Future Stars

[Xplosive]

With the draft quickly approaching, everyone is looking for the greatest return on draft investment. In my opinion the #10 pick should be used on an immediate impact starter and ideally a future star player on the team.

The problem is that If there is already a player on the team that is likely to become a star, does it make sense to draft another player at the same position with the #10 pick? On the other hand, why should the Bears should pass up any player that has shown star level talent at #10, simply because they have a "good" but not star level player, currently on the roster...

So out of the following players, which players currently on the team are likely to become Star level players in the future, as opposed to simply drafting the player in parentheses that has displayed star level talent and could likely be taken at #10?


1. Gervon Dexter... (Walter Nolen has shown star level talent but it doesnt make sense to add another 3-Tech)

2. Braxton Jones... (Armand Membou has shown star level talent but if drafted there is no where for Jones to play)

3. D'Andre Swift... (Ashton Jeanty has produced at a star level in college, but pairing him with Swift is redundant. Omarion Hampton has also shown star level talent but with a deep RB draft is he even worth a 1st round pick)

4. Austin Booker... (James Pearce Jr. has produced at a star level but the Bears have invested more into the DE position than anywhere, plus Booker showed a lot of promise last year)

5. Tyrique Stevenson... (Will Johnson was an absolute stud & star player in college, but Stevenson is still developing and despite his immaturity he is still a very good and improving young player)

6. Jaquan Brisker... (Nick Emmanworii has shown star potential, although #10 is a bit high he could be a game changer on defense, meanwhile Brisker hasn't stayed healthy)

7. Cole Kmet... (Tyler Warren has star potential because of his versatility, his floor is Kmet but his ceiling is being an x-factor in the wildcat offense that teams will have to game plan for weekly)

8. Terrell Edmunds/Tj Edwards... (Jalon Walker has star level talent that could replace either LB currently on the Bears plus he will terrorize offenses as a pass rush specialist as well)


So who do you believe are the future stars on the Bears, or which draft pick at #10 is a future star that you want as a replacement for the current starter??

 

[HearshotKDS]

Probably need to define "star" to have reasonable discussion beyond 2 people with different definitions arguing past eachother. I voted for 9. None of the Above - but of the group you picked I could see the most likely being Brisker having a fluke healthy year and having a borderline star year as a thumping S who isnt absolutely lost when asked to drop into deep zones.

 

[modo]

With the draft quickly approaching, everyone is looking for the greatest return on draft investment. In my opinion the #10 pick should be used on an immediate impact starter and ideally a future star player on the team.

The problem is that If there is already a player on the team that is likely to become a star, does it make sense to draft another player at the same position with the #10 pick? On the other hand, why should the Bears should pass up any player that has shown star level talent at #10, simply because they have a "good" but not star level player, currently on the roster...

So out of the following players, which players currently on the team are likely to become Star level players in the future, as opposed to simply drafting the player in parentheses that has displayed star level talent and could likely be taken at #10?


1. Gervon Dexter... (Walter Nolen has shown star level talent but it doesnt make sense to add another 3-Tech)

2. Braxton Jones... (Armand Membou has shown star level talent but if drafted there is no where for Jones to play)

3. D'Andre Swift... (Ashton Jeanty has produced at a star level in college, but pairing him with Swift is redundant. Omarion Hampton has also shown star level talent but with a deep RB draft is he even worth a 1st round pick)

4. Austin Booker... (James Pearce Jr. has produced at a star level but the Bears have invested more into the DE position than anywhere, plus Booker showed a lot of promise last year)

5. Tyrique Stevenson... (Will Johnson was an absolute stud & star player in college, but Stevenson is still developing and despite his immaturity he is still a very good and improving young player)

6. Jaquan Brisker... (Nick Emmanworii has shown star potential, although #10 being is a bit high he could be a game changer on defense, meanwhile Brisker hasn't stayed healthy)

7. Cole Kmet... (Tyler Warren has star potential because of his versatility, his floor is Kmet but his ceiling is being an x-factor in the wildcat offense that teams will have to game plan for weekly)

8. Terrell Edmunds/Tj Edwards... (Jalon Walker has star level talent that could replace either LB on currently on the Bears plus he will terrorize offenses as a pass rush specialist as well)


So who do you believe are the future stars on the Bears, or which draft pick at #10 is a future star that you want as a replacement for the current starter??

