AZ54

Good summary. I like the offensive FAs we brought in as they should fit the scheme we're going to run very well. Now teams have to defend against both Cohen and Gabriel, often at the same time. Neither is a full-time player but each offers enough big play potential to turn a game around. TEs in Shaheen and Burton will also keep LBs and safeties busy. All orchestrated by a very mobile QB. Last year Trubisky was stuck playing chess with only pawns. This year he's got almost the full array of pieces to work with. One thing remains missing and that is a solid starting RB who can handle both running and pass receiving. Howard improved his receiving quite a bit last year but he's not Matt Forte. You may have read the quote from Pace where he said that Nagy was very adamant about how important having a good move TE (the U TE now) is to his offense, and Pace went hard after Trey Burton. Paid a bit more than I expected for him too, but after reading that later on I realize why Pace made the commitment. The question remains: Did Nagy say the same thing about having a RB who can function well as a receiver? I suspect he did and that a rookie RB is headed our way, maybe as high as the 2nd Rd. If not there, likely with one of our 4th Rd picks. I too was surprised we kept Sims around. I realize we already paid about $4mil but I won't be surprised if he's included in a draft day trade to help us move up. This is not a good draft for TEs and for a team needing an inline blocker like Sims he'll now be cheap for them. On the other hand, Nagy likes to throw deep about 7 times per game plus he is helpful to have as the blocker in the red zone while Shaheen handles the receiving duties. Sims won't be here next year. Arizona saw Glennon up close at the preseason game last year (so did I I was a proponent of keeping both Fuller and Amukamara so I can't complain. Fuller did get more than expected once the Packers got involved but finally having some continuity here will be nice for once. Amukamara got paid well too but as is typical Pace, we can get out of his deal after just one year if we choose. Was keeping both part of the deal when we kept Fangio? Cooper coming back was the biggest surprise for me. I like having several of our core special teams player back and that includes Bellamy, Acho, and the recently re-signed McManis. Until we see how the draft plays out, how the rookies and other young players look on special teams in the preseason, having these options on the roster is a very good thing. With Unrein gone I suspect there is some confidence in RRH and/or Bullard improving this year. My money is on RRH. I still think we'll add a vet FA DT to support the rotation up front. OLB remains the top need heading into the draft.

I agree and slowly Edmunds has risen into a top 10 player on many boards. I saw one mock proposal that had us taking Edmunds and then in Rd 2 Lorenzo Carter. 8 weeks ago Carter was listed as a 4th Rd prospect and he too has risen a lot lately. Carter doesn't have a lot of production but his athleticism is outstanding and fits the OLB role well. It is intriguing because adding that much athletic ability to our front 7 would make the D very tough although it will probably take a full season for both these players to settle into their roles. In the meantime we have Lynch to fill in the role McPhee sort of held for us the past few seasons. Pass rush can come from anywhere on the field as can pass coverage. Probably need to find a vet DE/DT to fill out the roster.

There's going to be someone coming in via FA to shore up the depth chart but I sense they like Morgan far more than we know. What else can it be? Kush is coming off a serious injury and while he's looking good working out I still like him best as a depth player. That's not to say Morgan is being penciled in as the starter but they might think he can compete with a tier 2 FA OG for the job. That's the market we're sitting in right now in FA. Best man wins and the other is a backup. https://twitter.com/EricKush64 I like Nelson but I'm still not as sold on him being the right pick for us at #8.

This year was like Christmas when you wake up and find everything you wanted under the tree.

Just glad to be back. I've been reading other boards but none are family like this one.

Just glad to be back. I've been reading other boards but none are family like this one.

That is true, Howard fit the run-run-pass offense very well.

I didn't see the entire combine but have it recorded if I want to come back and see any prospects. Starting at the top Tremaine Edmunds is my top target at #8. I think he's a good fit at OLB/ILB for us. Even if he ends up full time at ILB he's a Pro Bowl talent. With his long arms I think he'll fit well into a hybrid role playing both positions for us. Marcus Davenport also was more agile than I expected and he's a realistic target as well. Perhaps if we trade back a couple spots. Lorenzo Carter ran a crazy 4.5 forty. Two months ago his name was squarely on Day 3 but I think he's definitely going somewhere on Day 2. I already posted on the WRs but overall I saw quite a bit of good talent for the middle rounds. I really liked Christian Kirk on film and was surprised he only ran around 4.5 forty. He plays faster than that but if that puts him into Rd 2 for us that's ok. Despite watching a fair amount of the WR drills I never caught DJ Moore who apparently looked pretty good. He definitely was bigger and more explosive than I expected. I still don't see him as a great prospect with a lot of upside but he'll be a consistent chain mover in the NFL. A good 2nd day choice if he's there. Courtland Sutton's 3-cone time was outstanding erasing my concerns about his ability to separate from NFL DBs. He'll rise in Rd 1 and may even be the first WR taken in the draft ahead of Ridley. Oline: Kolton Miller really stood out to me athletically. Now the scouts have to go back to the tape to understand his inconsistencies. I think he's realistic option at OT if we trade back to late 1st or possibly with our 2nd Rd pick. The Center from Iowa looked really good, not that I'm interested in drafting OC early. Will Hernandez looks like he'll be a very good Pro Bowl type guard for a long time.

