Tag: Bears draft

Trading down for Jackson Powers-Johnson might be smart for the Bears

If the Bears opt to trade back from No. 9, targeting center Jackson Powers-Johnson should be a consideration.

The Chicago Bears are almost certainly going to select quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick (courtesy of the Carolina Panthers) in the 2024 NFL draft.

But the Bears also have the ninth overall selection, which offers plenty more intrigue (and options).

There are going to be some really good players on the board for them to consider at No. 9, and there’s certainly an allure of landing two blue chip players in the top 10. But there’s also a possibility of them trading back to get even more selections in the draft, considering they currently have just four picks.

One player they might consider trading down for is Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who could be an immediate contributor. To get him, you don’t need to be picking super high in the first round, but you probably can’t drop far below 20.

If the Bears could find a suitor that desperately wants to come up to No. 9 — and makes a generous offer — it’s something for them to think about. If any of the top quarterbacks, wide receivers or offensive tackles fell to that spot, there would certainly be interest from teams to move up. The possibilities are endless.

Chicago hasn’t had an answer at the center position in a long time. They’re starting to put together a good offensive line — they added two options in Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton, who are currently expected to compete for the starting job. But there isn’t a center there that you are going into the season with full confidence.

Powers-Johnson might be able to bring that to this group. Putting him with = Williams while both are rookies means that they could grow together, which is important. They also have PAC-12 connections, which is something that could bond them.

General manager Ryan Poles would also be adding other draft picks in 2024 or 2025 with a move like this, as well. We’ve seen desperate teams give up a lot to move up a handful of spots, and the Bears could be on the other side of that this time. Powers-Johnson makes a compelling case in a trade back scenario.

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Why the Steelers would be perfect fit for Justin Fields

The Bears are most likely going to trade Justin Fields this offseason. Right now, the Steelers are emerging as a top landing spot.

The Chicago Bears are looking like an NFL organization that is going to select a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft. They have the No. 1 pick (via the Carolina Panthers), and a lot of people think they’re eyeing USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

If Chicago were to select Williams first overall, they would most likely move on from Justin Fields, their former first-round pick in 2021, who hasn’t blossomed into a star the way that we thought he would. Fields has shown flashes, but that isn’t going to win you a Super Bowl. You need a star at some point. Fields still may become a star but having the No. 1 pick — with a potential generational talent up for grabs — rushes that evaluation.

If the Bears are to move on from Fields, a quarterback-needy team that doesn’t have a top-10 pick is going to consider him. One team that makes perfect sense is the Pittsburgh Steelers, an organization that values winning and are not afraid to make a big move.

Fields may or may not turn into a star, but Pittsburgh may consider trying him out. They just released former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph is set to be a free agent. That leaves only Kenny Pickett on the roster for next year.

To be honest, Pickett is in the same boat as Fields. He was a first-round pick and had a lot of expectations but hasn’t lived up to them yet. He has shown flashes but even Fields has been better up to this point. Pickett has done more winning, but he is in a better situation. If Fields went to Pittsburgh, he might find more success.

Seeing Fields go to the Steelers would be amazing. He’d have a chance to take his career to the next level while the Bears would be starting fresh. Head coach Mike Tomlin has made it known that he likes Fields, so it is a perfect fit for them in every way. With Tomlin at the helm, you might see Fields take steps that would be impossible for him to take in Chicago.

The Steelers are a smart team that knows how to move on before it becomes too late. Pickett is not the guy and they know it. If they feel that Fields can give them a better chance to win, they will do it.

Merril Hoge had harsh evaluation of Caleb Williams ahead of NFL draft

The Bears are expected to draft Caleb Williams at No. 1, but not everyone believes it’s the right move.

The Chicago Bears have an important decision to make at quarterback this offseason, where the expectation is they’ll draft USC’s Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

At this point, it certainly feels like an inevitability. But not everyone is a fan of the Bears potentially moving on from Justin Fields in favor of Williams.

Former NFL fullback and analyst Merril Hoge was asked about Chicago’s quarterback situation. Should they keep Fields or use the first overall pick on Williams? His opinion on the matter is very strong.

Hoge believes that the Bears should keep Fields; that he needs more experience and has shown enough in the NFL to warrant the chance. With more around him and more time, according to Hoge, Fields can become a winning player in this league.

His comments on Williams, however, are very strong. Hoge offered harsh criticism of Williams, where he believes there is nothing special about the USC star’s game. He admittedly only watched three of his games from this year and three from the previous season (so far). It might not be enough film to claim that strong but it is the way he feels right now.

