2018 NFL Draft Prospects

[Hiphopopotamos]

I would draft Michael Dickson P Texas with a mid-round pick assuming he's still there. He's easily the best punter I've seen in my lifetime - and its not really very close. Never seen a kid with a cannon for a leg that can also drop it inside the 10 so consistently. He is a real weapon in the field position war. Come at me.

[wab]

I would not be upset if we drafted Derwin James or Tarvarus McFadden at #8 although the pick should be BPA.

The Bears are more than fine at safety.

[Hiphopopotamos]

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson announced this morning that he is declaring for the NFL draft. Great news for us as every one of the underclassmen QB's people were talking about as possible top 10 picks have declared.

If at least a few of these guys go top 7 it should push a really nice player down to us at 8.

[wab]

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson announced this morning that he is declaring for the NFL draft. Great news for us as every one of the underclassmen QB's people were talking about as possible top 10 picks have declared.

If at least a few of these guys go top 7 it should push a really nice player down to us at 8.

I know QBs get overvalued at this time of year and everything kinda settles when Draft Day rolls around, but it’s entirely possible that 5 QBs could go in the top 10

Darnold
Rosen
Allen
Jackson
Mayfield

Add in Barkley and Chubb and the Bears could come away with a pretty good player at #8.

There’s also Rudolph (who could go anywhere between 5 and 95) and Finley in the 1st round mix.

[G08]

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson announced this morning that he is declaring for the NFL draft. Great news for us as every one of the underclassmen QB's people were talking about as possible top 10 picks have declared.

If at least a few of these guys go top 7 it should push a really nice player down to us at 8.

I know QBs get overvalued at this time of year and everything kinda settles when Draft Day rolls around, but it’s entirely possible that 5 QBs could go in the top 10

Darnold
Rosen
Allen
Jackson
Mayfield

Add in Barkley and Chubb and the Bears could come away with a pretty good player at #8.

There’s also Rudolph (who could go anywhere between 5 and 95) and Finley in the 1st round mix.

It's win-win for us... either a stud falls to us OR we can fleece a QB-needy team that wants to trade up to our pick.

[malk]

Louisville QB Lamar Jackson announced this morning that he is declaring for the NFL draft. Great news for us as every one of the underclassmen QB's people were talking about as possible top 10 picks have declared.

If at least a few of these guys go top 7 it should push a really nice player down to us at 8.

I know QBs get overvalued at this time of year and everything kinda settles when Draft Day rolls around, but it’s entirely possible that 5 QBs could go in the top 10

Darnold
Rosen
Allen
Jackson
Mayfield

Add in Barkley and Chubb and the Bears could come away with a pretty good player at #8.

There’s also Rudolph (who could go anywhere between 5 and 95) and Finley in the 1st round mix.

For the life of me I can't work out why Rudolph isn't getting more love? I'd put good money on him being a better QB than Allen, Rosen or Jackson and think he'll be the best from this class (assuming he gets any real opportunity).

Of the teams above us:

Browns - one of their picks is going to be a QB, surely?
Giants - Manning is 37 and clearly declining so someone who can be groomed behind him is surely on the cards.
Colts - Even with the rumours swirling around Luck's health they fill another gap here. If Luck is done they'll pick high enough next year to grab a QB then.
Browns - Barkley makes a lot of sense here.
Broncos - Another strong shout for a QB, they won't be planning on picking this high again for a while. Wouldn't surprise me to see them trade up if they have one they really like.
Jets - Do they have a bigger need than QB?
Bucs - Not giving up on Jameis Winston yet.

Obviously free agency and trades will have some impact Smith to the Browns makes sense for example, but I wouldn't be surprised to see 3 go before us along with Chubb and Barkley. By the time #8 comes around we're going to have a shot at the first player from a few positions, WR, CB/DB, OT/OL etc. I don't see anyone head and shoulders ahead there and will be predictably screaming for a trade down.

[wab]

Indy seems like a team in a good spot to move down should someone want a QB. It could conceivably go QB, QB, QB, RB, QB, QB, DE.

