THE "KEEP JUSTIN FIELDS" DRAFT
TRADES
BEARS GET | PATRIOTS GET |
---|---|
R1 P3, R2 P34, R3 P68, 2025 NE R1, 2025 NE R2 | R1 P1 |
BEARS GET | RAMS GET |
---|---|
R1 P19, R2 P52, 2025 LAR R2 | R1 P9, R4 P122 |
BEARS GET | JAGUARS GET |
---|---|
R4 P96, R5 P151, R6 P194 | R3 P75 |
SELECTIONS
R1 P3: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR - Ohio State
SUMMARY: The obvious target in this scenario, with both QBs off the board and the Patriots paying a king's ransom to take Caleb Williams and the Commanders selecting Drake Maye. Instant starter and incredibly high expectations opposite of DJ Moore.
HIGHLIGHTS
R1 P19: Taliese Fuaga, OT/OG - Oregon State
SUMMARY: I forecast Fuaga as primarily competing with Nate Davis for the starting Right Guard position while also shadowing as Darnell Wright's backup at tackle. He is an exceptional pass protector and is athletically gifted for a 6'5 320lb mauler. Ideally he has a Joel Bitonio-esque career for the Bears.
HIGHLIGHTS
R2 P34: Kamren Kinchens, S - Miami
SUMMARY: Even if Eddie Jackson returns, the Bears soreley lack meaningful talent at the safety position, and Kinchens is special. Has great instincts for angling for picks and keeping his feet inbounds, and can blitz effectively with nice closing speed when playing inside the box. Not a bad tackler, either. His tackling, in fact, may be part of what drops him down the boards, as his body may have a bit more mileage from his physical style than others at the position.
HIGHLIGHTS
R2 P52: Sedrick Van Pran, OC - Georgia
SUMMARY: The Bears MUST attack the interior of their offensive line this draft, regardless of how good they feel about Davis and Jenkins. Van Pran is enormous, 6'4" 310lb with room to get stronger. He's the most versatile and NFL Day One ready of the Centers of the 2024 class, and one of the most athletic interior lineman on offer. He needs to refine technique and become more of a bulldog in the run game, adding muscle. It wouldn't hurt for him to play under a more established veteran starting Center for a season, but if he had to start right away, he could, and would do so well, I believe.
HIGHLIGHTS
R3 P68: T'Vondre Sweat, DT - Texas
SUMMARY: Sweat is basically The Fridge reborn. 6'4" 362lb of beef with surprising agility for that hulking mass. His role for his rookie season is to shadow and spell Andrew Billings, while also rotating in regularly as a new element in the Eberflus defense: The Big Mother Fucking Guy, whose primary purpose is to hurl oneself at the opposing ball carrier when called upon. There are logical reasons why this wouldn't work — namely the amount of defensive lineman already on the roster for 2024 — but given the opportunity to put a Dexter Lawrence clone on your defensive line, wouldn't you seize it?
HIGHLIGHTS
R3 P96: Jonah Elliss, EDGE - Utah
SUMMARY: Elliss is one of those guys on defense that is always called when a game-changing moment occurs. He swats down a pass, forces or recovers a strip-sack, breaks a play with a QB hurry, etc. Elliss plays with a frantic motor that should serve him well in the NFL and is something the Bears desperately need from their pass rush. At 20 years old, he's got many years to develop into his prime. His dad was Luther Elliss, who played a decade in the NFL and went two a pair of Pro Bowls. His brothers are also playing for the Patriots and Eagles.
HIGHLIGHTS
R4 P110: Will Shipley, RB - Clemson
SUMMARY: Shipley is just the medicine the Bears need for a disappointing backfield in 2023. He is an accomplished receiver and is extremely comfortable working between his offensive linemen. He can leap over a pile just as comfortably as lower his shoulder into it. What makes him special is his YAC and quickness once he gets hands on the rock. I think he and Roschon would be a hell of a tandem for a couple years behind a renewed offensive line.
HIGHLIGHTS
R5 P142: Theo Johnson, TE - Penn State
SUMMARY: Johnson isn't the lightning bolt TE that the Bears could use to break the offense wide open, but he's a hulking pain in the ass with great hands, which counts for something. Johnson is tough as nails, can push the pile, can BE the pile. Needs a ton of sculpting to be an effective blocker and improve his athleticism, but his body and his heart are NFL-ready.
HIGHLIGHTS
R5 P151: Brenden Rice, WR - USC
SUMMARY: One legend's legacy? How about another! Brenden's dad Jerry was pretty OK at the whole football thing, and his son looks to be NFL-caliber at the least. At 6'3" 210lb he has great size, and runs a 4.3 40. His highlights tell a compelling story, and while I have my doubts Rice falls all the way to the 5th round, in my simulations he was routinely available in this area, so gimme, gimme gimme.
HIGHLIGHTS
R6 P194: Eli Cox, OC/OG - Kentucky
SUMMARY: Cox is an interesting wad of clay that the Bears could shape into something useful. He was primarily a Center at Kentucky, working in at Right Guard occasionally as well. He has the size (6'4" 298lb) to work at tackle, if desired. He's got all the makings of a compelling utility backup, and by simply being under contract he would be an instant upgrade from J'tyre Carter and Dan Feeney.
SCOUTING REPORT