Your Combine Crush?

[playthrough2001]

@ILoveDick beside Dick, who is your combine crush? Is T Mac out of Arizona the next in line to be a great TE?

Who is your favorite o-line prospect?

Any d-lineman you like?

Do you like your new name?

Have you spent any quality time at ORD with @TezMaKai?

We miss you. You’re a pain but you’re not as bad as the Lions twats, Hoodey, Fucktucky, or the bus driver!

 

[MDB111™]

Everyone has their opinions of what the Bears will do at #10, but I have a combine crush that might throw a curve that no one has seen coming...

Yes I know all about the need for help in the trenches and Mason Graham or Will Allen blah blah blah... But there is a playmaker they could take at #10 that could be the key to unlocking everything for this offense...

Hell No, I'm not talking about Ashton Jeanty. I'm talking about adding an Amon-Ra St. Brown, Steve Smith, or better yet young pre-concussed Antonio Brown level talent to this team at slot receiver.

The player I'm speaking of is...
Luther Burden III from Missouri.

Is he really 5'11" 208 or is he smaller?
Does he run a low 4.4 40 or faster?
What's his 10 yd split, is it close to 1.50?

These are things that can make him a legit top 10 option despite being a slot receiver coming off a down year statistically (blame the QB for those numbers)

I love a WR that is a really good punt returner, LB3 had 8TD on punt returns in high-school and was really good his freshman year at Mizoo before he became too important to their offense to do it.

It would be a shock to most fans if the Bears take him, but I'm looking forward to see if he lights up the combine...

Anyone else?

Jayden Higgins- WR Iower State. 6'4" possession guy. Great wingspan. catches everything. Not very fast but if he is there in the early 4th, you grab him.

I told everyone about Nathaniel Tank Dell out of Houston.

I told everyone about Ashton Jeanty before he became a household name.

I am telling you all now about Jayden Higgins

You're Welcome!

 

[Runruffshod75]

Walter Nolen is my guy at 10, but Grant and Membou are there for me, also.

Grant is huge, but it is crazy how nimble he is at that size. Membou has the potential to be an elite G with T flexibility in a pinch.

This really is the perfect draft to trade down in the 15-20 range if the opportunity presents itself.

Yup! Josh Simmons probably would have been my pick if it weren't for the knee issue. We know how that will go just from our own recent history with pre injured OTs(Carimi/Jenkins).

If the Bears don't take Simmons he'll be the best OT from this class. If the Bears do take him he'll be injured by game 5 and have to come back as a Guard in 2026.

DT is a significant need and the prospects atop this class have the value to validate addressing that need.

Personally I believe that Walter Nolens ceiling is top end Quinnen Williams and Tyliek Williams reminds me of Eddie Goldman before the contract extension and covid. I'd be all over taking both with two of the first three picks.

I would love to see Nolen and Williams anchoring down the heart of the entire defensive scheme for the next 5+ years.

 

[bearsfan1977]

Yup! Josh Simmons probably would have been my pick if it weren't for the knee issue. We know how that will go just from our own recent history with pre injured OTs(Carimi/Jenkins).

If the Bears don't take Simmons he'll be the best OT from this class. If the Bears do take him he'll be injured by game 5 and have to come back as a Guard in 2026.

DT is a significant need and the prospects atop this class have the value to validate addressing that need.

Personally I believe that Walter Nolens ceiling is top end Quinnen Williams and Tyliek Williams reminds me of Eddie Goldman before the contract extension and covid. I'd be all over taking both with two of the first three picks.

I would love to see Nolen and Williams anchoring down the heart of the entire defensive scheme for the next 5+ years.

Yeah, I think Nolen may end up being more dominant than Graham in the pros.

Many wouldn’t like it, but I think Simmons will definitely be in play at 10. I think he is the best LT prospect in the draft. If his medicals check out, he could very well be the pick.

 

[Runruffshod75]

I'm going to totally ignore the cringe eugenics comment. Outside of that I agree with the names on your list. I really like Tyliek and Arroyo in particular.

The overuse of the word cringe is cringe is approaching debunked territory

6'3"/230 hits like a Linebacker yet runs and covers with the speed and of an outside CB. He has the size and frame of Luke Kuechly coming out of college.

