2015 NFL Draft

[kmoose]

Winston's dad just said he is heading to nfl...

What is that, two days after saying that Jameis would wait until after the NCG? You couldn't write stuff this comical.

 

[PANDFAN]

What is that, two days after saying that Jameis would wait until after the NCG? You couldn't write stuff this comical.

"he came to a firm decision"

 

[woolybug25]

What is a realistic career for JW? Will he be worse or better than Cam? That is the QB that comes to mind in the NFL for me to compare him to.

In my opinion, he can't be protected from the public eye in the pros like he is in Tallahassee. That might sound weird, but he has an entire city (and police force) protecting him from public opinion and he still finds a way to constantly be in the news for terrible things.

What will happen when he's being invited to crazy rich/famous parties and he is give millions of dollars? If he doesn't epically crash and burn I will be beyond shocked.

I don't want the Bears to go anywhere near this kid.

 

[GoldenDomer]

This kid will be nobody in 3 years. He damn sure won't be an analyst or anything else. Jimbo Fisher failed this kid and many others. Sad, really.

 

[arrowryan]

I definitely think he is. Especially for the Bears. A ball hawking safety with elite speed? Plus he can return kicks. I would cheer this pick.

Which means it wont happen.

You know he's a linebacker, right?

 

[irishfan]

Jameis is a stud on the field. I'd take him over Mariota on the field easily, cause I think any stats in an Oregon offense need an asterisk next to them. But, Jameis is just too immature. He seems like a goofball. I think he is a good college leader, but I don't think pros will relate to him at all.

I wouldn't want either QB, although I do think Jameis has a very, very high ceiling if he can get his act together.

 

[PANDFAN]

You know he's a linebacker, right?

in a 3/4

 

[arrowryan]

in a 3/4

At 230 pounds? I'm not saying that's impossible but I would think he would be best suited as a 4-3 backer at that weight

 

[woolybug25]

You know he's a linebacker, right?

If we continue a 4-3, he wouldn't be a linebacker for the Bears. He would be a strong safety.

I do realize he played LB though.

 

[woolybug25]

At 230 pounds? I'm not saying that's impossible but I would think he would be best suited as a 4-3 backer at that weight

Cam Chancellor - 6'3"/232 pounds

 

[arrowryan]

If we continue a 4-3, he wouldn't be a linebacker for the Bears. He would be a strong safety.

I do realize he played LB though.

What about Landon Collins? Or do you not like him?

 

[Ndaccountant]

In my opinion, he can't be protected from the public eye in the pros like he is in Tallahassee. That might sound weird, but he has an entire city (and police force) protecting him from public opinion and he still finds a way to constantly be in the news for terrible things.

What will happen when he's being invited to crazy rich/famous parties and he is give millions of dollars? If he doesn't epically crash and burn I will be beyond shocked.

I don't want the Bears to go anywhere near this kid.

It's interesting. If he goes to a smaller market, I think he could have a shot. But if he would end up in a Chicago, Miami, etc I think he would be in big trouble.

 

[woolybug25]

What about Landon Collins? Or do you not like him?

I like Landon Collins, but I like Shaq better. Landon is a prototypical strong safety. Well coached and fundamentally sound. But I don't see him getting significantly better in the NFL. Shaq on the other hand could be a Cam Chancellor type player with the right coaching. Until he got to the that point, he would certainly be a great addition to special teams.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I like Landon Collins, but I like Shaq better. Landon is a prototypical strong safety. Well coached and fundamentally sound. But I don't see him getting significantly better in the NFL. Shaq on the other hand could be a Cam Chancellor type player with the right coaching. Until he got to the that point, he would certainly be a great addition to special teams.

I see Shaq as a linebacker, not a safety. in the mold of Thomas Davis type Linebacker.

 

[woolybug25]

I see Shaq as a linebacker, not a safety. in the mold of Thomas Davis type Linebacker.

That's fair. But he is the exact same size as Cam Chancellor with better athleticism. The Seattle style of defense is en vogue right now, and I would rather have an athlete like Shaq as a strong safety than LB. The nice thing is that he could play both though.

 

[RDU Irish]

I don't even know what I want the Bears to do with their top 10 pick but I can guarantee I will be frustrated with the choice. I would wager they will take some should-be #20+ pick and watch ten guys taken right after them become pro bowlers. They will get more out of their 2nd and 3rd round pick than whoever they reach for in the first round.

end Bears rant

 

[ACamp1900]

Which QB do you think The Browns will take this year???

 

[arrowryan]

Pittsburgh needs to go CB or OLB. I really like Shane Ray and Bud Dupree as rush linebackers.

 

[arrowryan]

Which QB do you think The Browns will take this year???

