The ultra-hyped, yet much anticipated, NFL Draft begins tomorrow night. Enough said.
As fascinating as last year’s draft was, with the Chicago Bears being linked to Jamal Adams, Solomon Thomas, and Deshaun Watson pre-draft, this one might be even more intriguing.
Ryan Pace on Tuesday said that there are eight players he likes in the eighth draft slot. So he’s guaranteed to get a player he likes at that spot. Who will be available, and who will Pace prioritize? Nobody has a clue.
No need for a bigger preamble than that for this week’s Bears Mailbag. All we can do is wait now. So I’ll reach into the Mailbag right away. Thanks to everybody who submitted questions — always appreciate the participation!
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Dream draft
— Nick P (@nickdabears34) April 23, 2018
The Bears’ philosophy is to draft the best player available on their board in every round. While that’s great, we as dreamers and fans also have to take team needs into account, at least a little bit. For example, Chicago’s biggest remaining need is EDGE rusher, and they need multiple bodies, both starting caliber talent and depth. And this year’s EDGE class is not very deep — plenty of high upside prospects available, but many of them need a TON of work before they’re really ready to contribute consistently.
So I’d be loathe to not prioritize EDGE rusher in Round 1. Harold Landry is my favorite EDGE rusher, and one of my favorite overall prospects, in this draft. For those that follow me on Twitter (@DhruvKoul), they know I’ve been adamant about this for months. So I’d love to see him go at 8. However, if Quenton Nelson, the best OL prospect to come out in decades and the best player in this draft, were to fall to the eighth pick, I don’t see how they could afford to pass up that opportunity. Grabbing Nelson would give the Bears an interior line of Nelson-Whitehair-Long … Jordan Howard might run for 2,000 yards before the BYE week. Only kind of kidding.
I know the questions asks for my “dream” draft … and while I don’t really have a “dream” draft figured out, I have a couple that I would like depending on whom the Bears select at 8. If they don’t go EDGE rusher, they really need to STRONGLY consider taking an EDGE in the 2nd round. And even if they do go EDGE in the first, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing them double-dip as early as the second round.
So I’ll answer your question two ways: One where the Bears take Nelson at eight, and the other where they take Landry. Realistically, it would only change my first couple selections, but here goes:
Round 1: Quenton Nelson (G) or Harold Landry (EDGE)
Round 2: Lorenzo Carter / Kemoko Turay (EDGE) or Christian Kirk (WR)
Round 4: Darius Leonard (ILB)
Round 4: Alex Cappa (OL)
Round 5: Dorance Armstrong (EDGE)
Round 6: J’Mon Moore (WR)
Round 7: Chase Edmonds (RB)
Dream trade back scenario?
— Josh Lopez (@joshlopez261) April 23, 2018
In his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, Ryan Pace said that there are eight prospects that the Bears would be happy with taking at eighth overall. He also said that if they were to trade down, that would likely preclude them from taking at least two of the eight players they like. So, theoretically, and not accounting for other teams that could trade up to grab non-QB prospects they value highly, the Bears could drop six spots, to 14, and still get someone they like.
Assuming Miami wants a QB at 11, Chicago could then trade down one more spot and get a player they covet. Trading with Arizona at 15 is likely to fetch the Bears the best package and still get them a high value prospect. So on the surface, this is the trade I would make. And the return would likely include multiple mid-round picks in addition to swapping first rounders. So the Bears would get a player they like in Round 1, and have additional draft capital to grab depth later on.
But honestly, count me as one of those that doesn’t want to see the Bears trade down. Yes, Pace could grab somebody he likes even by doing so. But not all prospects are made the same. For example, for arguments sake, let’s say Pace likes both Quenton Nelson and Marcus Davenport in Round 1. Nelson is a Day 1 starter, a Day 1 All Pro Watch kind of player who will make the Bears’ interior line arguably the best in football. Davenport needs a good amount of development before he’s unlocked his potential. Nelson won’t be available if they trade down, but Davenport likely will.
And I’d rather have Nelson than Davenport.
Earlier today I heard Mike Mayock say that GM's are leaning to the removal of labels on guys at skill positions on O. I know that you're not a fan of Barkley. If he is the best skill position player vs RB and 1st rd WRs have been questionable isn't that something to consider?
— Mason West (@MasonMDubbsWest) April 23, 2018
It’s certainly an interesting point and a question worth pondering. My issue with Barkley is that his vision and decision-making at the line of scrimmage when running the ball has always been subpar. He got away with a lot of bad decisions in college because he’s one of the best athletes the college game, and soon the NFL, has seen in a long time, and he could just shift and outrun everybody. But the NFL employs a different level of athlete on defense. If he doesn’t improve his running intelligence, which is not easy to do at all, NFL defenders will eat him alive. Before his injuries, the same issue(s) plagued Trent Richardson.
But as an all-round offensive weapon who lines up everywhere on the field? That’s certainly worth a conversation. It’s not just about Matt Nagy’s offensive fit, either. Jordan Howard will fit this offense just fine because every offense could use a runner like Howard. But Barkley lining up in the slot, or even in two-RB sets with either Howard or Tarik Cohen, and now you can have some fun.
The question is, is that worth a Top 10 pick? I don’t know. I don’t think so, honestly. Barkley is unlikely to get past Tampa Bay. But if he is available, and I was Ryan Pace, I’d pass and let someone else have him. The Bears would be better off building a wall in front of Howard by taking Quenton Nelson, in my opinion.
