Bears 2023 thread V

[Chi town]

Read on Twitter

Hope Fields continues to play solid and gets us a 2nd rounder.

Could there be a couple teams that bid and we get a late first?

[fleet]

The very easy answer to this is highly drafted players at certain positions (WR, EDGE) tend to succeed in the NFL at a greater rate than QBs.

QB is the most important position, so it seems fine that they are essentially overdrafted relative to their chance of success, but are we really asking here why the best WR prospect in years would be a safer pick than a QB?

To me, the question is, what is more important? And I think by far it's QB, and when you have a chance to take the best one, and one that is being talked about as one of the better to come along in awhile, you should take the chance on the QB, even if it's not as safe as WR.

Agreed. Yeah it's a crapshoot and there's a lot of highly drafted QBs that flame out, but you have to take that risk.

Only in Chicago is it too much of a risk to draft a quarterback at the top of the draft. This town needs an enema.

[El Ridda]

I’m all in on this being the end of the line for Fields, for all the reasons discussed. Bitter sweet, as I like him- seems like a great dude and leader who really cares. I wish him well somewhere else.

I don’t get the take that Caleb Williams might refuse to come here. Not sure why. The Bears are much better set up than the usual team who ends up number 1, with an ascending OL, great lead receiver and TE combo, another high 1st pick, loads of cap space, and a collection of nice pieces on D. Add in the likelihood that the bears will be bringing in a new offensive minded coach, and the market size. Pretty amazing situation.

I guess he could be turned off by the pressure with being QB here and the legacy of failure, but that’s also an opportunity as whoever turns that around will be a god here. Plus, if he doesn’t want that pressure than he’s not the right guy anyway.

[Almost Retired]

I just listened to a podcast from The Athletic, Dane Brugler and Nate Tice talking the Draft. It's from about 10 days ago but still highly relevant. They both agree that this Draft is very heavy on offensive tackles and wide receivers. They expect at least 7 WRs and 7 OTs will go in the 1st Round.

I was really interested in their take on Jayden Daniels. They were both very high on him and expect him to be the 3rd QB taken in the 1st Round. (They only grade Maye, Caleb and Daniels as having first round grades.) He has probably set a College Football record for most explosive plays in a season (plays of > 20 yards) with 90 in 12 games. They think he will be able to bulk up to 215 lbs by the combine. His thin frame might still scare off some teams. But he has the height. And the speed. But his frame, hand size and arm strength are question marks for me. I think because so many teams will be in the hunt for a QB he will go higher than he grades out.

As to the Bears QB situation they both agree that he has improved over the course of the year. But both are not convinced that he is consistent enough for Poles to give him a guarantee over $100 Million to sign him long term. So they both expect the Bears to use their Carolina pick on either Calen or Maye and reset the pay clock on a QB. I'm torn personally. Fields does have some amazing athletic abilities. He hasn't lost the locker room. He has great support among his teammates. DJ Moore definitely wants the Bears to keep him. That makes sense. Fields has tunnel vision going his way. Moore might surpass 1500 yards this season if he and Fields can connect in the remaining games. And I think the haul they could get for the First pick would surpass last year's haul. One podcast cowboy thinks the Bears could cook up a trade with the Raiders trading the #1 and getting the Raiders 1st this year, their 2nd rounder this year. next year's 1st rounder and 4th rounder and Max Crosby. I almost salivate thinking about our pass rush with Sweat and Crosby at the ends.

[MoSalad]

they need to be on the field together 75% of the time for it to make any sense at all. the leading TE combo in the entire league is only on the field together 40% of the time


kmet has caught EVERY catchable throw this season! more w/o a drop than anyone in the nfl

of course, i just jinxed him

pitts is the current poster child for why you don't take a TE at the top of the draft. even if you DON'T already have a quality tight end

Bowers is a different beast. He’s MHJ of TE’s and really a hybrid slot WR. He creates mismatches all over the field.

Pitts would look better with a real QB.

i'll take your word for it. but i still feel if they're drafting bowers they'd better be trading kmet. hopefully they'll win 2 more games so it won't even be an option

Kmet is not a great receiving tight end. He is just a guy in that regard. He's going to have a nice Kyle Rudolph type career but you don't pass on a guy if you would take him otherwise...because you have Kmet.