“First of all, his ability to throw on the run is very disturbing,” Hoge told NBC Sports Chicago. “It is very inaccurate and it’s all over the place. There’s a ton of RPO, which nobody is going to RPO themselves to a Super Bowl in our league. … You gotta push the ball down the field. There are times when he does that. He doesn’t play with a lot of anticipation because of all the clean pockets that exist for him.

“The thing that’s disturbing me right now is his inability to be consistent on the move as a thrower. And he’s willing to do that a lot more than he has to. You don’t have that choice in our league. … I don’t see anything magical with his arm. There’s not enough there at this point for me to be like we’re getting rid of Justin Fields and bring this guy in, who’s never played in the National Football League and has to overcome all of those hurdles just to give us a chance to win.”

Hoge is entitled to his opinion based on what he’s seen. He doesn’t think Williams is even close to being a game-changer in the way that Patrick Mahomes is. Is it fair to expect that? Probably not. The question is whether or not he can be a top-flight quarterback so the Bears can have a chance to win.

It seems as if a lot of former players believe Chicago should keep Fields, but a lot of football people that are not former players think they should move on. At the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is general manager Ryan Poles. It is on him to make this career-defining decision.

Bears pass on a QB in Cynthia Frelund’s first NFL mock draft

The expectation is the Bears will draft a quarterback at No. 1. But NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund has them passing on one.

What are the Chicago Bears going to do with their first overall pick? Are they going to trade it for a legendary haul? Will they use it? Who will they take if they do? All of these questions are going to be answered in the biggest offseason of general manager Ryan Poles’ career.

All signs point to Chicago trading Justin Fields and drafting a new quarterback with the first overall pick. A lot of people out there think that is the right move to make. USC quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to be the first quarterback off the board, and some scouts consider him to be a “generational” talent.

Not everybody thinks the Bears should either trade the pick or draft a quarterback though. NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund debuted her first mock draft last week, and it was very interesting. She had Chicago passing on a quarterback entirely and taking Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 1. This would allow the Bears to keep Fields and build the offense around him.

Alt is going to be a very good offensive lineman in the NFL, and Frelund believes he has what is needed to be the first overall pick in the draft. She had Williams going second to the Washington Commanders while the New England Patriots ended up with North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye of North Carolina. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who a lot of Bears fans love, ended up with the Arizona Cardinals with pick No. 4.

Frelund clearly believes that the Bears can win with a quarterback like Fields, if they surround him with top talent. That became even more clear when she had Chicago taking LSU wideout Malik Nabers at No. 9.

She also clearly doesn’t think that Williams is a generational talent worth moving off a guy like Fields for. It is a very interesting perspective and Poles should be evaluating things from all angles. This is certainly one of them because adding these types of weapons would be amazing if Fields could find a way to be a franchise guy.

Throughout the rest of the offseason, there are going to be tons of mock drafts and opinions thrown out there by notable people. Frelund is no exception, and her mock draft makes a lot of sense if keeping Fields is the endgame.

Darnell Wright Bears jersey: How to buy No. 10 draft pick’s jersey

Grab your next #Bears jersey right now:

With the No. 10 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Chicago Bears selected Darnell Wright.

Wright, an offensive lineman out of Tennessee, will look to help the Bears improve on last season’s 3-14  record.

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With great expectations comes great responsibility, and now it’s time for you to support your team’s newest star. Check out Wright’s new NFL jersey:

Pick No. 10 Chicago Bears Nike Darnell Wright Jersey (Fanatics)
Bears Darnell Wright Jersey (Fanatics)

The NFL is expected to release the 2023-24 schedule in May, but we know that Bears fans can look forward to the first matchup of the season, whoever the foe is. It will be the first outing for the next era of Bear football.

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10 facts about Bears No. 11 overall draft pick QB Justin Fields

The Chicago Bears drafted former Ohio State QB Justin Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. Here are 10 facts about the pick.

The Chicago Bears won’t give up on quarterback, no matter how badly the Mitchell Trubisky experiment turned out.

The Monsters of the Midway used their No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, a pick obtained in a trade with the New York Giants, to take former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.

Here are 10 facts surrounding the Bears’ selection of Fields.

Must See: Cole Kmet Gets the Call from the Chicago Bears

In a time where we’re stuck in our homes or hanging out with pretty much just our immediate families, the Kmet family had a thriller of a Friday night by any standard, let alone during the Illinois order to “Stay in Place”.

If you’re looking for something to make you smile today take the next minute to watch Cole Kmet get the call of a lifetime as he’s drafted by his hometown Chicago Bears.

