AZ54

First, I love seeing my favorite game gaining popularity in other nations. This guy has all the measurable you want at WR, or maybe at TE. I watched the highlight film and felt he would make a better move-TE than WR because his first step seems a bit slow. Then I see that he ran a 6.65 3-cone drill at his pro day. Those two don't match up IMO but we have to consider his highlights are most likely just him playing in Germany without the benefits of advanced training like he has been receiving in the last few months. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000064...er-on-nfl-radar FWIW the self-proclaimed best player in the draft, Jalen Ramsey, ran a 6.94 3-cone drill at the combine. He obviously has a ton to learn and there is risk given the level of play he's seen but after this performance he's going to get drafted. The question is where. Would you draft him? If so, what round and for what position? I'd draft him with one of our 6th Rd picks and I'd start him out as a slot WR, not really any different than how we flexed out Zach Miller last year. Who is going to cover him? Give him a season to add 10lbs and learn how to block better and make him a move-TE with some part-time blocking assignments.

Davis appears to be a player that will be cut so there is little reason to trade a good player for him unless we get a decent draft pick in exchange.

If he ends up here, signing Larsen would be a good step forward despite his poor ranking from PFF. Oddly, he was drafted by New England and eventually wound up in Arizona where he replaced a benched Jonathan Cooper. Cooper is now with New England and expected to help fix their leaky Oline. We have the guy that beat out Cooper for a starting job and NE didn't even look his way? Blocking scheme likely plays into that and he might be a better fit for what we do versus what NE does. https://www.profootballrumors.com/bears-exp...ign-ted-larsen/ I still think he's good depth worth bringing in to compete for a spot. He had interest from 49ers and Seahawks who both knew his work well since they are division rivals. Why things didn't work out at either place would be nice to know. Falcons took a look at him as well.

I think the variance is because some of these players' skills lean so strongly one way versus the other. Cash IMO is an in-the-box type. He's great in that role, if that's what you want from your safety. Among the 3rd day prospects, Sean Davis is at the top of my list because I want more of a coverage guy but he is big enough and has the attitude and ability to be successful in run support. I don't see that same coverage skill in Cash, Killebrew, or Thompson (who takes too many wrong steps in coverage but might be correctable). If teams want to do what the Cardinals have done with Buchanan they'll find some help in this draft. This is what makes a guy like Myles Jack so valuable. If you want him to step out and cover a move TE, or even a slot WR, you could still keep two other LB on the field for run support. You get a lot of scheme flexibility with a guy like that.

I didn't like what I saw from Adams, looks very stiff and slow when running routes. I only get to see one or two games from these guys so it's possible he was fighting through an injury.

I'm curious who teams are talking to and at NFL.com they show us having spoken with 10 players (I'm sure it's much higher than that) but on that list 5 are WRs. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000064...ayers-nfl-teams Then what traits are we looking at? Most are bigger WRs with the exception being Coleman. Devon Cajuste stood out to me because at 6'4" and 235lbs he's pretty close to what Zach Miller does for us. Reportedly Cajuste does not have the quickness needed off the line to get separation from CBs, but he has good enough speed against LBs. He'll need time to gain strength and learn blocking but he has the hands you want. He originally went to Stanford as a TE prospect but was good enough at WR they kept him there. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players...8/devon-cajuste I could see us taking him very late in the draft, 6th or 7th Rd. At this point we're not going to find another move or H-back type of TE in FA. If Housler and Lee compete for the blocking role then there is some room on the roster for a player like this especially with Miller's injury history. I watched some film a couple days ago, other TEs I like: Tyler Higbee...good movement down field with speed and quickness, plus good hands. Needs work as a blocker. Listed as 4th Rd prospect. Austin Hooper also from Stanford. Projected 2nd - 3rd Rd and I'd rather not spend that high of a pick but he's got a good all-around game. A little shiftier when running routes than Henry IMO and more athletic, able to make difficult catches.

