Official NFL Draft Thread - Bear Fans Only - and No Montucky!

[--CyBear--]

I know the trenches guys will hate this but if this is true and they go BPA...

It's tough to find a lot of consensus on players in this year's draft. However, almost every team I talk to believes in the top 2 TE's. Warren & Loveland (some prefer on over the other) are consistently viewed as top 10 players in the class.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) April 14, 2025

If other teams see it this way and the Bear want to go elsewhere, it could also help with a trade down.

 

[Nelly]

Back in January, I said the above about Banks and it feels the momentum is finally carrying him to where I’m wondering if he may go higher than our pick.

That's the thing about the draft. I don't know if there's any real movement or "momentum" actually going on. The NFL front-offices aren't as swayed as the fans are by the talk in the media and so on. They've got what they're looking for and pore over the tape all offseason. I would guess that they've been ready for the draft since a week after free agency, with the only thing that could really change things for them being pro days.

For us fans, we've had a month to mentally masturbate over all this and react to these guys over here saying "Banks sucks and is barely a first round pick" to some other guys over here going "I don't get why they're saying he's barely a first round pick, dude's near the top 10" with that "momentum" just being where we're currently at in that back-and-forth pundit cycle.

 

[Luke]

Stewart is absolutely the worst case scenario in my mind at 10.

Stewart Bears comp --> Alonzo Spellman

 

[playthrough2001]

Stewart Bears comp --> Alonzo Spellman

There it is…

He looked great as the first guy off the bus or running around Barrington half naked!

 

[playthrough2001]

That would put me off more than the surgery and if true, that's not the sort of guy you expect to do the work required to come back 100%.

It’s a big deal if true. The surgery/injury takes him off the board if I was making the decision.

 

[DefNextYear]

That's the thing about the draft. I don't know if there's any real movement or "momentum" actually going on. The NFL front-offices aren't as swayed as the fans are by the talk in the media and so on. They've got what they're looking for and pore over the tape all offseason. I would guess that they've been ready for the draft since a week after free agency, with the only thing that could really change things for them being pro days.

For us fans, we've had a month to mentally masturbate over all this and react to these guys over here saying "Banks sucks and is barely a first round pick" to some other guys over here going "I don't get why they're saying he's barely a first round pick, dude's near the top 10" with that "momentum" just being where we're currently at in that back-and-forth pundit cycle.

I don’t disagree with the part about the media. First, I'll say that the momentum I refer to is exactly what you're saying. We don't have inside knowledge, so what I'm saying is we're led to believe for weeks or months that we may be able to get player X and then the rug gets pulled out from under us as we near the draft and the media gets more and more inside info. We know this is a lagging indicator of what front offices are actually thinking, but it's the only indicator we'll ever have. Momentum is momentum, even if it was based on false input. And, I'm not saying front offices are swayed by the media. I'm saying the opposite.

For all NFL teams, I do not believe they've been totally ready for the draft that long. All levels of the front office have indicated they still go through player evaluation sessions to finalize the board and they probably are just finalizing the plan this week. It's probably a very iterative process of identifying players and then feeding that to the coaching staff and reviewing film together... coming to conclusions. Granted, the tweaks this by week are probably minor, I'm sure they were still modifying that strategy this week. As they get inside info, they have to adjust cause they may have thought a player or position may be available to them in round 3 and now are getting info that says that won't be the case, so they might adjust the strategy accordingly. While a team may not change who they like, they do have to factor in what they believe others will do on some level. That type of thing is way less clear a month ago than it is today.

 

[BaBaBlacksheep]

That’s fair. I mentioned it before, but there are only about 7-10 elite LTs in the NFL followed by a bunch of average/slightly above average guys, which is where I’d put Braxton. He actually graded out very well when he was healthy but health is the biggest concern.

For the “draft an OT at 10” crowd, I’m assuming they believe whoever will be there is going to join the top 10 elite NFL LT crowd? I don’t see it personally but maybe someone like Banks/Conerly will. I’m just not a fan of using a top 10 pick on an OT that doesn’t project as elite when you already have more than a capable starter.

