Way too early 2024 mock draft

[wab]

I’m always wary of those height/weight outliers at any position.

Has there ever been a successful 6’7 WR? 6’5 is kind of the cutoff and even those dudes are extremely rare.

[alexwilkins]

I also don’t like the neck injury, but if Brax is good and we win our own pick out of the top-5, I’d be more than happy prioritizing Marv over a tackle.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

I’m always wary of those height/weight outliers at any position.

Has there ever been a successful 6’7 WR? 6’5 is kind of the cutoff and even those dudes are extremely rare.

Harold Carmichael - 6 foot 8 (thanks to Google).

He was pretty good, but yes he’s the one exception.

[The Marshall Plan]

I'm a total meatball for having guys on the team strictly for their size even if their ability is marginal.

Examples:

I'd love to have a DL or OL spot on the roster dedicated to a guy who never plays the position he's intended to, but rather act as a FB or RB in short yardage.

Teach him to lead block and to even carry the ball for those 3 yards.

Same thing with really tall receivers. I don't care if a 6'7" guy breaks the sound barrier on the 40 yard dash or even knows how to run more than a couple of routes.

In the red zone, I want the 6'7" guy to run into the end zone towards a corner and use his nearly 1 foot advantage in height and reach to catch the ball.

I don't see why you can't have 2 or 3 roster spots for guys like that.

[The Marshall Plan]

To illustrate a point I did two mocks. One without trade downs and one with.

We're going to want to trade down.

Without:

1.
CHI
Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR Ohio State

4.
CHI
Dallas Turner
EDGE Alabama

68.
CHI
Michael Hall Jr.
DT Ohio State

101.
CHI
Zach Frazier
OC West Virginia

128.
CHI
Blake Corum
RB Michigan

132.
CHI
Danny Stutsman
LB Oklahoma

WIth:

3.
CHI
Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR Ohio State


4.
CHI
Olumuyiwa Fashanu
OT Penn State

21.
CHI
Kamren Kinchens
S Miami (FL)


34.
CHI
Cooper Beebe
OG Kansas State


35.
CHI
Sedrick Van Pran
OC Georgia


68.
CHI
Raheim Sanders
RB Arkansas

102.
CHI
Bucky Irving
RB Oregon


128.
CHI
Junior Colson
LB Michigan

132.
CHI
Luke Lachey
TE Iowa

155.
CHI
Tyler Davis
DT Clemson

2025 ARI 1st
2025 NE 1st
2025 ARI 3rd

[alexwilkins]

High key, if we don’t go tackle, I want Dallas Turner. His speed opposite Sweat’s power would be perfect.

[Grizzled]

To illustrate a point I did two mocks. One without trade downs and one with.

We're going to want to trade down.

Without:

1.
CHI
Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR Ohio State

4.
CHI
Dallas Turner
EDGE Alabama

68.
CHI
Michael Hall Jr.
DT Ohio State

101.
CHI
Zach Frazier
OC West Virginia

128.
CHI
Blake Corum
RB Michigan

132.
CHI
Danny Stutsman
LB Oklahoma

WIth:

3.
CHI
Marvin Harrison Jr.
WR Ohio State


4.
CHI
Olumuyiwa Fashanu
OT Penn State

21.
CHI
Kamren Kinchens
S Miami (FL)


34.
CHI
Cooper Beebe
OG Kansas State


35.
CHI
Sedrick Van Pran
OC Georgia


68.
CHI
Raheim Sanders
RB Arkansas

102.
CHI
Bucky Irving
RB Oregon


128.
CHI
Junior Colson
LB Michigan

132.
CHI
Luke Lachey
TE Iowa

155.
CHI
Tyler Davis
DT Clemson

2025 ARI 1st
2025 NE 1st
2025 ARI 3rd

That second one looks suspiciously like mine on Pro Football Network in which the Bears trade #1 to the Cards for 2 first rounders in .'24, a 2nd, a 3rd, and a 2025 1st (or something like that). I traded #21 to a team wanting to move up for a more picks in the 2nd and 3rd, took Harrison, DE, Beebe and Van Pran in the 2nd, a safety and a DT (either Hall or the NT feom Michigan) in the 3rd plus RB speed guy, TE, WR depth later.

[The Marshall Plan]

@Grizzled

I use PFN for mine. That trade down with the Cards is there all the time.

[Grizzled]

@Grizzled

I use PFN for mine. That trade down with the Cards is there all the time.

I think I remember they activate a feature allowing trades of existing players closer to draft. No one knows if JF will be traded but it has to be considered.

[The Marshall Plan]

@Grizzled

I use PFN for mine. That trade down with the Cards is there all the time.

I think I remember they activate a feature allowing trades of existing players closer to draft. No one knows if JF will be traded but it has to be considered.

For sure that’s part of it.

I wonder what the yield on that is?

A second and a fourth? IDK.

