BearSox

I know, it goes against the JA we know of stock-piling draft picks, but a trade like this makes perfect sense. We have an extra 3rd rounder, and OT is by far our biggest need. We have a good history of dealing with Buffalo, and Buffalo would likely be glad to move down 3 spots. With the Broncos and Panthers both probably looking OLine, it is very safe to assume that all of Albert, Williams, and Clady will be gone by 14. And it is very possible Mendenhall is gone by then as well. So, that leaves us with either a trade down, Otah, who the bears are said to have very little interest in, or Cherilus. As for a trade down, I don't really see any good trade partners any earlier then Jacksonville at 26, but then there is no guarantee if either Otah or Cherilus will be there. I used to think Cherilus would be a late first rounder for sure, but his stock has skyrocketed recently and I wouldn't be surprised if he passed up Otah. And if trade down and miss out on the top 6 OLinemen in this draft, the whole draft is a waste, IMO. If things pan out like I see, we can either take Cherilus at 14 who is a very good player in his own right and can be a solid RT for many years. Or, we can spare our late 3rd rounder, move up 3 spots, and snag a franchise LT. The choice is simple, IMO.

Well, it is all possible that Mendenhall is gone before 14 to either to Cincinnati or Denver, and I don't see the team having much interest in Stewart. I think all this Mendenhall talk is mainly in part due to the hometown connection and Turner connection. And I am so freaking sick of seeing Baker's name thrown around for us. How exactly does Baker fit our system? The only way Baker plays tackle in the NFL is in a ZBS system. Granted our system is some-what similar to a ZBS, we still require more physical guys to man the line, especially outside.

I don't know if you've noticed, but the top 4 offensive line prospects in this draft are all legit top 10 talents.

Here is an interesting quote from Jerry Angelo back when he was just a scout... add that quote with this one... And it all makes sense.

the way I see it going down up to our pick (I'll add more later this week) 1. Dolphins - LT Jake Long, Michigan While they have many needs, no one really jumps out here. Gholston and Chris Long are great players, but none can make the impact that Jake Long can make for them. It all starts with the OLine, and this is, IMO, the smartest way to rebuild. 2. Rams - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio St. Word is that the Rams love this guy, and he fixes a huge hole on their D by providing them with an elite pass rusher. You can make a case for Long, but I think they will go for the immense potential of Gholston. 3. Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU The Falcons would love to get Jake Long here, but since they won't, the'll go with their next target, Glenn Dorsey. They are reportedly in love with Dorsey, and this pick makes sense with their new defensive orriented coach. 4. Raiders - DE Chris Long, Virginia How about that, Howie's son gets drafted by the same team his dad was a HOF'er for. We all know how Oakland likes those physical freaks, but no one else comes to mind here besides Long. They already have good depth at RB and signed Fargas, so no to McFadden. Their biggest need right now is DLine and someone who can rush the passer. It makes almost too much sense, IMO. *TRADE* Ravens move up to no. 5 overall to secure Matt Ryan 5. Ravens - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College The Chiefs will most definitely look to trade down here with both of their key targets gone. The Ravens are said to be in love with Matt Ryan, and giving up an extra pick to secure their target will be worth it in their minds. 6. Jets - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Thomas Jones has regressed, and while they have Leon Washington (who isn't a full time back) and other needs, McFadden provides them with an instant impact on offense. *TRADE* Saints move up to no. 7 overall to pounce on Sedrick Ellis 7. Saints - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC Patriots are loaded and they are most likely looking to trade down from this spot. The Saints biggest need on D right now is DT, and they address with Ellis. They move up here to prevent Ellis from getting snatched right before them by the Bengals. 8. Chiefs - OL Branden Albert, Virginia The Chiefs address their biggest need, OLine. They are looking to go back to the mauler days like when they had Roaf and Shields. In fact, if they also make the Allen trade with the Vikings, they can adress CB or even OLine again with no. 17 overall. 9. Bengals - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois If Ellis were here, he'd be a slam dunk pick. But, he isn't. That leaves them with 3 options, trade down, Mendenhall, or Rivers. I don't see a trade down, and while LB and defense in general is probably a bigger need for them, they have been said to really like Mendenhall and Rudi has been slowing down. I think instead of trying to make the weakness a little better, they will instead try and make their strength even stronger. Afterall, if the Bengals beat you, it will be with their offense. 10. Patriots - CB Mike Jenkins, Central Florida While Leodis McKelvin might be the better prospect, I think Jenkins fits in what the Patriots are looking for more so. They can't go wrong either way. *TRADE* Bears move up to 11 to fill their biggest need, LT 11. Bears - LT Ryan Clady, Boise St. While it is not Jerry Angelo's M.O. to trade up, this is something he has got to do. The difference would be our late 3rd round selection, and both the Bears and Bills have a history of dealing with each other. With the two teams ahead of us (Denver and Carolina) likely to look at LT, it is doubtfull that either one of Williams or Clady will be there at 14. On the flipside, the Bills are looking at WR, and both their targets of Sweed and Thomas should still be there at 14. Ryan Clady is probably the best pure LT in this draft, and he starts at LT right away with Tait shifting to RT.