I don't think DE or OT are as high on the list as Bears fans wish they were.

I believe the Bears like their back ups to the point of deprioritizing the positions.

That being said if the Bears see a can't miss prospect fall to them they would take it.

I really think Bears will look to other positions early in draft.

 

[napo55]

With the draft quickly approaching, everyone is looking for the greatest return on draft investment. In my opinion the #10 pick should be used on an immediate impact starter and ideally a future star player on the team.

The problem is that If there is already a player on the team that is likely to become a star, does it make sense to draft another player at the same position with the #10 pick? On the other hand, why should the Bears should pass up any player that has shown star level talent at #10, simply because they have a "good" but not star level player, currently on the roster...

So out of the following players, which players currently on the team are likely to become Star level players in the future, as opposed to simply drafting the player in parentheses that has displayed star level talent and could likely be taken at #10?


1. Gervon Dexter... (Walter Nolen has shown star level talent but it doesnt make sense to add another 3-Tech)

2. Braxton Jones... (Armand Membou has shown star level talent but if drafted there is no where for Jones to play)

3. D'Andre Swift... (Ashton Jeanty has produced at a star level in college, but pairing him with Swift is redundant. Omarion Hampton has also shown star level talent but with a deep RB draft is he even worth a 1st round pick)

4. Austin Booker... (James Pearce Jr. has produced at a star level but the Bears have invested more into the DE position than anywhere, plus Booker showed a lot of promise last year)

5. Tyrique Stevenson... (Will Johnson was an absolute stud & star player in college, but Stevenson is still developing and despite his immaturity he is still a very good and improving young player)

6. Jaquan Brisker... (Nick Emmanworii has shown star potential, although #10 being is a bit high he could be a game changer on defense, meanwhile Brisker hasn't stayed healthy)

7. Cole Kmet... (Tyler Warren has star potential because of his versatility, his floor is Kmet but his ceiling is being an x-factor in the wildcat offense that teams will have to game plan for weekly)

8. Terrell Edmunds/Tj Edwards... (Jalon Walker has star level talent that could replace either LB on currently on the Bears plus he will terrorize offenses as a pass rush specialist as well)


So who do you believe are the future stars on the Bears, or which draft pick at #10 is a future star that you want as a replacement for the current starter??

I don't see any of them as "star" players. Dexter, Kmet, the two LBs, and Brisker (when he can play) are good, but not great.

This was a 5 win, 12 loss team. after all. So they clearly need impact players. That's why I would take Jeanty in an instant if he falls to 10, which is very unlikely. If he's gone, I'd take Hamilton, and not take the risk that the best RBs would be gone by pick 39. An outstanding RB would be a huge advantage for Williams.

 

[gallagher]

I think improving the DL is the way to go. When I read up on Dennis Allen, I was shown that he likes to move his DL around to make alignment problems for the opposing offense. I like Dexter and think he has talent, I also think that you can draft another big name DT without replacing Dexter's spot on the roster. This defense is going to get creative and DL rotate to stay fresh, so adding some star power to the mix would be adding without having talent waste on the bench.

I like drafting safety as well, but improving the DL is going to make the coverage unit's job a hell of a lot easier, so I'd make it a lower priority to add DBs.

I would go DE as well under the same premise. Add star power and keep a healthy rotation, and let the back 7 flourish. More stuffed runs, more interceptions, better field position baby! As much as I like adding to the offensive firepower for this team, I think that a better pass rush would better boost the win total by keeping more teams to under 20 points.

 

[Runruffshod75]

Excluding QBs and HBs it's Nick Emmanwori. He's played at a high level and improved year over year.

