(BUMPED for Camp.) Who's your underdog, this years Sanborn, you're wanting to see?

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

No problem there. I'm not a fan. Let Rojo take ESBs blocking snaps. Probably better reciever too.

He's said to be a good route runner, so maybe he gets slotted as RB 3 or 4 and fills in at WR 6 as well. We only keep 5 true WRs and use the 6th spot for an extra DL or OL.

He's supposed to be a great pass catcher and pass-pro blocker. I wouldn't be surprised to see packages where RoJo is flexed out wide like they used to do with Matt Forte. 6'2" and 225lbs is a huge mismatch for CB 3 or 4.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

At this point for me it's DE D'Anthony Jones .

The next Richard Dent?

One can dream. But what a college season.

Alex Leatherwood

[Arkansasbear]

At this point for me it's DE D'Anthony Jones .

The next Richard Dent?

One can dream. But what a college season.

Alex Leatherwood

Leatherwood is a guy I really want to succeed, but I don't know at the expense of who? I don't want him taking on the RT spot since we just drafted Wright at number 10. I love Jones at LT. I want Jenkins to succeed (mostly so I can be right about him being a star, even if it's at OG rather than OT). I don't he can, but wish he could, play center (the cupboard is bare there IMO, especially long term). So if it is him, I hope it's at RG.

[The Grizzly One]

How about swing Tackle and Guard?

[Moriarty]

Alex Leatherwood

Leatherwood is a guy I really want to succeed, but I don't know at the expense of who? I don't want him taking on the RT spot since we just drafted Wright at number 10. I love Jones at LT. I want Jenkins to succeed (mostly so I can be right about him being a star, even if it's at OG rather than OT). I don't he can, but wish he could, play center (the cupboard is bare there IMO, especially long term). So if it is him, I hope it's at RG.

Being the 4th G, who can play T in an emergency is about the extent of my hopes for Leatherwood. Being the 3rd best G and a someday starter is the fantasy.

[wab]

I'd love for Leatherwood to turn into something too, but it's really just hoping against hope at this point. He can play OG and OT so he has value to the team as a reserve, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he didn't make the team.

I'm really starting to root for VJJ. He's just such a likeable dude and he gets (IMO) shit on unnecessarily.

[crueltyabc]

I'm rooting for Travis Bell to at least hang around on the practice squad for awhile. It feels almost like he's a charity case / Rudy / mascot character and I think that's weird so I want him to have some modicum of success as a pro ball player

[wab]

I'm rooting for Travis Bell to at least hang around on the practice squad for awhile. It feels almost like he's a charity case / Rudy / mascot character and I think that's weird so I want him to have some modicum of success as a pro ball player

I'm genuinely interested in what happens with Bell. I don't expect much, but he gives off Elvis Dumervil vibes. He was 260 his first couple years in college.

I imagine he will be a stalwart on the PS and get called up to active duty on occasion.

[crueltyabc]

I'm rooting for Travis Bell to at least hang around on the practice squad for awhile. It feels almost like he's a charity case / Rudy / mascot character and I think that's weird so I want him to have some modicum of success as a pro ball player

I'm genuinely interested in what happens with Bell. I don't expect much, but he gives off Elvis Dumervil vibes. He was 260 his first couple years in college.

I imagine he will be a stalwart on the PS and get called up to active duty on occasion.

Good point about his body. He probably stands to change the most of anybody in the building once he has a nutritionist, money, and time to work with a trainer in a nice weight room. This guy was coming to practice straight from work - you know he ate fast food and had no time for extra lifts. Maybe he ends up huge but i think you're right that he'll end up with a leaner quicker body and he's already pretty quick.

[Arkansasbear]

I'm genuinely interested in what happens with Bell. I don't expect much, but he gives off Elvis Dumervil vibes. He was 260 his first couple years in college.

I imagine he will be a stalwart on the PS and get called up to active duty on occasion.

Good point about his body. He probably stands to change the most of anybody in the building once he has a nutritionist, money, and time to work with a trainer in a nice weight room. This guy was coming to practice straight from work - you know he ate fast food and had no time for extra lifts. Maybe he ends up huge but i think you're right that he'll end up with a leaner quicker body and he's already pretty quick.

I expect next to nothing out of him this year. This year will be the year he gets to train with NFL supervision and nutrition. I agree I think we may see a completely different body when he reports next year. I think next year he should crack the 53-man roster and should get into the rotation. I have high hopes that all 3 DTs we drafted will make solid contributions to the team during their rookie contracts.

[IE]

I'd love for Leatherwood to turn into something too, but it's really just hoping against hope at this point. He can play OG and OT so he has value to the team as a reserve, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he didn't make the team.

I'm really starting to root for VJJ. He's just such a likeable dude and he gets (IMO) shit on unnecessarily.

Velus is my underdog this year for sure. He had the yips and few (including me) had much tolerance for that from a 25 year old rookie. But it happened, and then it appeared to go away. I imagine his confidence will be a lot higher in his second year with JF1 and the offense, and man.... that guy looks truly explosive. I don't think Poles hedged against Velus with the Scott pick as much as he hedged against Moon. My opinion.

