jason

Why would the Bears need two ILBs? Freeman was nasty this year. One of the best ILBs in the NFL. And Trevathan still isn't lost for 2017. Throw in Kwiatkowski's promise, and I don't see a reason to do anything other than bolster the position with depth. If they know Trev is out, then it becomes a potential concern.

Something like this? 1. Malik Hooker, S, OSU 2. Adoree Jackson, CB, USC 3. Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple 4. Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell 4. Obi Melifonwuo, S, UCONN 5. Chad Kelly, QB, MISS 7. Kenny Kolladay, WR, NIU

Which position/area would you like the Bears to focus a little more love on? Or, put another way, which position/area could the Bears draft multiple players and get your support? Two at QB, WR, OT, CB, S? What about three for the secondary? With all the talk about S in the first, I was wondering if the tolerance level had risen to where a surplus would be accepted. I think I would be OK with a draft that went extra heavy in the secondary. Find a problem, address the problem. Period. 1. Malik Hooker, S, OSU 2. Adoree Jackson, CB, USC 3. Jordan Leggett, TE, CLEM 4. Damontae Kazee, CB, SDST 4. Obi Melifonwuo, S, UCONN 5. Chad Kelly, QB, MISS 7. Kenny Kolladay, WR, NIU

That would be an interesting approach. I don't know how I'd feel about trading back into the first that high - you showed the cost - but I could see it happening because of the value placed on QBs.

Allen didn't really drop that much. He just put a few secondary players in between. I obviously prefer Allen over those secondary guys, but wouldn't be upset with the pick either way. I just don't want QB at #3, because I don't think they're worth the #3. I like most of his rankings as well, because he has the QBs less inflated than others.

The major difference between a place-holder veteran like Schaub and Cutler is the money. Schaub likely gets $2-$3M per year. Cutler likely gets three times that amount.

The point to it all is, if unknowns are going to be brought in at high cost, it makes more sense to spend very little and get a known quantity. There's virtually no risk. No huge upside, but he's definitely better than Hoyer, Barkley, or Shaw.

1. Assume the QBs fly off the chart before most believe they're graded. 2. This year's crop of QBs are all questionable. 3. Bears skip QB at 3. 4. Tons of defensive talent in this draft. 5. The Bears will need a placeholder instead of Hoyer & Barkley. I present to you, Matt Schaub, ladies and gentlemen. Neither Garrapalo nor Glennon has shown production and consistency in the NFL. Schaub has. Also, Schaub won't cost an arm and a leg. To get the shot of starting - after sitting behind rookie phenom Carr, then Flacco, then Ryan - would be a huge bonus to him. Not to mention the fact he won't cost any draft picks. There is virtually no uncertainty about him. Everyone knows, including him, that he's a place-holder until the 2018 draft where one of the following QBs are likely available: Sam Darnold, QB, USC Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming I like that approach a lot better when you consider the talent the Bears could get this year. And if it worried the Bears' front office too much, they could use one of the 4th rounders on a developmental QB...like they should have last year.

There was one year when everyone talked about Rodgers having a porous line, but that has definitely not been consistent. He often has high sack numbers because, as you said, he holds the ball an exaggerated length of time. He extends the plays. The problem is, he's often allowed to extend the plays because the OL holds. Also, I heard the "most physically talented QB" thing on Mike and Mike this morning, and don't agree. There have been multiple who have been more physically talented: Vick, Cunningham, Young. Even his combine numbers weren't physically amazing. Where Rodgers excels is he's one of the most well-rounded QBs - in terms of physical ability, mental acumen, feel for the game, accuracy, etc. - that maybe we've ever seen.

Agree. Virtually everything says that trading for JG would be a big mistake. I just don't understand how people are willing to give up significant draft picks - picks the Bears need - to a team that is largely thought of as the smartest franchise in the NFL, with an aging QB, that felt the need to draft a third string QB when a journeyman would have done just fine, that has shown a history of sending off their fool's gold QBs to other teams, for an apparently dispensable backup.

I agree with just about the entire article, including the OTs. The starters are subpar at best. It would be nice one year to see our QB, whoever it is, stand in the pocket forever like Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady seem to always do. Protection has a lot to do with QB production. Having said that, I don't see how OT could be drafted in rd 1 & 2, considering the defensive depth in this draft.