Almost every draft you get a prospect like a JJ Watt, Aaron Donald, Brock Bowers type that played very well in college, then tests out well beyond typical norms for their size and position. In the end their play validates being a top 5 pick. Some of them fall out of the top 10.

Had either one of Emmanwori or Nolan played for Georgia, Alabama, Michigan or Ohio State you'd never hear the end of how great they are.

Egbuka is another star in the making. Egbuka is damn near flawless out of the SLOT. Perfect hand catcher, his route running is damn near flawless. Egbuka looks like a younger, more agile and much quicker version of Keenan Allen.

If Bears fans want Johnson to have the Bears version of St. Brown, I believe that player is Egbuka. That young Man is going to break alot of ankles.

 

[hebs]

I think improving the DL is the way to go. When I read up on Dennis Allen, I was shown that he likes to move his DL around to make alignment problems for the opposing offense. I like Dexter and think he has talent, I also think that you can draft another big name DT without replacing Dexter's spot on the roster. This defense is going to get creative and DL rotate to stay fresh, so adding some star power to the mix would be adding without having talent waste on the bench.

I like drafting safety as well, but improving the DL is going to make the coverage unit's job a hell of a lot easier, so I'd make it a lower priority to add DBs.

I would go DE as well under the same premise. Add star power and keep a healthy rotation, and let the back 7 flourish. More stuffed runs, more interceptions, better field position baby! As much as I like adding to the offensive firepower for this team, I think that a better pass rush would better boost the win total by keeping more teams to under 20 points.

Please take Kenneth Grant in the 2nd!

 

[dabears70]

I don't think DE or OT are as high on the list as Bears fans wish they were.

I believe the Bears like their back ups to the point of deprioritizing the positions.

That being said if the Bears see a can't miss prospect fall to them they would take it.

I really think Bears will look to other positions early in draft.

Which could be CB's Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron Or maybe even LB JaHaad Campbell.

 

[DaBears3434]

I think improving the DL is the way to go. When I read up on Dennis Allen, I was shown that he likes to move his DL around to make alignment problems for the opposing offense. I like Dexter and think he has talent, I also think that you can draft another big name DT without replacing Dexter's spot on the roster. This defense is going to get creative and DL rotate to stay fresh, so adding some star power to the mix would be adding without having talent waste on the bench.

I like drafting safety as well, but improving the DL is going to make the coverage unit's job a hell of a lot easier, so I'd make it a lower priority to add DBs.

I would go DE as well under the same premise. Add star power and keep a healthy rotation, and let the back 7 flourish. More stuffed runs, more interceptions, better field position baby! As much as I like adding to the offensive firepower for this team, I think that a better pass rush would better boost the win total by keeping more teams to under 20 points.

Would you consider Jalon Walker as a guy who would improve the DL?

It would be tough for me to pass on him if he’s there at 10.

 

[msadows]

This is another weirdo tyler warren thread by @Xplosive , isnt it?

Amazing how much this guy disrespects Kmet but doesnt account for the fact most TE's suck as rookies and typically get good around kmets age.

Give cold cement a year under johnson and he will put up pro bowl numbers, he already basically did with getsky.

 

[msadows]

Would you consider Jalon Walker as a guy who would improve the DL?

It would be tough for me to pass on him if he’s there at 10.

Mason Graham and Jalon Walker are my two favorite players at #10.

They have thus far left SAM linebacker bare from an actual "starter" . Think Penis Sewage's brother is the projected starter there. No thanks.

He can play 20-25% of the snaps there, then another 15-20% of snaps rotating as a pass rusher in known passing situations.

 

[gallagher]

Excluding QBs and HBs it's Nick Emmanwori. He's played at a high level and improved year over year.

I am 100% behind drafting Emmanwori - there is absolutely a case to be made to draft safety, and he is an incredible prospect. DBs with his size and speed don't come around very often, and that he comes with good tape gives me confidence that he isn't just a superb athlete that will wash out in three years.

