GBC Mock - Build the trenches

[gobullschi]

Build the trenches and add assets for 2024 to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR)

Justin Fields / Trevor Semien

David Montgomery / Khalil Herbert / Trestan Ebner

Braxton Jones / Andre Dillard (FA)
Cody Whitehair / Lucas Patrick
Ethan Pocic (FA) / Sam Mustipher
Teven Jenkins / Alex Leatherwood
Braden Smith (TRADE) / Larry Borom

Cole Kmet / Sam LaPorta (3) / Ryan Griffin

Chase Claypool / Equanimous St. Brown
Byron Pringle / Dante Pettis / VJJ
Darnell Mooney / K’Neal Harry


Robert Quinn (FA) / Dom Robinson
Daron Payne (FA) / Justin Jones / Ali Gaye (7)
Mazi Smith (2) / Michael Pennell Jr.
Tyree Wilson (1) / Trevis Gipson / Al-Quadin Mohammed

Devin Bush (FA) / Sterling Weatherford
Jack Sanborn / Matt Adams
Nick Morrow / Jack Pappoe (3)

Jaylon Johnson / Jaylon Jones
Kyler Gordon / Lamar Jackson
Joey Porter Jr. (2) / Kindle Vildor / Josh Blackwell

Eddie Jackson / Ja’Ayir Brown (5) / Elijah Hicks
Jaquon Brisker / DHC / Trey Dean III (5)

How we got here…

 

[gobullschi]

Free Agency:

Daron Payne - DT
One of the best young defensive tackles in the NFL. Bears defensive line had been brutal all season.

Ethan Pocic - C
One of the top centers in the NFL that has the versatility to play multiple positions.

Devin Bush - LB
Former top 10 draft pick, Bush is FAST (4.43) and has NFL bloodlines. Excellent in coverage. Low risk - high reward.

Andre Dillard - OL
Former 19th pick (drafted by Ian Cunningham) got stuck behind Jordan Mailata. Great competition for Braxton Jones and can play multiple positions.

Robert Quinn - DE
Bring back a veteran that already knows the scheme to mentor a rebuilding defensive line. Could have a bounce back season and won’t be expensive.

DRAFT DAY TRADE DOWN:

#2 for #6, #37, 2024 1st, & Braden Smith (RT)
Protecting Fields should be the top priority, so the Bears trade down to upgrade RT and add draft capital. Use the 2024 1st to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024.

1 Tyree Wilson - DE
OH LORD Tyree Wilson is POWERFUL. Standing 6’6, 275 lbs, with a reported 7’+ wingspan, he’s got all the tools you need out of a traditional 4-3 end. He’s got the positional flexibility to move inside too.

2 Joey Porter Jr. - CB
ALPHA mentality with NFL bloodlines. JPJ has tremendous ball skills to pair with a great frame (6’2).

2 Mazi Smith - DT
Another FREAK athlete on the defensive line? YES. Mazi Smith combines absurd strength with unusual explosion for a guy weighing over 330 lbs.

3 Sam LaPorta - TE
Has unusual WIGGLE for a tight end leading to lots of broken tackles. Excellent receiving TE.

*Trade 2 4ths to move back into the 3rd

3 Owen Pappoe - LB
Roquan-lite. Nicknamed “the FREAK”. Has CRAZY speed for a LB (4.4-4.5).

5 Ja’Ayir Brown - S
Bears add another Penn-state DB and one of Brisker’s closest friends. A ball hawking safety to mold behind Eddie.

5 Trey Dean III - S
A big hard hitting safety standing 6’3. Dean is a great athlete that loves BIG hits.

7 Ali Gaye - DL
Gaye has struggled with injuries but has some nice physical tools to work with. He has the versatility to play all over the defensive line.

 

[MDB111™]

I like it. Why did you absolutely ignore WR?

 

[gobullschi]

I like it. Why did you absolutely ignore WR?

A few reasons…

1.) Too many holes on the roster to fill in one offseason and I’d rather ensure Fields is protected. A bad offensive line is one of the few things that can destroy a QB.

2.) I genuinely believe the game is won with a good QB and good offensive and defensive lines.

3.) No one is this draft class screams WR1 - lots of high end WR2 - but the Bears don’t need anymore of those.

