AZ54

Because if you are committed to this plan meaning you will trade up no matter what for this player you want (or more likely one of two or three players), then they think they can get a better deal now versus waiting to negotiate during the draft. Lots of teams want to trade down like the Bears so why not start negotiating? Can you always complete a trade in 10 min? A lot of trade talks fall apart under the time limits of the draft. Since nobody knows who they want or what position it places a huge wild card in front of every team. While we see lots of team wanting to trade down there are a handful that might trade up. It's a buyers market why not be the first buyer? The Falcons were one play short of making it to the Superbowl and they have a lot of picks so in their mind they are very close and one missing piece might put them over the top.

I don't see Carimi as a lock. He's listed as a backup OG right now behind Brown and Slauson. They continue to bring in competition for backup OG in Britton and I have no reason to think there won't be another body competing at OG after the draft. I can't see that they are that satisfied with Brown/Carimi as a lock to be a starter when they haven't seen either in pads blocking someone this year.

....and yet no reports from mini-camp about where Rodriguez is lining up? Maybe I missed it.

....and yet no reports from mini-camp about where Rodriguez is lining up? Maybe I missed it.

That would be a good draft.

I thought he was a 2-3rd Rd pick?

I think we could get Brown at 50.

I don't want Brown in the first either. Should be someone rated far higher available and we have plenty of need positions. I've seen some lists that don't even have Brown as a top 50 player.

Not all Oline issues: “When you get in the game, sometimes you get flustered, and things get thrown out the window. But it’s a difficult thing to call plays and call the correct plays.”

I'm not as high on Fluker as others are for the same concerns...his pass protection ability. I know he won't get bull rushed like Carimi was last year so that's one plus but protecting the edge is a legit concern in his draft profile. Trufant is a lightweight. He can't be very physical because he's not very big. He will not be a very good tackler but that could change over the years as he bulks up. In coverage though he's very fluid and can run fast. I think Trufant is worth taking a couple spots later but then again CBs who can cover are very valued in this league. From that list I'm taking Ogletree. I do think he'd end up starting at SLB this season. If DJ Williams plays well and we sign him for a couple more years I can see these two switching positions one year down the road.

Is Eifert the best rumor we could generate to help motivate someone to trade up with us? I didn't realize the flexibility we have with Bennett's contract. OTOH adding Eifert definitely rounds out the TE situation for years to come, which I like. I just don't like the holes it leaves us at LB and potentially OG for years to come. I say potential because as already stated above, we just have no clue what the coaching staff thinks of the remaining RT competition and/or Carimi at OG. Brown as well. Looking at our roster it's hard to rule out a DT with our 1st pick. The only thing I feel confident in right now is that some player of very good value, if not a few, will be there for us when we pick at #20. So I'm not fixated on any position as I think Emery and (more likely) Lovie were last year. Hopefully Emery and Trestman stick to their BPA mantra.

Ogletree at #20 is my preference and if he's drafted I expect he'll challenge for the starting job at SLB. I like Brown but he's more of a 2nd Rd pick for me. I like the Missouri LB as well in the 3rd. Seems like he was too much of a playmaker for him to last until our 4th Rd pick.

Clearly they know the names so all the GMs know who it was as well. With one guy labeled a "potential" first round pick it has to be someone who is late first round. Since this is the area we will be drafting in I'm wondering who this was. Any ideas? http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Su...Blitz-9661.html *NFL teams still were trying to find out about an incident in which a hotel room at the combine was trashed, apparently by two players who were staying there. One of the players is a potential first round draft pick, and the incident could affect both players’ stock. Front office men hoped to speak with one of the players about it at his pro day, but the player curiously made himself unavailable to talk.

Things are a bit slow as we wait on the draft. I found this article on Favre's last hit and thought some others might like to read it. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-f...ded-his-career-

Apparently nobody is arguing about him anymore: http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Friday...k-and-more.html *From what we’ve heard, there has been very little interest in quarterback Jamarcus Russell, and it seems unlikely at this point that he’ll get another chance. The biggest issue is Russell still is overweight and out of shape. His lack of discipline and conditioning is what derailed his NFL career in the first place, and the fact that he hasn’t changed his habits tells NFL front office men he hasn’t learned anything. But at least J'Marcus has solid goals for his comeback as he stated he "wants to sit on that bench behind the starter".

