The Cubs are playing the Cardinals right now, but I still can't get myself enough into baseball this year, despite the Cubs quick 7 run lead in the first of the 3 game set. The White Sox have Jose Abreu and his quick start, but they're under .500 and just lost 3 out of 4 to possibly the worst team in baseball (yes, possibly even worse than the Cubs). The Blackhawks have been doing great, but I admit to not being as hockey savvy as I am with the other 3 major sports, even though I've followed it for just as long as everything except for baseball. The Bulls are done, and I just couldn't get into the season at all once Rose went back down. However, with football there is some hope. Sure, I even gave up on the football season pretty quickly, as the injuries piled up for the Bears at a furious pace, and they seemingly never really had a chance, although they did come too close to the playoffs.
Well, we are just coming off one of the most hopeful times of the year. The draft always brings a new hope. That on top of an excellent free agency and plenty of injured players returning healthy, and there is a lot of hope that the Bears are moving forward from with this point. The entire NFC North had their drafts praised. Then again, Ted Thompson could draft all longsnappers for the Packers and the media would call him a genius. Anyway, I'm going to go over all of the drafts for all of the teams, compare them to what the Bears did, and from there go into who the Bears have and what their depth charts may possibly look like (or may look like further into the offseason or even once the season gets underway).
I'll start with the Packers, why not? Getting Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was an easy choice for Thompson, as he fell right into their laps for a team needing a safety and with Pryor already gone. Davante Adams wasn't a bad pick since they had lost James Jones to the Raiders. He fits their style well, although he could add some strength. Khyri Thornton wasn't a terrible pick, but wasn't a good pick either. He's strong, but he's bad at shedding blocks, isn't especially fast, and doesn't rush the QB well, not a good combo for a DT. Still, he is strong and does get off the ball well and can give decent quick bursts. Still, he was a reach by about 2-3 entire rounds. Richard Rodgers was another 2-3 round stretch, he's got reliable physical attributes, but nothing special, and doesn't run great routes. Carl Bradford was picked at about the right time, but there's nothing especially great about him. He is a good tackler and has a great motor, so you can't count him out, but I don't know about the fit in the Green Bay scheme, as most scouts seem to think that he probably won't be a great pass rusher due to his lack of size and inability to get by bigger blockers. Corey Linsley was a pick at a big need, but if we thought it took the Bears too long to fill the safety need, it took way too long for the Packers to fill their need at center. Not only that, but it was a reach of at least two rounds for him. He might have been able to have been signed as an UFA if they really wanted him. Jared Abbrederis was a good pick. He was taken about a round late really. He's got decent height, but nothing special. He's got slightly above average speed, but is also very weak. However, what the Packers like about him is that he runs great routes, and even if he doesn't wind up being that special, he'll be rewarded for that by Aaron Rodgers. Goodson was another UFA that they used a 6th round pick on, and Janis did fall quite a bit, but that's because he doesn't have good hands. He's got the athletic ability to play, but it doesn't matter if he can't catch the ball.
Minnesota had 10 picks, so enough of me going in depth on these picks, short thoughts from here on out. Barr has a lot of upside, but is also very raw. Bridgewater is my pick to be the best QB in the draft, but I don't think he's a Pro Bowl talent, but still a good QB. Crichton was a nice pick, but also looks raw. I thought McKinnon was a bit early of a pick for someone who is being drafted to be a backup, but other than going down easily, not a bad pick. David Yankey was a solid pick and a bit of a steal for them. Antone Exum is a bit of a risk due to his attitude and injury history, but he is also a good athlete. James is athletic, but weak. It's going to be an uphill battle for him to be strong enough to go up against NFL receivers. Shemar Stephen is another risk, another guy who is raw. He may also have some attitude problems and is slow off the snap. Brandon Watts is someone who will contribute, but it may be on special teams. I almost wonder if they may move him to safety. He has good speed in his game, but not enough power to really be a linebacker, so at least at first, a move to safety may fit him better. However, later on once he fills out he may be a better linebacker. Jabari Price is another great athlete without great instincts. That's really what the theme to Minnesota's draft was. They drafted mostly great athletes who were either raw or just didn't have their head in the right place in college.
