If the Bears draft a QB with that first pick, then they have 4 remaining picks (before trading Fields). The Fields market is looking softer and softer. If Cousins goes to Atlanta, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with JF. I'm thinking we won't keep that #9 pick and drop down into the 2nd-tier of players. I'm not knocking that move. But the top-tier guys we've been talking about at #9 just may not be in the cards for us. My gut feeling is that Poles will drop in the draft to get value picks.
If the Bears draft a QB with that first pick, then they have 4 remaining picks (before trading Fields). The Fields market is looking softer and softer. If Cousins goes to Atlanta, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with JF. I'm thinking we won't keep that #9 pick and drop down into the 2nd-tier of players. I'm not knocking that move. But the top-tier guys we've been talking about at #9 just may not be in the cards for us. My gut feeling is that Poles will drop in the draft to get value picks.
If we take your “max support” for Caleb and no defensive players at #9 as our starting point, Poles should target Odunze (if available) or, if not, trade down and target Powers-Johnson.
If the Bears draft a QB with that first pick, then they have 4 remaining picks (before trading Fields). The Fields market is looking softer and softer. If Cousins goes to Atlanta, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with JF. I'm thinking we won't keep that #9 pick and drop down into the 2nd-tier of players. I'm not knocking that move. But the top-tier guys we've been talking about at #9 just may not be in the cards for us. My gut feeling is that Poles will drop in the draft to get value picks.
If we take your “max support” for Caleb and no defensive players at #9 as our starting point, Poles should target Odunze (if available) or, if not, trade down and target Powers-Johnson.
I like this idea. If the best WR isn't there. Trade down to the low 20's to pick up PJP.
There is one more WR that I like a lot in this draft, Brian Thomas Jr from LSU. He's 6'3" 210 pounds and runs a 4.33 forty. Big hands. He's a "go up and get it" long and big target guy. His floor is pure awesome now, and he looks like an All-Pro ceiling guy. I'd take him in a heartbeat at #9 if the other three WRs are gone. This guy is in that category but just a bit unrefined (young dude too at 21). He would match up perfectly with D.J. Moore.
In a trade down there are 3 or 4 exceptional WRs in this draft I would LOVE to see here for Caleb. Florida State's v Keonn Coleman is intriguing. Texas' 6'2" Adonai Mitchell might be worth a look too. Oregon's 6'2" Troy Franklin would be a good one I think... these are all guys in the next tier down from the big-4 group. But it is a very gifted tier this year. Great year to get a WR in the draft. It would be mighty nice to have an elite, or even near-elite talent on a rookie contract to complement D.J. Moore and help our rookie QB1 succeed here.
If the Bears draft a QB with that first pick, then they have 4 remaining picks (before trading Fields). The Fields market is looking softer and softer. If Cousins goes to Atlanta, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with JF. I'm thinking we won't keep that #9 pick and drop down into the 2nd-tier of players. I'm not knocking that move. But the top-tier guys we've been talking about at #9 just may not be in the cards for us. My gut feeling is that Poles will drop in the draft to get value picks.
Hoge pointed out something interesting yesterday that I didn't even consider. As a Covid-hangover effect, this draft has a record LOW number of underclassmen in it. Lots of college players have taken advantage of the covid season rules to maintain NCAA eligibility for 5 or even 6 years thus the late rounds of this draft are gonna have less talent in them than usual. Doesn't mean there won't be some good finds there but a 5th this year is probably more equivalent to a 6th or 7th in typical drafts due to reduced underclassmen numbers.
But yeah it sure would be nice if we could trade Fields. His market is looking weaker by the day. There's very little smoke out there that any team is even seriously interested. Feels like nothing is gonna happen until after FA starts and we see where Cousins and Mayfield land. Pretty disappointing...
If we take your “max support” for Caleb and no defensive players at #9 as our starting point, Poles should target Odunze (if available) or, if not, trade down and target Powers-Johnson.
I like this idea. If the best WR isn't there. Trade down to the low 20's to pick up PJP.
If the top-3 WRs go in the first 8, I really hope JJ McCarthy is still there. Maybe Vegas or Pitt will want to move up for him.
If the Bears draft a QB with that first pick, then they have 4 remaining picks (before trading Fields). The Fields market is looking softer and softer. If Cousins goes to Atlanta, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with JF. I'm thinking we won't keep that #9 pick and drop down into the 2nd-tier of players. I'm not knocking that move. But the top-tier guys we've been talking about at #9 just may not be in the cards for us. My gut feeling is that Poles will drop in the draft to get value picks.
