The NFL draft continues to be greater than three months away, going down April 27-29 in Kansas City, Mo. But with the Chicago Bears holding the No. 1 choose for less than the third time in franchise historical past, inquiring followers have questions — and Brad Biggs solutions them in his weekly mailbag.
If the Bears commerce to No. 2, what do you count on the bundle they’d get in return could be? — @cladovanjeff
There might be no scarcity of questions concerning the infinite potentialities Ryan Poles doubtlessly can have with the No. 1 choose within the draft till he makes use of the choice or auctions it off. If the Bears have been to maneuver down one spot with the Houston Texans, who’re in want of a quarterback, it could outcome within the smallest of all potential returns. I’m skeptical the Bears would get two first-round picks on this state of affairs — it merely could be too excessive of a value for the Texans to pay except they’re positively head over heels for one of many prospects and suspect/worry one other staff is lurking to commerce for the choose.
Quite a lot of unknowns stay with the category of quarterbacks, led by Will Levis, C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young (listed alphabetically). As NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah famous, it’s tough to place them in a pecking order proper now, and all three are “flawed.” If there have been a transparent No. 1, the choose would have extra worth. In that situation, if the prospect have been considered as a generational expertise, even perhaps the Bears could be contemplating taking the participant.
Draft choose commerce charts have been round without end — Jimmy Johnson is credited for creating one when he was with the Dallas Cowboys. That chart has circulated for the longest time. NFL groups have adjusted it, and each staff has its personal mannequin of what worth needs to be assigned to every choose.
Every draft chart you uncover goes to be totally different. Overthecap.com has one that implies the Texans could be overpaying in the event that they gave the Bears the No. 2 choose and their third-round choice for No. 1. Could the Texans be pushed to pay extra? Anything is feasible when the stakes contain a quarterback. This is only one chart.
Another chart Rich Hill devised at Pats Pulpit suggests the Bears might get extra in a transfer down only one spot. According to this mannequin, the Texans could be just a bit mild in the event that they supplied the No. 2 choose together with their second- and third-round picks.
The Texans personal two first-round picks — Nos. 2 and 12 — and it’s inconceivable to me they’d supply each firsts to maneuver as much as No. 1. Maybe the Texans, after they end their scouting, are pleased with two of the QB prospects. In that situation, they might wait to pick one it doesn’t matter what occurs at No. 1. Moving to No. 2 could be advantageous for the Bears because it possible would guarantee them the highest non-quarterback on the board and provides them extra draft capital.
I consider Bears need to obtain a 2024 first-round choose as a part of any commerce of the No. 1 choose in case Justin Fields regresses. That means they’ve two 1s in 2024 to get into the Caleb Williams-Drake Maye fray — type of like Howie Roseman did with the Eagles final season. Agree? — @themaxconnor1
I discussed beforehand that buying a first-round choose for 2024 in a commerce situation might assist place the Bears to get within the QB derby a 12 months from now. That actually needs to be a part of the consideration for Ryan Poles and Co. within the occasion they begin getting some motion for the choose, one thing that won’t occur for a while. Of course, if Williams, Maye or one other quarterback (Quinn Ewers, anybody?) is lights out within the fall and is the presumptive No. 1 choose, you higher have that choice in your pocket as a result of it could possibly be a state of affairs during which the staff sitting there by no means would deal down. There could be a number of benefits to including a future first-round choose in a trade-down situation. As I detailed above, the Bears in all probability must transfer down previous the Texans at No. 2 to make that occur.
Do you view the 2023 quarterback class as comparatively weak and thus decrease commerce worth of the No. 1 choose? — @cj_chi6142
I don’t know if I might name it weak but it surely actually lacks a definitive No. 1 selection proper now. Alabama’s Bryce Young has been electrical, however as I detailed in 10 Thoughts after the season finale, a staff goes to take a leap of religion on him being bodily capable of stand up to the pains {of professional} soccer. The Crimson Tide listing Young at 194 kilos. NFL scouts I’ve spoken with all year long consider he’s nearer to 185. We’ll see on the finish of February when the NFL scouting mix rolls round. Why is that quantity important? According to Pro Football Reference, three quarterbacks drafted within the first spherical since 2000 have weighed 210 kilos or much less.