4.) I like the 2024 WR draft class better (Marvin Harrison is LEGIT). Cost controlled for one more season if they wait.

5.) I’m undecided on Chase Claypool and need to see what he looks like when he has a full offseason with Fields.

 

[MDB111™]

A few reasons…

1.) Too many holes on the roster to fill in one offseason and I’d rather ensure Fields is protected. A bad offensive line is one of the few things that can destroy a QB.

2.) I genuinely believe the game is won with a good QB and good offensive and defensive lines.

3.) No one is this draft class screams WR1 - lots of high end WR2 - but the Bears don’t need anymore of those.

4.) I like the 2024 WR draft class better (Marvin Harrison is LEGIT). Cost controlled for one more season if they wait.

5.) I’m undecided on Chase Claypool and need to see what he looks like when he has a full offseason with Fields.

So no trade? You like Tyree Wilson at the #2 pick? You must have traded right?

 

[gobullschi]

So no trade? You like Tyree Wilson at the #2 pick? You must have traded right?

It would be Tyree Wilson with the 5th pick (or wherever the Colts draft). Poles and Ballard have a relationship, so they’re a likely trade partner.

The Bears contention window doesn’t open until 2024. I’m OK with waiting IF it means Fields has a solid offensive line.

Poles is going to build this team the right way, not force assets to solve a problem with sketchy talent.

I’m not against trading for a proven WR1, but I don’t see any worth pursuing for the amount of draft picks it would cost.

 

[Spitta Andretti]

No on Robert Quinn

 

[SugarWalls]

Banking on drafting a player over a year in advance seems dumb

 

[gobullschi]

Banking on drafting a player over a year in advance seems dumb

It doesn’t HAVE to be Marvin Harrison Jr. - just like him the most rn. The entire WR class is better next year, which is why Boutte changed his mind and declared.

 

[greg23]

I've enjoyed the WR's this year, let's run it back with the same group next year!

 

[dentfan]

Free Agency:

Daron Payne - DT
One of the best young defensive tackles in the NFL. Bears defensive line had been brutal all season.

Ethan Pocic - C
One of the top centers in the NFL that has the versatility to play multiple positions.

Devin Bush - LB
Former top 10 draft pick, Bush is FAST (4.43) and has NFL bloodlines. Excellent in coverage. Low risk - high reward.

Andre Dillard - OL
Former 19th pick (drafted by Ian Cunningham) got stuck behind Jordan Mailata. Great competition for Braxton Jones and can play multiple positions.

Robert Quinn - DE
Bring back a veteran that already knows the scheme to mentor a rebuilding defensive line. Could have a bounce back season and won’t be expensive.

DRAFT DAY TRADE DOWN:

#2 for #6, #37, 2024 1st, & Braden Smith (RT)
Protecting Fields should be the top priority, so the Bears trade down to upgrade RT and add draft capital. Use the 2024 1st to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024.

1 Tyree Wilson - DE
OH LORD Tyree Wilson is POWERFUL. Standing 6’6, 275 lbs, with a reported 7’+ wingspan, he’s got all the tools you need out of a traditional 4-3 end. He’s got the positional flexibility to move inside too.

2 Joey Porter Jr. - CB
ALPHA mentality with NFL bloodlines. JPJ has tremendous ball skills to pair with a great frame (6’2).

2 Mazi Smith - DT
Another FREAK athlete on the defensive line? YES. Mazi Smith combines absurd strength with unusual explosion for a guy weighing over 330 lbs.

3 Sam LaPorta - TE
Has unusual WIGGLE for a tight end leading to lots of broken tackles. Excellent receiving TE.

*Trade 2 4ths to move back into the 3rd

3 Owen Pappoe - LB
Roquan-lite. Nicknamed “the FREAK”. Has CRAZY speed for a LB (4.4-4.5).

He’s very small. Yes, he’s fast and athletic, but he needs to be in a 3-4 that will keep him clean. We need a bigger body. I like his skill set, but not in the third.

5 Ja’Ayir Brown - S
Bears add another Penn-state DB and one of Brisker’s closest friends. A ball hawking safety to mold behind Eddie.

Love S that bring the pain.

