Draft prospects

[AZ54]

19 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

As much as Wright looked bad at times he was still rated high as a RT. With a regular starter at RG,I think he takes a giant step forward. A good OL coach is high priority for me. And All pro type center would make the whole OL better by making the right line calls better communication. I would love if we got Will Campbell even at 10. 

I have been pushing for Trey Smith but another intriguing choice is Kevin Zeilter. He was the second ranked guard this year, Trey Smith was 6 th ranked. At 35 he is playing at a high level and rarely is injured plus played with Ben Johnson this year. He will get a 2-15 mil type contract where Smith is going to get 20+ mil a year. Draft a rookie to take his place and roll with it.

Why not both?  Zeitler isn't going to command a huge salary.  I'm not sure he'll want to leave Detroit but he just might follow Ben.   This draft is super deep on Dline.  Spend in FA to fix IOL, use a 3rd Rd pick on a future Center.  The rest of the top 100 picks go toward the Dline.  On day 3 we address S and RB.  

[Stinger226]

2 hours ago, AZ54 said:

Why not both?  Zeitler isn't going to command a huge salary.  I'm not sure he'll want to leave Detroit but he just might follow Ben.   This draft is super deep on Dline.  Spend in FA to fix IOL, use a 3rd Rd pick on a future Center.  The rest of the top 100 picks go toward the Dline.  On day 3 we address S and RB.  

Both play RG but I'm sure pros can change without a lot of trouble. FAgency will be first so what we aquire will determine our draft. 

Lots more depth on DL in the draft, so that makes sense.adding 3 rookie starters on the OL could be problematic. I am torn between what step we make first. If Banks is available, that could be the pick and move either Kiran or Braxton to left guard depending on their choice. So getting a RG in FA leavs is with drafting a center with 72 if it falls that way. Resign Shelton to start until the rookie is ready. 

My other choice would be to draft Will Campbell and make him the center and a high pick guard to play LG. That's Jones/Kiran at LT, rookie at LG, Campbell at C, Smith/Zietier at RG, Wright.

[AZ54]

35 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

Both play RG but I'm sure pros can change without a lot of trouble. FAgency will be first so what we aquire will determine our draft. 

Lots more depth on DL in the draft, so that makes sense.adding 3 rookie starters on the OL could be problematic. I am torn between what step we make first. If Banks is available, that could be the pick and move either Kiran or Braxton to left guard depending on their choice. So getting a RG in FA leavs is with drafting a center with 72 if it falls that way. Resign Shelton to start until the rookie is ready. 

My other choice would be to draft Will Campbell and make him the center and a high pick guard to play LG. That's Jones/Kiran at LT, rookie at LG, Campbell at C, Smith/Zietier at RG, Wright.

I'm really curious about Campbell at Center.  I don't really know what physical traits make for a good Center.   I get the intelligence side needed for the protection calls.  

[BearFan PHX]

There's kind of a golden rule going into the draft every year, and that is you sign a free agent to fill every hole. We get confused thinking that the free agents are the likely starters, when the plan is you hope a bunch of the rookies push them out. But going into the draft with actual holes is a recipe for having to reach and not maximizing your draft value with some amount of BPA.

So I expect a ton of new free agents on the OL before the draft, and many of them may be Pryor level players, but hopefully one of them rises up and takes a job. But we will have 5 players on the OL before we go into the draft. And right now we need at least 3 more to even be able to say that much.

I dont think Jenkins is coming back.

[Stinger226]

I think they get one bonafide starter, Trey Smith or Kevin Zeilter then resign Shelton and Pryor, and Bill Murray 

Jones - Kiran or Murray - Shelton - Pryor - Wright 

They add 3 draft picks and let the best five start.

[Mongo3451]

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I think they get one bonafide starter, Trey Smith or Kevin Zeilter then resign Shelton and Pryor, and Bill Murray 

Jones - Kiran or Murray - Shelton - Pryor - Wright 

They add 3 draft picks and let the best five start.

Even though I would do a backflip, teams rarely, if ever, draft three OL.  My guess is they'll sign and draft two each.  After that, sign UDFA with crazy measurables.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

Mock Draft 1.0 post coaching hires.

