The Bears have already moved back once in the first round, sending the No. 1 pick to the Panthers for a package that included the No. 9 pick in Thursday’s draft. While the front office was able to restock their draft capital, the team could still look to move back a second time. According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, the Bears “probably would like to trade down” as they pursue more picks.
Volin suspects that the organization likes Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers but has no intention of taking him in the top 10. By trading back in the first round, Ryan Poles and co. can continue to collect assets while also selecting their preferred prospect in a more palatable spot. Volin also suggests that the front office could simply look to deal some of their non-firsts to trade into the back end of the first round, with the writer suggesting a package of picks No. 53, No. 61, and No. 64.
The Bears made a clear commitment to Justin Fields when they traded out of the first selection, eliminating any shot at adding one of the draft’s top QB prospects. The team’s apparent pursuit of Flowers emphasizes their desire to surround Fields with as many talented playmakers as possible, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the organization adds a handful of skill players before the draft is complete.
More notes leading up to Thursday’s draft…
- A league executive told Peter King of Football Morning in America that the Eagles “love” Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith, and the writer believes there’s a chance the organization selects the prospect with the 10th-overall pick. While many pundits have assumed the Eagles would select someone like Northwestern lineman Peter Skoronski, King notes that the organization generally hasn’t used high draft picks on offensive guards. Further, the team’s grouping of edge rushers (Brandon Graham, Haason Reddick, Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat) are pushing an average age of 30, so it wouldn’t be a shock if they add some youth to the grouping.
- The Bills like North Carolina wideout Josh Downs, according to King. Scouts believe the receiver could start in the slot from Day 1, providing Josh Allen with another talented pass-catcher outside of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Downs averaged nearly 100 yards per game over the past two seasons.
- A number of teams believe the Ravens will be eyeing wide receivers when it’s their turn to pick at No. 22, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. While the organization added Odell Beckham to a grouping that also includes Rashod Bateman, the team could be looking for another burner to pair with Lamar Jackson. Breer points to Flowers as a “potential interesting fit.”
- The Chiefs have made calls about moving up from the No. 31 pick, according to Breer. While teams believe Kansas City is simply looking for a “discounted way” to move up the board, Breer notes that the organization wouldn’t make such a move unless they had their eye on a particular prospect. Once again, Flowers comes up as a potential target, and Breer also points to Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Tennessee receiver Jalin Hyatt, and Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith as options.
The Bears are taking some kind of lineman with the first pick. They are not taking a WR or RB because those positions are set and and can always be added to later. All this other stuff is just bilge. WR’s take longer to develop anyway and besides even if Mooney and Claypool both walk after this year the Bears have 2 firsts next year and a 2nd if they want to go that way. The strongest position in this draft is OT which happens to be their biggest need. All the rest of this is guys trying to start rumors.
What year are you living in where development of WRs is hard?
Some of the best WRs in the NFL were drafted in the last few years.
Plus, your QB can’t throw so wasting picks on a WR doesn’t make much sense. You can argue that with a better line he will have more time to complete passes, but I think the reality is that he just isn’t a great thrower of the football. Not a great trait for an NFL QB.
It’s pretty much a known fact that being a WR in the Pros is a big leap from being one in college. They have to be able to read defenses, Adjust routes on the fly and also block which are things they’ve never been asked to do. It’s a big adjustment and takes time. A lot of them struggle at first. Our QB is just fine if he’s not running for his life, Which is being addressed rather nicely. Claypool and Mooney can be resigned if that’s what they want to do, FA next year another way to go, And as I mentioned there is the draft next year. So there’s no point taking a WR this year when there are much bigger issues. It’s fools speculation by people who are trying to make up the next BIG story, Plain and simple. You build a team with a sturdy base, In other words the lines. Without that, You can’t do anything else.
The Bears are practically color by number in this draft.
Poles is taking an OL for the #9. There’s no news there and the next pick is going to be WR.
After that they probably shift to the DL or CB.
The fact people actually debated ‘not’ trading the #1 is just south of sense. Especially since the QB boards are this wobbly days before the draft.
Up next, the new Justin Fields fur coat clothing line.
Spot-on correct, imo. It’s not 100%, but the overwhelming majority of the mocks I’ve seen have them drafting Skoronski or Paris Johnson.
And the Bears don’t really need a WR, at least as much as they need other slots filled. Drafting Flowers to push Claypool to the bench is not a luxury they can afford.
And just like my Raiders, they should probably trade back.
All depends on how the draft falls. There is absolutely no certainty at this point. Does Carter fall to them? Is there a rush on tackles early? Is a QB still there that might allow them to trade back? Poles has to improve the trenches on both sides of the ball. O-tackle, center, edge, 3 technique, then CB, WR are my guess. So many holes to fill. Gonna be an interesting draft!
You can pretty much cut & paste that for my Raiders. It’s not like we shouldn’t at least consider a QB, but if any of them drop to #7, then I assume at least one or two teams will want to overpay us for them. In a perfect world, Levis & Richardson are available, and we land a trade with TN. And then one is left at #11, and we trade back for WA’s #16.
I’m not thinking we’re going to clear the table, but a couple of low-#2s or high #3’s will help fill the numerous holes we have.
The Bears might take a WR later but my prediction is the 2nd rounders and 3rd will be a CB and DL or maybe a C they like. I still don’t believe they are actually going to move Whitehair back to C which has already failed once. Anybody who remembers him snapping the ball either over the QB’s head or dribbling it back like a grounder in the shotgun is looking forward to seeing that again.
I do not think any WR in the draft wants to be drafted to the Ravens and I do not think the Ravens should draft a WR early if at all. Nothing has changed within the Ravens except Odell is now there and he is going to command the majority of the passes. Rashod Bateman missed the majority of the season in 22′ he will be back looking to do something in his 3rd year. TE Mark Andrews will always get his as long as he can stay on the field. Plus I know Lamar likes to run on occasion. The Ravens need to draft a CB, S, and OT before they look to grab a WR.
Yep. I’m not buying this. Other needs and with only 5 picks, I’m thinking they do what they did last year. Trade a starter (Hollywood) to gain a pick. And not Patrick Queen. Me, I’d roll the dice with Likely and Kohler (sp?); so trade Andrews. The Lions are looking for a TE upgrade. Andrews for a Lions 2 and 5 and their best blocker on their TE depth chart.
While many pundits have assumed the Eagles would select someone like Northwestern lineman Peter Skoronski,
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I’ve probably looked at 100 mocks, and I don’t recall the Eagles picking Skoronski in even a single one.
Mel Kiper has the Eagles taking Skoronski in his last mock. That is why pundits are reporting that pick. Most simulations I have seen have the Eagles taking Robinson because he is the best player available, but it has been reported that they will not take a RB that high in the draft. Enough speculation! Let’s draft already!!!
Eagles DEs averaging an age of 30 is hilarious to say when it’s Graham being 35 that sways that average. 2023 season playing ages: Sweat 26, Barnett 27, Reddick 29. Not to say they won’t bring in young DEs and could very possibly draft Smith, just silly reasoning and phrasing on why they would do so.
Ravens take a CB in 1st, it’s deep WR class so they’ll address that in later rounds, also think they take a QB2 develop @sum point, but that could all change as they almost always take best player available on their board