5 Trey Dean III - S
A big hard hitting safety standing 6’3. Dean is a great athlete that loves BIG hits.

7 Ali Gaye - DL
Gaye has struggled with injuries but has some nice physical tools to work with. He has the versatility to play all over the defensive line.

You need to draft or sign more O.

Otherwise, some nice thought going into it. I like the trade up for a higher pick.

 

[gobullschi]

He’s very small. Yes, he’s fast and athletic, but he needs to be in a 3-4 that will keep him clean. We need a bigger body. I like his skill set, but not in the third.

Love S that bring the pain.

You need to draft or sign more O.

Otherwise, some nice thought going into it. I like the trade up for a higher pick.

Just curious… What LB do you like in the middle rounds? The Bears need to start adding some depth.

 

[gobullschi]

I've enjoyed the WR's this year, let's run it back with the same group next year!

What WR would you like that add?

 

[gobullschi]

No on Robert Quinn

Any cheap DE talents worth pursuing? I was looking at Shaq Lawson.

 

[Spitta Andretti]

Any cheap DE talents worth pursuing? I was looking at Shaq Lawson.

would rather draft a DT or DE in the 1st. RT can be upgraded in FA

 

[satchice]

This is a horrible way to develop Fields! You’re not even gonna try to get him weapons. Absolute fail.

 

[gobullschi]

would rather draft a DT or DE in the 1st. RT can be upgraded in FA

That’s what happened…

The Bears can’t walk into the draft with such an obvious need. The position needs to be filled to a certain extent.

 

[napo55]

This is a horrible way to develop Fields! You’re not even gonna try to get him weapons. Absolute fail.

Right. It woujld be a F-. But I doubt the Bears would be that clueless

 

[greg23]

What WR would you like that add?

I really don't see any reason to keep pettis/esb/harry.....vjj should be on cut bubble but could add st value.

Who to add? They likely need to explore a 4th/5th type option in fa since that's all that will be available (P Campbell/Hardman/etc) explore the trade market for a real wr moving off a bad team/no qb (Hopkins/Adams/etc) and use a high pick on one in the draft

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Big fan of Sam LaPorta. Think he's a name scouts aren't looking at because they're too busy looking at Kincaid from Utah (rightfully so), Maher from ND, and the blocking TE Darnell Washington from Georgia (for some reason). The kid can run/pass block and is a solid WR. No jaw-breaking athletic ability but you don't need that out of a 6'4/6'5 TE when Kmet has mostly emerged this year as a pass-catching TE who can get some separation.

Larry Borom and Alex Leatherwood shouldn't have spots on this roster. Bring Riley Reiff back before you give another opportunity to one of these bums. Braxton Jones at LT is the cherry on top in showing me the bears aren't serious about fixing the offensive line--but it is the bears, so I shouldn't be surprised.

I wasn't aware the eagles would cut Andre Dillard and let him go to FA. He was drafted in 2019, so next year should be his 4th year in the league then Philly has to decide (by June/July this year) if they are exercising his 5th-year option because the kid was a 1st round draft pick. Guarantee the bears aren't the only team in on this kid if Philly lets him walk.

I don't trust Devon Bush to stay healthy. Don't think its smart to rely on him as a starter at LB.

I'll hard pass on Pappoe. Dude is an undersized, shit-tackler, has terrible read/react skills, and relies solely on his athletic prowess to help him rebound. The NFL exposes LBs like that. See Jon Bostic. Jack Campbell from Iowa is the outdated, 4-3 Sam/Will Chad Greenway reincarnation, he's smarter for the scheme and to rely on a tackle if you're taking a LB end of round 2/early round 3.

If Robert Quinn is coming back, its because the bears will pay more for 1 year than anybody else. Don't expect him to come here on a hometown discount, and I'd rather pass on overpaying him for a younger player like Samson Ebukam.

Pringle, ESB, Harry, and Pettis are all FAs after this year. ESB is probably the only one worth bringing back as a #4/5 blocking WR. Otherwise, buy one and draft one early and one late.

I get Joey Porter Jr. at the point you take him is a total BPA, but another CB is not necessary with Jaylon, Kyler, and the other Jaylon/guy I keep calling Nathan Vasher because he wears 31. That's where you take a WR like Tillman or Hyatt from Tennessee or AT Perry from Wake Forest.