penn St. Tennesee -Chris Johnson / RB / East Carolina Seattle -Jordy Nelson / WR / Kansas St. Green Bay (From Cleveland - Corey Williams) -John Carlson / TE / Notre Dame Miami (From SD - Chris Chambers) -Chilo Rachal / G / USC Jacksonville -Jonathan Goff / LB / Vanderbilt Indianapolis -Matt Forte / RB / Tulane Green Bay -Joe Flacco / QB / Delaware Dallas -Patrick Lee / CB / Auburn New England -Brandon Flowers / CB / Virginia Tech NY Giants -DaJuan Morgan / S / NC St. Round 3 Philadelphia (From Miami- Mock Trade) -Chris Ellis / DE / Virginia Tech St. Louis -Roy Scheuning / OG / Oregon State Miami (From KC - Mock Trade) -Charles Godfrey / CB / Iowa Carolina (From NYJ - Kris Jenkins) -Quintin Demps / FS / UTEP Atlanta -Dustin Keller / TE / Purdue New England (From Oakland - M Henderson) - Kendall Langford / DTDE / Hampton Chicago (From SF - Briggsgate) - Chad Henne / QB / Michigan Jacksonville (From Buffalo - Stroud) - Darrell Roberson / DE / Georgia Tech Buffalo (From Baltimore - McGahee) -Mike Pollak / OC,OG / Arizona St Minnesota (From Denver - M Thomas) -Mario Manningham / WR / Michigan Carolina -Kevin Smith / RB / East Carolina San Francisco (From Chicago - Briggsgate) -Donnie Avery / WR / Houston Detroit -Chevis Jackson / CB / LSU Cincinnati -Tavares Gooden / ILB / Miami New Orleans -Ahtyba Rubin / NT / Iowa St Houston -Terrell Thomas / CB / USC Philadelphia -Eddie Royal / WR / Virginia Tech Arizona -Ray Rice / RB / Rutgers Minnesota -Oniel Cousins / OT / UTEP Tampa Bay -Red Bryant / NT / Texas A&M Washington -Andre Caldwell / WR / Florida Philadelphia(From Tenn - Mock Trade) -Duane Brown / OT / Virginia Tech Seattle -Brad Cottam / TE / Tennessee Detroit (From Cleveland - Shaun Rogers) -Tashard Choice / RB / Georgia Tech Pittsburgh -John Greco / OG,OT / Toledo Jacksonville -Tyrell Johnson / SS/ Arkansas State Chicago (from SD - Weddle) -Jamaal Charles / RB / Texas Green Bay -Marcus Harrison / DT / Arkansas Dallas -DeMario Pressley / DT / NC State Indianapolis -Marcus Howard / OLB / Georgia New England -Ezra Butler / DEOLB / Nevada New York Giants -Antwaun Molden / CB / E Kentucky Washington (Comp Pick) -Josh Barrett / SS / Arizona St Cincinnati (Comp pick) -Lavelle Hawkins / WR / Cal Atlanta (Comp pick) -Trae Williams / CB / S Florida Baltimore (Comp Pick) -Tyvon Branch / CB / Connectict Round 4 Philadelphia (from Miami - Mock Trade) -Thomas DeCoud / FS / Cal St. Louis -Andre Woodson / QB / Kentucky NY Jets -Bruce Davis / DEOLB / UCLA Atlanta -Philip Wheeler / ILB / Georgia Tech Oakland -Harry Douglas / WR / Louisville Kansas City -Tony Hills / OT / Texas Baltimore -Xavier Adibi / OLB / Baltimore San Francisco -*Honorary Pick*/Heath Benedict/OG,OT/Newberry -Mike McGlynn / OC,OG,OT / Pittsburgh Denver -Terrence Wheatley / CB / Denver Carolina -Andre Fluellen / DT / Florida St. Chicago -Jeremy Zuttah / OC,OG,OT / Rutgers Detriot -Ali Highsmith / OLB / LSU Cincinnati -Steve Slayton / RB / West Virginia NY Jets (From New Orleans - Jonathan Vilma) -Martin Rucker / TE / Missouri Buffalo -Owen Schmitt / FB / West Virginia Philadelphia -Orlando Scandrick / CB / Boise State Arizona -Josh Johnson / QB / San Diego Minnesota -J D Booty / QB / USC Houston -Kirk Barton / OT / Ohio St. Denver (From Washington - Lelie) -Mike Hart / RB / Michigan Tampa Bay -Wesley Woodyard / OLB / Kentucky Seattle -Frank Okam / DT / Texas Cleveland -Beau Bell / ILB / UNLV Pittsburgh -Jason Jones / DEOLB / E Michigan Tennesee -Jeremy Thompson / DEOLB / Wake Forest *Forfeit (By SD - Paul Oliver) Jacksonville -Erik Ainge / QB / Tennessee Dallas -Dexter Jackson / WR,KR / Appalachian St Indianapolis -Jordan Dizon / OLB / Colorado Green Bay -Peyton Hillis / FB / Arkansas New England -Tom Zbikowski / SS / Notre Dame NY Giants -Jerome Simpson / WR / Coastal Carolina Phildelphia - Comp Pick -Stanford Keglar / OLB / Purdue Buffalo - Comp Pick -Kellen Davis / TE / Michigan St Baltimore -Brandon Kieth / OT / N Iowa Tennessee - Comp Pick -Drew Radovich / OG,OT / USC Green Bay - Comp Pick -Donald Thomas / OG/ Connecticut Round 5 Kansas City (From Miami-Trent Green) -Craig Stevens / TE / Cal St. Louis -Letroy Guion / DT / Florida St Atlanta -Steve Justice / OC / Wake Forest Denver (From Oakland -Gerard Warren) -Vince Hall / ILB / Virginia Tech Miami (From KC - Mock Trade) -Chris Horton / SS / UCLA Carolina (From NYJ - Kris Jenkins -Geno Hayes / OLB,ILB/ Florida St *Forfeit (SF - Briggsgate) *Forfeit (Baltimore - Jared Gaither) Chicago (From Carolina - Chris Harris) -Craig Steltz / SS / LSU Jacksonville (From Chicago (D Walker) thru Buffalo - M Stroud) -Eric Young / OG / Tennessee Detroit -Ken Iwebema / DE / Iowa Cincinnati -Robert Felton / OG / Arkansas New Orleans -Will Franklin / WR / Missouri Buffalo -Gary Guyton / OLB / Georgia Tech San Francsco (From Denver - Mock Trade) -Trevor Scott / DEOLB / Buffalo Arizona -Breno Giacomini / OT / Louisville Minnesota -Jamar Adams / SS / Michigan Houston -Michael Grant / FS,CB / Arkansas Philadelphia -Marcus Monk / WR / Arkansa Tampa Bay -Dwight Lowery / CB / San Jose St Washington -Dennis Dixon / QB / Oregon Cleveland -Jack Williams / CB / Kent State Pittsburgh -Chad Rinehart / OG,OT / N Iowa Tennessee -Darnell Terrell / CB / Missouri Jacksonville (From Seattle - A Pearman) -Keenan Burton / WR / Kentucky Jacksonville -Bryan Kehl / OLB / BYU San Diego -Justin Forsett / RB / Cal Indianapolis -Anthony Aldridge / RB,WR / Houston Green Bay -Marcus Griffin / FS / Texas Dallas -Barry Richardson / OT / Texas New England -D. J. Hall / WR / Alabama NY Giants -John Sullivan / OC / Notre Dame San Diego - Comp Pick -Carlton Powell / DT / Virginia Tech Round 6 Dallas (From Miami - Jason Fergason) -Kevin O'Connell / QB / San Diego St St. Louis -Kory Lichtensteiger / OC / Bowling Green Oakland -Alvin Bowen / OLB / Iowa St Kansas City -Jacob Hester / RB,FB / LSU NY Jets -Chase Ortiz / DEOLB / TCU Atlanta -Chris Harrington / DEOLB / Texas A&M Baltimore -Jack Ikegwuono / CB / Wisconsin San Francisco -Brandon Carr / CB / Grand Valley St Chicago -Jerome Felton / FB / Furman Detroit -Nick Hayden / DT / Wisconsin Cincinnati -Paul Hubbard / WR / Wisconsin New Orleans -Curtis Gatewood / OLB / Vanderbilt Buffalo -D. J. Wolfe / SS / Oklahoma St. Louis (From Denver - Jimmy Kennedy -Kielen Dykes / DT / St. Louis Carolina -DeJuan Tribble / CB / Boston College Minnesota -Jermichael Finley / TE / Texas Denver (From Houston - Chris Myers) -Mike Gibson / OT,OG / Cal Philadelphia -Brian Johnston / DE / Gardner-Webb Arizona -Dorian Bryant / Purdue / WR Washington -Andrew Crummey / OG / Maryland Miami (From TB R. Sims through KC - Mock Trade) -Darius Reynaud / WR, RB / West Virginia Pittsburgh -Kevin Robinson / WR,KR / Utah State Seattle (From Tennessee - Bryce Fisher) -Geoff Schwartz / OT / Oregon Cleveland (From Seattle - Charlie Frye) -Tommy Blake / DEOLB / TCU Philadelphia (From Cleveland - Hank Fraley) -Thomas Brown / RB / Georgia San Diego -Ryan Torain / RB / Arizona St. Minnesota (From Jacksonville - T Williamson) -King Dunlap / OT / Auburn NY Giants (FromGreen bay - Ryan Grant) -Simeon Castille / FS / Alabama Miami (From Dallas - Jason Fergason) -Cory Boyd / RB / South Carolina Indianapolis -Jonathan Hefney / CB,FS / Tennessee New England -Jonathan Zenon / CB / LSU NY Giants -Vincent Redd / OLB / Liberty NY Giants - Comp Pick -Lionel Dotson / DT / Arizona Philadelphia - Comp Pick -Zack Bowman / CB / Nebraska Indianapolis - Comp Pick -Curtis Johnson / DEOLB / Clark (Atlanta) Indianapolis - Comp Pick -Shawn McMackin / OT / Hofstra Philadelphia - Comp Pick -Adrian Arrington / WR / Michigan Miami - Comp Pick -Ryan O'Hara / QB / Central Oklahoma Indianapolis - Comp Pick -Jordan Senn / OLB / Portland St Baltimore - Comp Pick -Rudolf Hardie / DE / Howard Cincinnati - Comp Pick -David Roach / FS / TCU Round 7 Miami -Chris Hopkins / TE Toledo Minnesota (From St. Louis - Adam Goldberg) D. J. Parker / FS / Virginia Tech Kansas City -Shannon Tevaga / OG/ UCLA New York Jets -Pedro Sosa / OG,OT / Rutgers Atlanta -Caleb Campbell / SS / Army Oakland -Corey Clark / OT / Texas A&M San Francisco -Archibong "Xavier" Omon / RB / NE Missouri St Baltimore -Cody Wallace / OC / Texas A&M Detroit -Thaddeus Coleman / OT / Mississippi Valley St St. Louis - (From Cincinnati - Ryan Fitzpatrick) -Arman Shields / WR / Richmond New Orleans -Doug Legursky / OC / Marshall Buffalo -Adarius Bowman / WR / Oklahoma St Denver -Ben Moffitt / ILB / S Florida Carolina -Connor Barth / PK / N Carolina Chicago -Steve Johnson / WR / Kentucky Houston -Johnny Dingle / DE / W Virginia Buffalo (From Philly - Spikes/Holcomb) -Wallace Gilberry / DE / Alabama Arizona -Chris McDuffie / OG / Clemson Oakland (From Minny - Bollinger thru NY Jets -Demetrius Bell / OT / Northwestern St Tampa Bay -Chauncey Washington / RB / USC Washington -Jacob Tamme / TE / Kentucky Tennessee -Dominique Barber / FS / Minnesota Philadelphia (From Seattle - Josh Parry) -Colt Brennan / QB / Hawai'i Cleveland -Maurice Murray / DTDE / NMSU Atlanta (From Pitt - Allan Rossom) -Allen Patrick RB / Oklahoma Seattle (From Jacksonville - A Pearman) -Corey Lynch / FS / Appalachian St San Diego -Adam Kraus / OG / Michigan Dallas -Jeremy Leman / ILB / Ilinois Indianapolis -Colin Ferrell / DT / Kent St Green Bay -Dorian Smith / DE / Oregon State New England -Durant Brooks / P / Georgia Tech Kansas City (From NY Giants - Lawence Tynes) -Jehuu Caulcrick / FB / Michigan Baltimore - Comp Pick -Tyer Melhaff / PK / Wisconsin Carolina - Comp Pick -Kerry Brown / OG / Appalachian St Washington - Comp Pick -Marcus Henry / WR / Kansas Chicago - Comp Pick -Barry Boooker / DT / Wisconsin Cincinnati - Comp Pick -Johnathan Wilhite / CB / Auburn Miami - Comp Pick -Jason Shirley / NT / Fresno St Cincinnati - Comp Pick - Jamie Silva / SS / Boston College Chicago - Comp Pick -JJ Finley / TE / Oklahoma Chicago - Comp Pick -Reggie Corner / CB / Akron Washington - Comp Pick -Brian Stamper / OT / Vanderbilt Carolina - Comp Pick -Darrell Strong / TE / Pitt Buffalo - Comp Pick -Justin Harper / WR / Virginia Tech St. Louis -Brian Bonner / SS / TCU