[dice]

Bowers is a different beast. He’s MHJ of TE’s and really a hybrid slot WR. He creates mismatches all over the field.

Pitts would look better with a real QB.

i'll take your word for it. but i still feel if they're drafting bowers they'd better be trading kmet. hopefully they'll win 2 more games so it won't even be an option

Kmet is not a great receiving tight end. He is just a guy in that regard. He's going to have a nice Kyle Rudolph type career but you don't pass on a guy if you would take him otherwise...because you have Kmet.

you sure do if there's a similar caliber player at a position of need. and otherwise you trade with a team that actually needs a TE. basic asset management

[El Ridda]

Bowers is a different beast. He’s MHJ of TE’s and really a hybrid slot WR. He creates mismatches all over the field.

Pitts would look better with a real QB.

i'll take your word for it. but i still feel if they're drafting bowers they'd better be trading kmet. hopefully they'll win 2 more games so it won't even be an option

Kmet is not a great receiving tight end. He is just a guy in that regard. He's going to have a nice Kyle Rudolph type career but you don't pass on a guy if you would take him otherwise...because you have Kmet.

This debate reminds me of the chatter about drafting Bijon Robinson last draft. I understand your point, but given the holes we have to fill and the positional value I don’t think Bowers is a luxury we can afford.

[molepharmer]

I'm not anti-Bowers but if the Bears pick is in the 6-8 range, and MHJ, Nabers, 2 LTs and 2 QBs are gone, Bowers may clearly be the BPA. Might be a bit of a reach drafting for an edge, DB, WR or the 3rd LT at the spot. Possibly see what offers you can get for a trade down; e.g. 1st in 20-25 range + late 2nd/early 3rd rounder.

[Almost Retired]

I'm not anti-Bowers but if the Bears pick is in the 6-8 range, and MHJ, Nabors, 2 LTs and 2 QBs are gone, Bowers may clearly be the BPA. Might be a bit of a reach drafting for an edge, DB, WR or the 3rd LT at the spot. Possibly see what offers you can get for a trade down; e.g. 1st in 20-25 range + late 2nd/early 3rd rounder.

All NFL Caliber players are good to great athletes. Only a select few have a combination of talents that make them unicorns. Guys that make a real impact. Bowers is potentially that kind of player. He can outrun any linebacker. And out muscle any defensive backs. If you double team him you open up lots green grass for the WRs and Kmet and our RBs out of the backfield. He can get your QB out of a jam. He can be a possession receiver when you need him to be and a downfield weapon any time the defense commits to stacking the box. He can play at the end of the line as a TE, in the slot, in the backfield, or at WR opposite Moore. Jamming him won't work. Too big, too strong, too fast. I don't view this type of player as a luxury. I view him as a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.

[MoSalad]

i'll take your word for it. but i still feel if they're drafting bowers they'd better be trading kmet. hopefully they'll win 2 more games so it won't even be an option

Kmet is not a great receiving tight end. He is just a guy in that regard. He's going to have a nice Kyle Rudolph type career but you don't pass on a guy if you would take him otherwise...because you have Kmet.

you sure do if there's a similar caliber player at a position of need. and otherwise you trade with a team that actually needs a TE. basic asset management

Having a great receiving TE as a centerpiece of an offense is obviously a thing that makes modern offenses very hard to defend. If you think Bowers is that type of player you take him...My point is Cole Kmet's existence is not something that should move the needle in either direction.

[dice]

Kmet is not a great receiving tight end. He is just a guy in that regard. He's going to have a nice Kyle Rudolph type career but you don't pass on a guy if you would take him otherwise...because you have Kmet.

you sure do if there's a similar caliber player at a position of need. and otherwise you trade with a team that actually needs a TE. basic asset management

Having a great receiving TE as a centerpiece of an offense is obviously a thing that makes modern offenses very hard to defend. If you think Bowers is that type of player you take him...My point is Cole Kmet's existence is not something that should move the needle in either direction.

if they want to trade kmet and draft bowers, fine!

[CjayC]

you sure do if there's a similar caliber player at a position of need. and otherwise you trade with a team that actually needs a TE. basic asset management

Having a great receiving TE as a centerpiece of an offense is obviously a thing that makes modern offenses very hard to defend. If you think Bowers is that type of player you take him...My point is Cole Kmet's existence is not something that should move the needle in either direction.

if they want to trade kmet and draft bowers, fine!