Used nflmockdraftdatabase.com for simulator, so players may not be slotted properly, as Watts and Moore will for sure go higher than rd 3 and 5. 

Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen get key players in 2025 draft. 

1: Mason Graham DT 6-3 320 will be a cornerstone for Allen's D.  He can play all techniques giving the Dline flexibility.  Paired with Dexter 6-6 315, Billings 6-6 345, and Pickens 6-4 300, they will have a solid rotation. Ford 6-5 335

2a:Josh Conerly LT 6-4 315 Oregon - Johnson has seen Sewell, an Oregon product, dominate the RT and has no doubt that Conerly can do the same at LT for the Bears.  Conerly will have competition with Jones and Amegadjie, but has faced stiffer competition at the college level to give him an edge. 

2b:Omarion Hamilton RB 6-0 220 having a workhorse RB like Hamilton gives Johnson his dependable Montgomery. Swift can stay fresh being that homerun threat and change of pace. 

3a: Xavier Watts S 6-0 203 - high IQ safety that lead the nation in Ints and is not afraid to tackle. Depending on Briskers future, the Bears need a solid piece to step in sooner than later.

3b: Jared Ivey DE 6-6 285 solid prospect to add to the rotation with Sweat, Booker, and Ware.  High IQ and relentless motor and bend, he can quickly become a force on the front. 

5a: Malachi Moore S 6-0 198 - the Bears double dip at the S position with another high IQ playmaker from Alabama. Moore can learn under Byard giving the Bears a strong DB core for years. 

5b: Jay Higgins LB 6-2 232 a versatile LB that doesn't miss tackles, high IQ/field general, and plus coverage skills.  The Bears need to look at life without Tremaine Edmonds who might get one more chance to shine.

5c: Jake Majors C 6-3 315 - iron man signal caller for Texas, Majors plays with nastiness and smarts and can become the Bears Jaosn Kelce.

6: Oronde Gadsden TE 6-5 236 a playmaking TE who can line across the field and give the Bears another big catch radius in the passing game.  He will need to get stronger to help as a blocker, but gives Johnson a gadget to the arsenal.  Jackson Hawes TE GT would be a guy you want as a great blocker only, which the Bears do need but can get in rd 7 or udfa.

7a: Tommie Hill CB 6-0 205 a 3 way player WR, CB, and KR.  Hill is a high IQ football player who will find a niche on STs and can be a solid backup as a db. 

7b: Luke Kandra G 6-4 323 road grading, high IQ lineman that for whatever reason was available on this draft site at pick 242. 

[Stinger226]

On 2/2/2025 at 4:02 AM, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Mock Draft 1.0 post coaching hires.

Used nflmockdraftdatabase.com for simulator, so players may not be slotted properly, as Watts and Moore will for sure go higher than rd 3 and 5. 

Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen get key players in 2025 draft. 

1: Mason Graham DT 6-3 320 will be a cornerstone for Allen's D.  He can play all techniques giving the Dline flexibility.  Paired with Dexter 6-6 315, Billings 6-6 345, and Pickens 6-4 300, they will have a solid rotation. Ford 6-5 335

2a:Josh Conerly LT 6-4 315 Oregon - Johnson has seen Sewell, an Oregon product, dominate the RT and has no doubt that Conerly can do the same at LT for the Bears.  Conerly will have competition with Jones and Amegadjie, but has faced stiffer competition at the college level to give him an edge. 

2b:Omarion Hamilton RB 6-0 220 having a workhorse RB like Hamilton gives Johnson his dependable Montgomery. Swift can stay fresh being that homerun threat and change of pace. 

3a: Xavier Watts S 6-0 203 - high IQ safety that lead the nation in Ints and is not afraid to tackle. Depending on Briskers future, the Bears need a solid piece to step in sooner than later.

3b: Jared Ivey DE 6-6 285 solid prospect to add to the rotation with Sweat, Booker, and Ware.  High IQ and relentless motor and bend, he can quickly become a force on the front. 

5a: Malachi Moore S 6-0 198 - the Bears double dip at the S position with another high IQ playmaker from Alabama. Moore can learn under Byard giving the Bears a strong DB core for years. 