In a time where we’re stuck in our homes or hanging out with pretty much just our immediate families, the Kmet family had a thriller of a Friday night by any standard, let alone during the Illinois order to “Stay in Place”.

A lot to love from this video from the girl (no idea if it’s a sister of girlfriend) noticing something is up to mom sitting next to Kmet trying to keep the room’s volume down before jumping onto the Facetime call with Bears head coach Matt Nagy herself.

“I can’t wait!”

Either can we Cole, either can we.

 

Jake Fromm would embrace chance to reunite with Georgia teammates on Bears

Former Georgia football QB Jake Fromm would embrace the opportunity to play with his former UGA teammates on the Chicago Bears

It’s been tough to get a read on what NFL general managers think of former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, a guy who was once considered an early first round NFL Draft pick.

He struggled in the 2019 season, causing his draft stock to slide, but the success he had in his three years at Georgia should not be overlooked.

He broke multiple records, cemented himself as one of the greatest in UGA history, won three straight division titles and led his team to the national championship as a freshman.

Despite his inconsistent junior season, he’s still viewed as a passer who could go in the second or third round, sit for a few years and then eventually get his shot as a starter.

One NFL general manager who has an affinity for Georgia prospects, Ryan Pace of the Chicago Bears, is someone who could take a chance on Fromm with one of the Bears two second round picks.

There’s a lot of question marks surrounding the quarterback position that the Bears must address this offseason. Chicago is looking to add a veteran quarterback in free agency to give starter Mitchell Trubisky an extra push, but there’s also a strong chance that Pace turns to the draft to find a young, promising passer.

The Bears offense already has two Georgia wide receivers who once caught balls from Fromm — Riley Ridley and Javon Wims.

Regarding joining Ridley and Wims in Chicago, Fromm told NBC Sports Chicago:

“What more could you ask for? To play with those guys, especially two of the guys I’ve thrown the ball to. I’ve gone up against Roquan every single practice. It would kind of be like home away from home.”

Fromm met with the Bears while at the NFL Combine, so the interest is certainly there. Additionally, Fromm would be joining former Georgia linebackers Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith, who make up half of the Bears punishing linebacker group.

It’s NFL Mock Draft Tuesday and the latest on Georgia football QB Jake Fromm

A look at where PFF has Georgia football QB Jake Fromm going in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The drafting of an NFL quarterback is far from an exact science and the wrong decision can set back a team for years. Pro Football Focus used their analytical skills to select where the top ten quarterbacks will fall out in the 2020 draft.

To no one’s surprise, LSU’s Joe Burrow is the overall No. 1 selection by Cincinnati. Burrow had an insane 2.95 wins above average metric (WAA). Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (1.21 WAA) falls into the lap of Miami with the fifith pick. Indianapolis picks Oregon’s Justin Herbert with the 13th pick in the first round.

In the second round, Chicago selects Georgia’s Jake Fromm with the 43rd overall pick. In terms of WAA, Georgia’s Jake Fromm is fifth on the list of eligible draft quarterbacks, with a metric of 0.79. See below what PFF has to say about Fromm.

With the 49th overall pick, the Steelers select Utah State’s Jordon Love (.10 WAA). The next QB isn’t selected until the fourth round when the Carolina Panthers select Washington State’s Anthony Gordan with the 103rd pick. Former UGA QB and current Washington Husky Jacob Eason (.31 WAA) goes to Tampa Bay with the 107th pick. Hawaii’s Cole McDonald is selected with the 109th pick by Atlanta. Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts is heading to Kansas City with the 128th pick.

In the fifth round, Detroit selects San Jose State’s Josh Love (.91 WAA) with the overall 131st pick.

PFF speaking of why the Bears should draft Fromm:

Why they should choose Fromm: PFF has been pretty honest when it comes to Mitchell Trubisky. He isn’t quite what we and the Bears thought he’d be.

What they are getting: Jake Fromm graded out reasonably well throughout his time at Georgia, producing a PFF grade above 80.0 in each of his three seasons. This is mostly due to the care he takes with the football. In 2019 alone, he had a turnover-worthy play rate that ranked sixth of 125 qualifying quarterbacks. He was solid throwing into a tight window, as well, producing the fourth-highest grade and the second-highest rate of “accurate plus” passes on his tight-window throws.

The big concern with Fromm is that Georgia relied more on everyone else to win games. He fits the “game manager” title and wasn’t someone who could create outside the structure of the play. 

The 2020 NFL Draft will be the 85th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft is scheduled to be held from April 23–25, 2020 in Las Vegas.