No he isn't. There are plenty of RT's available in rd 2, and tons of slot wr's on day 3 of the draft. Not that I like it, but the only thing Poles locked himself into is DJ/CC playing a ton of WR, and Monty is a nice 2nd or 3rd depending on what they do w/Claypool.
RT and Slot WR aren't anymore of a priority then they were before, same w/DL and DE. Top priorities of this draft are the OL/DL; OL is RT/C(or OG) and DL is DT/DE. They can get RT/DT/EDGE in any order in the first 2 rounds.
That’s not going to happen, unless Poles is prepared to risk Fields’ life and limb with more weakness at RT. All of the 4 RT prospects I would consider acceptable will very likely be gone before #54. He declined to pay up for a RT in free agency, and will not screw around with this. Poles went to Paris Johnson pro day yesterday and stood right behind him to observe his technique. This is our guy. I know some mocks have Skoronski, but I don’t believe it.
Poles found starting LT in rd 5, im pretty sure he could find a RT in rd 2. This pretty much wraps it up.
That’s not going to happen, unless Poles is prepared to risk Fields’ life and limb with more weakness at RT. All of the 4 RT prospects I would consider acceptable will very likely be gone before #54. He declined to pay up for a RT in free agency, and will not screw around with this. Poles went to Paris Johnson pro day yesterday and stood right behind him to observe his technique. This is our guy. I know some mocks have Skoronski, but I don’t believe it.
Poles found starting LT in rd 5, im pretty sure he could find a RT in rd 2. This pretty much wraps it up.
There will be RTs in every round — just not any of the 4 I would confidently project as starter quality. Sure, you can possibly find one at #54, but probably not any of the blue chip guys I want — Johnson, Skoronski, Jones, Wright.
Poles found starting LT in rd 5, im pretty sure he could find a RT in rd 2. This pretty much wraps it up.
There will be RTs in every round — just not any of the 4 I would confidently project as starter quality. Sure, you can possibly find one at #54, but probably not any of the blue chip guys I want — Johnson, Skoronski, Jones, Wright.
I think I agree with you on this.
It sure looks like Poles is fixed upon getting the most value for his investments. I could see the Bears at that #9 pick, seeing OT as the best R.O.I. for that pick - this year anyway. We desperately need two great OTs. The interior OL are really pretty easy to find. Old school NFL thinking was that you could slap any lessor talented T into that RT position. But with the modern defenses moving pass rushers - elite pass rushers - to either side, you need a great RT just like you need a great LT. That is, if you want a great OL. If mediocre is okay then yeah, slap crap anywhere on the OL and roll with the crap (we usually do that here in Chicago by the way).
I could very well be wrong about this and probably am. But I'm thinking the best bang-for-the-buck here is OT at 9.
Would it though? "max support" is building the best TEAM around Fields. Would overspending for a right tackle help build the best TEAM? Poles opportunity cost choice was signing two YOUNG linebackers who both represented good value and were among the best not just at their positions, but overall available in free agency or sign a 29 year old right tackle to a top of the market deal who's play doesn't match that number. Poles then chose to sign one of the best available guards on the market to help improve the offensive line in a different way, essentially by improving the left guard and center positions even though he only signed one player there.
Now we have flexibility in the draft. We could literally take anyone at 9. Do we take one of the offensive tackles and solidify the line? Great! Do we take a defensive end? Great! Do we take a receiver and solidify that group into one of the top tier units in the game? Awesome!
Don't forget there will also be cuts after the draft as well. This roster isn't close to complete.
Say what you want, but Taylor+JSN does more to support Fields in 2023 than two linebackers. The “support Fields” folks like JABF are prioritizing offense over defense this year. Poles is now locked into drafting RT at #9.
How is he "locked into it"? He's literally not locked into anything. La'el Collins is expected to be released...tell me again how he's locked into drafting a tackle at 9.
And what short memories we have around here about what a good defense can do to help an offense. It wasn't that long ago that people around here were blasting Mitch and our offense because they were set up with great field position because of the defense. Like I said...there are LOTS of ways to support Fields, and the best way is to have a good TEAM.
It actually kind of is though. If we were paying Smith $20 mill then opportunity cost starts to come into play. At that point Poles has to choose between Edmunds and Edwards, and depending on that choice he then has to choose other options at all the other positions he signed.
This is similar to why they aren't going to look at WR at 9, and probably not rd 1 or 2. You don't put 50-60mil or more into the LB position; not when defenses spend so much time in nickle/dime.
I don't see the correlation. Teams routinely run 3 WR sets. I could absolutely see them going WR at 9 or within the first 2 rounds if thats the BPA on their board. Poles hasn't been shy about drafting BPA.
Would really like to see Johnson and 1 of Mooney/Kmet being extended this summer, would make me feel much better. Not great to have both Mooney and Claypool FAs, also CBs are rather unknown... need continuity
This is similar to why they aren't going to look at WR at 9, and probably not rd 1 or 2. You don't put 50-60mil or more into the LB position; not when defenses spend so much time in nickle/dime.
I don't see the correlation. Teams routinely run 3 WR sets. I could absolutely see them going WR at 9 or within the first 2 rounds if thats the BPA on their board. Poles hasn't been shy about drafting BPA.
They absolutely will not. Teams might run 2 wr sets, but we already have 3 they plan on running with; and this team won't. Look for a lot of 2 TE sets. They want to run not pass.
I see us going Edge (or 3T) at #9 and then OT with our second pick. We’ll followup with more dline help on our 3rd pick.
That would tell me Eberflus is running the show and all the “support Fields” advocates around here are going to get a tension headache.
We’re still missing the key piece to run Flus’s defense as he’d like to. Poles will go with what his coach needs most. Personally, I’m ok going either way as our two positions of need line up well with the strength of the draft. Passing on Carter wouldn’t give me heartburn, but passing on Anderson most definitely would but he’ll be gone well before our pick….