2018 NFC North/NFL thread

[Hards Alumni]

Monitored the draft from the Brewers game, and a bunch of guys behind me were livid throughout.

Talked about how much we'd regret not drafting Watt (and we might! I think he'll be very good and a great fit in Pitt) and how much Thompson hated picking Wisconsin boys because it put too much pressure on them (you know, to be competent NFL players).

I'm excited about our 2 DBs - both of these guys are prototypical size and speed. I'm lukewarm on Adams, but that's more because I was eyeing Derek Rivers, who went 8 picks earlier to the Pats.

If it were up to them they'd pick with their heart and the Packers would be full of Badgers, and Ted Thompson would pick the best Badger #1 overall every year.

Stupid people are going to be stupid.  My guess is the only college football they watch all year are Wisconsin football games.

How'd they react when the Packers picked Vince Biegel?

[GB Warrior]

I think Biegel can play.

I think so too - good measurable, steady playmaker last year. Ideally, someone will step up opposite Perry to allow Matthews to move around and minimize contact/preserve his health.

[wadesworld]

Biegel's a good value pick that late, but I've seen one former Badger that was undersized for his position and injury prone on the Packers recently and that one didn't go too well.  Hopefully this one does.

[GB Warrior]

The Bears better hope Pace is smarter than everyone, because wow that draft looks rough on paper.

Big trade for Trubisky, 2 D2 picks and an undersized RB. Love the Eddie Jackson pick, though.

Overall, it reminds me of a Mike Sherman draft, sans the punter in the 3rd round.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/name/chi/chicago-bears

That being said, all of this is moot if I'm wrong and Trubisky is the answer.

[jesmu84]

The Bears better hope Pace is smarter than everyone, because wow that draft looks rough on paper.

Big trade for Trubisky, 2 D2 picks and an undersized RB. Love the Eddie Jackson pick, though.

Overall, it reminds me of a Mike Sherman draft, sans the punter in the 3rd round.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/name/chi/chicago-bears

That being said, all of this is moot if I'm wrong and Trubisky is the answer.

It is an odd draft.

But, they made the Trubisky decision and then gave him a couple weapons - a athletic freak TE and a speed RB (something Howard is not).

Added a possible steal in Jackson. And then a project OL.

Still LOTS of questions about the CBs and WRs.

[jesmu84]

Best move: If Mitchell Trubisky becomes the Bears' franchise quarterback, general manager Ryan Pace will look like a genius for moving up one spot to take him. The Bears have been without a marquee quarterback since Sid Luckman in the 1940s. The Jay Cutler era is over, and fans want to move forward. Trubisky could be the missing piece, as long as he develops properly. Riskiest move: Every ... single ... pick, including Trubisky. If Trubisky is a bust -- he only started one year at North Carolina -- Pace is toast. Second-round tight end Adam Shaheen played Division II. So did fifth-round guard Jordan Morgan. Chicago traded up for Alabama safety Eddie Jackson in Round 4, but he broke his leg last year. Later in the fourth round, Chicago drafted running back Tarik Cohen from FCS school North Carolina A&T. I'm going to lay down. -- Jeff Dickerson

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/235666/best-and-riskiest-moves-for-every-teams-2017-nfl-draft-class#NFC N

[Vander Blue Man Group]

The Bears better hope Pace is smarter than everyone, because wow that draft looks rough on paper.

Big trade for Trubisky, 2 D2 picks and an undersized RB. Love the Eddie Jackson pick, though.

Overall, it reminds me of a Mike Sherman draft, sans the punter in the 3rd round.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/teams/_/name/chi/chicago-bears

That being said, all of this is moot if I'm wrong and Trubisky is the answer.

It was an extremely bizarre draft and nothing close to what I expected. For a team in need of playmakers in the secondary, to only take one safety in a draft that was supposed to be very deep in defensive backs was very odd.

It'll all come down to Trubisky and that will take 2-4 years to judge.

[MerrittsMustache]

The Bears have had some disappointing drafts for, well, a long time now, but I can't remember feeling this disgusted/disappointed immediately after a draft.

There were 3 defensive studs at the top of the draft and the Bears sat at #3. They couldn't miss! Browns take Garrett, and after SF picks, the Bears get either Thomas or Adams, both of whom fit big needs for the team and both of whom should be Day 1 ready. Instead, they trade 4 picks to take an unproven QB who they could have gotten without trading up and possibly could have even traded down a few picks to grab. They follow that up by drafting 3 sub-D1 players and an injury-plagued safety. Coming off a 3-13 season, they drafted 1 player who has a chance to contribute as a rookie...if he's actually healthy.

