2023 NFL Draft General Discussion

[Moriarty]

I think NE gets my vote for R1 winner


trade down, get Gonzalez at 17

[Moriarty]

The Bears have three Day 2 picks —Nos. 53 and 61 in the second round and No. 64 in the third round, but there is a 43-pick gap between their pick Thursday night and their first second-round pick. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham said Tuesday that the team would regroup after the first round to discuss whether they wanted to move up in the second round to go after a higher-rated crop of players.

As much as I'd like Tomi and TIppmann, who may not last long enough, I think they may just have to suck it up and hold their breath fo people to last.

[LacertineForest]

I've been out of the house all night, but I am good with this. Obviously, they didn't feel like they could take the gamble on Carter, picked up an extra pick, and grabbed a top player at a position of need. Day 2 going to shore up that D line now.

[wiNDycityfan]

I've been out of the house all night, but I am good with this. Obviously, they didn't feel like they could take the gamble on Carter, picked up an extra pick, and grabbed a top player at a position of need. Day 2 going to shore up that D line now.

Still out there with up to 2nd round grades:

Edge- Isiah Foskey, Keion White, Derick Hall, Adetomiwa Adebawore, BJ Ojulari
DL- Keeanu Benton, Gervon Dexter
CB- Joey Porter Jr, Cam Smith, DJ Turner, Julius Brents, Darius Rush, Keele Ringo

Gotta go DL first I suppose.

[Teddy KGB]

Really happy the Bears went offensive line in round one

[pus]

Poles is staying true to his path of building through the draft. Good for him and good for Bears.

[wab]

I think this pick says more about Jenkins than some of y’all want to admit.

[Heinz D.]

Poles is staying true to his path of building through the draft. Good for him and good for Bears.

Sorta?

I like Wright. A lot. But I remain unconvinced that the drop-off between Wright and, say, Bergeron or Mauch, or whomever, is greater than the drop-off between Van Ness or Murphy or Smith and the lower tier of pass rushers.

I think this pick says more about Jenkins than some of y’all want to admit.

I guess?

Yeah, it could mean Jenkins is gone. But I don't think that's much of a shocker, all things considered.

[Shadow]

Poles is staying true to his path of building through the draft. Good for him and good for Bears.

Sorta?

I like Wright. A lot. But I remain unconvinced that the drop-off between Wright and, say, Bergeron or Mauch, or whomever, is greater than the drop-off between Van Ness or Murphy or Smith and the lower tier of pass rushers.

I think this pick says more about Jenkins than some of y’all want to admit.

I guess?

Yeah, it could mean Jenkins is gone. But I don't think that's much of a shocker, all things considered.

I think the writing has been on the wall about Tevin ever since they signed Nate Davis. Tevin had a chance to get with the program but something happened that soured this regime on him. That interview with his College coach keeps coming back to mind.

Bears passing on Carter was not a real shock either in light of the Tevin Jenkins things last season. Does a HC really want another very talented player with similar red flags. ie..entitlement and attitude issues added to possibly not being coach-able.

I like the Wright pick. He seems to be what the Bears needs and will help Justin find the next level. I had not realized that Wright has played LT and RT and Guard too. Flexibility is a good thing in a pinch.

[Grizzled]

Was thinking exactly the same thing, that they could have gone WR or TE. LOLOL. Same as in Green Bay, they took Van Ness rather than another WR.

[Grizzled]

Wow, 2 massive hairballs choked up by the Lions in the first round. A RB and a LB who were both massively overdrafted while passing on some really good talent, especially at CB, which they could have used.

[LacertineForest]

I think we'll be picking earlier than 53 today, but probably not a lot earlier - somewhere in the mid to late 40s.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Yeah I hate to celebrate/laugh too early but WTF?

[dave99]

This pick made perfect sense.

Number one, they have to find out once and for all what they have in Fields and the only way to do that is to surround him with the best talent they can. The OL is not yet a finished product, but it is a whole lot further along. JF will have (better) protection and (much better)weapons, now he has to take that next big step.

Two, the layer of top tier tackles was very thin. It didn't take much of a run to exhaust it and the next tier was thinner still. Some will say this was a reach. But Wright was the consensus best "plug and play" right tackle on the board and one of the best tackles period. If Poles felt comfortable trading down a few more spots and still getting his guy, he probably would have. But he held tough and the Bears OL looks a 1000% better than it did the day Poles walked in the door.

Three, they had a pretty good feel for the man. They didn't rely on a "connection" made over dinner or funny stories about the car he drives. Getsy coached him in the Senior Bowl.
From the Sun Times this morning:

Bears general manager Ryan Poles flew on a private jet with Morgan to work out Wright. It was the first time he accompanied an assistant for an individual workout this year, but Poles wanted to get a feel for the tackle. The Bears put him through classroom work, position drills and even conditioning. Wright did up-downs. Morgan would call one play and, just before the snap, change it to see how quickly Wright could mentally pivot.