5b: Jay Higgins LB 6-2 232 a versatile LB that doesn't miss tackles, high IQ/field general, and plus coverage skills.  The Bears need to look at life without Tremaine Edmonds who might get one more chance to shine.

5c: Jake Majors C 6-3 315 - iron man signal caller for Texas, Majors plays with nastiness and smarts and can become the Bears Jaosn Kelce.

6: Oronde Gadsden TE 6-5 236 a playmaking TE who can line across the field and give the Bears another big catch radius in the passing game.  He will need to get stronger to help as a blocker, but gives Johnson a gadget to the arsenal.  Jackson Hawes TE GT would be a guy you want as a great blocker only, which the Bears do need but can get in rd 7 or udfa.

7a: Tommie Hill CB 6-0 205 a 3 way player WR, CB, and KR.  Hill is a high IQ football player who will find a niche on STs and can be a solid backup as a db. 

7b: Luke Kandra G 6-4 323 road grading, high IQ lineman that for whatever reason was available on this draft site at pick 242. 

I don't think they draft a safety high. There always seems to be good vets available to fill that need. Byard has one more year left. Now if Brisker's career is over then that would change the need. Hicks is a playable backup,Owens  is still here ( bad year)so I think they address S next year 

I think Swift will thrive in a Johnson system and Rohshon Johnson has some power. It's a deep draft at RB , I think they get a power guy for short yardage and can find him after the first 3 rounds.

[Mongo3451]

30 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

 

I think Swift will thrive in a Johnson system and Rohshon Johnson has some power. It's a deep draft at RB , I think they get a power guy for short yardage and can find him after the first 3 rounds.

I'm not so sure about this.  Swift was sent packing by the Lions, then the Eagles let him go to us.  I was never a fan.  Still not.  

[ASHKUM BEAR]

2 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I don't think they draft a safety high. There always seems to be good vets available to fill that need. Byard has one more year left. Now if Brisker's career is over then that would change the need. Hicks is a playable backup,Owens  is still here ( bad year)so I think they address S next year 

I think Swift will thrive in a Johnson system and Rohshon Johnson has some power. It's a deep draft at RB , I think they get a power guy for short yardage and can find him after the first 3 rounds.

If Brisker returns, he is one concussion away from his last game and Byards contract is up after the season.  This is why I won't be surprised if they take a S round 3 or even draft another even later. 

I think Ben Johnson likes to have a couple very good RBs to run his play action offense with.  I wouldn't be shocked if they took Jentry round 1 either. Maybe they go the route of FA and sign a vet like Aaron Jones. 

[Mongo3451]

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

If Brisker returns, he is one concussion away from his last game and Byards contract is up after the season.  This is why I won't be surprised if they take a S round 3 or even draft another even later. 

I think Ben Johnson likes to have a couple very good RBs to run his play action offense with.  I wouldn't be shocked if they took Jentry round 1 either. Maybe they go the route of FA and sign a vet like Aaron Jones. 

Regardless of anything, we have to upgrade from Mr Biles.

[AZ54]

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

If Brisker returns, he is one concussion away from his last game and Byards contract is up after the season.  This is why I won't be surprised if they take a S round 3 or even draft another even later. 

I think Ben Johnson likes to have a couple very good RBs to run his play action offense with.  I wouldn't be shocked if they took Jentry round 1 either. Maybe they go the route of FA and sign a vet like Aaron Jones. 

I think he wants a thunder and lightning approach.   Swift is good enough to be lightning but Roschon is not thunder.  Someone like Skateboo would give us a good combination.  

[ASHKUM BEAR]

6 hours ago, AZ54 said:

I think he wants a thunder and lightning approach.   Swift is good enough to be lightning but Roschon is not thunder.  Someone like Skateboo would give us a good combination.  

Word is the Bears are digging deep on Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson.  New OC Doyle also has  having coached there.  He is a bigger back who can be a workhorse.  

I hate drafting RBs early, but they are in need of a playmaker to pair with Swift and a good run game (line included) can make the QB.

[BearFan PHX]

Im JUST starting my investigations of draftable players, and I know Im late to the party, and without having seen much at ALL yet, I put on some Will Campbell highlights, and damn he is a beast.