[Grizzled]

I think I remember they activate a feature allowing trades of existing players closer to draft. No one knows if JF will be traded but it has to be considered.

For sure that’s part of it.

I wonder what the yield on that is?

A second and a fourth? IDK.

Great question. He either:

Plays himself out of a job by doing meh the rest of the year and then what's his value;
Plays well but Poles has already decided to move on and is just showcasing him for this trade;
Plays well and the Bears keep him.

Trey Lance brought a 4th. Fields would have to bring at least a 3rd, maybe that 2nd and 4th if he lights it up.

[The Marshall Plan]

Looks like we still have the 1 and 4.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/up ... ca8c&ei=10

[karhu]

Another fun one on PFN.

1.1 TRADED to Arizona (Joe Alt) for 2, 17, 34, 2025 1st

1.2 TRADED to New England (Drake Maye) for 3, 35

1.3 TRADED to Tampa Bay (Caleb Williams) for 7, 42

1.4 Marvin Harrison, Jr - WR, Ohio St. Natch.

1.7 Jer'Zhan Newton - 3T, Illinois. For some teams, he's a stretch here. For us, he's a steal.

1.17 TRADED with 4.100 (Cam Hart) to Indianapolis (Jared Verse) for 21, 54

1.21 TRADED with 134 (Smael Mondon) to Seattle (Kamren Kinchens) for 22, 80

1.22 Laiatu Latu - DE, UCLA. Absolutely perfect bookend for Sweat IMSO.

2.34 Cooper Beebe - G, Kansas St. Replacing another K-State player, as it turns out.

2.35 TRADED to Washington (Tyleik Williams) for 36, 197

2.36 TRADED to Washington (Bo Nix) with 128 (Francisco Maulgoa) for 38, 96

2.38 Sedrick Van Pran - C, Georgia. He's fallen far enough, I think. Still need a swing tackle, but this is starting to look like a line that can only be defeated by the ol' triple pull (gets ya every time).

2.42 Jayden Daniels - QB, LSU. Not to replace Fields. But shoot, we've averaged every seventh pick of the draft. Time to invest in some QB development. I say to heck with convention: we carry three young, talented QBs and see how 2024 treats them.

2.54 Cole Bishop - S, Utah. A lot like Brisker. Too much like Brisker? Nah. Pretty good ballhawk, too.

3.69 TRADED to Las Vegas (Shedeur Sanders) for 75, 2025 4th

3.75 Ja'Tavion Sanders - TE, Texas. I don't know about his blocking, but alongside Kmet and Tonyan he's a super-intriguing weapon.

3.80 Tyler Guyton - OT, Oklahoma. Hey, there's my swing tackle! Probably a four-position guy, to boot.

3.96 Johnny Wilson - WR, Florida St. Why not? When he's on, he's a completely unanswerable question.

7.197 Kenny Logan - S, Kansas. Should be a ST monster, and a real tone-setter if he ever makes it into games.

If I've done my math right, it all amounts to

1.1
4.100
4.128
5.134

for

Johnny Newton
Laiatu Latu
Cooper Beebe
Sedrick Van Pran
Jayden Daniels
Cole Bishop
Tyler Guyton
Johnny Wilson
2025 Arizona 1st

Also Marvin Harrison, Jr., Ja'Tavion Sanders, Kenny Logan, and a 2025 LV 4th

[thunderspirit]

I don't think Jayden Daniels should make it out of the first round.

To be fair, his build is a rather slight and, for a guy who runs as recklessly as he does, that's an durability concern. Physically Daniels is built like Desmond Ridder or Jared Goff coming out of college's, though he's a much more dynamic athlete than either.

His game at Arizona State was a frenetic Zach Wilson clone, but his play at LSU reminds me of Broncos-era Jake Plummer. His game has improved tremendously the past two seasons under offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.

[Rusty Trombagent]

yeah, brugler had him going 7th(!) today, which rules. There's wayyy too many QB hungry teams for him to last to the second.

[wab]

I just don't get the Jer'Zhan Newton stuff.

[karhu]

I don't think Jayden Daniels should make it out of the first round.

To be fair, his build is a rather slight and, for a guy who runs as recklessly as he does, that's an durability concern. Physically Daniels is built like Desmond Ridder or Jared Goff coming out of college's, though he's a much more dynamic athlete than either.

His game at Arizona State was a frenetic Zach Wilson clone, but his play at LSU reminds me of Broncos-era Jake Plummer. His game has improved tremendously the past two seasons under offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.

Agreed. At worst, he's a perfect end-of-the-first prospect for a team that can afford to let him watch and learn for a year.

Still, he's an early 2nd here. For what it's worth, the names don't always matter when I do mock drafts--after the first pick or two, it's more "Yeah, I'd pick a QB here if a really promising one was still available." In this one, for instance, I really wanted the OT from Duke, but had to go to Plan B if I wanted Beebe and Van Pran.