Emmanwori played all over that SC Defense and still had very good production. If an NFL team takes Emmanwori and let's him master one position be it FS, SS or even MIKE LB he's going to be a moster

 

[Runruffshod75]

Yeah, I think Nolen may end up being more dominant than Graham in the pros.

Many wouldn’t like it, but I think Simmons will definitely be in play at 10. I think he is the best LT prospect in the draft. If his medicals check out, he could very well be the pick.

Me too. I think hes the best Offensive lineman in this class. Unfortunately I don't trust the Bears medical team at all.

 

[Xplosive]

I also look forward to seeing Nolen's combine because he seems a bit overrated on CCS. He is listed 6'4 290, that's fairly slim and he doesn't look very powerful. He does appear to have a very twitchy first step that is too much for many guards that he faced to handle. All that is nice but the Bears already have an undersized 3 tech. Yes Nolen may be a better 3T but he looks no better against the run and trying to play them both at the same time seems like it wouldn't work.

edit...

I won't say Dexter or Nolen are undersized for their position of 3T, but definitely not stout or particularly strong against the run.

 

[HearshotKDS]

I also look forward to seeing Nolen's combine because he seems a bit overrated on CCS. He is listed 6'4 290, that's fairly slim

He measured in at Senior bowl @ 6'3 294 lbs. which isnt big for the positon but also isnt particularly slim either. I do hope at that size hes going to put up freak explosion numbers in the tests to match what you see on tape. One of the things that really draws me to him is he's only 21 and is still growing - the '24 DROY was a full 2 years older than Nolen when he entered the league for comparison. I think with Walter you are drafting just as much for potential as much as the current product, but he's already one of the best gap shooting DTs in college. If the Bears want the stoutest MFer on the field hes not that guy, you probably go Tyleik or Kenneth Grant, it really depends what Allen is looking for.

I do believe people get overly focused on position at the expense of missing the players skillsets, Nolen has a skillset that we dont really have in the DT rotation on the current team unless you count Pickens who is at this point is probably 99% an NFL bust. We'll see how FA goes but after releasing Walker I do believe its more likely Bears go DE in the 1st, even though my dream draft is taking Nolen after a small trade down in the teens.

 

[Xplosive]

Let's take a quick comparison of supposed 2025 #10 pick

Walter Nolen
6'4 290
Best Season Stats:
6.5 Sacks, 14 TFL, 4 QB Hurries, 48 Tkls


versus...

2024 #36 Pick of the second round...

Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton
6'2 295
Best Season Stats: 5.5 Sacks, 13 TFL, 11 QB Hurries, 60 Tkls


Yes its just a very basic stats comparison, but they are definitely comparable players not just random stats from some no name player. The bigger point is Nolen isn't Jalen Carter, isn't worth giving up on Gervon Dexter, and finally there will be no need to blow your top if the Bears pass on him at #10.

 

[Xplosive]

He measured in at Senior bowl @ 6'3 294 lbs. which isnt big for the positon but also isnt particularly slim either. I do hope at that size hes going to put up freak explosion numbers in the tests to match what you see on tape. One of the things that really draws me to him is he's only 21 and is still growing - the '24 DROY was a full 2 years older than Nolen when he entered the league for comparison. I think with Walter you are drafting just as much for potential as much as the current product, but he's already one of the best gap shooting DTs in college. If the Bears want the stoutest MFer on the field hes not that guy, you probably go Tyleik or Kenneth Grant, it really depends what Allen is looking for.

I do believe people get overly focused on position at the expense of missing the players skillsets, Nolen has a skillset that we dont really have in the DT rotation on the current team unless you count Pickens who is at this point is probably 99% an NFL bust. We'll see how FA goes but after releasing Walker I do believe its more likely Bears go DE in the 1st, even though my dream draft is taking Nolen after a small trade down in the teens.

I absolutely like Nolen and think he will be a good player, I just don't see putting him in a time share with Dexter. I definitely don't see him as a no brainer pick that the Bears need to improve the defense, mainly because he doesn't do much to improve the run defense. It's a terrible use of draft capital to get another 3Tech with the #10 pick instead of filling an actual hole on the team such as Defensive End or even NT to replace Billings would make more sense.

