2018 NFL Draft Prospects

[malk]

There's no need for a CB that hasn't had an INT in three years (Amukamara) and then for a guy that only played great in a contract year.

There's a reason why Pace went after Gilmore and Bouye.

It wouldn't bother me at all if we drafted a CB at #8.

Wait, did someone say Bouye?

Gonna go back to my interceptions are overrated schtick. The difference between a pass defended, or any other kind of forced incompletion, on 3rd down and an interception is the field position difference between the result of the interception and the punt return.

Marcus Peters has 19 interceptions in the past three years (which is pretty exceptional!). Then Reggie Nelson with 14, Darius Slay with 12 and 4 players with 11 and 5 players with 10. So those players with 10 are tied for 8th in the league.

Amukamara has 1 interception in the past three years which means the difference between him and the top 8 players in the league, for interceptions, over that three year period, is 3 extra interceptions per year.

I'm not going to advocate running a player out of town if they don't get enough interceptions, especially if part of that might be down to good play, see:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-peterson-amukamara-lead-nfl-in-receptions-allowed-per-snap-in-coverage

EDIT: Somewhat frustratingly my PFF subscription has run out and it isn't worth renewing. I would be interested to compare their coverage snap counts to the Pro Football Reference stats I've used above. Or even just snap counts (FO has these but I cannot be bothered combining them with the PFR data).

[Moriarty]

Bears need another pass rusher, a WR, a RT, and a CB. In that order.

Isn't Morgan supposed to be a fairly highly touted prospect? I thought there was a lot of noise around him, when we picked him up. Maybe Hiestand can develop him.

Some people had him as a midrounder (I didn't have time to study Gs last year). But he played at a small school, had very meh measurables, and got redshirted with a hangnail injury as a rookie. So my expectations aren't very high.

As far as Morgan goes, he’s raw but talented. I think he was always supposed to be someone that potentially took over at guard. I think he was listed at 6’4 319 ish, which is basically the same as Sitton. He is definitely a guy that should be in the future plans.

He was 6026 309. Definitely interior only.

[wab]

There's no need for a CB that hasn't had an INT in three years (Amukamara) and then for a guy that only played great in a contract year.

There's a reason why Pace went after Gilmore and Bouye.

It wouldn't bother me at all if we drafted a CB at #8.

The Bears went after those two guys not knowing how well the two they had would play. You can't just be like "oh they targeted corners last offseason" and pretend like nothing has changed since then.

[Hiphopopotamos]

Assuming Texas DB Holton Hill drops to the second round because of 'character concerns'* he would be an absolute steal in the second round. Great size/length at corner - coverage skills are there and he was very physical in the run game at Texas.


*Kid likes to smoke - shit should be legal anyways

[The Marshall Plan]

We had a 0 for turnover differential this year. We cannot concede the CB positions simply because Amukamara is a cover guy and Fuller had a great year last year.

We need ballhawks.

Regarding Marcus Peters. That guy was on the board too (along with Gurley and Beasley) when we drafted Kevin White.

[wab]

Marcus Peters is a turd. I don’t care how many picks he gets, he’s a turd.

[G08]

Marcus Peters is a turd. I don’t care how many picks he gets, he’s a turd.

Yep. I'd bet money that he wasn't even on Pace's board.

[RING4CHI]

I'm really intrigued by Shaquem Griffin. Obviously there's questions of how his situation would work/hold up in the NFL. But you know he's had to be a hard worker to get to where he's put himself in the position he's in.

[DaSuperfan]

Josh Jackson is my guy at 8 if we don't go for pass rusher or OL. Dude is a beast and a former WR - he's a true ball hawk.

[malk]

We had a 0 for turnover differential this year. We cannot concede the CB positions simply because Amukamara is a cover guy and Fuller had a great year last year.

We need ballhawks.

Regarding Marcus Peters. That guy was on the board too (along with Gurley and Beasley) when we drafted Kevin White.

Ballhawks, nope!

We had 22 takeaways this season, 15th in the league. Could we improve that? Sure, but the Vikings had 19, 23rd in the league and they were the best defence in points and yards. More interceptions are nice but there are many ways to skin a cat.