I think we can give Scooby a 4.8 now since that is what he ran at his Pro Day. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-dra...arizona-pro-day He fits in the same mold with Matekevich, they might as well be twins: Matakevich 6'0" 238lbs, 4.81 forty, 2.80 20yd, 1.66 10yd, 22 reps @ 225lbs, vertical 31" broad 9'4", shuttle 4.50 Wright 6'0" 239lbs, 4.80 forty, 2.82 20yd, 1.67 10yd, 22 reps @ 225lbs, vertical 31" broad 9'5", shuttle 4.47

True but Alexander, Apple, and Jackson III fit his press cover style better.

Sam is a good guy but I think this falls into the category where the agent calls the team, and team takes a no risk deal. That's all good I just hope we get some fast competition for edge rusher into camp.

If correct, we should be keeping a close eye on Sean Davis once we get to the 3rd/4th Rd: 6'1" 4.46 forty Played Safety and CB No doubt Jalen Ramsey is at the top of Fangio's board.

Definitely worthwhile signing for competition at the bottom of the roster. Whatever happened to Bruton?

I'm surprised too. I have to wait to see what his Hill's contract and cap hit is for 2016.

This is from the WTF department: 3/25: Laquon Treadwell said that the Bengals, Browns, Bears and Cowboys have shown the most interest in him. - Read more at http://www.walterfootball.com/nflrumors/te...J3yVQJggMKyL.99 The only thing I can think is that the Bears are keeping open the option to trade Jeffrey. For this to work they'd have to get a high 1st Rd pick. Can also be a little strategy toward getting Jeffrey to sign the deal on the table. Anyone else got any ideas on why we'd waste time on this smoke screen?

He knows what he is (see video). We know what he is. Let's make it happen. http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/nfl-draft-...lb-dadi-nicolas

No doubt he outperformed Mariani as a KR. I didn't see him outperform Mariani as a slot WR, plus there is the simple fact that Deonte can't catch punts. Last year Deonte admitted he wasn't too confident on punts. Touchbacks have now been moved to the 25yd line. That makes life much tougher for a guy like Deonte to make a roster solely as a KR. If he wants a job he'll have to show up elsewhere as a slot WR or PR (not too likely if he can't catch the ball) and maybe as as special teams gunner. IMO there is no way Fox keeps him around just to return kicks.

I liked Thompson and felt that he did some nice things in the passing game considering he was added to the roster so late in the year. With a full offseason to learn the offense I can see him challenging Mariani for a spot as KR/Slot WR.

At first I wasn't sure which way they'd go but now I'm starting to agree with you that the Saints aren't that interested in Hill. If they felt Hill could be the move TE for them running routes down field they'd have signed him to a new deal for something far less than what Fleener got. Instead they went after Fleener with a big contract and they also went after Hoomanawanui early in FA. It might have been a case where they threw a low contract at Hill early and when he said no they went after Hoomanawanui who took a deal worth ~$1mil/yr with $1mil guaranteed. Either way Hill wasn't valued to the tune of multiple millions per year when they had the cash and roster spot available. If, as someone else stated earlier, the Saints prefer to keep 1 TE in to block while the other works down field then they now have their top 2 TEs. With so little cap space and so many needs on defense they will either stick with their practice squad players to see who earns a spot, draft a TE late, or search for a vet on a min contract later in FA. Hill's best value to them was as a special teams player and they have a number of cheaper ways to fill that spot.

Josh Hill is a better receiver than I thought. Now I'm even more curious about his lack of production.

Hill is more athletic than I expected. Now how well can he catch? Run routes? I would have expected him to shine a bit more in their offense last year so something is missing. Or did they just stick with Ben Watson because Brees was comfortable with him?

We have something like $70mil in cap space next year so they can make it work if they choose to. I agree that it makes more sense to build with the youth in the draft rather than be saddled with a very high priced DT. There is just no way Wilkerson is signing for less than Malik Jackson so you're looking at $100mil with a lot more guaranteed than the $42mil Jackson got. For that money we'll get several good players.

