Free Agency
Bears sign C Connor McGovern to 3 years 23 million
By PFF overall grade in 2022,
McGovern is a step below Ethan Pocic and comparable to Garrett Bradbury. His 69.6 overall grade was about what McGovern has done each year since his first playing season (2017) when PFF graded him quite harshly (48.9). McGovern’s PFF grade by season: 48.9, 60.2, 72.0, 62.2, 75.9, and 69.6.
One of McGovern’s biggest selling points is his durability. Since the 2018 season (inclusive), McGovern has played 98% or more of the offensive snaps every year. That kind of durability should sound really good after a season when the Bronco OL was ravaged by injuries. The other two “good” UFA centers, Pocic and Bradbury, both have injury troubles in their past.
Bears sign DE Yannick Ngakoue to 2 years 22 million
Ballentine noted that may be because of the defensive end’s singular skill set. But what Ngakoue does well is what the Bears need to add to their roster more than almost anything else for the upcoming season.
Ngakoue’s constant movement is likely in part because he’s a one-trick pony. That one trick (getting after the quarterback) is pretty vital, though.
Ngakoue does not work well as a run defender. Instead, he uses his quickness and athleticism as a pass-rushing specialist. With 65 career sacks and 9.5 last season, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be available much longer.
He had nearly half as many sacks as the Bears’ entire defense had last season (20). They added DeMarcus Walker already, but he’s a very different player at 6’4″, 280 pounds. Ngakoue would be a pure pass-rusher who could be a vital part of their rotation.
Bears sign RT Cam Fleming to 1 year 2.5 million
Fleming, 30, started nine games at right tackle and six at left last season for the Broncos. He gave up only 28 pressures and seven sacks in 605 pass-block snaps, per PFF. He gave up 20 pressures and six sacks in true pass sets while logging a 94.2 efficiency rating.
Draft
Panthers draft QB CJ Stroud
Texans draft QB Bryce Young
Cardinals draft DT Jalen Carter
Colts draft DE Will Anderson Jr
Seahawks draft DE Tyree Wilson
Lions draft DE Myles Murphy
Raiders draft QB Anthony Richardson
Falcons draft CB Christian Gonzalez
1 [9] OT Paris Johnson Jr [Ohio State] 6'6 313lbs
PLAYER COMPARISON
Charles Cross
SCOUTING REPORT: SUMMARY
Former five-star recruit Johnson Jr. is an impressive physical prospect and he brings all the athleticism you could to his game. He's a top-level prospect with sky-high potential, although thus far in his time with the Buckeyes, he's displayed consistently elite run blocking while his pass protection skills have merely been decent.
Johnson will likely be picked in the first half of the first round, but will likely take time to develop into a solid NFL pass blocker.
* Bears trade 2023 second round pick (#53) & 2023 third round (#64) pick to Saints for 2023 second round pick (#40)
2 [40] DT Adetomiwa Adebawore [Northwestern] 6'2 285lbs
If Keion White or the Adebawore from Northwestern drop it's easy to justify trading up both are athletic freaks with tons of potential.
SCOUTING REPORT: SUMMARY
Adebawore is an incredible athlete who put up record-setting numbers at the combine, we've never seen a player who runs a 4.4 while weighing in at 280lbs - it's a site to behold. He isn't just a workout warrior though and has a nice if a little unrefined skill set to go along with with his obvious athletic skills. He's a high-effort player who never gives up on a play, is a fantastic interior bull rusher, and offers the versatility to play anywhere along the defensive line.
He, however, is still pretty raw and doesn't really offer any edge rush moves besides a bull rush and may be viewed as a tweener, being too short for the outside and too light for an every-down interior player. Overall, thanks to an out-of-this-world combine show he'll be selected pretty high come draft day, there's a good chance Adebawore will hear his name called on day one in the 2023 NFL draft.
2 [61] CB DJ Turner II [Michigan] 5'11 178lbs
SCOUTING REPORT: SUMMARY
DJ Turner is a super athletic, speedy corner who'll most likely put up crazy numbers at the combine. He's much more than just a twitchy athlete however as he's put up two impressive years at Michigan even against top competition while demonstrating excellent press/man skills. Turner is far from a finished product, as he's small for a corner and possesses only average overall length and catch radius as well as looking pretty raw when targeted in zone coverage. Despite these reservations, his upside is significant and can't be overlooked - he'll not last past the start of the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
4 [103] RB Kendre Miller [TCU] 5'11 215lbs
- He’s equally dangerous in catch-and-run situations as Miller is taking the top off a defense
- Not truly explosive, but possesses enough speed to beat linebacker to the edge.