First, I do like Albert Wilson but I think at his best he can be a legit #3 option. We need a #3 option on our roster anyway so why not bring in a guy who will have a good idea of the offensive concept Nagy runs, and one who Nagy knows how to scheme for? Even if he's our #4 WR we need one of those too. I'm all-in for Allen Robinson. Why not go after a shot at having a legit #1 WR on the roster? The others are all #2/3/4 types, each with their own question marks, and Cam Meredith should be able to fill the role of a #2. Bring in a good rookie option as backup for the #2 role. Keep Kevin White around, re-sign Inman to compete for a roster spot with him.

I'm not completely buying that. If we're going to run a wide open offense then we will need someone like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98HqRF3INqY out of the backfield. I'm not saying it will be Penny but the Bears just spoke with Ronald Jones USC RB and he's equally as explosive when running the ball and I think as a receiver. Between Nagy and Helfrich it's obvious where we're going with the offense. We all know that having a primary RB, and really two RBs, who can run routes and catch the ball are needed. We can probably consider Cohen the #2, and even Cunningham as the #3 (for now) since he has enough versatility. But the guy who is on the field for 60-70% of the snaps not being a good route runner/receiver won't last long. I can absolutely see us drafting someone like Penny, Jones, or a bit later Jaylen Samuels.

First it seems quite likely that we're going to pay Fuller more than anyone on this board thought we would. Put him there instead of Johnson. I think there is little difference between the two so I just prefer to keep who we know. I don't see Pace spending big money on Norwell. I wouldn't necessarily mind if he did but I think that cash goes to signing either a top WR or a 2nd tier FA CB. Right now it seems quite likely that Allen Robinson becomes a free agent given his latest tweets. I think Pace goes all in if he hits the market. He can still bring in Wilson to fill out the WR corps. Robinson, Meredith, Wilson, Inman/White compete for a job, drafted rookie, and #6 on the depth chart Bellamy. Everyone hates Bellamy but he's productive enough IMO for a core special teams player. I don't like Sheldon Richardson and his arrest history. If we're going to gamble lets grab Muhammed Wilkerson in that slot, perhaps on a 2yr deal that pays him well enough guaranteed but leaves him a shot at another big money deal down the road. Trey Burton = yes Among Fuller, Burton, and Wilson all are largely steady good performers. The risk is with Robinson and Wilkerson. If Pace hits on 1 of them we're in good shape. Hit on both and lookout.

Someone wanted to know why Miami would make this deal after getting rid of Ajayi, who also isn't that good of a receiver. That's why I said I think it would have been a good deal for Miami. I don't like Landry that much and he's not worth $15mil/yr IMO. Plus he's a bit of a malcontent in the locker room. I much prefer to overpay for a guy like Wilson vs. overpaying for Landry. We'll keep the change and have a better fit in the locker room.

A) Miami is $8mil over the cap limit and you need about $10mil for our draft picks. Jordan Howard is a legit starter in the NFL and has a cap hit of $700k C) Gase and Loggains are in Miami now so Howard walks in the door knowing the offense. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miam...e192866804.html Even if not an ideal fit they have Drake in Miami who fills the role Cohen did for us last year. They can make it work and focus their draft on other areas. I think Miami would have won in this deal. They don't want Landry anyway.

He's getting drafted. He just ran a 4.38 forty today and he looked good in position drills. When you get down to late on day 3 and need to fill out the LB room with a guy who can play special teams and handle some spot duty on defense he's a good fit.

I think I fall in this category as well. Now I'm also on board as saying I'll take Saquon Barkely at #8 if he's there and then trade Howard. For now, even if Howard is not an ideal fit, there is no need to create a big hole at RB that we could only fill with potential.

Like Greg Olsen when he came out of college Gesicki is not reported to be a very good blocker. He has the size to and athletic ability to improve in that area. In the meantime you unleash his 4.54 speed into the open field. The only concern I had was that in the gauntlet drill he didn't look like a good hands type receiver. I have never watched any film on him nor do I recall seeing him in games (I'm sure I have) so I have no idea if that's just nerves or something that shows up on gameday too. Then again, if his hands are a concern that's why he's there in the 4th Rd. I'd have to strongly consider him there.