Really though, it all depends on Trubisky. If he's a star, none of the other picks matter. If he can't play, it doesn't really matter what becomes of the other picks because the team is going no where without a QB.

[GGGG]

What is particularly damning about the Bears is the word that John Fox didn't get wind of this until a couple hours before.  Really reeks of disfunction within the organization, and that's going going to cause a lot more losing than a bad draft.

[jesmu84]

The Bears have had some disappointing drafts for, well, a long time now, but I can't remember feeling this disgusted/disappointed immediately after a draft.

There were 3 defensive studs at the top of the draft and the Bears sat at #3. They couldn't miss! Browns take Garrett, and after SF picks, the Bears get either Thomas or Adams, both of whom fit big needs for the team and both of whom should be Day 1 ready. Instead, they trade 4 picks to take an unproven QB who they could have gotten without trading up and possibly could have even traded down a few picks to grab. They follow that up by drafting 3 sub-D1 players and an injury-plagued safety. Coming off a 3-13 season, they drafted 1 player who has a chance to contribute as a rookie...if he's actually healthy.

Really though, it all depends on Trubisky. If he's a star, none of the other picks matter. If he can't play, it doesn't really matter what becomes of the other picks because the team is going no where without a QB.

I saw that John Lynch mentioned that he had received multiple offers for the #2 pick and the Bears gave him the best. So, not 100% that they would have had Trubisky (the guy they really wanted) at #3.

Much happier that the bears didn't have to give up a #1 or #2 pick (like Houston, etc, did) for the trade.

More puzzled by the D2 players.

[🏀]

What is particularly damning about the Bears is the word that John Fox didn't get wind of this until a couple hours before.  Really reeks of disfunction within the organization, and that's going going to cause a lot more losing than a bad draft.

Actually, I think the opposite.

The Bears were trying to keep their Mitch interest as little as possible. I think Pace knew that if they let Fox in, he would disagree with the pick and probably leak it. Fox is known as a league blabbermouth.

The Bears never met with MT outside of the combine, but sent all of Lake Forest down to meet Watson. They were smoke screening to keep their MT interest undercover. Ultimately, it got out and costed them some picks to move up.

[StillAWarrior]

I saw that John Lynch mentioned that he had received multiple offers for the #2 pick and the Bears gave him the best. So, not 100% that they would have had Trubisky (the guy they really wanted) at #3.

Much happier that the bears didn't have to give up a #1 or #2 pick (like Houston, etc, did) for the trade.

More puzzled by the D2 players.

There's an assumption there that the others Lynch talked about would have been trading up to get Trubisky.  Hard to know for sure if that is true...just like it's hard to know any of this for sure.  It's quite possible that other teams looking to trade up wanted Thomas or some other player.  Aside from some late rumors that the Browns were considering Trubisky for the top pick, I didn't see very much suggesting that Trubisky was going higher than 5th.  Most mock drafts I saw had Trubisky either 5th or 12th.  I'm sure there is tons that I didn't see, though. Just because people were making offers to the 49ers for that second pick doesn't suggest at all that they were looking at Trubisky.  Now if we heard that it was the Browns, Chiefs or Texans, that might be a little more revealing.

[StillAWarrior]

Actually, I think the opposite.

The Bears were trying to keep their Mitch interest as little as possible. I think Pace knew that if they let Fox in, he would disagree with the pick and probably leak it. Fox is known as a league blabbermouth.

The Bears never met with MT outside of the combine, but sent all of Lake Forest down to meet Watson. They were smoke screening to keep their MT interest undercover. Ultimately, it got out and costed them some picks to move up.

You don't think that what you described here "reeks of dysfunction in the organization?"  I think your description of events -- keeping the HC in the dark because you're afraid he'll disagree and because he's a  known blabbermouth -- is the epitome of dysfunction.

[jesmu84]

There's an assumption there that the others Lynch talked about would have been trading up to get Trubisky.  Hard to know for sure if that is true...just like it's hard to know any of this for sure.  It's quite possible that other teams looking to trade up wanted Thomas or some other player.  Aside from some late rumors that the Browns were considering Trubisky for the top pick, I didn't see very much suggesting that Trubisky was going higher than 5th.  Most mock drafts I saw had Trubisky either 5th or 12th.  I'm sure there is tons that I didn't see, though. Just because people were making offers to the 49ers for that second pick doesn't suggest at all that they were looking at Trubisky.  Now if we heard that it was the Browns, Chiefs or Texans, that might be a little more revealing.