My favorite move for this team is to trade up and draft Graham (GO BLUE) and let him terrorize Jordan Love. I'd be just as happy with Emmanwori - he can outrun a receiver and out jump a TE. I'd love a safety that makes Love and Goff afraid to throw deep.

 

[DefNextYear]

Interesting topic, complicated to answer.

I was going to rank the Bears players you listed, but I ended up having a very short list of players I care about. So that said, the only names I see as having good potential to be here and playing significant snaps longer term are Dexter and Kmet. The next tier of 50/50 to be here and playing… that’s Stevenson and Booker. I think Booker is less likely than Stevenson, so he could maybe be a slightly less than 50/50 tier if we wanted to call it that. Stevenson can maybe actually move to saftey (there were scouting reports saying that when he was drafted, which means it could help uncertainty at safety if it works).

I would probably bet that 2 of Swift, Braxton, Edwards, and Edmunds are not on the 2026 roster. And I honestly could see all 4 gone. Brisker is a big wild card, but I don’t see him ever getting a significant contract to be here long term either. At best, I imagine he'll get a year to year kind of deal until he's eventually replaced. I think the Tev negotiations have set the precedent on what Poles will do here.

That said, the crazy thing is I like Nolen a lot even though I probably say Gervon has the best long term potential. Gervon is easily the highest ceiling guy on the list to me. Though, with Jarrett and Gervon, I would be fairly shocked if Poles went with a 3T early. With two guys already on the depth chart, seems like a 2026 problem to me.

That said, I’m just going to give a big board of the draftees, weighted ever so slightly for need... probably all can be ±1 slot.

1. Armand Membou - Maybe the easiest choice. My only real issue is I don't know how he projects at LT. We otherwise know he's probably the concensus highest rated and need combo. I don't see Braxton as a long term solution. He's serviceable, but also replaceable... so we'd be looking to upgrade LT every year until we replace him.
2. Will Johnson - I've come a long way. I didn't want a CB at all before. I said as much in a thread on this forum, but I think Johnson is just too good and that thread sort of made me realize I should be thinking BPA more. I can see him running well next week and shoot up draft boards... and everyone's tone will switch from not wanting him to hoping he falls to them. This isn't just Bears fans... this applies to people picking 6 and beyond. He gets under 4.4 and he might go top 5. I can see him become the favorite to be drafted to the Raiders (Michigan connection with Spytek and Brady... the Charles Woodson nostalgia... they definitely need a CB anyway). Conversely, if he runs horribly, I might drop him. But, I really don't expect a very horrible run or he'd not run at all.
3. Jalon Walker - I probably just like him too much. I'm a Walker Stan. I won't die on the hill to convince anyone, but I like him. He's a consensus blue chip or borderline blue chip, so it bolsters that thought for me. I do feel he's probably not a fit on this defense, definitely not in the way I think he'd be most effective, but what do I know? I just think he's too talented and he's a leader. He can take the torch as the face of our defense one day. Like Johnson, I expect his stock to rise next week after he runs (if he runs).
4. Ashton Jeanty - I don't like a RB this high, but it's a position of very high value to our current roster. There are guys I like in the 2nd though.
5. Tyler Warren - Another consensus blue chip guy (or mostly consensus?). I don't have a good enough read coupled with the fact that we don't have a major immediate need at TE. We could ride out Kmet a couple of years at a good contract value and be alright. I could also take a flier on a late round TE prospect instead cause this draft is deep or I could wait til next year as well. For those reasons, along with positional value, I have him at 5. Worth noting though... he's technically at a position that's financially not worth a high pick. TEs aren't paid a lot compared to tackles, for example. However, TEs are hard to acquire outside of the draft. They're not available in free agency often. However, the counter to that is that a lot of great TEs are found outside the 1st.
6. James Pearce Jr. - If the world didn't sway me, I'd probably rank him much higher. I, in my heart, probably actually like him more than Walker to give a feel of where I'd rank him (actually, I probably liked him more than anyone on this list going into the offseason). I do justify Walker a bit in that he's technically a LB, though I see Walker's real ceiling if he finds a way to be more like Micah. I also think Pearce is probably too small for DA's preference at edge, and have lowered him accordingly. I actually like Green a bit more for this same reason... a little more meat on those bones. But back to Pearce, he's so low on every board that I feel like I'm just missing the issue. I think of past drafts and guys who go high, like say Dallas Turner who was being talked about as a top 10 pick, and I don't see why Pearce is so low right now. I default to the professionals and have accordingly put him here. I don't think I could take him at 10 for these reasons... but would like him in a trade down. Maybe I'll be validated if he does end up in the teens.
7. Walter Nolen - Ditto on a lot of what I just said about Pearce. I like him and don't know why he's so low on big boards. Also, as I said above, I can live with Dexter and put a lesser emphasis on a 3T this year. If he fell to the Bears in the 2nd, I'd take him.
8. Nick Emmanwori - I like Starks more actually, and generally hate a safety this high in the draft. He'd have to be some lights out super prospect to move the needle for me. You may say "but you have a RB so high". Yes, I do... it's cause Jeanty is universally a top 5 prospect on big boards and blue chip. No safety in this draft is anywhere close to that. But I do agree that I otherwise don't love picking RBs high.