You don’t have that though. This conversation changes completely if Braxton didn’t get injured.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

It was a long shot before but probably 0% Membou falls to Bears at 10.

Ramczyk didn't play last year and was presumed to be retiring. Trevor penning their former 1st round pick played rt last year. He's not great but the ramczyk news isn't changing anything because it's been expected for a year or so.

 

[TL1961]

That’s fair. I mentioned it before, but there are only about 7-10 elite LTs in the NFL followed by a bunch of average/slightly above average guys, which is where I’d put Braxton. He actually graded out very well when he was healthy but health is the biggest concern.

For the “draft an OT at 10” crowd, I’m assuming they believe whoever will be there is going to join the top 10 elite NFL LT crowd? I don’t see it personally but maybe someone like Banks/Conerly will. I’m just not a fan of using a top 10 pick on an OT that doesn’t project as elite when you already have more than a capable starter.

What I am looking for in a left tackle is not to say “he’s about as good as many others” or “not that bad”. I want a left tackle that allows the bears offense to function as planned.

That’s the best way I can put it. You cannot have a functioning offense with a quarterback not having time to operate in the pocket.

That’s what I want: to give the quarterback time in the pocket.

 

[TL1961]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1912931033915211844

Hahaha this is great

The guy who hems and haws, “mulls retirement”, and keeps everybody hanging and waiting on him every off-season is now gonna be upset that someone else wasn’t forthcoming and direct enough with him.

As far back as five or six years ago in Green Bay, he was floating the “maybe I will retire“ bullshit at the end of every year. He needs people to beg him. The Jets have not done much right over the years but this if true, was absolutely beautiful.

 

[Nelly]

I don’t disagree with the part about the media. First, I'll say that the momentum I refer to is exactly what you're saying. We don't have inside knowledge, so what I'm saying is we're led to believe for weeks or months that we may be able to get player X and then the rug gets pulled out from under us as we near the draft and the media gets more and more inside info. We know this is a lagging indicator of what front offices are actually thinking, but it's the only indicator we'll ever have. Momentum is momentum, even if it was based on false input. And, I'm not saying front offices are swayed by the media. I'm saying the opposite.

For all NFL teams, I do not believe they've been totally ready for the draft that long. All levels of the front office have indicated they still go through player evaluation sessions to finalize the board and they probably are just finalizing the plan this week. It's probably a very iterative process of identifying players and then feeding that to the coaching staff and reviewing film together... coming to conclusions. Granted, the tweaks this by week are probably minor, I'm sure they were still modifying that strategy this week. As they get inside info, they have to adjust cause they may have thought a player or position may be available to them in round 3 and now are getting info that says that won't be the case, so they might adjust the strategy accordingly. While a team may not change who they like, they do have to factor in what they believe others will do on some level. That type of thing is way less clear a month ago than it is today.

I don't know anything really about how the front offices really work. No doubt they'll continue to refine things but it's really all about the players. If their opinions on the players haven't changed then its really all about the big board and who's available. Who can they not live without (trade up) or who can they live without (trade down).

As far as our perception of who got a steal or who was overdrafted: that's all shaped by the media leading up to the draft. I wonder what information the GMs would get that hints at certain players no longer figuring to be available where they want to get them. We know that GMs and scouts and such lie during this season for that very purpose.

 

[modo]

I've been an advocate for the Bears getting a LT for the past two years. If a real LT falls to ten, grab him.

I think the Bears may try and get cute and go for one in the second round for compaetition, but if there is a lock down guy at 10 just pick him and don't look back.

 

[DefNextYear]

I don't know anything really about how the front offices really work. No doubt they'll continue to refine things but it's really all about the players. If their opinions on the players haven't changed then its really all about the big board and who's available. Who can they not live without (trade up) or who can they live without (trade down).

As far as our perception of who got a steal or who was overdrafted: that's all shaped by the media leading up to the draft. I wonder what information the GMs would get that hints at certain players no longer figuring to be available where they want to get them. We know that GMs and scouts and such lie during this season for that very purpose.