Hoge pointed out something interesting yesterday that I didn't even consider. As a Covid-hangover effect, this draft has a record LOW number of underclassmen in it. Lots of college players have taken advantage of the covid season rules to maintain NCAA eligibility for 5 or even 6 years thus the late rounds of this draft are gonna have less talent in them than usual. Doesn't mean there won't be some good finds there but a 5th this year is probably more equivalent to a 6th or 7th in typical drafts due to reduced underclassmen numbers.
But yeah it sure would be nice if we could trade Fields. His market is looking weaker by the day. There's very little smoke out there that any team is even seriously interested. Feels like nothing is gonna happen until after FA starts and we see where Cousins and Mayfield land. Pretty disappointing...
Falcons are waiting to see what happens with Cousins, but I still think that’s Fields most likely landing spot.
If the Bears draft a QB with that first pick, then they have 4 remaining picks (before trading Fields). The Fields market is looking softer and softer. If Cousins goes to Atlanta, it's going to be interesting to see what happens with JF. I'm thinking we won't keep that #9 pick and drop down into the 2nd-tier of players. I'm not knocking that move. But the top-tier guys we've been talking about at #9 just may not be in the cards for us. My gut feeling is that Poles will drop in the draft to get value picks.
Hoge pointed out something interesting yesterday that I didn't even consider. As a Covid-hangover effect, this draft has a record LOW number of underclassmen in it. Lots of college players have taken advantage of the covid season rules to maintain NCAA eligibility for 5 or even 6 years thus the late rounds of this draft are gonna have less talent in them than usual. Doesn't mean there won't be some good finds there but a 5th this year is probably more equivalent to a 6th or 7th in typical drafts due to reduced underclassmen numbers.
But yeah it sure would be nice if we could trade Fields. His market is looking weaker by the day. There's very little smoke out there that any team is even seriously interested. Feels like nothing is gonna happen until after FA starts and we see where Cousins and Mayfield land. Pretty disappointing...
I know. I'd be mighty happy if the Bears can get a 2nd round pick for Fields, but it may be a 3rd. It is disappointing. Regarding the Covid effect (and some of the portal guys) on the draft, I noticed a number of players who are so old it's like they are missing the first contract age and are nearly at a 2nd contract age... but obviously they have missed those NFL developmental years entirely. A team can still get a good player there, but he (maybe) he comes with a bit of truncated NFL career. Not a big deal, but it is a residual effect on some of these guys.
Hoge pointed out something interesting yesterday that I didn't even consider. As a Covid-hangover effect, this draft has a record LOW number of underclassmen in it. Lots of college players have taken advantage of the covid season rules to maintain NCAA eligibility for 5 or even 6 years thus the late rounds of this draft are gonna have less talent in them than usual. Doesn't mean there won't be some good finds there but a 5th this year is probably more equivalent to a 6th or 7th in typical drafts due to reduced underclassmen numbers.
But yeah it sure would be nice if we could trade Fields. His market is looking weaker by the day. There's very little smoke out there that any team is even seriously interested. Feels like nothing is gonna happen until after FA starts and we see where Cousins and Mayfield land. Pretty disappointing...
Falcons are waiting to see what happens with Cousins, but I still think that’s Fields most likely landing spot.
They seem hot after getting Cousins. Don't know their cap sitch.
For a team that has the money to pay him, he's a no-brainer over Fields IMO. He's a better QB and he doesn't cost you any draft picks.
Obviously there's no teams right now who are enamored with Fields "potential". So much for the theory that he just needs a different OC and receivers. 31 other teams don't seem to feel that way.
I like this idea. If the best WR isn't there. Trade down to the low 20's to pick up PJP.
If the top-3 WRs go in the first 8, I really hope JJ McCarthy is still there. Maybe Vegas or Pitt will want to move up for him.
There is a lot to like about JJ McCarthy at the NFL level. He could end up a decent starter. Three years from now it will be interesting to revisit this QB draft and see who actually transitioned well - and who didn't. All of the top QBs in this draft, including Caleb, have issues that need worked on at the NFL level. LOL, but that said, I have watched all of these top guys, not named Caleb Williams, trying to convince myself that the Bears could do a tiny trade down and get a gem in one of them - but over and over again I can't deny there is a significant talent dropoff from Caleb to the rest of the herd. Caleb isn't perfect, but he's about as perfect as you are going to find in a college QB coming to the NFL. Maybe even the Chicago Bears can develop this one (but who knows... they are so clueless on offense that the jury is still out on that one).