They freely admit it's hard to pick what starter means. I think they've done a good job of giving a reasonable definition to it by making it for 5 years. My remark about Jacksonville having 22 starters is just because I've seen so many below average players hang around as starters. Years ago I read some scout of front office personnel person said the league is really about blue chip players. I now lean more toward that way of thinking. Every team has it's "starters" or as Bill Parcells said JAGs (Just Another Guy). Add in a couple blue chip players to the mix like a young Urlacher and it dramatically changes things. Scheme and coaching are what you need to keep the JAGs above average productive. New England is a great example because you have blue chip Brady and a few other good players (Welker) plus some JAGs. How many players left their system and didn't put up the same numbers? Or didn't even look like the same player? So 5 yr starter means something but the draft is where you need to find some elite talent. Picking later in the first round doesn't mean it can't happen and I'd say Ozzie Newsome is one of the best at this. Ed Reed 24th overall. Ray Lewis 26th overall. Terrell Suggs 10th overall (when many said he was too slow). Right now Emery's first draft doesn't overwhelm with potential for the future beyond saying there might some 5 yr starters.

Are you talking about his boner or the draft picks?

I think at some point the Bears did interview Ogletree...maybe at the combine. So there has been interest just odd that the LB who is typically ranked as a top 50 player but not top 30, Arthur Brown has been linked to the Bears in Rd 1 so often. I'm referring to media reports of player interest but if I consider the mock drafts, the majority have us taking Ogletree (if they have us taking a LB). Regarding McClellin and rumors last year I believe we started hearing some rumors about him during the last week. I had completely ignored him up until that time and at that time I started reading some draft profiles of him which left me thinking ...nah, only if we trade down.

Exactly why there are always some trades. I just don't see it being a big year for it. The other concern, more of a concern considering our position of needing more picks, is that if this is a buyers market (trade up with many teams wanting to trade down) then we won't get as much value for our pick. If the trade value isn't there I'd prefer Emery to stay at #20 and take BPA.

On this I agree and #20 makes a lot of sense for teams to move up out of the second to get their QB. But there is that issue of will they feel like taking that risk and might it be better to trade back in the first round (i.e. AZ drop back from 7 to 12) and grab the QB. Gotta figure in the usual GMs on the hot seat versus GMs that are new and have time.

Am I the only one more interested in what we're not saying or doing? All sorts of rumors about Arthur Brown, Te'o, now Ertz pops up out of nowhere after we spent a small fortune on a TE. We've even had some rumors of CBs. Few rumors of OG, lots of silence on Ogletree despite all the mocks that have us taking him. Since we are being open about trying to trade down I look at most of these rumors as being what we might do if we trade back to late first round or even early second. Most of what I see in the last week doesn't make sense at #20 (Ertz?) IMO.

I think we just go with where the Bears pick otherwise the "what ifs' open the door for lots of variations. You know how our debates go.....should Webb stay or should he go now.... I'm good with Jason's idea. We all submit the names, debate it and narrow it down to 3 choices. Not sure we'll ever agree to just 3 choices so I tend to think that'll take a couple votes, or some longer debates.

Yes everyone wants to trade down but in this not-so-talented but deep and balanced draft who wants to trade up? For who? I've read more about the teams that like QBs might as well take them in the 1st round. Are they worth the value of the pick? No but they might not be there when you get to your second round pick? So trade up from the second and grab your QB. Why? Isn't it better to grab the QB in Rd 1 and then your Oline, WR, or whatever in Rd 2 and 3? Yes there will be trades but I think it's going to be hard to find trading partners and so that will make it more of a buyers (moving up) market. Fact is things have changed now that their are salary slots for the rookies so the risk/reward of what teams pay a 1st Rd pick isn't as great. Plus, something I didn't know is that teams drafting a QB in Rd 1 (or any player) can keep them with an option for the 5th year. Gives you a little more time for these guys to develop before that next big contract. Players worth trading up for are the top 3 OTs. Beyond that who or what position? I suspect there will be some trades for QBs in the late first but can't see teams giving up a lot to go get any of these guys. I can see some trades similar to what we did last year trading up just 5 picks to grab Alshon Jeffrey but that doesn't generate an extra early round pick. There might be some interest in some of the early defensive players too. Then again, draft day always has some interesting twists! For the moment for the first time in years I'm comfortable saying we won't be picking a S in the 3rd Rd.

All I can say to that is: Jacksonville has 22 starters on their roster.

It doesn't change our approach, we will base our picks on where the Bears draft, including any trades up or down during the draft. We'll just evaluate the players available at that pick and then vote for our draftee. Is there a site with a player ranking system we can all agree is worth using, at least as a basis for starting the discussion of who should be our top 5 or so for voting on our draft pick? Or do we just open the discussion for everyone to submit player names and state their case for those players? Like I said, I can see these debates taking place over a few days as we all have jobs/family and will need time to get everyone's input, as well as for some of us who aren't avid draftniks (like me) to do a bit of research. I think it is very fair for people to try to persuade others to their side. Then gather all the names and make the poll with them? Perhaps we do a couple rounds of voting to narrow down the choices? Again first round is easier but later rounds it gets more challenging as you have more prospects with similar grades. In reality this is how teams build their draft boards and coaches and scouts gather together and give input on the various players. We're going to have the same debates via the message board but on a much more limited scale since we're just looking at the players who were actually available for a known draft spot.