1) Garrett 2) Thomas 3) Adams ( Leadership rolls play a huge part ) 4) Allen ( Shoulder concerns me but he's still a great player ) 5) Lattimore ( Best CB in the draft ) 6) Barnett
Don't go for QB just cause its a need. Go for the best defensive player available.
IMHO there are three position you never pass on that early in any draft. A top pass rusher, a top QB, and a top LT. They are all key positions on any winning team. So to answer the question of who analyze your choices.
A) Is there a top pass rusher available?
Yes, and maybe two; Allen and Thomas. For several reasons I might favor Thomas here but the fact that both are ranked as blue chip prospects is not in question.
B) Is there a top QB prospect available?
Maybe, but it's questionable whether any could help soon and to think that any of them could be groomed by Fox or Loggains to start anytime in 2017 except by virtue of an emergency I would call extremely doubtful. Every top rated QB in this draft is a questionable blue chipper.
C) Is there a top LT prospect available?
No
So based on availability at #3 with no trade entering the picture it's probably down to those two positions and IMHO this year again a pass rusher seems to be the safer bet.
As a completely personal aside I'd also add there is no way I would spend a top pick on any QB I expected John Fox to accept and groom (because he never has) or Dowell Loggains for much the same reason. If you want a top rookie QB then IMHO hire a HC and OC who can groom and develop one into a top NFL starter and we do not have that guy yet.
IMHO we wasted the basic skills of one top ranked QB by aligning him with poor support, poor coaching and development and forcing him to learn now offense every other year so why repeat what obviously didn't work well? Oh yeah, this is the Bears. I keep forgetting that we tend not to learn from our past mistakes.
IMHO there are three position you never pass on that early in any draft. A top pass rusher, a top QB, and a top LT. They are all key positions on any winning team. So to answer the question of who analyze your choices.
A) Is there a top pass rusher available?
Yes, and maybe two; Allen and Thomas. For several reasons I might favor Thomas here but the fact that both are ranked as blue chip prospects is not in question.
B) Is there a top QB prospect available?
Maybe, but it's questionable whether any could help soon and to think that any of them could be groomed by Fox or Loggains to start anytime in 2017 except by virtue of an emergency I would call extremely doubtful. Every top rated QB in this draft is a questionable blue chipper.
C) Is there a top LT prospect available?
No
So based on availability at #3 with no trade entering the picture it's probably down to those two positions and IMHO this year again a pass rusher seems to be the safer bet.
As a completely personal aside I'd also add there is no way I would spend a top pick on any QB I expected John Fox to accept and groom (because he never has) or Dowell Loggains for much the same reason. If you want a top rookie QB then IMHO hire a HC and OC who can groom and develop one into a top NFL starter and we do not have that guy yet.
IMHO we wasted the basic skills of one top ranked QB by aligning him with poor support, poor coaching and development and forcing him to learn now offense every other year so why repeat what obviously didn't work well? Oh yeah, this is the Bears. I keep forgetting that we tend not to learn from our past mistakes.
Cant argue that logic, we did Cutler no favors over his tenure. I am hopeful Pace will put an end to that. I just see QB as so critical and if Fox and Loggains can not develop a young QB like Watson then I am hopeful Pace will pull the plug and get the proper staff in place. Time will tell.
Pretty sure nothing will change until we do get a good QB and I am tired of running amiss in the middle of the pack
If I were to put together a mock draft right now, I'd say Garrett goes 1st to Cleveland, Thomas goes 2nd to SF and Watson goes 3 to Chicago. Solomon Thomas went to school in Stanford where he made a name for himself. Additionally, he's probably better suited to a 4-3 than a 3-4 which is what SF is reverting back to under their new head coach.
While I'd like to believe that Glennon was brought in to be something more than a bridge QB, I have a hard time believing that Pace is going to risk the comp. of Glennon to Watson (or any other 1st round QB) all year long. If Watson or Trubisky is there when the Bears pick and they pass on him and that QB end up with a stellar season, Pace has ruined himself in the NFL unless Glennon turns some fricking magic. I think that's too big of a gamble. I think he's safer, in some respects, going big for a QB at 3 and failing than not going big there at all.
I see this as being well thought out belli.