 

[bearsfan1977]

I also look forward to seeing Nolen's combine because he seems a bit overrated on CCS. He is listed 6'4 290, that's fairly slim and he doesn't look very powerful. He does appear to have a very twitchy first step that is too much for many guards that he faced to handle. All that is nice but the Bears already have an undersized 3 tech. Yes Nolen may be a better 3T but he looks no better against the run and trying to play them both at the same time seems like it wouldn't work.

edit...

I won't say Dexter or Nolen are undersized for their position of 3T, but definitely not stout or particularly strong against the run.

Nolen is extremely good against the run. He is very good at every aspect of the position, and is still improving. He has an insane ceiling.

 

[bearsfan1977]

Let's take a quick comparison of supposed 2025 #10 pick

Walter Nolen
6'4 290
Best Season Stats:
6.5 Sacks, 14 TFL, 4 QB Hurries, 48 Tkls


versus...

2024 #36 Pick of the second round...

Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton
6'2 295
Best Season Stats: 5.5 Sacks, 13 TFL, 11 QB Hurries, 60 Tkls


Yes its just a very basic stats comparison, but they are definitely comparable players not just random stats from some no name player. The bigger point is Nolen isn't Jalen Carter, isn't worth giving up on Gervon Dexter, and finally there will be no need to blow your top if the Bears pass on him at #10.

Newton wasn’t in the same league as Nolen as a prospect. Comparing them is ridiculous. Nolen is excellent against the run. He’s just not that big body whose first job is as a run stuffer. Kenneth Grant fits that mold more, and I think he will also be a fantastic pro.

Having Dexter on the roster should have exactly 0% impact on whether they take Nolen, who has the potential to be an absolute monster interior DL. Is he on Jalen Carter’s level? I absolutely think he could be if he puts in the work, while also possibly surpassing him.

Completely agree with you about there being no need to blow your top if they pass on Nolen. There are other great prospects that are on their board that will be available when they pick.

 

[Xplosive]

Newton wasn’t in the same league as Nolen as a prospect. Comparing them is ridiculous. Nolen is excellent against the run. He’s just not that big body whose first job is as a run stuffer. Kenneth Grant fits that mold more, and I think he will also be a fantastic pro.

Having Dexter on the roster should have exactly 0% impact on whether they take Nolen, who has the potential to be an absolute monster interior DL. Is he on Jalen Carter’s level? I absolutely think he could be if he puts in the work, while also possibly surpassing him.

Ummm... Daniel Jeremiah had Newton as a 1st rounder on his big board and projected him to go number 21 to the dolphins in his final mock... And that was in an absolutely loaded draft. Claiming that Newton wasn't in the "same league" as Nolen is when you know you have gone a bit overboard with the Nolen hype.

PFF also had him listed as their #11 prospect.

 

[HearshotKDS]

Ummm... Daniel Jeremiah had Newton as a 1st rounder on his big board and projected him to go number 21 to the dolphins in his final mock... And that was in an absolutely loaded draft. Claiming that Newton wasn't in the "same league" as Nolen is when you know you have gone a bit overboard with the Nolen hype.

I think Newton is a pretty close comparison to Nolen in terms of level of prospect, but important to remember he fell due to injury concerns that unfortunately immediately played out for the commanders.

 

[Xplosive]

I think Newton is a pretty close comparison to Nolen in terms of level of prospect, but important to remember he fell due to injury concerns that unfortunately immediately played out for the commanders.

The injury did limit him at the combine if I recall, so that may have had something to do with his fall. He only missed one game for the Commanders from what I can see and in the games I watched he was all over the field. I'm positive that's why they feel so comfortable moving on from Jonathan Allen.

Let's put it this way, I think both players are very good, I think both are mid to late first round prospects not top 10. And most of all, I think it makes no sense to replace Gervon Dexter just because Nolen will PROBABLY be a better player, at this point they need to continue developing Dexter not cut into his snaps with a rookie that plays the same position. Get an Edge rusher or Offensive Tackle.



