GBC Mock - Build the trenches

[dentfan]

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

I like Jack Campbell. He’s the mold the of the 4-3 OLB/WLB that we should be going in. I know you’re thinking replacing Raquon, but is actually not what we need on this D. We need a Linebacker that can smash through OL and make the tackle.

Look at ZV’s write up of Campbell below, as he confirms my hypothesis of what we need at OLB/WLB.

Big fan of Sam LaPorta.

Gotta love TEs out of Iowa. He’s the flex TE that we need. Kincaid is my first choice, but he’s now being projected in the 2nd for GB. That’s a very high price tag. I think he’s worth it, but LaPorta’s existence mitigates the need for Kincaid.

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.

Exactly. Kmet means we can get a true UTE and maybe pick up a blocker, like the kid from Air Force, as a 7th or UDFA.

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 Jack Campbell from Iowa is the outdated, 4-3 Sam/Will Chad Greenway reincarnation, he's smarter for the scheme and to rely on a tackle if you're taking a LB end of round 2/early round 3.

Dead on correct. The only really “undersized” LB I like in this draft is the LB out of Syracuse, Mikel. I’ve seen him play, and I’m sure we can find a role for him. I can be convinced by the kid from Tulane, too.

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.

Yup. Dead on.

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 really would like to see Harry in the slot as a Move TE. Otherwise, we agree.

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.

Yeah. I like the pick, but I am not one to ditch JJ yet. If we go DB here, I’d prefer a hybrid S that can play in, out, above, and slot, a defensive weapon like Brian Branch who the O can’t make due to Gibson also being an impossible read. That I’ll go with. Otherwise, I feel we are good and can just draft a big safety and see if we can convert him to LB or keep him to stuff runs as a bit nickel.

 

[Sparks500]

I like it. Build out the O line. It starts ther.

 

[Shepard]

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.

I liked your mock off-season...but they just can't ignore WR entirely. I don't think you're far off in a sense that the main pieces are already in place reference their WRs.

However, they really need to find a WR Getsy likes at some point in the draft. Whether its with one of their 4ths or 5ths....they could hit there or at least have one on the roster who is a developing talent. Its possible one of Mooney or Claypool isn't a Bear in 2024 as both of their contracts are up after next year. To not at least have a young developing WR on the roster aside from Velus would be criminal.

I'd also like to see the Bears move on from one of Harry/St. Brown (I'd rather keep Harry, but we'll see what this staff thinks) and move on from Pettis. A guy like Parris Campbell from Indy could be had for cheap and would be an immediate upgrade to the entire WR group aside from Claypool/Mooney.

A late draft pick on a WR and signing a guy like Parris Campbell would probably be sufficient in upgrading the WR group.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

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…

Ryan Griffin should be shown the door before the Lions game. He sucks. Keep the good blocking TE already on the team.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

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.

You seem to have found the Ryan Pace guide: trade for, sign or draft freak athletes.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

No on Robert Quinn

I am all for it if he comes cheap.

Quinn has around 10 years straight of flipping between great year and terrible year, so 2023 is his great year. Yeah, I'll take that.

 

[gobullschi]

I liked your mock off-season...but they just can't ignore WR entirely. I don't think you're far off in a sense that the main pieces are already in place reference their WRs.

However, they really need to find a WR Getsy likes at some point in the draft. Whether its with one of their 4ths or 5ths....they could hit there or at least have one on the roster who is a developing talent. Its possible one of Mooney or Claypool isn't a Bear in 2024 as both of their contracts are up after next year. To not at least have a young developing WR on the roster aside from Velus would be criminal.

I'd also like to see the Bears move on from one of Harry/St. Brown (I'd rather keep Harry, but we'll see what this staff thinks) and move on from Pettis. A guy like Parris Campbell from Indy could be had for cheap and would be an immediate upgrade to the entire WR group aside from Claypool/Mooney.

A late draft pick on a WR and signing a guy like Parris Campbell would probably be sufficient in upgrading the WR group.

There is value in having WRs on the roster that know the offense, so moving on from Brown, Harry, & Pettis would be extreme. It’s unlikely a WR in the 5th would be an upgrade.

Paris Campbell would be an interesting addition. I’m curious what type of contract he will demand. Injuries have been a BIG problem for him.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

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.

If Dillard was drafted in 2019, he has played in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (4 years).

 

[Zvbxrpl]

If Dillard was drafted in 2019, he has played in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 (4 years).

You’re correct. And Philly declined his option. My mistake

 

[Shepard]

There is value in having WRs on the roster that know the offense, so moving on from Brown, Harry, & Pettis would be extreme. It’s unlikely a WR in the 5th would be an upgrade.

Well considering none of them are under contract....I think moving on from two of them will be pretty easy.

 

[satchice]

What WR would you like that add?

How about we trade down and take X WR Quentin Johnston in the first and with the 2nd pick take the slot WR from Ohio STATE or the best available OL.