[mmmc_35]

I would like to see the Bears draft Troy Fumagalli , TE , Wisconsin. He is a big athletic TE, who catches the ball cleanly, runs good routes, blocks, etc. He can play as a move TE or in line. I think having two promising TE along with a new WR core really could change the dynamics of the offense.

https://youtu.be/PBlaIYEc4D8

[mmmc_35]

A quick run through of OT and Connor Williams is the best OT in this class. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the pick.

[thunderspirit]

Connor Williams is probably the guy who's most likely to test really well at the Combine, I'll give you that. His injury history is gonna make teams pause, though.

[The Marshall Plan]

Indy seems like a team in a good spot to move down should someone want a QB. It could conceivably go QB, QB, QB, RB, QB, QB, DE.

I would love it if that happened.

Assuming Chubb is that DE, our options are then:

Fitzpatrick
Smith
Key
McFadden
Ferrell
Ridley
Kirk

How do you not like that? And yes I deliberately left off OL. You could trade down a couple spots and still draft somebody impactful.

[wab]

Williams probably falls to R2 just based on his injuries.

[mmmc_35]

Because of a meniscus tear? I don't think so, unless I am missing something.

[DaSuperfan]

I'll say it again, I think we can get a WR in R2 and should address OL or Edge Rusher in R1.

[Hiphopopotamos]

Williams probably falls to R2 just based on his injuries.

He had one injury in college, and came back to play before the end of the season. He only missed one game his first two seasons (and that was because Strong decided to rest some starters against UTEP).

A torn MCL isn’t going to drop him a round. He might go in the second - but it would be because teams graded him out as a second round talent.

[Rusty Trombagent]

I still will eat my hat if we draft a tackle in one of the first two rounds. But I am all in on drafting a generational talent at guard, releasing sitton and using those savings towards other free agents. i dont think that a replacement for sitton is needed this year, but if nelson really is the BPA available, my body is ready.

[DaSuperfan]

Just got done listening to McShay/Kiper's First Draft podcast and they're not really high on this Tackle or WR class at all.

Kiper and McShay said that McGlinchey is a RT in the NFL and that he's sort of the Jack Conklin of this draft. Connor Williams shouldn't be drafted until the 20's and that his tape wasn't that impressive this year and then got injured.

Said they wouldn't be surprised one bit to see Nelson as the top OL drafted ahead of any of the Tackles.

As for the WR's, they don't think Ridley, Sutton or any of the others should be drafted in the 1st round but think that Ridley and Sutton will get overdrafted.

Nothing we haven't already been saying here, but thought I'd share. I personally don't think the Bears draft any of the WR's or OT's in the 1st round. I think it's going to be Nelson or Pass Rusher.

[The Marshall Plan]

I don't understand the insistence on drafting OL in the first round. This is an area that can be addressed in FA and later on in the draft. Unless if this is a BPA argument in which case I understand, but that's not the vibe I'm getting.

[mmmc_35]

Well Nelson or Williams very easily could be BOA. Add to that, the best thing a young QB can have is a clean pocket and time, OLine play becomes important.

[Moriarty]

Just got done listening to McShay/Kiper's First Draft podcast and they're not really high on this Tackle or WR class at all.

Kiper and McShay said that McGlinchey is a RT in the NFL and that he's sort of the Jack Conklin of this draft. Connor Williams shouldn't be drafted until the 20's and that his tape wasn't that impressive this year and then got injured.

Said they wouldn't be surprised one bit to see Nelson as the top OL drafted ahead of any of the Tackles.

As for the WR's, they don't think Ridley, Sutton or any of the others should be drafted in the 1st round but think that Ridley and Sutton will get overdrafted.

Nothing we haven't already been saying here, but thought I'd share. I personally don't think the Bears draft any of the WR's or OT's in the 1st round. I think it's going to be Nelson or Pass Rusher.

Thanks.
I'll have to start downloading again.

Agree with almost everything they say.

[*] Agree WRs not that special. Can wait until R2.
[*] Agree bad OT group. McGlinchey iffy for LT, Williams way overrated.
[*] Agree Rusher should be the top early target
[*] Agree Nelson could be first OL off the board...but strenuously against the Bears doing that.