What I'm sick of is the obvious favoritism he gets via his OL play. I have never seen an OL hold more and not get called for it. There is a reason every broadcast has someone saying "Rodgers has all day back there!" His line is holding the shit out of the D, and there rarely seems to be a call.

The Bears were 12th in the league with 37 sacks, yet somehow they were last in the league in takeaways. That tells me there were several coverage sacks, and a lot of opportunities missed. With multiple key contributors missing for the entire year, that no doubt affected the results. Floyd, Goldman, and McPhee playing the entire year likely means at least 5 more sacks, which puts the Bears at a tie for 3rd in the NFL. If the Bears were healthy, however, I don't think they would have had that many more takeaways. Other guys missed some time as well, but none of them appear to be the game-changer takeaway guys the Bears need. Let's assume full health next year. That means Kyle Fuller is playing for his life and hopefully does better, and the collection of LBs (especially Trevathan) put in a bit better work. But the Bears still probably need someone to catch those INTs. Because of that, I'm steering more towards the idea that the Bears need 3-4 secondary players in FA or in the draft. FAs - 1. Eric Berry - Do everything to get Eric Berry. Hookers, condos, deep-dish, add in incentives and bonuses, let him choose a retired number, absolutely everything to get him. 2. Riley Reiff - He fills a need, he's one of the best available, he's still relatively young, and is better than either OT on the Bears. Added bonus: poaching within the division. 3. A J Bouye or Malcolm Butler - This is Kyle Fuller insurance. Fuller, Bouye, and Butler are all probably #2 CBs, and could start if the Bears couldn't get a lockdown #1 CB in the draft. Draft 1. MG or JA - Either one transforms the Bears Defense when they replace Unrein, who is a place-holder and backup. Adding Myles Garrett or Jonathan Allen as the DE in the 1st adds sacks, minimizes the pocket time of opposing QBs, and increases the chances for INTs. 2. Lock-down CB - I'm sold on the idea that CBs with potential in this class are thin after the 2nd round. One must be grabbed fairly early. There are multiple there, and I think I prefer Desmond King at this spot, but if we were going with my philosophy of needing play-makers, , despite me not being his biggest fan (see above), might be the best bet. There is no denying he is an explosive, ball-hawk CB. Also, he doesn't quite pose the "super athlete"-enigma that Jabrill Peppers poses (e.g. Devin Hester). Jackson has always been a CB, who just happens to be such a great athlete that they get him some snaps on O & ST. He'd likely be in the kick return mix as well. 3. Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson - I like him or Evan Engram here. I think either is a future pro-bowler, but Legget's size is hard to ignore. He would be a great weapon for a young QB. 4. Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina - The Bears need sure hands. Few hands are surer than Switzer's. He immediately fills Eddie Royal's disappointing and likely departure. He also competes with Adoree Jackson for kick return duties. He becomes the young QB's security blanket. This is also somewhat hedging the bets on needing sure-handed guys since Kevin White is an unknown, and Alshon is likely gone IMO. There will be a lot of short passing and running, which is fine because it fits the defense-first team well. 4. Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss - Speaking of young QBs, here he is. This guy is still probably the best on-field QB in the draft. His ACL injury will drop him in the draft, and he was already going to drop because of his off-field personality. I've been on record many times saying I don't care about that stuff much. He's a leader in the same way McMahon was a leader. 5. - He has 15 INTs in the last two years, with , and is a very willing tackler. After someone on the board mentioned him a while back, I've done some research. He seems to win every 50/50 ball, has good route anticipation, and destroys plays on the edge. He comes in like a strong safety just itching to blow up RBs on sweeps and WRs on screens. He should be getting more love. He may go earlier than this. 7. Weston Steelhammer, SS, Air Force - With his size, stats, and production, I don't know why he's not getting more love. Last year I called out Kwiatkowski as a guy I thought should be getting more pub. This year I'm about to get on board the Steelhammer train. Great name, tackling machine, rangy in pass defense, great hands, and a rare ball-hawk at SS. Being from a military academy means virtually no character concerns. I wouldn't be surprised if this 7th rounder beats someone out for a position.