The Bears “brought him to deep water to see if he could swim or not,” Poles said.

He could.

Finally, Poles still has some capital to move around a bit and acquire some quality defensive help and possible a center and other OL reinforcements. A lot of this guys are going to be developmental and probably help more in 24 than 23 but that is OK. This year is about offense and Justin Fields.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

I think this pick says more about Jenkins than some of y’all want to admit.

I don’t think it says too much. Poles is simply telling Jenkins, “You can play G or you can ride the bench as the swing T. Your choice.”

[The Marshall Plan]

Has Rodgers ever had a HOF level WR? He’s had some good ones that probably looked good because he was the one throwing them the ball, but he’s never had an elite WR right?

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

Has Rodgers ever had a HOF level WR? He’s had some good ones that probably looked good because he was the one throwing them the ball, but he’s never had an elite WR right?

HOF WR are few and far between. Elite level WR? Absolutely.

Donald Driver
Greg Jennings
Jordy Nelson
Davonte Adams

All four of those would have been great receivers on any team. Yes they were better because Rodgers was throwing to them. But NO argument can be made that Rodgers didn't have talented receivers around him while he was at Green Bay.

[Heinz D.]

I had not realized that Wright has played LT and RT and Guard too. Flexibility is a good thing in a pinch.

I didn't realize he'd played LT, but it seemed to me that he certainly could; the guy is kind of a unicorn. I wonder if they're planning on him being RT, or they're going to see what happens in camp?

[LacertineForest]

I had not realized that Wright has played LT and RT and Guard too. Flexibility is a good thing in a pinch.

I didn't realize he'd played LT, but it seemed to me that he certainly could; the guy is kind of a unicorn. I wonder if they're planning on him being RT, or they're going to see what happens in camp?

Given the Bears' history with players on the O-Line, I'm sure they'll move him to every position at some point

[Shadow]

I had not realized that Wright has played LT and RT and Guard too. Flexibility is a good thing in a pinch.

I didn't realize he'd played LT, but it seemed to me that he certainly could; the guy is kind of a unicorn. I wonder if they're planning on him being RT, or they're going to see what happens in camp?

Poles said he is the RT but no one has a position at this time, he must compete though, Everyone must earn there spot every year.

[Heinz D.]

Poles said he is the RT but no one has a position at this time, he must compete though, Everyone must earn there spot every year.

Didn't see that. Thanks!

[RichH55]

Lions biggest losers - love to see it

[EricTighe]

I think this pick says more about Jenkins than some of y’all want to admit.

Why? Jenkins can play left guard just fine. We have heard for some time his days at RT were done.

[EricTighe]

Lions biggest losers - love to see it

Why?

Gibbs is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. Campbell is a what you see is what you get type of MLB. Maybe Campbell was a reach in round 1 but still very solid. I liked the Lions picks. The Lions are becoming the team we must beat to win the North. Wow, it has been a minute since I have said that.

I believe the biggest reaches were the Packers and the Jets.

[LacertineForest]

[LacertineForest]

Lions biggest losers - love to see it

Why?

Gibbs is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. Campbell is a what you see is what you get type of MLB. Maybe Campbell was a reach in round 1 but still very solid. I liked the Lions picks. The Lions are becoming the team we must beat to win the North. Wow, it has been a minute since I have said that.

I believe the biggest reaches were the Packers and the Jets.

I agree with you - I think people are mostly just saying that the Lions reached on their picks, but they ended up getting the #1 LB prospect and probably the #2 RB in the draft. Maybe they passed on some good talent at other positions (particularly when they seem to have a full backfield already), but they definitely got better yesterday.

[Cartman]

Love the 1st pick. If they concentrate on Oline and Dline throughout the draft, I'll be a happy man. Maybe grab a RB in round 2 or 3 (assuming there's a decent one available). But I just want to see him build the lines this year. Next year's draft will be even better and with all the picks Poles has stockpiled, I can't wait to see what plays out. But I'm not putting the cart before the horse. I'm excited to see what the next few days brings the team. Go Bears!

[Grizzled]

Wow. Went on another message board to see their reactions to the first pick. I'm glad I don't use it anymore. I don't think there's anything Poles has or can do that would satisfy them. Rude beyond belief to each other.

[UOK]

[The Grizzly One]

Wow. Went on another message board to see their reactions to the first pick. I'm glad I don't use it anymore. I don't think there's anything Poles has or can do that would satisfy them. Rude beyond belief to each other.

I understand some of that. I was disappointed last night.

Many NFL people think Carter too much of a risk, who am I to argue against that.

Poles and company think Wright is a stud, so I am buying in.

I hope Carter does not become the force i thought he was. Again many NFL folks doubt him, so I'll go with them.

Wright should be a huge help in making Justin Fields an MVP. So go Bears.