AZ54

I like the idea. With a 3-cone drill of 7.02 he's not very twitchy for dealing with NFL WRs. For a zone CB that's a bit less of a challenge. OTOH his straightline speed and willingness to close on the ball would serve him well at safety. This draft profile criticizes his lack of ball production but I can see that being a factor related to his agility... he's just not quick enough out of his cuts to arrive before the ball. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/terell-smith/3200534d-4973-9042-a2e5-7a611c3c3214

HIs last contract earned him $13mil/yr so I'm sure in his mind that's where the negotiations start. Post draft if he's lowered his price, perhaps to your $9mil target then I could see us willing to talk.

Do you agree with the sentiment that Dexter was on the field for too many snaps due to lack of depth on their roster and that is what led to some of his lackluster plays?

I hadn't thought about it but he does have very similar physical traits to Chris Jones. I wanted us to draft Jones in the 1st Rd years ago. If Eberflus can get Dexter anywhere close to that level we're in good shape for the future.

We could really use a decent backup OT. I doubt Leatherwood is the answer to that role. It's hard to say if Borom even makes the 53, that mostly depends on how well Carter does in camp. Eiselen is hanging around as well and got some chances late last year, Perhaps leatherwood competes at OG as well. I'd like to see another TE added too. I watched Allen enough in college to know I prefer not to rely on him. For both of those I'm certain Poles will be watching for some vets to get cut post draft. This is the first year in some time where the competition for the backup CBs will be tough. Could easily be the last we see of Vildor. Say what you will about him but if we're good enough to let a player with his experience leave we've taken a good step up. S....Can't say the same for Safety and that's another spot I'd like to see a vet FA brought in for competition. I like Hicks but he's just not athletic enough nor big enough to really handle that job. Ideally I'd like Hicks as a practice squad player we can bring up in needed. WR room now has actual depth and some realistic competition among Velus and Tyler Scott for what I'd guess are the same reps. ESB might find a role early but it also might not last all season if the rookie comes along quickly. I believe Velus will be better this year as well. RB... who stays, how many do we keep? Injuries usually play a role here but I have to think Roschon definitely has a job, along with Herbert. Are we keeping all 4 with Foreman and Homer? Ebner to practice squad? This UDFA RB Robert Burns we signed is a FB. I like Blasingame a lot but it'd be nice to have a decent backup FB on the practice squad. We'll see what he does in the preseason. FWIW drafting Roschon means this team clearly believes Herbert will always be a complementary piece. I agree. DT now has a lot of youth and inexperience. I think we're better but it also might not show up until the 2nd half of the season. Both Dexter and Pickens are in need of good coaching, and a desire and willingness to work to get better. There's a lot of potential in each of them but if they aren't up to speed we're stuck with Jones as a starter again and he's not built for that role. I'm really curious about the guy from Kennesaw just because Poles and Flus spoke so highly of him at the press conference and I can't find anything on him. I can't imagine he'll be competitive at the NFL level but I'd be happy to be proven wrong. I haven't said this in a long time but.... he'll actually be facing a good starting Oline in camp, if he gets reps against them, so we'll get an idea what he can do. LB...if Weatherford can improve enough to be a solid WLB backup we should be in good shape. Sanborn and Noah Sewell seem like they are cut from the same cloth. It's not bad to have football players like that on the roster but we do need at least one solid coverage LB to backup WLB or maybe MLB on 3rd and long.

All outward signs point to that injury being very severe. The fact they re-signed Payne and now want to dump him? That basically means they do not think he’ll help them win games this year. If he could they can find other ways to get similar trade value for him either mid season or next off season. Caveat Emptor 100%

At least with Poles the WTF moments come in Rd 7. I can't even find a highlight on this kid.

Meh, seems like a special teams player and maybe someone to compete at SLB. Ideally I'd like to see more upside here.

Gotta start with players still on the board: Kelee Ringo heads the list followed by those dudes below.. If the Bears want Tomi he's there for the taking. I think he's too similar to what we already have on the roster but don't mind at all if they take a chance on him. Other than him there isn't really anyone else standing out at the top of this list in terms of needs so a trade back seems appropriate if we have a good offer. DE is the obvious critical need but at this point in the draft the talent isn't there. Many of us have been clamoring for a new Center, myself included, but Greg Gabriel made a very good point after Rd 1 when he said with so many young and new players it's very important to have a veteran Center to lead the line. As far as he was concerned Whitehair/Patrick is the right way to go and he was even higher on Kramer for depth too. Makes me wonder if in fact we hold off for a year on Center? With those caveats it feels odd to say this but it's time to start building depth... at any position.... meaning we can literally go best available. With that, it will be very interesting to see who Poles selects.

AA is stuck in the middle as a tweener. I doubt we draft him to be an edge player but I could be wrong and we've already filled the DT spots.

Slow off the snap is just late reaction time, he's actually very quick for his size. I think he'll be the 3rd man in our Dline rotation likely seeing time at both spots. There's no way to know what he was taught in college but if our coaches can get him firing off the line at the snap he's going to be very disruptive. I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a starter by the end of the season.

Yes, still on the board are: Wypler, Stromberg, and Olu. https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/bestavailable/_/position/c

Yannick will have to dial down his price.

nah... Zacch Pickens DT. We are going to be much better up front this year but young.

Love him. Plays like a bull in a China shop He is pure traits player with a ton to learn. Hard to value where he’ll land.

I never watched anything on him but he seems like a good fit for what we need. I feel good about the secondary now.

And we just traded up?

I like his talent. He’s a beast when his motor is running. He’s going to need the coaches to get the motor running. Just like with Jalen Carter we’re trusting the interview process.

What I liked best about that workout when Wright was discussing it is that Wright came out and said that is how he wants to be coached. No complaining that it was tough, just give me more of it, make me better.

Poles was pretty clear that he might have to move up to get someone. I'm curious who that might be. Keion White or Keeanu Benton are the only players I can think of.

Doesn't bother me one bit. Best player on the board, best OT, top position of need. He can match Carter physically 1on1 and he's got the work ethic and football character you want in a top 10 pick. Poles knew it and didn't try to get cute or greedy and trade back hoping he'd still be there. The fact Skor went right after us at 11 tells us he was right.

This was the best film breakdown I found on Wright before the draft. Good analysis on pro's and con's and this guy watched every single snap of his in the 2022 season.

That's usually all I ever get, if that. It's all blind squirrel theory for me.

If you're still not sure watch this game against Georgia and you'll see some 1on1 blocks against Jalen Carter among other Georgia defensive talent.

Start your body count with these highlights... https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2023/4/27/23701805/2023-nfl-draft-chicago-chicago-bears-darnell-wright-film-study-scouting-report