That may very well be true, but I'm starting to wonder how we know that a speed back isn't a better fit in Chicago. The Bears have traditionally had your big, bruising RB or a shifty back. But I can't remember any Bears RB in recent memory with pure breakaway speed. Wolfe is quick, but not fast. THomas Jones and James Allen likewise. But I'm not sure I've EVER seen a RB in Chicago who can run a sub-4.4 40. If you can remember one, please let me know. That's ridiculous to me. If that's true, isn't it worth a try to get a guy in here with real breakaway speed and see what he can do. Unless a huge hole opens up, or a back makes a remarkable cutback, the Bears haven't had a RB who can just go through a hole and blow by people. I'm starting to think it's time to give it a try. We've drafted plenty of big-bruising, "all-around" backs (from Salaam to Enis to Thomas to Benson) and we still haven't found a dependable, franchise RB. I'm starting to think it's time to change the strategy and get a fast RB for once.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-bear05.article It's easy to say "Oh no, not another Texas RB", but he's quite a bit different than Benson and even Williams with his speed (4.38 40 at the combine). Plus, while he's not terribly physical, he does have legit size for the NFL and brings a pure speed dimension our RBs don't currently have. I haven't watched a lot of his games, but a friend of mine who follows Texas football says he's one of those guys who can get stuffed for 3 plays and then take it to the house, so he's inconsistent when you watch him, but at the end of the day, the numbes are there. Any other thoughts on him?

