Mdbearz
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he won't be there at 8
My opinion of Davenport versus Edmunds is that Davenport has basically the same speed as Edmunds while playing the DE/OLB position whereas Edmunds plays inside linebacker and people want him to play OLB. DE/OLB are much more important positions than inside linebackers which is proved by top salaries (top DE is 17 million, top OLB is 19 million, top inside linebacker is 12 million).
Since Davenport has the potential of eventually being as good or better than the Chubby one, it is well worth the risk of taking him at 8. He has already shown some pass rush moves, he has shown that he takes well to coaching and he is an athletic freak.
If I wanted an inside linebacker with the versatility of Edmunds, I would trade down a bit in the 2nd to get a third (perhaps moving up with a 4th round pick) to pickup Shaquem Griffen. He would be like a Ryan Shazier type but with more speed yet only 10 less pounds. He would be an ultra-versatile defensive player.
I think people are underestimating the importance of a dominant ILB who can do absolutely everything because they have the athletic superiority to cover, tackle, get sideline to sideline fast, blitz, everything. Bears fans should be the last people to undervalue such a player unless they have extremely short memories or are under 15 years old. Edmunds is a standout prospect and will arguably give a greater impact than a solid but not elite pass rusher. And unlike #54, we don't know that Edmunds adds little to the pass rush. He might be outstanding at it.
I still have Edmunds as my #1 choice but would be cool if they do go with a DE/OLB like Landry or Davenport.
Not sure why you categorize Edmunds ceiling as being a top ILB but dismiss Davenport as only capable of becoming a solid OLB.
Not that I think it's a knock on Davenport, as he's clearly first round talent, but is there a reason why he went to UTSA instead of a bigger school?
With the way he learned and took to coaching and the better competition at the senior bowl, I think he's shown he can make that jump.
Look at it this way: Davenport is raw (but no so raw as people want to make him out to be) as an edge rusher while Edmunds is much more raw as an edge rusher since he player ILB.
Add to the fact that Edmunds makes mental mistakes, I would rather work on Davenport's raw skills than the missteps and bad reads of Edmunds.