ASHKUM BEAR Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 Article from the Windy City Gridiron states that the Bears have brought LSU edge rusher Arden Key in for a visit. I think if we do not draft edge Round 1, we will come looking for one in Round 2. https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/4/16/17245302/chicago-bears-arden-key-visits-draft-lsu-pass-rusher-pro-day-injuries-nfl-2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ54 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 I'm still not that high on him. Is he really going to be more dedicated to his craft when he's a millionaire? It's hard to see that happening. If we were adding him to a solid group and could take a chance it might be different but we must get it right on the OLB we draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASHKUM BEAR Posted April 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 13 minutes ago, AZ54 said: I'm still not that high on him. Is he really going to be more dedicated to his craft when he's a millionaire? It's hard to see that happening. If we were adding him to a solid group and could take a chance it might be different but we must get it right on the OLB we draft. It is hard to know what led him to leave the team, I am sure some NFL teams have an idea by now after researching him. His play did drop off too. He dealt with injury, weight loss, and played more in coverage which didn't help. If he can get back to the 2016 version, then he was a top 10 prospect, but you don't want a player that has any issues that takes him away from producing. If there are concerns about him being troubled, I am sure the Bears will stay away. They tend to go for high character football guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 As AZ said, if you are not motivated when you play, millions of dollars will only distract you more. That is what always gets GMs in trouble , trying to understand what is in a players head. See Ruebin Foster for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearFan PHX Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 I'm a no on Arden Key, Orlando Brown, Dex Bryant and Reuben Foster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ54 Posted April 17, 2018 Report Share Posted April 17, 2018 1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said: It is hard to know what led him to leave the team, I am sure some NFL teams have an idea by now after researching him. His play did drop off too. He dealt with injury, weight loss, and played more in coverage which didn't help. If he can get back to the 2016 version, then he was a top 10 prospect, but you don't want a player that has any issues that takes him away from producing. If there are concerns about him being troubled, I am sure the Bears will stay away. They tend to go for high character football guys It's hard to really know for sure but there are plenty of rumors out there about his drug addiction and going to rehab. https://www.secrant.com/rant/sec-football/arden-key/68713966/ https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2017/02/15/lsu-star-de-arden-key-taking-leave-football/9795989 http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2018/04/lsu_de_arden_key_wont_help_bei.html http://www.profootballweekly.com/2018/04/05/way-we-hear-it-concern-over-lsus-arden-key-starts-with-his-outside-influences/aekqxhp/ That kind of approach almost never works in this kind of scrutinizing climate. It turned out that Key's disappearance in the spring was to check himself into rehab for a marijuana problem, Pro Football Weekly reported. Key returned to school after the rehab and was suspended for another failed drug test. That part of the story wasn't as concerning to teams as another choice Key made while he was isolated from the team, the report stated. Against the words of his team doctors, Key had his shoulder operated on. The school later looked at the shoulder and determined it was not a successful surgery, per the report. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASHKUM BEAR Posted April 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Ouch, thanks for digging into. At least they brought him in to get a look at. That shoulder may drop him down to 3rd pr 4th rd. As for the marijuana, I wish they wouldn't use but these days you smell it everywhere and people are not as scared to use or have it. It is still against the NFL/College rules, so it shows the level of respect that was given. With seeing this, I definitely scratch him from my round 2 as I was already skeptical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZ54 Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 3 hours ago, ASHKUM BEAR said: Ouch, thanks for digging into. At least they brought him in to get a look at. That shoulder may drop him down to 3rd pr 4th rd. As for the marijuana, I wish they wouldn't use but these days you smell it everywhere and people are not as scared to use or have it. It is still against the NFL/College rules, so it shows the level of respect that was given. With seeing this, I definitely scratch him from my round 2 as I was already skeptical. It's not just smoking some marijuana. It's got to be really bad for a person to need help with an addiction. Beyond those concerns I just see him as a player who makes the easy plays. He rarely dominates the competition. Is that a result of his addiction issues hurting his desire? Perhaps. Assume he cleaned up before the 2017 season, and of course he also had that offseason