Look at it this way. The average interceptions per year of the top 5 players over different time periods (working back from 2017):

1 year (2017), 6.6
2 years, 5
3 years, 4.5
4 years, 4.2
5 years, 3.9
6 years, 3.7
7 years, 3.5

To me this demonstrates that, over any kind of extended period, around 4 interceptions per year is elite. But that elite level is 3 plays a year different to a decidedly non ballhawk like Amukamara who averages 1 interception per season over his 7 year career.

Bottom line, interceptions are a poor statistic to measure how good a CB is.

[The Marshall Plan]

We had a 0 for turnover differential this year. We cannot concede the CB positions simply because Amukamara is a cover guy and Fuller had a great year last year.

We need ballhawks.

Regarding Marcus Peters. That guy was on the board too (along with Gurley and Beasley) when we drafted Kevin White.

Ballhawks, nope!

We had 22 takeaways this season, 15th in the league. Could we improve that? Sure, but the Vikings had 19, 23rd in the league and they were the best defence in points and yards. More interceptions are nice but there are many ways to skin a cat.

Look at it this way. The average interceptions per year of the top 5 players over different time periods (working back from 2017):

1 year (2017), 6.6
2 years, 5
3 years, 4.5
4 years, 4.2
5 years, 3.9
6 years, 3.7
7 years, 3.5

To me this demonstrates that, over any kind of extended period, around 4 interceptions per year is elite. But that elite level is 3 plays a year different to a decidedly non ballhawk like Amukamara who averages 1 interception per season over his 7 year career.

Bottom line, interceptions are a poor statistic to measure how good a CB is.

You can't use any one metric to evaluate any player regardless of position.

Yes play-in play-out coverage is important. Can we at least agree that we need to do better than a guy who hasn't had a pick in three years?

We need to instill a fear in the QB of throwing the ball in a given direction. Nothing does that better than a pick 6. Make him look like shit on SportsCenter and all that social media crap. Turn the tide of the game within five seconds. Right now we don't have that.

[malk]

I'd be perfectly happy for Amukamara to come back. I'll take the guy who is more likely to stop the reception over the guy who goes for the interception and gives up the reception. CB is a definite need for us right now but if we bring back Fuller and Amukamara I'm happy to concentrate on other areas in the draft.

[bearsfaninaz]

Looking at the talent for the wr class this year outside of courtland Sutton there is no one I'd take in round 1 and I'd only take him if we trade back.
So I'm thinking the bears are going to draft two but in later rounds. Here's what I've liked from what I've seen granted only highlights.
Jaleel Scott out of new Mexico state
6'6 220 (little light) but makes amazing catches and good to decent burst.
Tre'quan Smith from ucf.
6'1 205 Had good senior bowl and looked to have a good burst and catch radius as well.
Biggest question will be route running and 40 time and scheme fit as well but right now I like those guys for when I think they will pick wr

[BamaBear09]

I'm really intrigued by Shaquem Griffin. Obviously there's questions of how his situation would work/hold up in the NFL. But you know he's had to be a hard worker to get to where he's put himself in the position he's in.

Yeah... there's something special about him... he played every defensive down for UCF in that bowl game and was running down plays late in the fourth quarter... he'd prob be in the conversation for high first round if he had both hands...

[malk]

I'm really intrigued by Shaquem Griffin. Obviously there's questions of how his situation would work/hold up in the NFL. But you know he's had to be a hard worker to get to where he's put himself in the position he's in.

Yeah... there's something special about him... he played every defensive down for UCF in that bowl game and was running down plays late in the fourth quarter... he'd prob be in the conversation for high first round if he had both hands...

At age four, his mother found him in the kitchen, attempting to use a butcher's knife to self-amputate his fingers due to the pain.

Jesus Christ!

It'd be a great story for him to make a 53 this year. I'll be looking to see when and where his name gets called.

[Atkins&Rebel]

Brooks and Jeremiah just gave us Denzel Ward in their latest mock. Not sure that I have him in the top 10, but looking for other opinions...

[wab]

10 might be a stretch because he’s like 5’9 - 5’10. Even though I like Ward an awful lot, I’d prefer Jackson or Fitzpatrick at corner.

[DaSuperfan]

10 might be a stretch because he’s like 5’9 - 5’10. Even though I like Ward an awful lot, I’d prefer Jackson or Fitzpatrick at corner.

I also prefer Jackson if we go CB. He's got WR hands (was a former WR) and has a knack for making the big play.