Cleveland will almost certainly take Garrett yet SF is very much a wild card today. There are some who feel Cousins will end up there in exchange for that #2 pick. If that's the case then it's what will the 'Skins do and a QB pick is more likely for them because they'll need one.
If that trade doesn't happen will Shanahan be content to roll with Hoyer as his starter backed by Barkley and whoever or will he look to draft his future starter here. At least we know that Kyle Shanahan can develop a young passer so there's some logic to him taking one here if he likes what he see long term in either Watson or Trubisky.
If that happens it still leaves us with one QB and two pass rushers to choose from the better and more versatile of which is probably Thomas. I could easily see him being used in our defense much like McPhee and Houston have been. He's about the same size and has the ability to even move into a 3 tech DT spot as rusher.
Allen is stouter but there are longer term injury concerns with him which make me leery of again spending a high pick on any player with those. Based on that alone Thomas may simply be the safer pick.
As long as John Fox and Dowell Loggains are in the house I would not draft a top QB expecting either to be who he needs to become a top NFL QB. Pace has said he's committed the starting job to Glennon and that only makes sense since I believe he'd had have to drug Fox before he'd start a rookie in what seems to be a must win year for him. Memories of Jimmy Clausen at Carolina must still linger.
IMHO there are three position you never pass on that early in any draft. A top pass rusher, a top QB, and a top LT. They are all key positions on any winning team. So to answer the question of who analyze your choices.
A) Is there a top pass rusher available?
Yes, and maybe two; Allen and Thomas. For several reasons I might favor Thomas here but the fact that both are ranked as blue chip prospects is not in question.
B) Is there a top QB prospect available?
Maybe, but it's questionable whether any could help soon and to think that any of them could be groomed by Fox or Loggains to start anytime in 2017 except by virtue of an emergency I would call extremely doubtful. Every top rated QB in this draft is a questionable blue chipper.
C) Is there a top LT prospect available?
No
So based on availability at #3 with no trade entering the picture it's probably down to those two positions and IMHO this year again a pass rusher seems to be the safer bet.
As a completely personal aside I'd also add there is no way I would spend a top pick on any QB I expected John Fox to accept and groom (because he never has) or Dowell Loggains for much the same reason. If you want a top rookie QB then IMHO hire a HC and OC who can groom and develop one into a top NFL starter and we do not have that guy yet.
IMHO we wasted the basic skills of one top ranked QB by aligning him with poor support, poor coaching and development and forcing him to learn now offense every other year so why repeat what obviously didn't work well? Oh yeah, this is the Bears. I keep forgetting that we tend not to learn from our past mistakes.
Cant argue that logic, we did Cutler no favors over his tenure. I am hopeful Pace will put an end to that. I just see QB as so critical and if Fox and Loggains can not develop a young QB like Watson then I am hopeful Pace will pull the plug and get the proper staff in place. Time will tell.
Pretty sure nothing will change until we do get a good QB and I am tired of running amiss in the middle of the pack
Alex, why is the board not saving my posts? This is twice I lost a connection with the server only to reconnect seconds later but with my entire post lost?
What I wanted to add to this is that this time I would hope we have the table properly set for a new QB and not bring him in with some of the unrealistic expectation of one we did the last time.
No QB will ever do well on this team without the support and coaching that's needed for him to succeed. Not Mike Glennon nor anyone we draft. They need to do it right this time like they have never done before since Jim McMahon.
I cant believe Pace believes Glennon is a long term option. I can see him taking a value pick with 3rd pick but many mocks do not have a QB available in round 2. Both Cleveland and SF our likely to take one at top of round 2 if they do not take one in Rd. 1. Think there is to much risk in waiting unless they really like Brad Kaaya which was an early rumor. He did decent 2 years ago when he had some players around him but very average this year, we need a QB who can raise the team, not one who supports the team so hopefully Kaaya is not the answer.
I fully understand building a bad ass defense but if you going to dump your QB you better damn sure have a plan to improve the position and Glennon is not the answer, I hope he is not the answer anyway. I can live with him as a stop gap and basically all his money is guaranteed this year so I believe his contract was structured to be a stop gap and in the case he is the next Tom Brady or something we have him locked up until we can negotiate a new deal. Highly unlikely but covered just in case. When I thought Mahomes would be available with 2nd round pick I was leaning toward the Bears taking the value pick, since it now appears Mahomes will be gone before we pick in second round I am not sure Pace has a choice but to draft a QB with the 3rd pick.