As for Detroit, I really liked the Ebron pick, which wasn't as popular among a lot of the analysts out there, but I thought it was a great way to provide yet another target to help open up Megatron a bit more, or take advantage of Megatron being given too much attention. Kyle Van Noy seems like one of those guys who is solid in most ways, but not especially good anywhere, I thought he was a reach by about a round. Travis Swanson was a nice pick at a position of need. Nevin Lawson has solid speed, but horrible technique and was a reach by at least 3 rounds. I think you all know that I think the Larry Webster pick was a good one, even if they did reach by about a round for him. As everyone who knows how much I liked him knows, I also didn't think that he was a sure thing, just a risk that's worthwhile, and usually those should be mid 5th and later picks. Still, huge upside, but a solid chance to bust too. Caraun Reid isn't a scheme fit, but he has a good motor and has plenty of good things about him that he may be able to still be a productive player. I'm not too high on the TJ Jones pick, but a lot of people are, he's not especially big, strong, or fast, but he will most likely play in the slot. He's not doomed, but I just don't see it. Nate Freese was a kicker being drafted. Probably a solid kicker, but someone that would have been there as an undrafted free agent.
To see my thoughts on the Bears draft, just go to that post. Anyway, as far as my grades go, I give the Packers a B-. I don't get where all the hype is when there were so many huge reaches in the first through fourth rounds. The only real good picks they made in that time was on a no brainer in Clinton-Dix and the Adams pick that was a pick that filled a need, but I don't see him being a superstar or anything, more of a receiver that will play well fitting in with the system. Thompson seemed to take risks on a bunch of guys hoping that one would surprise so that everyone calls him a genius again, even if it does mean 2-3 subpar picks before the 5th rounds, which is where you really want to make sure you get the picks right. Anyway, this isn't just because I'm a Bears fan, I really think that anyone who gave the Packers an A is going completely off of thinking that Thompson can do no wrong and is ignoring the actual guys he picked. It still wasn't a bad draft. If the guys I think will show up, show up, then the Packers still have an above average draft. With the Vikings, they had a ton of picks and used them on a bunch of lottery tickets. That's really not a bad method with that many picks. When you draft a lot of high reward risks, the more you have, the better the chances are that you get some that pay off. Still, there were more attitude issue guys that I saw picked than I would be comfortable with, so I'll dock them the + from what would have been a B+ for that, and I'll leave them with a very solid B. Now for the Lions, loved the first round pick, but didn't think they made too many very good picks past that, outside of Larry Webster, of course, but I even had a small issue with that in that I thought it was a round early. Not a bad draft, but not very good either, slightly above average at a C+. As for the Bears, I don't know if it was luck or what, but they waited too long to fill their biggest need, but when they did they got a guy that had fallen about 2 rounds too far. They also made a very good first round pick in what had to be a tough decision. The second round pick seemed to be a stretch, but Emery made a great point in that nobody could run against Ego Ferguson, and that's what matters, also they got bailed out by getting a 2nd round DT in the 3rd round. I'm not going to go over the top in praising the Emery draft, but I'll go with an A-. I still didn't like them drafting a punter, even though he does much more than the average punter does and has a massive leg, but he still would have been there after the draft.
Okay, so now where are the Bears. I gave them the win in their division, but where does that leave them? Well, let's look at what the charts are now and I'll give my opinion.
QB - Cutler, Palmer, Fales, Johnson
The only change I see happening here is Fales possibly moving ahead of Palmer. He just reminds me so much of McCown last year, not a great deep arm, but very accurate from short to mid range. If the Bears carry 3 QBs, it'll be Cutler, Palmer, and Fales. If it's two, it will be Cutler and either one of those other two. Johnson is just a camp body.
RB - Forte, Carey, Ford, Lynch, Draughn
It's really tough to say what will happen here. I think Forte and Carey will be the top two guys, but past that it's tough to say. I think Lynch will be given every chance to succeed and be given plenty of chances given he's learning a new position. I think early on he'll stick and be used for a lot of trickery given that he is a QB, so he can throw the ball too. I don't know if Draughn is more than a camp body, but if he does impress I'm sure he'll be given his chances.
WR - Marshall, Jeffery, Morgan, Wilson, Weems, Hixon, Williams, Bellamy, Toliver
The first 4 guys are the guys I expect to be the top 4 receivers on the team. Past that it was a combination of being a receiver and having a chance to be the return guy. I think it's Hixon or Williams myself. However, between Weems, Hixon, Williams, Bellamy, and Toliver, the returner is the one who will get that last receiver spot, unless the Bears go 6 deep there.