It's sad that it's a real possibility that they would waste another first round pick on another QB

 

[ND NYC]

lots of intriguing options for the surging G-Men at #9.

if i'm Reese im taking landon Collins if hes still there.

or that Stanley kid out of ND

 

[RDU Irish]

Does Zach Martin improve stock for OL in this year's draft?

 

[zelezo vlk]

I definitely think he is. Especially for the Bears. A ball hawking safety with elite speed? Plus he can return kicks. I would cheer this pick.

Which means it wont happen.

If the Bears pick him up, it's not for safety. It'd be for linebacker.

 

[ndfi78]

lots of intriguing options for the surging G-Men at #9.

if i'm Reese im taking landon Collins if hes still there.

or that Stanley kid out of ND

 

[woolybug25]

If the Bears pick him up, it's not for safety. It'd be for linebacker.

Don't be so sure. I've already heard that there are a lot of teams looking at Shaq as a safety, not a LB, and the Bears are in need of a safety. You cant say with certainty that you KNOW what the Bears would do. Nobody can.

But i'm not alone here:

Sports Illustrated
Pick: 8
The Bears select: Shaq Thompson, OLB, Washington

The Bears need playmakers in their linebacking corps. Be it at safety, linebacker or even running back, Thompson has established a reputation as a gifted athlete.

footballoutsiders.com

But the true question at this stage of Thompson's career has little to do with offense. His potential is highest when he's stopping drives rather than sustaining them. The real issue is whether Thompson has more NFL potential as a linebacker or safety.

I spent an hour in the RSP Film Room with Bleacher Report's Ryan Riddle studying three games from Thompson's 2013 season, and there are indications that Thompson looks and plays more like a safety than a linebacker. The defender still has room to develop as an athlete and student of the game, but as it stands today, there are legitimate questions about Thompson's best position for the NFL.

The Sideline View's John Harris described Thompson as "a thumper…physical" on his initial 2015 Player Board. Harris is a smart, dedicated draft analyst whose short summation might be describing Thompson's work on special teams or on defense in games that I have not seen.
I say this because while I agree that Thompson can lay the wood -- most notably in the return game -- neither Riddle nor I saw a "physical thumper," for a linebacker. Thompson is a quick player in space and he displays suddenness, vision to work through traffic, and the requisite skill to work through blocks, but we didn't see him tackle like an NFL linebacker.
It would be a surprise if Thompson's timed speed isn't within the range of NFL safeties, but if this is the case his best chance to have a long career in the league might come as a niche fit for a specific defense or special teams. If Thompson becomes a viable NFL linebacker, it's likely that he adds muscle, develops a more physical tacking style in the box, and he still maintains his speed.

I'm not pulling this safety talk out of my @ss. There are a lot of scouts that don't see him as an NFL linebacker, but rather a new school strong safety. That's where I would like to see him if he came to Chicago. But just like how he started his Washington career as a safety, i'm fine with moving him to wherever the greatest need is.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Don't be so sure. I've already heard that there are a lot of teams looking at Shaq as a safety, not a LB, and the Bears are in need of a safety. You cant say with certainty that you KNOW what the Bears would do. Nobody can.

But i'm not alone here:









I'm not pulling this safety talk out of my @ss. There are a lot of scouts that don't see him as an NFL linebacker, but rather a new school strong safety. That's where I would like to see him if he came to Chicago. But just like how he started his Washington career as a safety, i'm fine with moving him to wherever the greatest need is.

I'm not saying you're pulling the safety talk out your ass, plenty of people have speculated that he can play safety at the next level. However, the Bears need talented linebackers as much as safeties. If they hire the right coach, he could presumably play a little of each. You and I both know that the Bears don't value the safety position too highly in the draft. However, they do place a premium on having talented linebackers on the team. Couple that with him looking like a more athletic Lavonte David, and I see this as Briggs' succesor. I just don't know if that is worth a top 10 pick in today's NFL. FWIW, I'd love to see the Bears hire a coach who can throw out multiple fronts/alignments. But anything is gonna be better than Tucker out there. BTW, would you trade down for Cleveland's 2 first round picks?

 

[woolybug25]

I'm not saying you're pulling the safety talk out your ass, plenty of people have speculated that he can play safety at the next level. However, the Bears need talented linebackers as much as safeties. If they hire the right coach, he could presumably play a little of each. You and I both know that the Bears don't value the safety position too highly in the draft. However, they do place a premium on having talented linebackers on the team. Couple that with him looking like a more athletic Lavonte David, and I see this as Briggs' succesor. I just don't know if that is worth a top 10 pick in today's NFL. FWIW, I'd love to see the Bears hire a coach who can throw out multiple fronts/alignments. But anything is gonna be better than Tucker out there. BTW, would you trade down for Cleveland's 2 first round picks?