Of course the mocks are not always right and who knows maybe 1 of the top 3 will be sitting there in which case Pace will look like a genius by not taking a QB with our first pick, but if no QB is available he could be in serious trouble with his long term security. He will not tie himself to Fox. Will he....??
I think it's very likely that a QB will go at #2. Either SF will take one or Washington will (in a Cousins deal).
That's a little of what I see now too at any rate. IIRC SF drafted Armstead in 2015 and Buckner last year so it would seem to be a need at QB takes priority over yet another DE and an undersized one to boot.
I think it's very likely that a QB will go at #2. Either SF will take one or Washington will (in a Cousins deal).
That's a little of what I see now too at any rate. IIRC SF drafted Armstead in 2015 and Buckner last year so it would seem to be a need at QB takes priority over yet another DE and an undersized one to boot.
Neither Buckner nor Armstead can play that DE spot in a 4-3. 49ers are in a rough spot ATM, a tougher spot than the Bears. In fact, I think they're where the Bears were two years ago. They are switching their base defense and their defensive philosophy after selecting two very traditional 3-4 DEs. Still, one can't argue with the urgent need for them to get a quarterback and that's definitely a possibility. If they do, they might go after a guy like Trubisky who fits Shannahan's style more than Watson. If that's the case, Watson and Thomas would be available, presumably for the Bears. That's a tough call as a GM. If he goes Thomas and Watson turns into a stud Bears fans around the country are going to freak out - including just about everyone on this board. I can just see the comments now...
Multiply the Pace passing on Prescott crap 1000 times and that's what this board and Bear's nation will sound like. Even if Thomas is a stud, he's not going to be there difference maker a QB can be for the franchise.
That's a little of what I see now too at any rate. IIRC SF drafted Armstead in 2015 and Buckner last year so it would seem to be a need at QB takes priority over yet another DE and an undersized one to boot.
Neither Buckner nor Armstead can play that DE spot in a 4-3. 49ers are in a rough spot ATM, a tougher spot than the Bears. In fact, I think they're where the Bears were two years ago. They are switching their base defense and their defensive philosophy after selecting two very traditional 3-4 DEs.
Still, one can't argue with the urgent need for them to get a quarterback and that's definitely a possibility. If they do, they might go after a guy like Trubisky who fits Shannahan's style more than Watson. If that's the case, Watson and Thomas would be available, presumably for the Bears. That's a tough call as a GM. If he goes Thomas and Watson turns into a stud Bears fans around the country are going to freak out - including just about everyone on this board. I can just see the comments now...
Multiply the Pace passing on Prescott crap 1000 times and that's what this board and Bear's nation will sound like. Even if Thomas is a stud, he's not going to be there difference maker a QB can be for the franchise.
How do you see a couple of 6'7" 290lb DEs as not being a fit for a 4-3 defense? Pep seemed to do just fine playing that spot most of his career at the same size. I would actually see a like Thomas whose 20lbs lighter and much shorter as more of a 4-3 "Tweener". At any rate they still have their 1st round deals to pay off.
I wouldn't call him an ideal 3-4 DE either but that's no how I would see the Bears using him. I think Houston will either have to take major hit in his salary or he's history and McPhee's chronic knee problems concern me. Floyd is only one guy so he can't replace both and Young is getting a bit long in the tooth.
With all due respect to you all I don't think Pace can worry too much about what this forum thinks about his pick or Bears fans in general. Whatever Watson may become if he does manage to land with the right team is not necessarily what he will be or become of he ends upon this team. IHMO I do not believe this team is ready for a top QB pick right now. The table hasn't been adequately set.
Pace isn't as venturesome in FA as I would like to see him so why would he be in the draft unless he's some how goaded or manipulated into a pick? A QB there is not the safer pick when compared to his other potential options. I see no difference in his professed policy of passing on the risk of a UFA who may be too rich for his blood and may not fit or disappoint than on a draftee for the very same reason. He'll have to make a $30 mil guaranteed investment in that guy too. He has no choice.