[thunderspirit]

Adding Heistand to the staff makes the prospect of trying to develop an OL more palatable. I suppose we'll see if Jordan Morgan has value to the team. I also am a big, big fan of Will Hernandez out of TX-El Paso.

[G08]

Unless Chubb or Fitzpatrick are there, I'm hoping we trade down.

So many needs as the roster stands right now:

1 or 2 OLBs
2 or 3 WRs
2 or 3 CBs
2 OL
1 ILB
1 K

[The Marshall Plan]

Unless Chubb or Fitzpatrick are there, I'm hoping we trade down.

So many needs as the roster stands right now:

1 or 2 OLBs
2 or 3 WRs
2 or 3 CBs
2 OL
1 ILB
1 K

Roquan Smith looks pretty good at #8 with that list. Or you trade down with Buffalo and at #21 and #22 can you address two of those needs.

The first half of round 1 has got to be very lopsided with offensive players. They'll be good defensive options at #21 and #22.

[Atkins&Rebel]

Unless Chubb or Fitzpatrick are there, I'm hoping we trade down.

So many needs as the roster stands right now:

1 or 2 OLBs
2 or 3 WRs
2 or 3 CBs
2 OL
1 ILB
1 K

Roquan Smith looks pretty good at #8 with that list. Or you trade down with Buffalo and at #21 and #22 can you address two of those needs.

The first half of round 1 has got to be very lopsided with offensive players. They'll be good defensive options at #21 and #22.

If Buffalo burns 2 first round picks, it'll be to trade up to get a QB they want...most likely with Indy as the QB's could all be off the board by our pick...but you never know

[malk]

Unless Chubb or Fitzpatrick are there, I'm hoping we trade down.

So many needs as the roster stands right now:

1 or 2 OLBs
2 or 3 WRs
2 or 3 CBs
2 OL
1 ILB
1 K

Free agency changes that though. CB and WR I can see being sorted enough for us to knock them off the 1st round need list. Fuller and Amukamara to longer term deals sees CB drop off completely and I just don't see us going into the draft without another wideout on the roster, even if this year's free agents are a little underwhelming.

OLB, however, will be incredibly expensive to secure in FA so whilst I can see Pace trying to bring in someone to be a solid starter I don't see him breaking the bank to try and secure a difference maker. For OL we've already got too much tied up in Long and Sitton to pay for another expensive guard so the draft makes sense there.

ILB is down to how good they think Kwiatkoski and if there's a chance Roquan Smith is a generational talent.

OG has as close to can't miss as you get in Nelson.

What I like about the choice is that of the 5 positions of most need, we'll likely have the choice of taking the first off the board in all but OLB. If there's a run on QBs then I hope that we can fleece a good haul out of one of the better teams who rarely draft high who fall in love with a prospect from a position of need. Failing that Pace takes his favourite or perhaps drops down a little if he's happy enough with a few players left on his board.

[wab]

There's going to be a lot of value at OLB in the 30-50 range, so that sets up nicely for the Bears if they decide to go OL or CB in round 1.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

There's going to be a lot of value at OLB in the 30-50 range, so that sets up nicely for the Bears if they decide to go OL or CB in round 1.

Do you think the return of Fangio increases the chances of both Fuller and Prince returning? I do. I also like Callahan, and thought he had played well in the last couple of years. He could develop as well. I don't know how deep the draft is at CB, but I know we need some talent on the OL, given all of the injuries last year.

Here's something else I was thinking of. Do you think the addition of Hellfrich lights a fire under Long to get healthy, and return strong for his old OC? I think so. I'm not saying that Long was sandbagging, I'm just saying that it's going to provide extra motivation for him to be a healthy part of this offense.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

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.

[wab]

Thought to say about the corners. Fuller has played his best under Fangio but he’s also been in the doghouse under him. Amukamara has stated he wants to settle with one team for the rest of his career. I’d say it’s 50/50 for Fuller to return and 70/30 for Amukamara.

I don’t think Long needs motivation from his old OC. I think he has all the motivation in the world, but his body is shot.

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.

[The Marshall Plan]

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.