2023 offseason mock thread: FA & Draft

Yes, we’ve been over it 100 times.  There is synergy at work in a defensive front-7.  You can’t start pulling pieces out of it one-by-one and expect it not to affect the others.  We are never going to agree on what Poles did, so let’s move on.  

We can agree that what he brought in to replace the entire front-7 is a pile of horseshit and, whether one agrees with it or not, it was HIS decision and now it’s HIS job to do something about it!  The run defense and pass rush are incredibly worse.  Drafting Anderson or Carter would be a good first step, if Bears draft #2 or #3.  If we’re drafting lower and they’re gone, I’m drafting WR1.

I could see (maybe) drafting 2 WRs and one of these guys as the second "hope and a prayer" guy.  But reading about them, honestly, they look like what we have now.  Wannabees.  No WR1 here.  And that is what Fields needs.  He already has the wannabees.  My hope is that the Bears invest in an elite WR1 guy.  Elite.  The real deal.  Maybe then we could build a great passing game here with Fields.  But that is going to take real investment in the offense.

If the Bears go with a bigger WR, maybe go after TCU's Quentin Johnston.  But a mid to late round pick won't get that done.  He is a 1st round talent.

I am agreeing with you.  I see the needs are more than the resources available.  Getting that #2 draft position should help a bit, but it won't be enough to fix a multi-year rebuild need.  But if Poles can draft well, then it sure will help.  A lot.

I believe Poles will need to go BPA but within those 3 positions, DL, OL & WR.  Get the (modest) trade-down... and that should be available from a team crazy in need of a QB.  Then focus on those 3 most pressing needs with BPA.  If the best player available is a DL guy, sure, draft him.  If it is OL or WR, then draft that.  Spend every single draft pick as if it is precious and priceless in value - because they are that valuable to a team as bereft in roster talent as the Bears now are.  

And we can't afford to get low-floor, high-ceiling gambles now.  Go for the high-floor guys with your high picks.  Sure, gamble with the late round picks.  That's what they are for.  But the early rounds have to go to guys we can count on.  No more Phil Emery or Ryan Pace "smartest guy in the room" drafts.  Get legit talent.  

And anyone wanting to beat Green Bay on Sunday should think this through a bit more.  A 1-minute "feel good" moment that costs us draft our draft position is not the best outcome.  Who the heck will care about beating the 4-win Packers in 2022?  I won't.  I'm focused like a laser on 2023 and 2024.  Anything that helps us rebuild better and quicker is infinitely more important than winning that game next Sunday.

Here is what one fan posted on the Seahawks forum page (quoted with permission), since they are having the same trade down discussion...

"This is the exact situation I come to hate with Seattle…the interest in trading down…if it works out and the guy they traded down for works out and they got more picks….splendid, however, when it doesn’t work out, man, it’s so costly.

Seattle has passed up on so many good players just to trade down and Seattle got bums instead.

That Seattle’s track record for trading down is pretty subpar.

Sometimes you need to grab that player that all teams grade is possibly the best player in the draft and wouldn’t hesitate to draft him but Seattle gets cute and wants more picks just to have more picks.

Sometimes you just gotta stop with trying to outsmart people, who, are also capable of drafting and developing good players, and just grab the franchise cornerstone that a lot of other teams would run to the podium to select.

But since you asked, I’ll draft Jalen Carter, if he’s available with Seattle’s pick. Assuming, Carter, passes Seattle’s medical examination, etc.

Carter looks to be the 3 Tech/Defensive Tackle/End stalwart Seattle has not had since Cortez Kennedy (possibly Michael Bennett/Brandon Mebane).

Don’t pass on Carter.

Carter is from a proven NFL school and has played on championship teams and very well considered possibly the best lineman to come out of Georgia in the last 3 years.

That’s someone you do not get cute with and risk losing.

Draft Carter the second Seattle is on the clock and Carter is still on the board!"

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This guy is so sold on Carter than I couldn't even get him to trade down to #6 from #2.  This has me thinking whether Carter would be better for the Bears than Anderson?  Would we be better with an elite pass rusher or an elite all-around defensive 3-tech kind of defensive lineman?  I am still inclined toward Anderson, but this did get me thinking.