Maybe this answers the original question... maybe it doesn't, but I feel it's in the spirit of the exercise.

 

[modo]

Which could be CB's Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron Or maybe even LB JaHaad Campbell.

Yes. It could be. It’s up to the Bears scouting department to determine this.

 

[Nelly]

The problem with the roster right now is a lack of star talent, at least at the positions you mentioned. I think you can only point to three stars right now on the entire team: Jaylon Johnson, DJ Moore and Joe Thuney. Odunze and Williams have the talent for sure. Right after them you'd put Darnell Wright, IMO. We'll have to see how Sweat looks this coming season but he sure didn't look like a star last year.

All that said, I think this thread just highlights how Poles has put himself in a position to be as close to BPA as you can hope for. We won't die without a LT or DE or DT or RB or S even though those are the most need positions. The team will be much better off drafting Jalon Walker if he's a star player and then finding a spot for him later versus taking someone at a need position, perhaps Kelvin Banks to play LT let's say and have him be an average LT. If you've got Will Johnson looking like a stud then it'd be better to pick him and displace Stevenson over drafting a guy who (maybe) can never really rush the passer in Mykel Williams (for example).

Hopefully the talent available syncs up with the needs though.

 

[doctorbear]

This team doesn't have any current stars. No one on this team should prohibit the team from drafting any position except Caleb.

 

[Xplosive]

Probably need to define "star" to have reasonable discussion beyond 2 people with different definitions arguing past eachother. I voted for 9. None of the Above - but of the group you picked I could see the most likely being Brisker having a fluke healthy year and having a borderline star year as a thumping S who isnt absolutely lost when asked to drop into deep zones.

For me a "Star" is a player that would be a starter on the majority of teams in the NFL. Basically all pro/probowl caliber guys that are amongst the best in the league at their position.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

1) Walt Nolen may not be as 'unnecessary' as OP suggests. Right now, the only true 3T you have on the roster is Jarrett. I'm aware of the Eberflush experiment to play Gervon Dexter there the past couple of years with....inconsistent success. Still, Dexter showed up pretty light to OTAs, sparking pundit prognostication that he may be moved around the DL (it could just be hot air and he's in offseason shape where he doesn't have to eat 10k+ calories a day to maintain gameshape). Keep in mind, that despite Chicago Bears DNA is to put a square peg in a round hole and SOMETIMES it works--Dexter was never a 3T coming out of college. He was a 5T in a 3 DL set and a hands-down DE in a 4 DL set at Florida.