Just looking at his physical stature there is every reason to think Tremaine Edmunds can be effective as a pass rusher/OLB. He measured 6'4 1/2", 253lbs, with arm length to fend off OTs of 34 1/2", wingspan of 83". https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/20...d-measurements/

Rumors are swirling down at the Combine. Bears trade Howard and in exchange receive Landry and a 3rd Rd pick. Howard is not a good fit with his lack of receiving skills. https://twitter.com/Eric_Edholm/status/970011249550479360

Some thoughts sitting here on vacation watching the WR/QB Combine show. I didn't see everything so just caught a bit here and there. Allen Lazard ran well today coming in at 4.55. If we're looking for a bigger redzone type of target based on what they showed today this draft provides quite a few good options with Lazard being one. Sutton ran well and looked good catching the ball. Toss in guys like Auden Tate and Jaleel Scott too. We could put Simmie Cobbs in that discussion as well. I watched some highlights of him last night and noticed that he never really got separation. He ran a bit slow at the combine 4.64 but he has phenomenal hands and with an accurate QB who can throw him open I believe he'll be good redzone threat. Between the 20's he might have to be a teams 3rd or 4th option. In other words I think he could replace a guy like Inman on the roster but might offer more in the redzone than Inman. DJ Chark... speed was there but after reading that he's had issues with drops I was surprised that he looked pretty natural catching the ball in the gauntlet drill. I didn't get to see him catching the deep passes to see how well he tracks the ball. James Washington...looked pretty stiff to me in some of his movements but he's a natural hands receiver and is outstanding tracking the deep ball. Christian Kirk did not run as fast as I expected based on his film. He looks very natural catching the ball. I still like him and what he does on film running away from people stands out even if his forty time is somewhat average. Trey Quinn (the other SMU WR) stood out as a good late Rd prospect as well. St Brown is a very good athlete but doesn't (or didn't) track the deep ball well, at least on one route. I still think he'll be a very productive WR in the NFL. Ridley is still the best WR prospect in this draft IMO. He will be a very good #2/1a WR. He does not have elite speed but he is fast enough to get open deep. His route running and ability to cut at speed and gain separation will make him open early and often. He's natural tracking the deep ball and makes the catch look easy. I still think he'll struggle with some of the top physical corners in the NFL and he's not that good on the jump balls. He only had a 31" vertical so that fits what we see on tape. I still don't see his value being worth the #8 overall pick but I like him in a trade back scenario. -------- Kudos to Shaquem Griffin who I just watched put up 20 reps in the bench press. You have my respect sir. It's hard to say how the NFL will view a one-handed player but I suspect if he gets a shot he'll become a special teams standout.

I said I'd draft him at #8 and then trade Howard. The main reason is not just his running skills, it is his ability as a receiver and how important that is for the type of offense we're going to be running. Between Cohen (when lined up as slot WR) and Barkley you have big play potential likely moving to opposite sides of the field. Keep Shaheen running the middle seams and LB and Safeties have some choices to make. We should get at least a 4th rd pick for Howard but maybe a 3rd, or we package him with a 4th Rd pick to move up.

I don't know about the interview portion either but he has all the appearances of a player who has not worked to get in shape for the combine which is a big red flag. His running was not just bad, it was historically bad as in worst 10yd split ever. They even dug up a list of OTs who have run 5.8 forty at the combine, very small list, and no names that can be remembered. 14 reps on the bench, while lifting weights is somewhat more difficult for those with longer arms, but Kolton Miller put up 24 reps. In fact he looked surprisingly fluid (at least I was surprised) in the movement drills. At the end of the day it's not the numbers as much as, what to me appears to me, an obvious lack of preparation that is the red flag. The NFL requires a lot of dedication to be good and while people give Massie a lot of flack over his lack of movement skills he puts in the work in the offseason to be at his best. Maybe there is something going on in his personal life that is affecting him but scouts need to dig in to understand this.

I never liked Rosen that much when I watched his games live the last couple years. I see the NFL arm talent but in some ways he reminded me of Cutler locked in on receivers. On a positive note he doesn't have the INTs to go along with that. Darnold has more ability to make plays out of nothing IMO but he needs to learn to reign that in a bit. He also is better built to handle the rigors of the position. Question marks abound on all 4 of the top QBs and scheme fit will be critical for teams.

I don't want him on our team regardless of draft round. You don't fail the biggest interview of your life like this. He doesn't appear to have done any workouts prior to the combine. 14 reps on the bench press and then today it was painful watching him run.

Looks like you were spot on with Wilson. Doesn't mean he'll end up here but being at the combine with everyone talking to everyone there has to be some fire behind this smoke. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...impression=true

He warrants a visit to Halas Hall. Pace should try to understand directly from him how an elite player fell so far and where his head is at now.