The 5T in a 3-4 formation is traditionally lined up on the outside shoulder of an OT. Nose over some call it, meaning the DE's nose is over the OT's outside shoulder. Some schemes call on that DE to blast straight into the OT, being responsible for the B-Gap and C-Gap, which I think Garrett can do. Doing that too often would be a mismanagement of his skill-set, however. A lot of time the 5T in a 3-4 is responsible for blasting the outside edge of the OT and helping to collapse the pocket. But there seems to be a growing trend in the NFL from what I've seen (I don't have data on it), that the more athletic guys in that position are being lined up a bit wider (6T=head up with the TE & 7T=D-Gap outside the TE) and being used to simply go after the QB from as wide a position possible. This collapses the pocket, and gives the DE more momentum for contact/bull-rush, but it has - what I believe is the increase - the flexibility of using the DE and the OLB interchangeably in zone-blitz packages.

I think the general thought is that they are an atrocious team gaining (multiplying?) a reputation as league-wide joke, losing some of their fan-base support, and are in a unique position of having not only the #1 pick overall, but also another high 1st rounder. All of that creates a situation where they could reinvigorate the franchise by grabbing two blue-chips without sacrificing much.

Technically, the 5T is the edge-setter, but I understand what you're saying. Personally, I think he can play either 1 or 2-gap 5T. He can be the 2-gap 5T because of the strength you alluded to, which is only going to get better with NFL technique, coaching, and additional strength. His freak athleticism could put him at the 1-gap 5T. I think he could do well as an OLB in a 3-4, just like you. The Bears, however, currently need a 5T more, and since the 5T lines up outside the tackle, it's perfect for his skill set. I hate to even link it, but if he were drafted, I'd want to see a spike in the 6T or 7T usage like JJ Watt (similar size/skillset) has in this PFF breakdown.

Personally, I don't like it. Either they report facts or they are opinion-based. They should stick to the facts. The article would have been better if they had discussed the inadequacies the Bears had at WR due to injury, and what Rueben Randle brings to the table. Additionally, they could have delved into the reasons for his departure from previous teams.

I predict Pace doesn't buckle to the pressure of QB need, and goes with his general BPA philosophy. He's talked about BPA philosophy before, and it would serve him well. With that said, he grabs either Myles Garrett or Jonathan Allen, both of which would exponentially help the D. After that he adds a little more emphasis to QB, maybe even moving up to get the guy he wants.

Oh, Myles Garrett or Jonathan Allen are both 5T DEs in a 3-4. Make no mistake. As for what makes him special, well, what doesn't? He's a rare combination of strength, speed, size, athleticism, agility, etc. He's a He's double teamed all the time and still causes havoc. Check out some highlights or analysis (1B, 1C, 1D) and it's plainly apparent. I've even read where PFF (LOL) has all sorts of advanced metrics about pass rushing that makes a case for why he should have been considered for the Heisman. I leave you with a great highlight video:

He'd be a huge upgrade over Unrein, which would improve the DL, which would improve the pass rush, which would minimize the secondary's coverage time.

Are you serious? I've seen multiple. Hell, probably the most popular mock draft website has him in the 2nd. http://mail.walterfootball.com/draft2017_2.php

Nah, you're off. As far as I'm concerned, the Bears draft history allows us to critique the franchise heavily. And since none of our picks were made, we can't know if we would have done better. I'm convinced, however, that most on this board would have done better over the last 10+ years in the draft department. As for Bolles, I just am not fond of him. I think he's a bit overrated. For the record, the more I look at the DII TE, the more I'm intrigued. I'm also warming up to Adoree Jackson as a potential play-maker.

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. But the sure-fire way to fire up the fan-base is to draft offense, specifically the best QB (presumably) and best RB in the first round.

You want a complaint? I really dislike your draft. Literally every single pick.

I still don't want a QB at #3, but it does destroy my man-crush dreams of getting him in the 2nd round. I compared him to Cam Newton earlier, and that game solidified the comparison in terms of a dual-threat QB who is just dominating. He's the only QB to throw for 400+ yards in a national championship game, and he's done it twice in a row. What excites me about it, however, is the thought that everyone is going to blow up Trubisky, and the draft could start QB/QB. Please gimme some of that, because Myles Garrett has been #1 all along.