It'll be quite refreshing to see Dennis Allen play him where he actually had some success, as Allen runs a hybrid 4-2/3-2-6, where Dexter goes back to being the pretty-good read/react guy that got him to be a 2nd round pick as opposed to owning the b gap which he never had to do until he got here.

2) Membou is a no-brainer. If you watched Braxton Leno the past couple of years when the OL was shit, concluding that he's starter material when in reality, he's a swing-tackle on a good team--also doesn't tell me LT is unnecessary.

3) Jeanty is DeShaun Foster 2.0. Great college back. Good career and games ahead of him. Top 10 pick? Absolutely not. You're fucking nuts if you think so. No breakneck speed, and against talented defenses like Penn State stacking the box against him, he didn't show he could be like Saquon or Adrian Peterson and still manage 4+ YPC and cause fits. He's not one-of-a-kind, despite it being 'smoke and mirrors'/grandiose overhype season. In a stacked RB draft, let Vegas have him.

4) I won't complain if the bears take a DE. But Austin Booker only showed promise in preseason. OP has his homer glasses on, because he disappointed when he got real reps in-season. Later in the year, when everybody's banged up and you got the fresh legs, and you still cant get home/disappear because an opposing OL just took him out of the play--yeah, are we sure this isn't Dom Robinson 2.0?

5) Completely impractical to take a corner. We all see Stevenson as a shithead, so unless an NFL GM loves him some 29--not sure how a top 10 pick gets reps until there's injury or a straight benching, which is an indictment of Poles and coaching for one of the highest paid CBs, or 2 guys already invested with high draft picks hitting the bench.

6) No. Just no. Nick Emmanwori is a poor-man's Jeremy Chinn. I don't care how athletic he is. When scouting reports call him an 'athlete first' downhill runner with no natural football instincts, and then go into how good QBs make him bite on fakes or WRs/RBs/TEs can get big time separation from him in man coverage with moderate quickness because he is slower than slow in the hips when he has to change direction?

Yeah, let's take a 3rd round talent in the top 10 and call him a "star." That's something a smart team would do.

7) Still don't understand OP's fetish to get rid of/make useless Cole Kmet and phase him out with a 1 year wonder college player. He's argued "production" or lack thereof most of these offseason threads, yet doesn't understand that it's difficult to get any production when you have to stay in and block almost every play last year because your LT and most of the playcalling when it switched hands 3x was ass last year. Signing Durham Smythe to take over blocking duties so the 7th highest paid TE in the league can be a useful weapon for your young QB is smart from Ben Johnson as opposed to taking a guy who last September not a single armchair GM could tell me who he was or why he'd be good.

Draft a TE mid rounds for depth/contend with Smythe for TE2? Sure. 10 overall for a 1 year college wonder? No thanks.

8) I'm in the minority in this fanbase, known for revering ILBs. Do not take an off-ball LB in the top 10. Like CB, unless there's a trade, your "star" will be on the bench.

 

[hebs]

For me a "Star" is a player that would be a starter on the majority of teams in the NFL. Basically all pro/probowl caliber guys that are amongst the best in the league at their position.

Same... a Star player is a Blue chipper that is top 5 or better at his position and would start on EVERY team minus maybe the teams the other 4 are on.

The last Star player on the Bears in my eyes was Brian Urlacher.

(People could argue Hester, but he wasn't a big enough contributor to the offense or the defense.)

 

[dabears70]

I am 100% behind drafting Emmanwori - there is absolutely a case to be made to draft safety, and he is an incredible prospect. DBs with his size and speed don't come around very often, and that he comes with good tape gives me confidence that he isn't just a superb athlete that will wash out in three years.

My favorite move for this team is to trade up and draft Graham (GO BLUE) and let him terrorize Jordan Love. I'd be just as happy with Emmanwori - he can outrun a receiver and out jump a TE. I'd love a safety that makes Love and Goff afraid to throw deep.

I think M.Starks would make Love and Goff afraid to throw deep more than Emmanwori would. What do you think about Starks? Obviously they are two different types of safeties and i like both but might lean towards Starks.