TE - Bennett, Onobun, Rosario, Miller, Mulligan
I'm going to count Booth as a tackle. I just can't imagine him as a TE. Anyway, Bennett's easily the #1 guy, and Onobun will be given every chance to be the #2 guy. He's worked very hard this offseason, and really wants to fill out his athletic potential. Rosario is a safe guy for the #3 tight end spot, as he's reliable, even if he isn't much of a receiving tight end. If Onobun still can't catch the ball, then Zach Miller isn't a terrible guy to have if they decide to bring on 3 tight ends.
OL - Bushrod, Slauson, Garza, Kyle Long, Mills, Brown, Britton, de la Puente, Groy, Leno, Boggs, Gaines, Joe Long, Booth, Dunbar
The Bears have brought in a ton of depth since the early days of free agency. I think the first five guys are almost a lock to make the team. After that, Brown, Britton, and de la Puente should all wind up on the team. Past that it's tough to say. I'm thinking it winds up being Leno, since he can help on the outside and they have plenty of depth on the inside of that line. Boggs and Groy are the guys who I think have the next best chances of making the final roster.
CB - Tillman, Jennings, Fuller, Hayden, Frey, McManis, CJ Wilson, Purdy, Hurst
I think the first 5 guys here may wind up on the roster, as McManis brings a ton to special teams that I don't think they'll mind having the extra corner there. Wilson wound up being solid playing in limited time last season, so they may decide to stash him too.
S - Conte, Mundy, Vereen, Steltz, MD Jennings, McCray
I hate to say it, but it looks like Conte's going to stick around. Let's not forget that he has looked adequate in the past, so with a good defensive line I don't see him being as much of a liability. Mundy is great against the run, so if Vereen is good enough, I can see him leapfrogging Mundy and knocking Conte down to 3. Steltz has always been solid in reserve, but is nothing more than that. MD Jennings is another guy who's good against the run, but who gets lost in pass protection. As for McCray, I don't have a ton of faith that he has much of a chance. I think the first 4 guys there wind up on the team.
LB - Briggs, Williams, Bostic, Greene, McClellin, Christian Jones, Senn, Franklin, Lawrence, Lattimore, Patrick
Briggs is an absolute given, as is Williams. Bostic and Greene would really have to be horrible to get cut. McClellin is going to be tough to figure out, as he may wind up being great with space, we really don't know. He's got the size and speed to be a good linebacker, it all depends on how well he's able to adjust to the position change. For all we know, he could do great, or he could totally bust. Christian Jones is among the best UFA signings across the entire league. He has a great chance to make the roster and even get some playing time. Senn will make the team because of his ability on special teams. Franklin, who I wouldn't actually mind for depth, might not make the team, unless it's for special teams, and I don't see any of those last three making the team.
DE - Allen, Houston, Young, Idonije, Bass, Washington, Lane, Scott, Robertson
Bears are again looking at good depth. Let's not forget that Bass was a draft pick last year. However, those first 3 are going to be a nasty group, especially with the ability of Houston to move inside on 3rd downs. If Bass and Washington show any improvement, the Bears are going to be in good shape. Lane, Scott, and Robertson don't look to make the team, but with Idonije there too, the Bears will already have 6 good guys to pick from there.
DT - Ratliff, Paea, Collins, Ferguson, Sutton, Idonije, Pegues, Dunn
The Bears are suddenly deep at DT too. That's assuming, of course, that Ferguson and Sutton can live up to their draft spots or better. Still, Idonije is a nice option to have behind them, as he's able to play inside or outside. Pegues was a pretty nice UFA for them to sign, as I believe he'll move inside himself, as he's a better fit there. The only guy I'll write off as probably not making the team is Dunn.
Things are looking more and more solid as the offseason moves along. Safety is still a concern, but it does look like there will be some strength added there. Past Bennett I'm a bit worried about tight end, but if Onobun is finally able to figure it out that turns into a strength. However, that's a big if. Not all of the rookies will look real good early on, but I do think the Bears have a lot of guys they drafted who will be able to come in and be quality players at their respective position. I trust in the work that Emery has done and think that in the end this will be a very nice draft class.
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