How would you grade this draft class?

[JoJoBoxer]

B

We basically drafted two guys.

Well, I see it as drafting one potential franchise QB, something we haven't done basically ever (sure, there have been 2 Hall of Fame QBs drafted by the Bears, but was when real nazis were roaming the world, instead of the current neo variety), one potential 15 year starter and 15 lottery tickets.

I can live with that.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Never know what we have until about 3 years in.
I hope to see promise in year 1, then see solid play in year 2 and consistency and improvement in year 3, but we simply do not know. May as well say if the 2040 President will be good for the country.

Ok, technically both of you are right, but what is the interest in that?

I want both of you to, right now, rate the 2018 NFL draft for the Bears. You may even be factual, but no one is going to be very interested.

The high interest in almost anything is in the possibilities. That new car? It is just a car after owning it for a month. Dating that super model? After some time, you only see the flaws. Being filthy rich? You see the leeches come out for your money.

Rarely does reality surpass (or match) the dreams.

Bears fans have dreamed their whole lives for a franchise QB. Let us dream about us finally having gotten one for the first time.

If reality matches or surpasses our dreams, the better it would be.

 

[Caveroamer]

Ok, technically both of you are right, but what is the interest in that?

I want both of you to, right now, rate the 2018 NFL draft for the Bears. You may even be factual, but no one is going to be very interested.

The high interest in almost anything is in the possibilities. That new car? It is just a car after owning it for a month. Dating that super model? After some time, you only see the flaws. Being filthy rich? You see the leeches come out for your money.

Rarely does reality surpass (or match) the dreams.

Bears fans have dreamed their whole lives for a franchise QB. Let us dream about us finally having gotten one for the first time.

If reality matches or surpasses our dreams, the better it would be.

I did, lol. And you are right. It got like 3 replies in the whole thread, lol

 

[Black Rainbow]

Well, I see it as drafting one potential franchise QB, something we haven't done basically ever (sure, there have been 2 Hall of Fame QBs drafted by the Bears, but was when real nazis were roaming the world, instead of the current neo variety), one potential 15 year starter and 15 lottery tickets.

I can live with that.

We didn't win anything by drafting a franchise QB.

This is just the beginning, not the final chapter. Pace is not untouchable for another 5 years because he finally found a QB.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

I think I'd give it an overall grade of an A-

Round 1, pick 11 – Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State A+
Round 2, pick 39 – Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State A+
Round 5, pick 151 – Larry Borom, OT, Missouri - B+
Round 6, pick 217 – Khalil Herbert, RB, Virginia Tech B
Round 6, pick 221 – Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina B-
Round 6, pick 228 – Thomas Graham Jr., CB, Oregon A
Round 7, pick 250 (from SEA) – Khyiris Tonga, DT B-

The lack of no 3rd or 4th rd pick is my biggest knock on this draft. I think there were still some decent receiving options available. Nico Collins, Tylan Wallace, Jaleon Darden, Amon-Ra St Brown, Amari Rodgers and Josh Palmer were a few decent options. I think the talent at the position drastically dropped after that. Dazz Newsome was fair value, but I'm not sure if he will really push for a starting role like we need.

You have to take into account that the further down you go, the less effect the grades should have on the final grade.

Also, getting the players they got at the positions they got was going to cost draft stock.

How excited would the fanbase be with:

1. (20) Teven Jenkins OT
2. (52) D'Wayne Eskridge WR
3 (83) Tommy Tremble TE
5 (164) Keith Taylor CB
6 (204) Landon Young OT
6 (208) Khalil Herbert RB
6 (221) Dazz Newsome WR
6 (228) Thomas Graham Jr CB

Not a bad draft, but not very exciting ... and ... the most important position on the team has, again, not been addressed. The 2nd tier QBs were all taken before the 3rd round pick came along.

So ... I guess they would have to wait another year as the defense gets older, Robinson certainly leaves for greener pastures (he might still leave, but his chances of staying with the possibility of a real QB passing to him already being here) and still not sucking enough to get a high draft pick.

So in 2022, again the Bears would have to sell the farm to move up which is exactly what you are upset about.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

We didn't win anything by drafting a franchise QB.

This is just the beginning, not the final chapter. Pace is not untouchable for another 5 years because he finally found a QB.

Yes ... and no.

Be honest.

How did you feel about the Bears exactly one week ago?

How do you feel about the Bears right now?

I am guessing that, like myself, you are feeling much different about the Bears right now than a week ago.

What was won is HOPE. Funny word, because it doesn't really mean anything. Nothing was won, as you pointed out.

However; the batteries of hope were charged for most Bears fans.