[G08]

Jackson is so freaking smooth in his movements, I think he's going to be a damned good one for a long time.

Edmunds or Jackson at 8 and I'm smiling.

[Atkins&Rebel]

Trey Wingo puts Ward right behind us to the 49ers

[cblaz11]

For me, there are certain positions you target top half of the 1st.

QB
LT
Edge
CB

Now, if there is an "elite" talent at another position obviously you look, but I always look at those positions 1st. With that being said...

We don't need a QB
McGlinchey should be there at 8
Chubb and Landry are the only clean pass rushers I'd take at 8
CB- eh, I'd rather attack in free agency

After that, what elite players at other positions do we look at.
Roquan Smith, Saquan Barkley, the OG Nelson...I don't see anyone else.

[wab]

I don't think McGlinchy is a top 10 pick. 15-20, absolutely. He's probably going to have to start out at RT in the NFL until he gets his footwork sorted out. People are also going to wonder how much he was helped by having Nelson next to him.

I also don't see Landry as a top 10 pick. Chubb, sure. Edmunds, probably. Davenport, maybe.

Corner... Jackson, Fitzpatrick, Ward, and possibly even Isaiah Oliver if he blows up the combine or Holton Hill if his off the field stuff checks out.

[cblaz11]

IMO...when it's all said and done, Landry will go before Davenport and Edmunds.

McGlinchey is a pretty clean LT prospect...Nelson is good, McGlinchey is better.

[BearDown333]

If our wr depth next season is:
-high draft pick
-meredith
-wright
-white/bellamy/thompson/gentry

i am very happy.

I wouldn't be happy. Counting on a high draft pick to step in and be a WR1 on day 1 is risky. Most need time to develop and adjust to the speed, size, and play in the NFL. The top 3 WRs drafted in 2017 combined for 482 total receiving yards together (ouch). We're still waiting to see if *coughs* Kevin White *coughs* will amount to anything.

In saying this, I am not opposed to drafting a WR in round one if Pace finds "his guy." I just hope that in addition to the draft, Pace signs a top WR in free agency who has already proven they can produce and be relied upon at the NFL level.

[G08]

If we throw a bunch of coin at Jarvis Landry and bring Cameron Meredith back... I don't think I see us taking a WR in the first two rounds.

Remember, we still have Shaheen and Cohen who should be getting a bunch of looks in the passing game. Unless Pace loves someone and is planning on that player to be a hedge against Kevin White getting hurt yet again, I'm not so sure I see him avoiding the OL/Pass rush.

[wab]

Unless Pace loves someone and is planning on that player to be a hedge against Kevin White getting hurt yet again, I'm not so sure I see him avoiding the OL/Pass rush.

Or corner. Because I’m not sure that either Fuller or Amukamara are back at this point.

[G08]

Unless Pace loves someone and is planning on that player to be a hedge against Kevin White getting hurt yet again, I'm not so sure I see him avoiding the OL/Pass rush.

Or corner. Because I’m not sure that either Fuller or Amukamara are back at this point.

Yup great point... Ward should be sitting there and I love Josh Jackson (although 8 could be a bit high).

[malk]

Unless Pace loves someone and is planning on that player to be a hedge against Kevin White getting hurt yet again, I'm not so sure I see him avoiding the OL/Pass rush.

Or corner. Because I’m not sure that either Fuller or Amukamara are back at this point.

We have to address corner in free agency. If Fuller and Amukamara walk we'll still sign someone, surely? Quite a few decent CBs kicking around if few elite ones.

[Adipost]

Unless Pace loves someone and is planning on that player to be a hedge against Kevin White getting hurt yet again, I'm not so sure I see him avoiding the OL/Pass rush.

Or corner. Because I’m not sure that either Fuller or Amukamara are back at this point.

Apparently Ward is faster than Lattimore.

[Hiphopopotamos]

Unless Pace loves someone and is planning on that player to be a hedge against Kevin White getting hurt yet again, I'm not so sure I see him avoiding the OL/Pass rush.

Or corner. Because I’m not sure that either Fuller or Amukamara are back at this point.

Apparently Ward is faster than Lattimore.

Ward ran a hand-timed 4.31 at a Nike recruiting event in 2014, and allegedly ran a laser-timed 4.23 at OSU spring practice / testing last year.