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: No. 1 choose, 2019, 5-10, 207 kilos
- Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns: No. 22 choose, 2014, 6-0, 207
- Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons: No. 1 choose, 2001, 6-0, 210
The hole between 207 and 194 is huge and even bigger if Young is nearer to his estimated weight of 185.
Kentucky’s Will Levis has drawn comparisons to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who went seventh in 2018. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud is coming off a wonderful season and was top-notch towards Georgia within the CFP semifinal. I’m positive quarterback-needy groups can have them stacked in another way two months from now. One key factor when contemplating the potential commerce of the choose is how far aside groups in want grade the quarterbacks. If grades are comparable, it might cut back the urge to pay (overpay?) for a commerce as much as No. 1.
The Bears have a great probability to generate curiosity within the choose. Multiple veteran quarterbacks might be on the transfer this offseason. Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, Tom Brady, Sam Darnold and even maybe Lamar Jackson might change addresses. Teams buying established QBs might be far much less more likely to draft one, and you’ll all however rule them out of trade-up dialogue.
I’ve seen some individuals saying the Bears ought to commerce Justin Fields and draft a quarterback. Fields has been nice together with his operating and playmaking, however I feel he’s subpar together with his passing. Do you suppose the Bears ought to begin over at quarterback and commerce Fields whereas his worth is excessive? What type of bundle do you suppose they might get for him? — Gary
Ryan Poles has stated the Bears are enthusiastic about working with Fields and serving to him enhance and indicated it’s extremely unlikely the staff will draft a quarterback at No. 1. o, the probabilities of this situation enjoying out are virtually nil — except Poles does an about-face. I’m not positive the Bears could be buying and selling Fields whereas his worth is excessive — different groups are going to query the struggles with the staff’s passing offense. One personnel man I chatted with about this subject just a few weeks in the past — earlier than Poles held his season-ending information convention, thought the Bears may be capable to get a late first-round choose for Fields. Again, it’s virtually actually a moot level, but when the Bears have been to try to commerce Fields, his worth could be diminished a bit as a result of groups would know the staff was seeking to take a QB at No. 1.
What is the following step for the Bears protection? — Triton John
We can have a a lot better understanding of what the protection will appear like and what strengths it will probably set up when the participant procurement interval ends. The backside line is the Bears have to interchange a bunch of starters on that facet of the ball, notably within the entrance seven. They did that this season, however with restricted assets, properly, the product wasn’t excellent.
Six former Bears can have began within the playoffs this season if the Philadelphia Eagles’ Robert Quinn is within the combine Saturday. Quinn had arthroscopic knee surgical procedure in early December and has been designated to return from injured reserve, which means he’s on the apply subject this week because the staff prepares for a divisional-round sport towards the New York Giants. Linebacker Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens), edge rusher Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers), defensive sort out Akiem Hicks (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), cornerback Duke Shelley (Minnesota Vikings) and security Tashaun Gipson (San Francisco 49ers) began within the wild-card spherical. And Vikings defensive sort out Khyris Tonga performed 24 snaps within the rotation.
The Bears didn’t enhance over any of these gamers, and that course of must get rolling in free company and carry by way of the draft.
Given the shortage of free-agent playmakers at extensive receiver, ought to Ryan Poles be entertaining a run at Odell Beckham Jr. or DeAndre Hopkins? — Robert B., Corona, Calif.
I addressed the potential for a commerce situation for Hopkins in final week’s mailbag. Have you seen the video of Beckham being taken off an airplane in Florida in December? That’s greater than a bit bothersome to most people. Beckham has had two surgical procedures to restore a torn ACL, and I’m unsure the Bears are on the level at which they should add him to the combination. They could be more likely to focus on Jakobi Meyers in free company than Beckham.
Two gadgets I’ve not seen addressed: Is Ryan Poles nonetheless having to rely totally on Ryan Pace’s scouts? And what did Kevin Warren do for Vikings’ on-field success? — Kirk M.
You should have missed the mailbag in November after I detailed the turnover within the scouting division from final season. The Bears employed Ian Cunningham as assistant normal supervisor and Trey Koziol as a co-director of participant personnel. They employed three new space scouts: Tom Bradway (Northeast), Ryan Cavanaugh (Midwest) and Reese Hicks (West Coast). Seven school scouts stay from the Pace period.
