Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame

[Probie2429]

The truth is that the Bears are still rebuilding. Nagy is a 1st time head coach. Trubisky is basically a rookie again. It's his 2nd year, and he already is being put through the Jay Cutler routine of a new playbook/OC. This team still has holes and some big ones, but it is moving in the right direction for the first time in a long time. There is no way Pace will address every hole this team has this offseason. The biggest reason being that with a new coaching staff and philosophy, it's unclear what holes there really are based on scheme, etc.

The defense needs some more playmakers for sure, but the offense is where all focus should be currently. Pace's success as a GM will be judged on whether Trubisky succeeds or not. No one is gonna care nor remember if the defense is average.

Would not surprise me one bit if Pace goes OL in rounds 1 and 2 to be honest.

 

[WindyCity]

I'm pretty sure a top five player will fall to us, just doubt it will be Nelson.

I think the Bears need to keep it simple.

One of Chubb, Nelson, Fitzpatrick or Barkley have to be there for us if 4 QBs go early.

 

[wazzupi]

Nelson shouldnt be the pick unless we trade back and he is still available. Too much and being taken all the real top 5 talent is going to drop.

 

[Nelly]

The truth is that the Bears are still rebuilding. Nagy is a 1st time head coach. Trubisky is basically a rookie again. It's his 2nd year, and he already is being put through the Jay Cutler routine of a new playbook/OC. This team still has holes and some big ones, but it is moving in the right direction for the first time in a long time. There is no way Pace will address every hole this team has this offseason. The biggest reason being that with a new coaching staff and philosophy, it's unclear what holes there really are based on scheme, etc.

The defense needs some more playmakers for sure, but the offense is where all focus should be currently. Pace's success as a GM will be judged on whether Trubisky succeeds or not. No one is gonna care nor remember if the defense is average.

Would not surprise me one bit if Pace goes OL in rounds 1 and 2 to be honest.

Agreed. If you've got such a dominating guard there on the board for you at 8, especially when you've got a power rusher in Howard, i don't see how you pass him up. Screw positional value, there's such a low chance that he doesn't step in from day 1 and become a very good, if not great player from the jump. The game is won and lost in the trenches.

 

[Viciousjay]

Exactly this. I dont give up draft capital to move up and I dont trade back unless the board falls as below. 3 QBs and Saquon guaranteed to go before us and a good chance Mayfield goes too if Bills move up.

My only worry is if the board goes

QB
Saquon
QB
QB
Chubb
Fitzpatrick
Nelson

Then I'm not sure what you do. Probably entertain a trade down.

Then you take Davenport

 

[DrGonzo]

I think the Bears need to keep it simple.

One of Chubb, Nelson, Fitzpatrick or Barkley have to be there for us if 4 QBs go early.

Which is awesome. For me personally, I would prefer:
1) Chubb
2) Fitzpatrick
3) Nelson

Others will disagree but if it's Barkley I would seriously consider trading down.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[CAP BOSO]

Exactly this. I dont give up draft capital to move up and I dont trade back unless the board falls as below. 3 QBs and Saquon guaranteed to go before us and a good chance Mayfield goes too if Bills move up.

My only worry is if the board goes

QB
Saquon
QB
QB
Chubb
Fitzpatrick
Nelson

Then I'm not sure what you do. Probably entertain a trade down.

Right! We need Indy to see that they need to protect Luck and draft Nelson and the Bucs pass on Chubb which is not going to happen imo, they need a pass rusher so Chubb isn't getting by them. If Chubb, Fitz, and Nelson are all gone, I say draft Ward. Davenport is also growing on me. I don't want to trade too far down.

 

[I Just Want To Read]

I still think Derwin James is a better prospect than Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Also, I think drafting a small-school guy like Davenport seems like an unnecessary risk when you have elite talents from elite programs available.

 

[Mdbearz]

I still think Derwin James is a better prospect than Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Also, I think drafting a small-school guy like Davenport seems like an unnecessary risk when you have elite talents from elite programs available.

Pace has shown that he does not "give a rip" if a talented kid comes from a small school.

 

[I Just Want To Read]

Pace has shown that he does not "give a rip" if a talented kid comes from a small school.