You can have both. They don’t conflict with each other. Think Gronk and Hernandez. A ‘move’ TE is kind of needed in the modern NFL . I lean towards taking a WR like Nabers, but Bowers is about as good as it gets as a TE, and he’s a real blue-chipper. The TE market is also cheaper than the WR market if he gets that 2nd contract so that’s something to think about.

[CjayC]

…

[HearshotKDS]

Read on Twitter

Hope Fields continues to play solid and gets us a 2nd rounder.

Could there be a couple teams that bid and we get a late first?

Would be shocked to see a first round pick, but I could see someone like ATL offering their second for him.

[dice]

Having a great receiving TE as a centerpiece of an offense is obviously a thing that makes modern offenses very hard to defend. If you think Bowers is that type of player you take him...My point is Cole Kmet's existence is not something that should move the needle in either direction.

if they want to trade kmet and draft bowers, fine!

You can have both. They don’t conflict with each other. Think Gronk and Hernandez. A ‘move’ TE is kind of needed in the modern NFL . I lean towards taking a WR like Nabers, but Bowers is about as good as it gets as a TE, and he’s a real blue-chipper. The TE market is also cheaper than the WR market if he gets that 2nd contract so that’s something to think about.

again, you need both on the field 75% of the time for it to make sense. and no team is doing anything approaching that

[Chi town]

if they want to trade kmet and draft bowers, fine!

You can have both. They don’t conflict with each other. Think Gronk and Hernandez. A ‘move’ TE is kind of needed in the modern NFL . I lean towards taking a WR like Nabers, but Bowers is about as good as it gets as a TE, and he’s a real blue-chipper. The TE market is also cheaper than the WR market if he gets that 2nd contract so that’s something to think about.

again, you need both on the field 75% of the time for it to make sense. and no team is doing anything approaching that

Yes they will. Bowers will be lining up at Slot WR all the time.

[dice]

You can have both. They don’t conflict with each other. Think Gronk and Hernandez. A ‘move’ TE is kind of needed in the modern NFL . I lean towards taking a WR like Nabers, but Bowers is about as good as it gets as a TE, and he’s a real blue-chipper. The TE market is also cheaper than the WR market if he gets that 2nd contract so that’s something to think about.

again, you need both on the field 75% of the time for it to make sense. and no team is doing anything approaching that

Yes they will. Bowers will be lining up at Slot WR all the time.

kelce lines up as a WR on most plays. they still don't pair him with another TE that much. it would be a unicorn scenario for the bears to draft bowers and keep kmet. do you expect the chicago bears to have an innovative offense anytime soon?

[Chi town]

again, you need both on the field 75% of the time for it to make sense. and no team is doing anything approaching that

Yes they will. Bowers will be lining up at Slot WR all the time.

kelce lines up as a WR on most plays. they still don't pair him with another TE that much. it would be a unicorn scenario for the bears to draft bowers and keep kmet. do you expect the chicago bears to have an innovative offense anytime soon?

I do. Next season. Warren will clear out Flus and get his offensive genius and new QB.

[dice]

Yes they will. Bowers will be lining up at Slot WR all the time.

kelce lines up as a WR on most plays. they still don't pair him with another TE that much. it would be a unicorn scenario for the bears to draft bowers and keep kmet. do you expect the chicago bears to have an innovative offense anytime soon?

I do. Next season. Warren will clear out Flus and get his offensive genius and new QB.

here's to high expectations

[Dresden]

Read on Twitter

Not too much to unpack. Ordinarily we'd probably just tough it out with Fields. Maybe hedge our bets with a Day 2 QB. It's just bad luck, and bad timing for Fields that the Panthers ended up being this bad, in a year with strong QB prospects.

Given the contract status, given Justin's lack of consistency, his lack of growth, given where we're picking in the draft, and given who will be available in the draft, there's just too many reasons why Fields time in Chicago is up after this year.

Now if they can get a high second round pick for him, that would be amazing. You can get a center there, and then the O line is almost fixed (maybe it IS fixed if Nate Davis can play). Even a low second or third, and you can improve the O line. Maybe trade Kmet while we're at it, and pick up a 3rd rounder or something, and then draft Bowers.