Kiper's new mock (free at espn.com) has him going at 5 to the Chiefs. Which seems a little insane, but that's Mel.

I would also love to see us rise up and show the doubters. But I would also observe that, as of right now, we are clearly worse than Minnesota. Minnesota was the best rushing defense in the league last year and a better overall defense than the Bears. Yeah, we had injuries, but so did they and every other team. They have a much better offensive line, running back, and even WR corps (it's sad but true). We might have a slight edge at QB, but my guess is if you asked Vikings fans if they would trade QBs with the Bears, they would say no just as fast as we would if asked to trade QBs with the Vikings.

Some other minor players the Bears have talked to recently: Xavier Lee, QB, Florida State http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/mar/20/sp...pro-day/?sports Maurice Purify, WR, Nebraska http://www.times-standard.com/ci_8556808?source=rss For all they preach about drafting character, they sure do their due dilligence on those questionable guys.

Let's say the draft unfolds like this (unlikely maybe, but not unthinkable): 1) Dolphins - Jake Long, OT, Michigan 2) Rams - Chris Long, DE, Virginia 3) Falcons - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU 4) Raiders - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC 5) Chiefs - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College 6) Jets - Vernon Gholston, DE/OLB, Ohio State Or something like that. So, at #7, both Darren McFadden and Ryan Clady are available, and the Patriots are more than willing to move down. A swap of #14, #44 & #75 to the Patriots and #7 & #63 to the Bears works almost exactly in the pick value chart (1775 to 1776). 1. Do you move up? 2. If so, do you take Clady or McFadden (or someone else)?

I voted: 1) Clady - Can't pass up a franchise LT. He starts from day one and Tait moves over. 2) Kelly - I don't love him in the first, but I'll sure take him in the second. 3a) Ray Rice - I don't feel as much of a need for RB as others, but I do really like Rice, so this is nice value. 3b) Roy Schuening - Got to get younger (and better) on the O-line. This does both.

Apparently the Bears agree. They didn't even attend Ryan's pro day yesterday (according to CNNSI).