Velus is a physical stud. He's no waif burner - like DJ he's a solid 6 foot 205+. Bears have some solid, beefy burners, with those two and Pool. I really hope Velus does well with the opportunity he gets this year. He and Scott could turn into a couple of guys who deliver extremely high yards per opportunity and make Moon expendable while drafting another WR in '24.

I know the league is full of super-fast guys who just don't make it as reliable WRs. But Velus isn't just super fast. He's super super fast/explosive. I think the Bears really have to lean into that and give him a robust chance that such a rare skill set deserves. I think he's similar to CPatt, as a KR/WR/RB type weapon. Tricky to figure out how best to use him - but you definitely want that guy on your team. I think Velus has much better hands, and is quicker and actually quite a bit faster.

I'm probably coming across as if I don't like or appreciate Moon. It is just a combination of his likely contract demands and how thin he is that scares me. I know - Devonta Smith is similar size. He just seems to be more of a natural baller, if you ask me. He's going to get rag-dolled too, though. Too risky, when you have other guys who can play the same role now, with DJ and Pool on the team.

[dplank]

VJJ has all the physical tools you want, a very explosive looking runner out there. Reminds me of Percy Harvin. I hope he puts it together.

[BearsFanInMN]

To be different Kellen Dietsch OT and Sterling Weatherford LB/S. Both intrigued me as day 3 picks in the past and we picked them up after being cut so probably more thinking did Poles feel same than anything else.

[Teddy KGB]

Mine is Jack Sandborn.

[EricTighe]

Noah Sewel. Believe we got a steal.

[Arkansasbear]

To be different Kellen Dietsch OT and Sterling Weatherford LB/S. Both intrigued me as day 3 picks in the past and we picked them up after being cut so probably more thinking did Poles feel same than anything else.

I was working on a final roster the other day trying to find sleepers who made the team. I had both on them on it. I’d love Dietsch to win the job as swing tackle and Leatherwood as the backup guard.

[The Grizzly One]

Bump on up.

[dplank]

I'm sticking with Terrell Smith, and was pleased to hear a little early praise for him from the coaching staff

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Leatherwood

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Ideally it will be one of the edge rushers.

The other positions are pretty much set aren't they? The starting offense is already penciled in as are the primary rotation guys. On defense the starting secondary is in place and the only question with the LBs is whether Sewell manages to overtake Sanborn at SLB. With two high-drafted rookies, the interior DL rotation is essentially in place too.

I guess the ones I'm rooting for are:

• Carter to beat out Davis, but I can't see it happening given how much the latter's being paid

• Kramer to somehow shock everyone and prove he's a better center option than at least Patrick so that next season he might be able to replace Whitehair

• Travis Bell to make the DT rotation, but again it's a tough ask with Jones, Billings, Dexter and Pickens already sure of being on the roster

[cblaz11]

I loved Terrell Lewis coming out of Alabama….I’d love for him to put it all together.

On a side note, I’d love to see Jaylon Johnson extended but his durability is a concern. I can’t find the right dollar amount….will 13 per get it done?

As far as Mooney/Claypool, I expect one to sign a 2-3 year deal before the start of the season.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Probably best to keep the speculation about extensions in the Who You Going to Re-Sign? thread or we'll drift off-topic.

Another underdog I'd love to see succeed is Tyson Bagent. It would just be nice to have a dirt cheap competent backup QB for a few years who then might bring something in a trade or sign on for a few more years at a cheap rate. When you see a guy like Brock Purdy, last year's Mr. Irrelevant, succeeding it doesn't seem quite so far-fetched!

[Grizzled]

D'Anthony Jones, c'mon on down.

[IE]

Another underdog I'd love to see succeed is Tyson Bagent. It would just be nice to have a dirt cheap competent backup QB for a few years who then might bring something in a trade or sign on for a few more years at a cheap rate. When you see a guy like Brock Purdy, last year's Mr. Irrelevant, succeeding it doesn't seem quite so far-fetched!

The only thing I heard about Bagent is he's looked pretty good on shorter throws but once they started asking him to throw down field (30+ yards) he started struggling mightily with accuracy. Sounds like he's PS material at best at this point.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Over at the Sun Times, Mark Potash has this list of under-the-radar players to watch when the pads come on Wednesday:

• DE D’Anthony Jones

• CB Greg Stroman

• DE Terrell Lewis

• WR Aron Cruickshank

• DT Donovan Jeter

• CB Terrell Smith; cornerback

• CB Michael Ojemudia

[RichH55]

D'Anthony Jones, c'mon on down.

I'll go with him and Lewis.

Quite different in their Pedigree as they may be

[The Grizzly One]

My guy D'Anthony Jones is gaining fans. Just wait until the games start.

He has proven to be a player. Unbelievable production last year. No doubt he is NOT the prototypical NFL athlete. Thus he was the inspiration for this thread.

[The Kaiser]

Noah Sewell remains my rookie surprise.

But Terrell Lewis is the guy I believe will make the biggest difference on this team...if he can manage to stay healthy. In College and in the NFL his only weakness has been his propensity to end up on the injury report.

The guy has all the tools and he's still just 24 years old. Same age as rookies D'Anthony Jones and Travis Bell. A year younger than D Rob and two years younger than Trevis Gibson.

His release from the Rams last Dec was a pretty big surprise.