Bears Draft Targets: Oline

[Raskolnikov]

They should be strictly about bpa and getting future value from every trade and signing, preferably in multiple modes at once. Trade down, trade for timed expirings, trade vets.

It’s a 2-3 year tank job, protect your QB and hope you come out of it with a franchise QB.

If switching to 4-3 a total recycle is in order.

When you’ve been doing it wrong for 30 years it’s a harsh transition. But we have to go through this to attempt to come out with a loaded roster that peaks for a few years in this nfl.

 

[EDPeezy]

I’m not sure why so many people think they’re going big on o-line. I bet they don’t. Unless it’s for a Center. They’re going to give Borom and Jenkins a chance. They’re already paying one guard and have to pay the other or let him go. So way more than likely if they do let him go they replace him with a cheaper option because they’re already paying Whitehair.

The secondary is worse than the O-line. CB is one of the more important positions and they only have one. The OL is like 20-25 as far as rankings. The secondary might be the worst in the NFL. They have to spend on a CB. And it can’t be like “we got this guy in the 4th we plan on starting at CB.” They’re going to have to spend a high pick or via FA. That’s way more important than an offensive lineman who they domt need nearly as badly.

They also need a safety and WR more than offensive line.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

I’m not sure why so many people think they’re going big on o-line. I bet they don’t. Unless it’s for a Center. They’re going to give Borom and Jenkins a chance. They’re already paying one guard and have to pay the other or let him go. So way more than likely if they do let him go they replace him with a cheaper option because they’re already paying Whitehair.

The secondary is worse than the O-line. CB is one of the more important positions and they only have one. The OL is like 20-25 as far as rankings. The secondary might be the worst in the NFL. They have to spend on a CB. And it can’t be like “we got this guy in the 4th we plan on starting at CB.” They’re going to have to spend a high pick or via FA. That’s way more important than an offensive lineman who they domt need nearly as badly.

They also need a safety and WR more than offensive line.

The General Manager literally laid out his plan to build inside out. #39, if they stay there and do not trade down, will be OL. Jaycee Jackson is someone they should target in FA, but he's going to get paid.

 

[Midway-monster84]

You know he's never actually played center before other than at the senior bowl right?

Ever heard of Rodney Hudson ? Guard and tackle in college , moved to center in pros . Sooo why can’t he play center ? He’s actually projected to play center and or guard .

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Ever heard of Rodney Hudson ? Guard and tackle in college , moved to center in pros . Sooo why can’t he play center ? He’s actually projected to play center and or guard .

I'm not saying he can't. Just saying he hasn't so saying he'll be an all-pro at the position seems a little premature

 

[Chicago4Life]

The General Manager literally laid out his plan to build inside out. #39, if they stay there and do not trade down, will be OL. Jaycee Jackson is someone they should target in FA, but he's going to get paid.

What should be Poles’ primary concern to address in the draft? Difference in what he will prioritize in free agency? — Henry Y.

In the same small group with reporters, Poles listed the positions he’d target when it came to building his team.

“You always want to prioritize from, really historically, what the supply and demand is,” he said. “Obviously, it starts with a quarterback. Your tackles, your pass rush, your corners, your three-down linebackers and then your free safety.”

we wont really what is true and false but based on these answers, there are likely several things we can rule out...
QB - fields
T - Jenkins, Borom? Poles may target another T
DE - Mack, Quinn, Gipson, etc...
CB - Johnson, Need
LB - Roquan, Need, Need
FS - Jackson

Tackle, CB LB are more important than WR, G based on his answer...also made mention multiple times that he is a big wave 2, wave 3 and later free agency guy...that pretty much rules out daniels and robinson coming back as both are looking for big money.

 

[EDPeezy]

The General Manager literally laid out his plan to build inside out. #39, if they stay there and do not trade down, will be OL. Jaycee Jackson is someone they should target in FA, but he's going to get paid.

Yeah. That’s just a general line people throw out when talking to media. It’s coachspeak or GMspeak. I’m sure as an offensive lineman he’ll emphasize it to some degree. He also has to build a team based on the resources he has. It doesn’t really make sense to put your resources into a position you already have and are waiting on results. I.e Borom, Jenkins. The two tackles. They’re not going to replace those two by spending big resources. They’re not replacing them until they give them a shot to see if they can play. Center is the only position they could possibly spend on. Centers aren’t really paid big though and even good ones drop in the draft so more than likely even if they replace Mustipher it will be with a relatively cheap option.

 

[Hutch1975]

Yeah, I don’t have a problem with Faalale, per se. It’s more of where he’s valued to go. I’m seeing him mocked late first and early second! He stands too tall for his height. Speed dudes get around him and power guys get up under him and put him on his ass. It’s all over the Senior bowl.

If he is available at #39, I'd still grab him and put him at guard, moving one of Whitehair/Daniels to center. Bring Graham back for another year or two to solidify TE.

Add in the RB room of Montgomery/Herbet/Cohen/Nall, and the basics of a power run game are there, supplemented by the athleticism of Fields. Use that run-first approach to set up playaction.