.... or maybe even a versatile playmaker on offense that can line up everywhere and create match-up nightmares.

 

[HearshotKDS]

The injury did limit him at the combine if I recall, so that may have had something to do with his fall. He only missed one game for the Commanders from what I can see and in the games I watched he was all over the field. I'm positive that's why they feel so comfortable moving on from Jonathan Allen.

I think he entered their rookie camp on the non-football injury list so I can imagine his medical exam at the combine didn’t go swimmingly for a ton of teams.

 

[EDPeezy]

There is no proven depth at WR. Zero. I still have hope for Tyler Scott but he isn't the same kind of electrifying athlete that Burden is.

Free Agency will say a lot about what the trenches will actually need in the draft, but with that said, DT and OG are probably the two strongest groups available in this draft.

I think people don't understand that when that is the case, you don't have to rush and grab the first one on the board. There will be many similar options with picks 39, 41, and 72.

If they Bears fill holes in free agency that leaves them open to pick a player at #10 that they might not have taken otherwise.

Even if you wanted to argue Odunze hasn’t proved himself and therefore doesn’t count as depth you still spent the 9th pick on him and have to rely on him being your #2. You can’t then spend next seasons #10 pick on the position because your #9 pick from the previous season didn‘t prove himself as a rookie. It’s just stupid really.

What are we even talking about here? After last season your answer is another WR with the first pick? I’m sorry, but that’s a horrible idea. Like fucking terrible. They’re so thin on both lines. It was clearly their biggest weakness by far on both sides of the ball. And you’re here talking about a WR.

After reading your post again I see you’re not even talking about Odunze. You’re worried about Tyler Scott. You want to spend the 10th pick to shore up that third WR spot? With all the holes on the lines FA will never fix alone. You want to waste the 10th pick because you’re worried the Bears #3 WR isn’t good enough?

 

[HearshotKDS]

I half suspect the Bears FO is hoping to be blown away by the workout numbers and talk themselves into pulling the trigger on one of the “big but unproductive in college” DEs projected to go in the mid-later first.

 

[Xplosive]

Even if you wanted to argue Odunze hasn’t proved himself and therefore doesn’t count as depth you still spent the 9th pick on him and have to rely on him being your #2. You can’t then spend next seasons #10 pick on the position because your #10 pick from the previous season didn‘t prove himself as a rookie. It’s just stupid really.

What are we even talking about here? After last season your answer is another WR with the first pick? I’m sorry, but that’s a horrible idea. Like fucking terrible. They’re so thin on both lines. It was clearly their biggest weakness by far on both sides of the ball. And you’re here talking about a WR.

There is this thing called a slot receiver, last season it was played by Keenan Allen who is no longer on the team. The head coach of the team we are discussing has shown repeatedly that he uses players in multiple roles all over the field. Lets do the math: 2 WRs+1TE+5OL+1RB+1QB.... means there is still room for 1 additional player on the offense.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Rome Odunze who is your prototypical X receiver. Who do you think plays this last missing position on the offense? Yes I know they will need to fill 3-4 positions on the OL (there is thing thing called the 2nd-7th rounds and free agency). Yes I know they will occasionally bring in an additional TE/FB to help during pass protection and run blocking.

Again that has nothing to do with adding a weapon to the offense that can make it nearly impossible for teams to defend everyone. Perhaps you gotta rethink your own genius before dubbing everything else as "stupid" because you don't agree/see the need. Personally I think a flex player would be the perfect answer because he can run the ball and catch passes. FYI Burden is listed at basically the same size as Deebo Samuel or Jahmyr Gibbs, so depending on how he does in the combine testing and measurements.... try to think a little more outside of the box .

 

[Midway Fields]

RBs-
Omarion Hampton
Kaleb Johnson
Quinshon Judkins
Cam Skattebo

WR-
Arian Smith (I expect him to be the fastest player in the draft, would be a fun WR3 in BJ offense)

TE-
Elijah Arroyo

DE-
Mike Green (Will be interested to see how his measurements and times compare to Von Miller and Robert Quinn)

Kyle Kennard