It definitely is the season to spread false info. My guess is no one gets bulletproof info. If you listen to very connected guys like McShay, you can get a vibe of what it's like. McShay starts to pick up the league value of players by talking to his connections. They may not say "man, I hope Banks is there at 10 so I can draft him", but they will talk fondly of him and maybe say things like "high on our board" or "we think he can actually play LT at a high level". Whatever it is they'll say... you pick up the context clues, and these media people pick up on these things for a bunch of teams and get a pulse of the league in that way. I'm sure the dynamic is you give a little info, get a little info.

And for what it's worth, it doesn't even need to be a lie. Let's use Jeanty. Maybe Poles loves him, right? I bet everyone does. Poles can say, "I think this kid is really special." That's Poles giving info to a guy like McShay. So now... McShay knows a couple things. He knows a GM is high on Jeanty, but he also knows the Bears are paying attention to RB and Jeanty specifically. However, while it's not a lie, maybe Poles loves Jeanty, but would never pick him at 10. Or maybe there's a list of guys he's secretly hoping are there instead. It's not that he lied about Jeanty, but mislead the direction he actually wants to go. And now that he's given info, he can probably prompt a convo on the OT class to see what McShay is hearing around the league.

So of course, anyone can lie or prop up one guy. I'm sure it happens a lot. But someone like McShay, who may talk to a majority of NFL teams, can at least get a feel of the guys who a lot of teams are talking about in a good or bad way and then you can kind of go from there. Ultimately, it's still guessing how they value the player and if they're telling the truth to begin with.

 

[DefNextYear]

I've been an advocate for the Bears getting a LT for the past two years. If a real LT falls to ten, grab him.

I think the Bears may try and get cute and go for one in the second round for compaetition, but if there is a lock down guy at 10 just pick him and don't look back.

I agree and I don't like the competition route to be honest... become like the Chiefs taking OT 4 of the last 5 years. They do it for good reason, picking at the end of the first. But, there's no reason for the Bears to do that picking up high.

Pick a guy you're committed to, for better or worse. The Bears don't need a bunch of maybes and the same hole to fill year after year. I'd also consider guys who have more guard potential. If the LT thing doesn't work out, then move him inside and you still get a starter for a decade. Nice consolation prize to me.

 

[modo]

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the angriest and 10 being the most pleased, how would you feel about each of these selections if the Bears took them at 10:

1. Will Campbell 1
2. Armand Membou 2
3. Kelvin Banks 2
4. Ashton Jeanty 1
5. Omarion Hampton 1
6. Tyler Warren 1
7. Colston Loveland 1
8. Mason Graham 1
9. Derrick Harmon 1
10. Walter Nolen 1
11. Will Johnson 1
12. Jahdae Barron 1
13. Jalon Walker 1
14. Mykel Williams 1
15. James Pierce 1
16. Mike Green 3
17. Shemar Stewart 1

 

[playthrough2001]

I've been an advocate for the Bears getting a LT for the past two years. If a real LT falls to ten, grab him.

I think the Bears may try and get cute and go for one in the second round for compaetition, but if there is a lock down guy at 10 just pick him and don't look back.

I’m on the LT train too.

 

[DefNextYear]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1912943212769206422

Obligatory: OMG... he's so big and jacked... I bet he can dunk.

 

[knoxville7]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1912943212769206422

Obligatory: OMG... he's so big and jacked... I bet he can dunk.

ehhh looks more like a pool jumper to me!

 

[Washington]

I’m on the LT train too.

I have been on this train since last year. I prayed Alt would fall to the Bears knowing he would not. I have never been a fan of Jones as a starter. He'd be a good swing tackle. I sure don't want to see the Bears paying him over $20m next year. Given his injury and his weakness (leg strength), I don't see how he improves this year. I am OK with them thinking Kiran could be a swing tackle, but if he is the day 1 starter due to Jones not being ready, CW might die.

 

[ndgt10]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1912943212769206422

Obligatory: OMG... he's so big and jacked... I bet he can dunk.

I don't think the Bears take him even if he was there, which I think he will be.