Just a Butkus throwback, though I'm not much of a jersey guy.

I thought maybe we couldn't sign him, since we cut him (at least partially) to avoid paying him a roster bonus he was due. I feel like there some kind of rule against cutting someone so you don't have to pay a bonus, then signing him back, but I could be on crack rock. I never really saw enough of him to know whether he's worth taking a shot at, but at this point I'd just as soon give Matt Toeaina his snaps. Honestly, I wouldn't have any problems giving Grady Jackson a shot. I know he's a run stuffer and doesn't fit the classic scheme, but we had so much difficulty with rush defense last year, I can't help but feel like he's help.

I would amend your comment slightly. A GREAT back is a great back. If you're a franchise, top 5 RB in the league, I think you'll be reasonably successful wherever you go (unless you were successful in Denver's running scheme, then all bets are off). But a good RB, someone above average who's a solid but unspectacular starter in the league I think depends more on the surrounding cast, including coaches, than you suggest. I've simply seen too many decent starteres on teams move to another team and disappoint. So unless you are absolutely convinced someone is that great back, I think you are better off building the supporting cast.

I'm not a huge Peter King guy (his fantasy advice in particular usually stinks) but he does talk to a ton of people in football, so it seems worthwhile to see what he says about these guys. I find it particularly interesting that he sees Andre Woodson in the 4th-6th round. I know he's had a fall from grace, but that seems pretty silly to me. I also can't quite shake the possibility no one is talking about that Matt Ryan is there at 14. We've seen QBs fall in recent years, and in this case it would only take three teams passing (Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, unless Carolina shocks and would take him) since no one behind us would trade up for him. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...ex.html?eref=T1

I still don't see what keeps Baker from being effective at RT. His skills might translate to LT best, but it's a lot tougher to make a RT into a LT than the other way around (as Cherilus' struggles there show). Plus, depending on how the Bears evaluate, it doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility (and certainly not "retarted") that the Bears find it's more effective to take Baker to start at LT and Tait at RT (where, at least for the first year, he'd likely be better than Cherilus would be), than to keep Tait at LT and put Cherilus at RT.

I don't see how you can say that. Baker was a 4-year starter at LT at a great program, which is nothing to sniff at. Baker's almost certainly a better pass-blocker right now than Cherilus, while Cherilus is probably the better run-blocker. Cherilus was not good at LT last year and is looked at by many as just a RT prospect, while Baker can play both and maybe LT immediately. Some teams will certainly prefer one over the other, but Cherilus is hardly "10x the prospect Baker is."

When I put up the poll, I figured people would consider the top 7 QBs in the draft and guess: Prospect A: Joe Flacco Prospect B: Chad Henne Prospect C: Andre Woodson Prospect D: Matt Ryan Prospect E: John David Booty Prospect F: Brian Brohm Prospect G: Erik Ainge Which is, as was noted, completely wrong. Oh, they're the top 7 QBs expected to be drafted. The top 7 QBs expected to be drafted in 2005. The correct matchups are: Prospect A: Kyle Orton (106th overall, Bears) Prospect B: Charlie Frye (67th overall, Browns) Prospect C: Jason Campbell (25th overall, Redskins) Prospect D: Alex Smith (First overall, 49ers) Prospect E: David Greene (85th overall, Seahawks) Prospect F: Aaron Rogers (24th overall, Packers) Prospect G: Andrew Walter (69th overall, Raiders) All the profiles are from the Sporting News issue the week of the draft, and I had to omit some school/coordinator/injury specific stuff, but everything else is verbatim from the magazine (except for Walter, who wasn't in the magazine, but who I got from CNNSI's profile). I just thought it was interesting how the two classes compare and interesting to remind ourselves that as much as we look at drafting a QB in the first 3 rounds as a starter a few years down the road, when you look at that group, you have two clear starters next year (Rogers & Campbell), two that will compete for a starting job (Orton and Smith, who I don't think they're handing the job next year), and three who are probably third on the depth chart next year (Walter, Frye, Greene). Meanwhile, it looks like Derek Anderson (213th overall) might be the most successful.

Yep. He may have changed from a mid-first to a late first, but I don't see how this injury causes him to slide to the second round. It's a broken pinky toe, which I can't see significantly affecting his ability to run in the future. It's a nice dream, but I can't see it.