shoulder surgery impacting his start to the 2017 season. But starting there and finishing the season, it is logical to assume if he's got his head on right that he's working full speed toward being a 1st Rd draft pick. Then he refused to work out at the Combine, followed by a 4.85 forty weeks later at his Pro Day. I'm not opposed to giving people second chances (so to speak since this is his first NFL draft), but for me these things all point to a guy who still doesn't have his act together. Or perhaps, as is his playing style, he simply does not love the game. Compare Key to someone like Josh Sweat who has worked very hard to recover from his knee injury and has outstanding athletic ability. I don't know the medical prognosis on Sweat's knee but assume it is decent enough that he'll play 4-5 years perhaps with some limited snaps as a 3rd down pass rusher. If I had to take a risk on one of these two players in Rd 2/3 I'd go with Sweat every time figuring I can at least get some exceptional play during his first contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Sweat is probably a 3rd or 4th round option with upside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 I still love Arden Key as a prospect. He's got some of the most explosive movement as an edge rusher in the draft. In fact, he might have the most prototypical combination of talents for 3-4OLB in the '18 draft. His problems definitely make him a worry, but I'd like him in the 2nd, and love him in the 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 Not only does he have a potential character issue, also he had should surgery last year from last year that affected how well he played on the field. He also has quickness but is not fact. He ran a 4.89 at his pro day, not in the elite class of OLBs. Not worth a 2nd round consideration but from the third or fourth round would be a good pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DABEARSDABOMB Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 The problem with Key is, if his character gets in the way, it could effect the rest of the team. So not only do you have the risk that the guy will just be a huge bust and get suspended a bunch / not play, he might also be just a bad role model to have around other players. I'd stay away in round 2...while the upside is there, possibility that we just "threw" the pick away is also high, imo. Especially since his past attempts to get himself right have failed. Adding in the pressure of the market, etc, and probability to get it right again seems low. Now if we are able to accumulate a few more draft picks, than I'd be open to taking a flyer or two like this (or an Orlando Brown) because you are ultimately better hedged. We don't have enough picks to just blindly throw darts at some high upside guys who have massive downsides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearFan PHX Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 1 hour ago, DABEARSDABOMB said: if we are able to accumulate a few more draft picks, than I'd be open to taking a flyer or two like this (or an Orlando Brown) because you are ultimately better hedged. We don't have enough picks to just blindly throw darts at some high upside guys who have massive downsides. well said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 I think there is other pass rushers with less issues that have high upside that you wont have to deal with the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted April 18, 2018 Report Share Posted April 18, 2018 2 hours ago, DABEARSDABOMB said: The problem with Key is, if his character gets in the way, it could effect the rest of the team. So not only do you have the risk that the guy will just be a huge bust and get suspended a bunch / not play, he might also be just a bad role model to have around other players. I'd stay away in round 2...while the upside is there, possibility that we just "threw" the pick away is also high, imo. Especially since his past attempts to get himself right have failed. Adding in the pressure of the market, etc, and probability to get it right again seems low. Now if we are able to accumulate a few more draft picks, than I'd be open to taking a flyer or two like this (or an Orlando Brown) because you are ultimately better hedged. We don't have enough picks to just blindly throw darts at some high upside guys who have massive downsides. 1000% agree with this. In fact, it's how I wish the Bears would move forward in the draft. Unless there is a can't miss guy available, trade down and grab multiple guys. I'd love to see a way for the Bears to trade down twice (hence my trade down clown thread). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradjock Posted April 19, 2018 Report Share Posted April 19, 2018 4 hours ago, jason said: 1000% agree with this. In fact, it's how I wish the Bears would move forward in the draft. Unless there is a can't miss guy available, trade down and grab multiple guys. I'd love to see a way for the Bears to trade down twice (hence my trade down clown thread). Agreed. That being said, I feel like it gets forgotten that Fangio craves versatile pass rushers more than anything else. `I feel like we kind of had to talk him into coming back, and so far his defense look way worse on paper. I have no problem if we take a flyer on Key in the 2nd round. He’s easily a 2nd round talent. I’m glad we’re bringing him in for a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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