 

[Hutch1975]

Faalele has five year of Big Ten coaching and training. That is plenty of experience.

To me he has some pretty significant physical limitations that limit his upside, especially as a pass blocker. I don't think he's a top 50 players.

I'm not so worried about the pass blocking. Move him inside to guard, and turn him loose as a run blocker.

 

[dennehy]

I'm not so worried about the pass blocking. Move him inside to guard, and turn him loose as a run blocker.

Nah, he's way too tall, lacks bend, and would not do well against penetrating players at all.

And you should be way more worried about pass blocking. Most teams pass 60% of the time and the Bears have a potential franchise QB who needs to be protected. Also forcing a QB to see over/around a 6'9 400lb player in the middle of the line is not a good idea.

 

[dreadpirateroberts]

Some guys that I think we should target:

Offensive Tackle:

Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
Max Mitchell, Louisiana

Guard:

Marquis Hayes, Oklahoma
Lecitus Smith, Virginia Tech (Center might be a better spot)

Center:

Dylan Parham, Memphis
Luke Fortner, Kentucky

 

[Hutch1975]

Nah, he's way too tall, lacks bend, and would not do well against penetrating players at all.

And you should be way more worried about pass blocking. Most teams pass 60% of the time and the Bears have a potential franchise QB who needs to be protected. Also forcing a QB to see over/around a 6'9 400lb player in the middle of the line is not a good idea.

The first question I have is this:
Why, with a RB room of Montgomery/Herbet/Cohen/Nall are we even thinking about passing 60% of the time? It should be at least 50/50 run/pass if not 60/40 in favor of the run, with a good chunk of the passes going to Montgomery/Cohen.

 

[dennehy]

The first question I have is this:
Why, with a RB room of Montgomery/Herbet/Cohen/Nall are we even thinking about passing 60% of the time? It should be at least 50/50 run/pass if not 60/40 in favor of the run, with a good chunk of the passes going to Montgomery/Cohen.

Nall is not an NFL level player as a ball carrier and Cohen will most likely be released because he hasn't played in two years.

The other two seem like good players but neither is elite by any means and no team runs that much in today's NFL - no team ran more than 49% of the time in 2021, and that was the Eagles whose QB probably ran 139 times.

Point being, running game will only take a team so far in the NFL.

 

[Midway-monster84]

I'm not saying he can't. Just saying he hasn't so saying he'll be an all-pro at the position seems a little premature

Didn’t say all pro .

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Didn’t say all pro .

Right, pro bowl. Maybe we'll find trubisky of centers

 

[bearsfan1977]

I think it is worth it to pay the piper for a great LT in FA. In fact, I think that should be priority #1. Protect Fields blind side properly as he develops, and do it while Fields is on his rookie deal. Orlando Brown or Armstead.

This will be pricey, but worth it. It opens up things greatly. Jenkins can move to his more natural RT. Borom can be swing T, or, if he shows he can do it, can be kicked inside to G. Mack or Quinn can be (I think) moved easier after this season.

Then Zion, or best CB available in the 2nd, or true BPA. That’s the way I would go.

 

[Midway-monster84]

Right, pro bowl. Maybe we'll find trubisky of centers

Guess we’ll see how it plays out . All just a guess at this point . I’ll stick with opinion on Zion .

 

[greg23]

The first question I have is this:
Why, with a RB room of Montgomery/Herbet/Cohen/Nall are we even thinking about passing 60% of the time? It should be at least 50/50 run/pass if not 60/40 in favor of the run, with a good chunk of the passes going to Montgomery/Cohen.

Draft your boy falalae and put him at fullback! The rb room would be even better and the o line won't miss him.

 

[CaliBearFan]

I see the Bears building out from the lines. That could mean offensive OR defensive line help. It was defensive linemen that stood out at the Senior Bowl.

True but offensive line and protection for Fields will take priority. And you can't discount both the GM and assistant GM being ex olineman. We all have our biases even if unconscious.

I'm expecting a bigger improvement than even when Emery magically fixed our online in 1 year.

 

[CaliBearFan]

To me he has some pretty significant physical limitations that limit his upside, especially as a pass blocker. I don't think he's a top 50 players.
[/QUOTE]
Based on Poles comments regarding participating more in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of FA, interviews where he gets very specific on traits he is looking for, oline background and confidence in his evaluations, and the probably meaningless OT acquisition today who has plus traits, coupled with limited resources - it's possible that he goes with value and drafts a couple lesser known olineman based on traits and potential and his belief.

Given the needs on the roster and limited capital I think there's half a chance that he drafts wr and defense on the first two days and picks up online gems in later rounds.

Maybe it's PTSD from seeing GMs play themselves by trying to be smartest man in the room Just a conspiracy theory that he might not grab the consensus best olineman at 39 or the next pick despite it seeming obvious to everyone following the draft boards.

That says I do believe that the line will become a strength on this team. Could be some hiccups.