Yes, listening to the description on TV it sounded as if cut blocks were illegal, and they showed cut blocks on the edge while talking about it.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000064...for-2016-season I think this is good for the game and will change the game. It is common to get a chop block on the outside when a team wants a quick WR screen or inside slant. This should increase chances of getting to the QB too because OTs who get beat to the edge can't dive out there to take out the legs of the DE or LB. I expect some linemen will struggle with this and some RBs who like to dive into the knees of oncoming defenders instead of squarely taking on the player.

Lots of press conferences recently so this seems as good a place as any for some news items: http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1...0c-a047ca95c992 It's time to run... "Dowell [Loggains] has done a good job of identifying traits that we're looking for offensively in each player and we felt that Bobby matched those traits for a right tackle. We want somebody that's tough and very strong and physical in the run game and has the size to do that, and Bobby definitely has that. Kyle has position flexibility, so now he goes back to guard and we're rolling." On Zach Miller: Why do I sense a little dig on Martellus Bennett here? "When we talk about the kind of teammates that we want here, Zach embodies that to a tee with his work ethic, his preparation and his attitude. He's just a pleasure to have in the building, and it's infectious just being around him. In addition to that, his game elevated last year. Credit him for staying healthy and doing all the little things and being proactive with injury prevention. We expect a big season from Zach. He's going to excel in this offense and we're really excited to have him back." On Alshon: "We know we have an extended period of time to continue to negotiate with him, and that's what's happening. The conversations have been cordial and productive, and they'll continue. I know Alshon's working hard and he's training and we're communicating with him on that. Everything's been going well." From the Moon: http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/bears-mass...en-extend-draft "rush linebacker Pernell McPhee is targeting a lower weight as a means of increasing his speed and decreasing strain on his injured left knee, repaired with a scope procedure this offseason." Dline in the draft: Seems we're taking a DT early. I wouldn't be surprised if we shopped Will Sutton during the draft to see if we can get a late Rd pick. Top 5 Dline: Goldman, Hicks, Ferguson, Unrein, Sutton but then there is competition among C. Washington who figures to be better pass rusher than Sutton, Terry Williams who figures to be a better NT than Sutton. Put a rookie in the middle of that and Sutton quickly drops off. “There’s talent there but it’s also a deep position in the draft,” Pace said on Tuesday during the NFL owners meetings. “So it’s a spot when we talk about improving our defense, it’s an area where we can make quick improvement.” Lamaar Houston is not going anywhere: “We feel good about Lamarr,” Pace said. “He came on strong. Luckily we’re in a healthy cap situation so we can [stay with him]. Those guys are hard to find. I think the playoffs were an example of pass rush and having a strong pass rush, and the more we have of those guys, the better. So we’re comfortable with where he’s at.”

Everyone sounds confident the deal will get done with Jeffrey. I'd say this is more about the players behind Jeffrey and White. Eddie Royal isn't going anywhere this year but next year his departure would free up $5mil in cap space. I also think there is little confidence in Marquess Wilson and anyone behind him. If we trade back it is possible Coleman is BPA and Fox said they wanted to get more speed on the roster. In a trade back scenario I would think a CB or DT is more likely the pick. It's also possible he falls into the 2nd Rd.

Overthecap has the Saints with just $267,000 in cap space but either way they have little wiggle room. They are renegotiating Brees' contract and that will free up a lot of money, perhaps $10mil (reduce cap hit from $30mil to $20mil). However, they still need their rookie pool money. If they get Brees' deal done they can match but assuming the Bears put a spoiler into Hill's contract offer with a lot of upfront roster bonus money that would likely mean a backup TE is their only remaining FA signing. I find it hard to believe that would be their biggest remaining FA priority right after they just signed Fleener. Plus they've been seeking visits with some DTs recently. http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2016/...ades_to_sa.html And at the moment the Brees' deal doesn't look close to being done: http://blogs.theadvocate.com/blackandgold/...done-this-year/