I think the safeties we currently have on the roster will be the ones we open up with... with Manning being demoted to bench and and Brown being named the starter at FS, it seems likely it will be an open competition for SS between McGowan, Payne, and Archuletta. If we had no intention of keeping Arch, I would think he'd would have been long gone by now. And we all know McGowan and Payne are going to make the team. If we add any help, it will be some project in the 7th round and be a possibly PS guy.

Albert has been getting some serious looks from the Chiefs I've read. They don't think Clady can fit their scheme either. Also, the Panthers have been pretty high on Albert as well. So... Clady won't make it past the Broncos. If the Chiefs can't trade down I think they go with Albert. That then leaves Williams and Otah. Williams would probably be the pick for Carolina, so that leaves Otah, in terms of OLinemen. And from what I've read, the Bears have very little interest in Otah. So, if Mendenhall is there, odds are he's the pick. However, hopefully if the top OLinemen are gone, we can trade down. I like Mendenhall, but I think spending a 1st rounder a RB when we have so many other needs is stupid. With that being said, there's a 95% chance Clady won't be at 14, so I went with Albert (who has a better shot, IMO, of being there). We could possibly trade up with lets say Buffalo for Clady if he's there at 11, but it really isn't JA's style to trade up. The Thomas Jones trade doesn't really count either, as I think the whole intention of that trade was to eventually trade down anyway... unless someone we couldn't pass up was there.

exactly. We keep spots on the team for special teamers. Also, there's no need for two FB's. If we draft Forte, he could play a little FB if McKie gets injured... Plus, FB is not that hard of a position to find a decent replacement for McKie if he gets injured. You can find decent guys off of the street, or through signing someone off of another teams practice squad.

I saw Kreutz mentioned, and while he did play bad last year, you have to remember that he had to block his guy, and the LG's guy for a lot of the season with Brown playing with only one arm, and Metcalf sucking.

I think he wrote it.

Duh, they were drafted early in the 1st round

I'm sorry if teams don't want players on their team BREAKING THE LAW. Smoking weed is harmless, eh... well, to get that weed, you are probably giving money to some drug dealer. Plus, weed is widely considered a starter drug. So what is stopping them from taking some blow next time they feel like getting high? I have no problem with teams not wanting a player with possible drug problems, even if only weed... after all, they are getting tons of guaranteed money.

well, when you look at that draft, Benson was probably our best option.

I'd take Forte over both of Charles and Johnson. Forte's ability to be an all around back makes him a better fit, IMO.

one team I can see drafting Mendenhall early is the Bengals... if both Dorsey and Ellis are off the board, they could very well shift their attention to RB.

now, I hate trying to act like a mod... but is it really necessary to have two separate Lienart threads, especially in the Bears section?

well, if the Raiders draft McFadden, that is a definite possibility. However, I doubt the Raiders look RB since they just signed Fargas and still have Rhodes, Jordan (he's still a ?, but if they were planning on cutting him he would have been cut by now), and Bush (who is said to completely healed). I just have a real hard time seeing them drafting a RB. If they let Fargas go, yeah sure, but they didn't let him walk away.

Manning actually finished up the season at FS very good. McGowan was good as well, but I feel he is more suited for a backup/situational/special teams role. And I doubt Payne is anything more then a special teamer/backup. I was never really impressed with his play at SS. Well, if Brown and McGowan are the starting safeties, we have arguably the most fragile safety duo in the NFL. Also, you have to question how much speed Brown has lost...

sometime in the 4-6 range, but he seems like the type some team falls in love with and then and drafts earlier then most (fans and experts) expect.

one guy that I have become very interested in has been Kerry Brown. I noticed him a bit in the App St. victory over Michigan, but he has really caught my eye again... here is a brief scouting video of him: http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/draftguys...g?autoplay=true

from what I've heard, the Chiefs have very little interest in Clady as they don't think he fits their system, which is very understandable, and they are actually more interested in Otah and Albert. Of course the Chiefs would love to trade down if Long is gone, but if they can't I could see them taking either Albert or Otah. They might not be worth the no. 5 overall pick, but neither was Levi Brown last year.

Now, the big decision here is do we trade down with someone like Jacksonville and get that extra 2nd rounder and take Cherilus who would likely be the safer choice who could start right away, or do we stay put and go for the upside Albert can bring?

Odds are that Bradley will start for us alongside Booker. Hester will be the 3rd receiver most likely.

Albert would be a perfect fit. Could start at LG for a year or two, and then eventually take over at LT for Tait. St. Clair would likely get the RT job though, but we could draft someone to give him some competition.