As far as Warren’s contributions in Minnesota, he rose to the extent of COO and oversaw enterprise operations. He didn’t oversee soccer operations — the Wilf possession group separates the 2. Given Warren has spent greater than 20 years within the NFL, it’s pure to consider he’s ready to supervise your entire operation now. Time will inform. And there’s going to be loads of time for enchancment on the sphere earlier than the Bears transfer — if certainly they head to the suburbs.
Being a lifelong fan, I’ve been confronted with an excellent larger query concerning the Bears’ possible transfer to Arlington Heights. I’m nervous as a tattooed particular person and die-hard fan of the “C” brand whether or not they’d eradicate Chicago from the title and alter it to the Arlington Heights Bears. — Joseph Q.
You can relaxation straightforward about having to move to the tattoo parlor to see if the artist can flip a “C” into a elaborate “AH.” The Bears aren’t going to alter their title in the event that they play house video games in Arlington Heights. The Dallas Cowboys don’t play in Dallas. The San Francisco 49ers don’t play in San Francisco. The New York Giants and Jets play in New Jersey. The Washington Commanders play in Maryland. The Buffalo Bills play in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Assuming issues go considerably easily, what would a tough completion date be for a brand new stadium? — @darin926
Pure guess: I can’t see the Bears enjoying house video games in Arlington Heights earlier than 2026 on the earliest. One factor Kevin Warren stated Tuesday that stood out was the actual fact the Vikings spent a complete 12 months planning the development of U.S. Bank Stadium. This is an enormous parcel of land, and it’s going to require a ton of labor and infrastructure upgrades. You’re a minimal of three extra seasons at Soldier Field in my thoughts, perhaps 4.
Are there any important positives of Luke Getsy teaching on the Senior Bowl? — @lavine_x_fields
There isn’t a unfavorable. Getsy would be the head coach for one of many groups and can have three Bears assistants with him — linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, assistant particular groups coach Carlos Polk and assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts. They can have some perception to gamers within the scouting course of, which might show helpful within the pre-draft course of.
Which free-agent operating backs do you see as an improve to David Montgomery? — @briefkase20
Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard will all be extra coveted in the event that they attain the open market, and the Eagles’ Miles Sanders enhanced his worth this season. The first three are the large names to keep watch over. Would the Bears sink huge cash in a operating again? GM Ryan Poles got here from Kansas City, the place the Chiefs have performed fairly properly for a while rolling by way of gamers on rookie contracts and discovering helpful castoffs resembling Jerick McKinnon. It wouldn’t shock me if the Bears have been to make a splash at RB in free company, however I’ve at all times been leery of huge contracts on the place and I’ve been fairly clear about that. Maybe the Bears would take into account an funding as an thought to assist Justin Fields, and if that’s the case it might make sense. But so many huge operating again contracts have gone unhealthy.
Any replace on Tevin Jenkins and his again/neck points? — @ht_hybridtheory
Jenkins flashed fairly a bit this season. The drawback is he was on the sphere for less than 576 snaps, and sturdiness considerations will comply with him till he proves he can keep wholesome. At the tip of the season, Jenkins indicated he deliberate to spend time engaged on workouts to strengthen his neck. He’s doing Pilates to assist together with his again, which wasn’t as a lot of a problem this season as a hip damage after which the stingers/neck situation. His third season might be pivotal. A stellar season might put him in line for a serious contract.
The free-agent class at defensive sort out seems robust with a number of intriguing gamers on the three-technique place. If the Bears make an enormous splash on a three-technique in free company, do you suppose that makes them much less more likely to go for Jalen Carter within the draft? — @mosconml
Free company at all times serves as a street map of kinds heading into the draft. Teams that can clear wants in free company can change their draft focus considerably. The Washington Commanders’ Daron Payne and Denver Broncos’ Dre’Mont Jones will make a fortune in the event that they attain the open market. The Arizona Cardinals’ Zach Allen and Minnesota Vikings’ Dalvin Tomlinson could possibly be three-technique choices for some groups. If the Bears spend huge on a three-technique, I might think about they’d be much less more likely to choose Carter. But you by no means know, particularly in the event that they consider one of many veterans has positional flexibility.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com