Hasn't shown it with a 1st round pick.

And his earliest selection of a small school guy in Shaheen isn't looking like the best decision.

 

[xer0h0ur]

It really needs to go from bend don't break to breaking things. Fangio can good play from average talent, don't saddle him with that. Pass rush is what's needed here for it to become next level and hopefully teams will need to do more passing against us to keep up next year.

I would argue that playing his defense more aggressively would make a far larger impact than simply adding another player to the defense. Fangio molded himself a top 10 defense while blitzing very sparingly. In fact it was a pretty rare occurrence for you to see a defensive back blitzing at all.

 

[Chicago4Life]

with the jpp trade, it looks like the bucs will be looking at nelson/fitzpatrick/james at 7.

 

[bearmick]

Exactly this. I dont give up draft capital to move up and I dont trade back unless the board falls as below. 3 QBs and Saquon guaranteed to go before us and a good chance Mayfield goes too if Bills move up.

My only worry is if the board goes

QB
Saquon
QB
QB
Chubb
Fitzpatrick
Nelson

Then I'm not sure what you do. Probably entertain a trade down.

I draft Tremaine Edmunds.

 

[bearmick]

I still think Derwin James is a better prospect than Minkah Fitzpatrick.

He's certainly more of a true safety. Nobody seems to know if Minkah is going to play CB or S.

 

[bearmick]

Pace has shown that he does not "give a rip" if a talented kid comes from a small school.

After Shaheen and Morgan, maybe he ought to start giving a rip.

 

[bearmick]

I would argue that playing his defense more aggressively would make a far larger impact than simply adding another player to the defense. Fangio molded himself a top 10 defense while blitzing very sparingly. In fact it was a pretty rare occurrence for you to see a defensive back blitzing at all.

I still think you need another play maker or two. Floyd is all they have as a pass rusher and Nick Kwiatowski is hardly Patrick Willis or Navorro Bowman. I would much rather take Edmunds or Davenport (or if Chubb somehow fell) than Nelson.

 

[xer0h0ur]

I still think you need another play maker or two. Floyd is all they have as a pass rusher and Nick Kwiatowski is hardly Patrick Willis or Navorro Bowman. I would much rather take Edmunds or Davenport (or if Chubb somehow fell) than Nelson.

If we were at a tipping point where the offense was already good enough to match the defense I wouldn't even be arguing against it at all. Except the defense is head and shoulders the strongest part of the team and is already good enough for regular season play. Sure there is an argument to be made that great defenses are what wins you playoff games but this team isn't a playoff team yet. Until we reach that tipping point I am still erring on the side of caution protecting the quarterback, particularly when both guard positions are questionable.

Funny you mention Bowman. That is a guy I would love to see signed to replace Freeman. Sure its signing a stop-gap to replace a stop-gap but it is what it is. We can worry about drafting ILBs to replace a Bowman or Tre later on.

 

[Payton_34]

The Bears won't be drafting Nelson. This is primarily the case because he's the pick I want them to take but now that Denver has Keenum they will likely pick Nelson and I don't want Pace pulling another trade up move like last year.

I've heard the arguments against the Bears taking Nelson (you can find solid interior linemen later in the draft). This is usually followed by a call for Chubb (unlikely), Flitzpatrick, Edmunds or some other top defender. To that argument I would say Nelson is a generational lineman, the type you just don't see in each draft. He's the bluest chip on the board. Unless you think the Bears will be 2018 Super Bowl contenders you take Nelson if he's there. In 2019 the Bears can go after the elite EDGE, LB, or CB/S.

Since I think the Bears would be EXTREMELY lucky to have Nelson fall in their lap I'm sure I'll be happy with Edmonds or Fitz as I assume that's what they'll be left with. I just won't be as happy as I would have been with Nelson. That kid is a force. Not to mention how he would elevate the level of play of the rest of the line.

 

[bearmick]

I would love to move Whitehair back to guard and draft a center in the mid rounds.

 

[xer0h0ur]

Not me. Whitehair even on a "down" year wasn't bad at center. One year removed from a borderline Pro-Bowl season at center. He has never played guard at anywhere near the level he has played center. His snapping issues were overblown to me. I would still far rather keep him at center and draft a guard.