- Miller has very good vision and a knack for picking out cut-back lanes and then breaking off chunks of yardage.
- He blends good size and speed, as well as the competitive demeanor of a playmaker.
- Was asked to pick up blitzes often and has the strength to anchor and stand up blitzers.
- Has good vision to find the hole and get North-South. Gets good initial push and always seems to be falling forward for a positive gain. A hard runner with a workhorse-type back mentality.
4 [133] S Ronnie Hickman [Ohio State] 6'0 203lbs
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
- Has the fluid athleticism and speed to cover tight ends and maybe even some big slot receivers. Hickman has the ball skills to create turnovers. He also has value as a blitzer.
- In the run game, he’s aggressive coming downhill and a hits hard
- Has ideal size, as well as the straight-line speed and fluidity to turn his hips and run. He can cover a ton of ground as a run defender.
- Reads receivers' routes and anticipates throws at the first down marker. Covers a lot of ground in a hurry when in space. Reads the quarterback's eyes and sees the routes very quickly, then has straight-line speed to arrive with or just after the ball.
- Has good body control and balance to redirect and break down in the open field.
- Has explosive movement skills and the fluid athleticism and change-of-direction ability to come down and cover slot receivers.
- Has a nice, low backpedal and shows the click-and-close ability to play off his man. Hickman also has the good long speed to turn and run as a press coverage guy and the powerful hands to disrupt receivers early in the route
5 [137] WR Charlie Jones [Purdue] 5'11 175lbs
Grew up in Deerfield,IL.
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
- Although Jones is more of a possession target than a field stretcher, he fiercely competitive demeanor and run-after-catch ability make him a major threat in the middle of the field.
- A savvy, natural pass-catcher with reliable hands and very good focus. Snatches the ball out of the air and shows the concentration to make acrobatic catches look easy.
- Jones tracks the ball well downfield and consistently runs under long throws.
- Jones is a natural playmaker, at his best with the ball in his hands.
- His competitiveness and knack for high-pointing the ball allow him to play bigger than his size.
- Really surprised at the combine with 4.43 forty - scouts will now take a second look
5 [159] LB Mohamoud Diabate [Utah] 6'4 229lbs
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
- Best attribute. Extreme quickness off the edge, has the flexibility to turn the corner.
- Quick off the snap in the pass rush, Diabate has violent hands and a good feel for working inside counter moves.
- Plays fast, flows with the action, showing smooth lateral agility and short-area burst. Has good instincts and awareness to quickly find the ball.
- He’s very good in coverage when looking into the backfield in zone coverage.
- He’s aggressive shooting gaps, redirecting downfield quickly and closing fast on the ball carrier. Diabate also has the ideal length and dip-and-bend ability to be a pass-rushing threat off the edge.
- Diabate can move laterally and chase in pursuit. A tough, violent tackler with a non-stop motor, he also shows good awareness when dropping into coverage.
7 [220] TE Payne Durham [Purdue] 6'5 253lbs
- Gets a quick release off the line. Dips his shoulder and shows some savvy 8 as a route runner to avoid contact with defenders g to get into his route.
- A fluid mover capable of creating some separation over the middle of the field, Durham has the long arms and soft hands to provide a sizable catch radius.
- Durham has soft hands and uses his frame effectively to shield defenders, making him a major threat in the red zone. Durham can also turn upfield and break a tackle.
- Looks to get involved downfield and will block multiple defenders on a single play when he can. Understands his role as a blocker.
- Knee-bend and technique are good and he shows decent power when his hands hit the target.
- His long arms allow him to play bigger than his size, and he has a frame that can carry a little more weight.
7 [258] OL Alex Forsyth [Oregon] 6'3 300lbs
- Has good footwork and technique. Balanced and agile pass protection set with excellent hand placement.
- Quick out of his stance with the footwork to be effective in front of screens. Willing to get out in front of ballcarriers to take out defensive backs and linebackers.
- In the run game, Forsyth explodes off the line of scrimmage and consistently gets out to the second level to do damage.
- Has a stout build with a strong, flexible core. He’s a rock in the middle of the line as a pass protector, with the heavy hands and strong grip to hold his own against bigger defensive tackles.
- In the run game, he shows good burst off the line of scrimmage, with the ability to win at the point of attack. Forsyth has enough speed and athleticism to move to the second level and land blocks.