[Grizzled]

Daniels is the leading candidate for the Heisman, which will just add to his atteactiveness. He is accurate and highly athletic, kind of a Cam Newton type although nowhere as big. Plus he throws to some danged good receivers and LSU has an OC who actually knows how to design and call plays. The QB hype machine will start ginning up after the college season ends. We'll see several of the 2nd tier QBs end up being drafted much higher than anticipated.

[wab]

I’m still hanging my hat on McCarthy if they don’t go QB in the top 5.

[alexwilkins]

I just don't get the Jer'Zhan Newton stuff.

What stuff? He’s a beast. Best DT in the draft. By a lot IMO.

[Rusty Trombagent]

I just don't get the Jer'Zhan Newton stuff.

What stuff? He’s a beast. Best DT in the draft. By a lot IMO.

I already know the complaints about him being "a little undersized" are going to drive me to adopt him as my guy in this draft. He can go to the Titans to play with ol' tiny arms Skoronski.

[Moriarty]

What stuff? He’s a beast. Best DT in the draft. By a lot IMO.

I already know the complaints about him being "a little undersized" are going to drive me to adopt him as my guy in this draft. He can go to the Titans to play with ol' tiny arms Skoronski.

Thus far, Kancey (a little smaller than Newton, a little more productive in college) has been fantastic at pass-rushing and awful against the run. Has definite value, but absolutely not a complete player.

Skoronski, likewise, has been a very mixed bag. Great in pass pro and miserable in the run game.

[alexwilkins]

What stuff? He’s a beast. Best DT in the draft. By a lot IMO.

I already know the complaints about him being "a little undersized" are going to drive me to adopt him as my guy in this draft. He can go to the Titans to play with ol' tiny arms Skoronski.

1st-team Big-10 the last two years. Big-10 DPOY this year. Sack numbers have gone up every year. Lines up at 1, 3, and 5-tech. With Billings, Dex, and Pickens already here, he could start off as a third down/situational pass rusher and build from there. Boy, I’m selling myself on this kid

[Grizzled]

Interesting point on a Bears web site, how a team drafting a WR top 5 hasn't won a Super Bowl. Trying to remember SB winning teams with great WRS. SF with Rice (traded up to 16 to get him). Dallas with Michael Irwin, drafted 11th, the 3rd receiver taken. Neither of the guys taken before himmade one. The writer said the Bears, if not going QB, would be better off to take a WR lower in the draft, trade a #1 pick to a team wanting MJH and taking an OT or defensive stud instead as they would have more value.

[The Marshall Plan]

Had some time this morning so I put a mock draft together and I'm rather pleased with how this one turned out.

Keep in mind that PFN does not let me trade draft picks for existing players so a deal with the Raiders for Crosby wasn't possible.

As much as I'd love to draft MHJ at 1, the potential return on multiple trade downs is staggering.

In addition to the extra picks this year I was able to acquire 3 more first rounders for next year, one second, and one sixth.

This is also why you don't take Caleb Williams at #1.

Trade #1:
Bears Receive
#2 Overall
#16
#34
#98
25R1
Cardinals Receive
#1 Overall

Trade #2:
Bears Receive
#4 Overall
25R1
New England Receives
#2 Overall

Trade #3
Bears Receive
#9 Overall
#73
25R2
25R6
New York Jets Receive
#4 Overall

Trade #4
Bears Receive
#10 Overall
25R1
Falcons Receive
#9 Overall
#72

Draft Picks
8: Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois - Day 1 starter opposite Dexter.

10: Rome Odunze, WR, Washington - We desperately need another WR to go with Moore and we have nothing but dust in the cupboard. Mooney is the only decent one and he's an FA.

16: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State - Day 1 starter opposite Sweat. At this point now the DL is really dangerous. Great pass rusher in Sweat, emerging Dexter and now plus two high touted rookie prospects.

34: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State - This gives us a great WR3. Again, we have nobody here except for Moore. We've got to get this offense more weapons.

73: Will Shipley, RB, Clemson - Refreshing the RB stable with one of the better prospects in the draft.

98: Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC, Oregon - Van-Pran and Frazier were gone. We had a big gap in between 34 and 73. I'm fine with this given who else has been drafted.

105: James Williams, S, Miami - EJax should be a goner and I'm trying to find a replacement.


The remainder is me going BPA.

125: Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
136: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Future Draft Picks Acquired:

25R1 from Arizona
25R1 from New England
25R1 from Atlanta
25R2 from New York Jets
25R6 from New York Jets

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

4 R1 pick in 2025 - should be able to grab a QB if needed.

[southdakbearfan]

Chasing o line in FA

[The Marshall Plan]

After yesterday's games we have the 1 pick via Carolina and then our own is at 10 based on the PFN simulator.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Just put it in the trade down star player thread:

Trade 1 with Raiders for Crosby, 11, 42, 25R1, 25R2
If MHJ is there at 3 , trade with NE.

NE get 10 & 11, Bears get 3 and 34

[Rusty Trombagent]