Post by GrizzlyBear on Mar 9, 2017 9:38:58 GMT -6
bearsbarroom.com/bears-trade-down-move-up/
Bears Trade Down Is Best Way To Move Up
The reviews are in and the 2017 NFL Combine was a hit. From the first day to the last those who watched were treated to athletes breaking speed records, excelling at explosion drills and inspiring ‘what if’ scenarios. Players who were raising questions about where they would play in the NFL because of their size – athletes like Solomon Thomas and Jabril Peppers – instead raised eyebrows with their workouts. While some players may have scared off general managers with their poor interviews or behavior – Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster allegedly threw a temper tantrum when awaiting his physical – there were way more good vibes than bad. The consensus is that this is a good year to stock up on draft picks.
While the Combine is just a small tool in the Chicago Bears’ toolbox of evaluating players, it’s undeniable that the event underscored the depth of the 2017 NFL Draft. With the exception of offensive tackle and quarterback (unfortunately two need areas for the Bears) every other position group has potential starters well into the third round and in some areas even further.
As an example, the third round could see the Bears looking at safeties like Budda Baker, Marcus Maye, Marcus Williams and Justin Evans to name a few. The cornerback class is even deeper. NFL.com has Quincy Williams, Jourdan Lewis, Ahkello Witherspoon and Cameron Sutton with early third round grades. On this Bears team they are capable of being plug and play players.
General manager Ryan Pace has repeatedly said he’d love to have more draft picks because it increases the odds of hitting on more successes. At his news conference last week, Pace was asked by Pro Football Weekly Editor Hub Arkush what his decision-making process is on whether to use the No. 3 overall pick or trade it.
“We’ll have, obviously, all sorts of scenarios on who will be there at that pick and also scenarios on, hey, this particular draft is deep and maybe there is a lot of value in a certain section of the draft where it’s advantageous for us to trade back and acquire more picks that could be a viable option.”
It is.
And while I acknowledge I may be reading too much into what Pace said, I do get a strong feeling that he believes there isn’t a quarterback worthy of that third pick. The draft’s top three quarterbacks – DeShone Kizer, Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky, are as NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock described them:
Bears Barroom@BearsBarroom
Mayock says these QBs have 1st Rd. talent but 2 rd. Grades
Pace has made it clear that he thinks it is lethal for a team in desperate need of a particular position to reach for a player when drafting. It was a mistake he witnessed at New Orleans and wants to avoid in Chicago. The Bears are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. But, drafting one at No. 3 appears foolhardy.
Trading down affords the Bears an opportunity to address multiple position needs with players they are more confident in. Even if circumstances force the Bears to draft a quarterback in round three or lower that’s better than bypassing a player who your trusted scouts have graded much higher. With a trade quarterback could be addressed in the mid-first round, even the second round (Patrick Mahomes II or Davis Webb) and, of course, a veteran QB will be on the roster whether it is Brian Hoyer or a more expensive version of him.
Don’t be disgusted at the idea of waiting to the third round or lower to draft a quarterback. At his Combine media conference Mayock volunteered assessments on projected third rounders and long-term developmental players Brad Kaaya and Josh Dobbs
“Both are highly inconsistent in the pocket, but they’ve got size and arm strength.”
The same could be said about the draft’s top three quarterbacks. And, while it is inarguable that those quarterbacks are currently better bets than Kaaya and Dobbs it’s also inarguable that the Bears multiple needs put them in a place of seriously considering trading their coveted No. 3 pick and drafting a QB at a spot commensurate with the draft grade given to them by the Bears.
Trading the No. 3 pick for more draft picks means that the Bears might miss out on a difference-maker like safety Jamal Adams. But, that’s the price the team must pay because of years of poor draft picks – especially under previous administrations.
This draft is too deep to have only three packs in the first three rounds. Trade down and load up on draft picks.
The reviews are in and the 2017 NFL Combine was a hit. From the first day to the last those who watched were treated to athletes breaking speed records, excelling at explosion drills and inspiring ‘what if’ scenarios. Players who were raising questions about where they would play in the NFL because of their size – athletes like Solomon Thomas and Jabril Peppers – instead raised eyebrows with their workouts. While some players may have scared off general managers with their poor interviews or behavior – Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster allegedly threw a temper tantrum when awaiting his physical – there were way more good vibes than bad. The consensus is that this is a good year to stock up on draft picks.
While the Combine is just a small tool in the Chicago Bears’ toolbox of evaluating players, it’s undeniable that the event underscored the depth of the 2017 NFL Draft. With the exception of offensive tackle and quarterback (unfortunately two need areas for the Bears) every other position group has potential starters well into the third round and in some areas even further.
As an example, the third round could see the Bears looking at safeties like Budda Baker, Marcus Maye, Marcus Williams and Justin Evans to name a few. The cornerback class is even deeper. NFL.com has Quincy Williams, Jourdan Lewis, Ahkello Witherspoon and Cameron Sutton with early third round grades. On this Bears team they are capable of being plug and play players.
General manager Ryan Pace has repeatedly said he’d love to have more draft picks because it increases the odds of hitting on more successes. At his news conference last week, Pace was asked by Pro Football Weekly Editor Hub Arkush what his decision-making process is on whether to use the No. 3 overall pick or trade it.
“We’ll have, obviously, all sorts of scenarios on who will be there at that pick and also scenarios on, hey, this particular draft is deep and maybe there is a lot of value in a certain section of the draft where it’s advantageous for us to trade back and acquire more picks that could be a viable option.”
It is.
And while I acknowledge I may be reading too much into what Pace said, I do get a strong feeling that he believes there isn’t a quarterback worthy of that third pick. The draft’s top three quarterbacks – DeShone Kizer, Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky, are as NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock described them:
Bears Barroom@BearsBarroom
Mayock says these QBs have 1st Rd. talent but 2 rd. Grades
Pace has made it clear that he thinks it is lethal for a team in desperate need of a particular position to reach for a player when drafting. It was a mistake he witnessed at New Orleans and wants to avoid in Chicago. The Bears are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. But, drafting one at No. 3 appears foolhardy.
Trading down affords the Bears an opportunity to address multiple position needs with players they are more confident in. Even if circumstances force the Bears to draft a quarterback in round three or lower that’s better than bypassing a player who your trusted scouts have graded much higher. With a trade quarterback could be addressed in the mid-first round, even the second round (Patrick Mahomes II or Davis Webb) and, of course, a veteran QB will be on the roster whether it is Brian Hoyer or a more expensive version of him.
Don’t be disgusted at the idea of waiting to the third round or lower to draft a quarterback. At his Combine media conference Mayock volunteered assessments on projected third rounders and long-term developmental players Brad Kaaya and Josh Dobbs
“Both are highly inconsistent in the pocket, but they’ve got size and arm strength.”
The same could be said about the draft’s top three quarterbacks. And, while it is inarguable that those quarterbacks are currently better bets than Kaaya and Dobbs it’s also inarguable that the Bears multiple needs put them in a place of seriously considering trading their coveted No. 3 pick and drafting a QB at a spot commensurate with the draft grade given to them by the Bears.
Trading the No. 3 pick for more draft picks means that the Bears might miss out on a difference-maker like safety Jamal Adams. But, that’s the price the team must pay because of years of poor draft picks – especially under previous administrations.
This draft is too deep to have only three packs in the first three rounds. Trade down and load up on draft picks.