Hope has come along that the Bears have finally stepped away from the insanity of matching the defensive identity of a beast with the offensive identity of being an afterthought.

I recall just in 2020, lots of people on the board talking about them no longer really caring about watching the games, allowing them to do more interesting stuff like organizing their garages or performing a root-canal on themselves.

I am sure that some of these people will come back with curiosity about the possibility of have a top half offense (16th or better). When was the last time that the Bears had an offense that was ranked better than 17th?

They will come back all because of hope.

I can envision a day when the Bears match a top 10 defense and a top 10 offense. Or I can hope for that.

As an aside, most people know that the '85 Bears were the #1 defense that magical season. Many people don't know that the '85 Bears were the #2 offense that year.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

A+

This is the best Bears draft I have seen in my entire life.

I don’t know what the rest of you are belly aching aboutZ how soon we forget.
The
Best
Draft
I have ever seen.

Best.

Me too. However; I wasn't born in 1965 when Butkus and Sayers were drafted.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

Quan is great and can be even better. Nichols is a stud. JD will be a stud if he stays healthy. AntMill has been a disappointment relative to where he was picked but still has had some production. Really the only disappointments have been Joel I who’s just a special teams guy and Fitts who I don’t think is even a Bear now. That’s a solid draft there. I’d say B+. Would have been an A if AntMill wasn’t a knucklehead.

If one of the biggest disappointments is Fitts in the 6th round, it was a successful draft.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

B+....hard to grade late rd picks

What????!!!!!

B+????

If you give the Bears an A+ or A for Field and Jenkins and all the later round picks are useless, all those picks will move a grade less than one spot. So an A+ might go to A and an A might go to A-.

Do you think that Field and Jenkins was an A-?

 

[Bust]

5 years from now you will look back to this class and remember this is where it all started

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

If one of the biggest disappointments is Fitts in the 6th round, it was a successful draft.

Oh agreed 100%

 

[Diehardfan]

Pace's strength in the draft has always been later. He managed to hit a HR with picks 1 & 2. Most of us don't know much
about the late picks but the people that do, approve. But....

The most important thing Pace did though....is give a beat down franchise a blast of hope. Something the Bears and their fanbase was very much in need of.

 

[Midwaymonster75]

I gave it a B+

A-

 

[vinson555]

Solid A, almost A +... only because I kind of wished somehow we could have cam up with one more player for a late round gem. The team needs as many cheap contracts as they can get, considering the Bears can't get themselves out of the Mack, or even worse Quinn contract.

People been talking about how are we going to pay for the new rookies, I thought that number was figured into the cap already, eh could be wrong... but I can certainly see more june first cuts if that is the case.

 

[mattb78]

A+. Value for our first two picks was incredible. Highest players on the board.

 

[Runruffshod75]

Isnt it an unusual twist of events that the very run on first round QBs that we were all worried about prior to Thursday night, was the main reason the Bears were able to have a puchers chance at also landing a standout OT talent in round 2?

I honestly cant remember the last time that I saw any franchise with only one first round pick at their disposal able to get their #1 priority round 1 QB talent & be able to land their #1A priority OT talent in the following round.

Usually a franchise will need multiple early picks at their disposal or just have to wait until the following draft to land a trophy blue chip OT out of college.

I know many may disagree but I saw Jenkins as a top 3 OT in this class that was adequate with available OTs. Yes I do believe that he will prove that much on the field with a smile.

Im a fan of standout OTs with a balanced game at both run blocking and pass blocking ability and can utilize either ability to an extreme depending on the given circumstances at hand in game.

Now that Leno is out the door its all but a lock that Jenkins is going to learn the roaps from the LT position.

There will be more than one franchise thats going to regret passing on Jenkins for other Olineman from some of the more touted collegiate programs.

Jenkins is a smart player but plays old school and with brutality that seems to be becoming rarity with so many young linemen out of college that are all but catch blockers playing from their heels. Some of these modern day OTs look like their trying to play bad zone defense on Michael Jordan out there off the edge. I hate that.

Jenkins does exactly what I want to see an OT do to neutralize the speed of these modern day EDGE rushers by going right at the bastards.

Ive always believed that pass protection techniques can be taught to most lineman. But having that road grading ability steming from an inner lifelong aggression is to be conditioned into ones early world view. By the time a kid is 19 to 21, they either have it or they dont.

Jenkins has "it", loves applying "it", and is going to really damage some egos out their.

I love that the top 2 priorities for any football team were taken in the draft and will climb the ranks from the same plank.

Im still in awe that the Bears got both priorities and got them both RIGHT.