Oh, I get that. But if Pace really believed in Trubisky being a franchise QB and wanted him above all else, he couldn't risk allowing another team take the #2 on the chance they wanted Trubisky. Risk management.

The thing about mock drafts, is that they try to get the picks right with what the team wanted. Just because a player isn't mocked higher than 5th, doesn't mean he's not a top 4 talent in that draft class. Having said that, I don't believe Trubisky was one of the top 3/4 players in the draft.

[MerrittsMustache]

You don't think that what you described here "reeks of dysfunction in the organization?"  I think your description of events -- keeping the HC in the dark because you're afraid he'll disagree and because he's a  known blabbermouth -- is the epitome of dysfunction.

The current regime's dysfunction began with the hiring of Fox who wasn't Pace's choice.

Regardless, Fox is gone after this season unless the Bears somehow make the playoffs (i.e. Bridgewater-like injuries throughout the NFC North). Pace, however, has his QB of the future which buys him a little extra time. He can then bring in his own HC next season to coach up Trubisky - Pete Carmichael perhaps? Even with that, it's hard to see this draft as anything but a disaster unless Trubisky can make the team a consistent SB contender for a decade. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening.

Oh, I get that. But if Pace really believed in Trubisky being a franchise QB and wanted him above all else, he couldn't risk allowing another team take the #2 on the chance they wanted Trubisky. Risk management.

I agree with this 100%. If you can get an elite-level QB it's nearly impossible to "give up too much" to get him. There's just not much to indicate that Trubisky is going to be anywhere close to an elite-level QB.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

What is particularly damning about the Bears is the word that John Fox didn't get wind of this until a couple hours before.  Really reeks of disfunction within the organization, and that's going going to cause a lot more losing than a bad draft.

This report was corrected as not accurate, as far as I know. 

[jesmu84]

https://twitter.com/BuffLlama/status/858809397828608000

[rocket surgeon]

Tim krumrie was under sized but he had a heart the size of lambeau and if the packers would've taken him, his name and number would be on the facade

[Sir Lawrence]

Tim krumrie was under sized but he had a heart the size of lambeau and if the packers would've taken him, his name and number would be on the facade

Good player, but closer to AJ Hawk than Reggie White.  Not really facade worthy IMO.

[GGGG]

Tim krumrie was under sized but he had a heart the size of lambeau and if the packers would've taken him, his name and number would be on the facade

???  You think he'd have his number retired???

[rocket surgeon]

yeah, you're  right,  always did like his story though

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Lead story on yahoo sports right now:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/bears-asked-mike-glennon-soldier-field-draft-party-traded-replacement-180233682.html

[GGGG]

Lead story on yahoo sports right now:

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/bears-asked-mike-glennon-soldier-field-draft-party-traded-replacement-180233682.html

I don't really understand this story line at all.  It's Mike Glennon who at best has been a mediocre quarterback in the NFL.  Since when should his job be considered "safe?"  And the people inviting players to the draft party have no idea what the people conducting the draft are doing.  You think Ryan Pace is clearing the invite list?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/05/02/report-mike-glennon-feels-cheated-on-after-mitchell-trubisky-pick/

I mean come on.  Here's an idea Mike...perform.  If you perform well and win, none of this is going to matter.

[mu03eng]

I don't really understand this story line at all.  It's Mike Glennon who at best has been a mediocre quarterback in the NFL.  Since when should his job be considered "safe?"  And the people inviting players to the draft party have no idea what the people conducting the draft are doing.  You think Ryan Pace is clearing the invite list?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/05/02/report-mike-glennon-feels-cheated-on-after-mitchell-trubisky-pick/

I mean come on.  Here's an idea Mike...perform.  If you perform well and win, none of this is going to matter.

Part of this is why the Trubisky pick was a terrible idea.....the media market in Chicago is going to eat both QBs alive at this point and it is going to make for an awful environment to develop either of them.

If the Bears had traded back and taken Trubisky, it's a relatively different thing because at least they haven't "gone all in" from a fan perspective like they did when they traded up one pick. They have now put a ton of pressure on everyone to meet expectations that I don't think anyone could meet.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Part of this is why the Trubisky pick was a terrible idea.....the media market in Chicago is going to eat both QBs alive at this point and it is going to make for an awful environment to develop either of them.

If the Bears had traded back and taken Trubisky, it's a relatively different thing because at least they haven't "gone all in" from a fan perspective like they did when they traded up one pick. They have now put a ton of pressure on everyone to meet expectations that I don't think anyone could meet.

You can't make personnel decisions based on the media market.