If i'm the Bears, i'm trading down as much as I can. Maybe even out of the first round if someone is willing to give multiple picks up. The new coach of this team has a major rebuilding effort on his hands. He needs to make a lot of changes and I would see this as a three year plan at a minimum.

But what do I know. I've said that we should be fire selling anyone we can on this team. If i'm the GM, every player on this team has a price tag right now. Everyone.

 

[zelezo vlk]

If i'm the Bears, i'm trading down as much as I can. Maybe even out of the first round if someone is willing to give multiple picks up. The new coach of this team has a major rebuilding effort on his hands. He needs to make a lot of changes and I would see this as a three year plan at a minimum.

But what do I know. I've said that we should be fire selling anyone we can on this team. If i'm the GM, every player on this team has a price tag right now. Everyone.

Fire selling everyone would be silly. Keep Long and Jeffery and everyone else still on their rookie contracts just to start with. Long just made second team All-Pro and Jeffery could be a top 3 wide receiver in the NFL. But outside of that, almost none of the talent is young. I feel terrible for Forte. He spent his entire time on a team that could barely block for him and now he'll be playing another contract year on a team, which will be closer to tanking than contending for a playoff spot.

That being said, with the right GM and HC combo, this could be a quick turnaround. I'm with you though, trading down is the way to go. Both lines need serious investment, and everywhere on the D needs an influx of talent. Trade down, invest in a lineman.

 

[woolybug25]

Fire selling everyone would be silly. Keep Long and Jeffery and everyone else still on their rookie contracts just to start with. Long just made second team All-Pro and Jeffery could be a top 3 wide receiver in the NFL. But outside of that, almost none of the talent is young. I feel terrible for Forte. He spent his entire time on a team that could barely block for him and now he'll be playing another contract year on a team, which will be closer to tanking than contending for a playoff spot.

That being said, with the right GM and HC combo, this could be a quick turnaround. I'm with you though, trading down is the way to go. Both lines need serious investment, and everywhere on the D needs an influx of talent. Trade down, invest in a lineman.

Let me ask you this. How many teams have been successful with the same core group of player after two coaches have been fired? What coach isn't going to want to bring new blood into the locker room? I honestly don't see this core coming back and one day performing on a high level.

We have seen teams get blown up and rebound quickly under new coaching. Look at Denver and Seattle. Both drastically different rosters after their most recent coaching change. Worked out great for both of them. Let's look at the "untouchables" on this current Bear's team:

Cutler - Awful contract, will never win with him
Marshall - Mentally broken
Forte - Big contract, high value, pushing the magic 30 number
Briggs - Is leaving either way, may be able to work out a sign/trade
Bennett - High value, locker room poison
Jeffery = The player I would want to keep most, but if we got a 1st rounder from him, we have much bigger needs than a WR. Especially when this team plays outdoors in Chicago.
Tillman - I LOVE Peanut, but c'mon... his best days (at least healthy days) are behind him.
Jared Allen - Just bad timing. He doesn't have the time to play on a rebuilding team. We can get something for him, and we should.

Did I miss anyone?

 

[zelezo vlk]

Let me ask you this. How many teams have been successful with the same core group of player after two coaches have been fired? What coach isn't going to want to bring new blood into the locker room? I honestly don't see this core coming back and one day performing on a high level.

We have seen teams get blown up and rebound quickly under new coaching. Look at Denver and Seattle. Both drastically different rosters after their most recent coaching change. Worked out great for both of them. Let's look at the "untouchables" on this current Bear's team:

Cutler - Awful contract, will never win with him
Marshall - Mentally broken
Forte - Big contract, high value, pushing the magic 30 number
Briggs - Is leaving either way, may be able to work out a sign/trade
Bennett - High value, locker room poison
Jeffery = The player I would want to keep most, but if we got a 1st rounder from him, we have much bigger needs than a WR. Especially when this team plays outdoors in Chicago.
Tillman - I LOVE Peanut, but c'mon... his best days (at least healthy days) are behind him.
Jared Allen - Just bad timing. He doesn't have the time to play on a rebuilding team. We can get something for him, and we should.

Did I miss anyone?

I would throw Kyle Long and probably Slauson on there too. The NFL is a bit different from the NBA. Throwing out good players to get draft assets can hurt people. If the FO wants to rebuild, that's great. But you don't trade away good pieces that can stretch into the next era. Jeffery, Long, Slauson, and the recent draft picks should all stay. Gutting the O line for a few draft picks is something no GM in their right mind would do. Remember how bad those O lines were Cutty's first few years in Chicago? The Bears don't want to see their next QB subjected too that sort of treatment. I'm not saying keep everyone and go forward with this core. I'm saying that the Bears need to keep the players that will still be useful to them to proceed with their next core and should be the leaders/stars of the team for the next 5-8 years.

 

[woolybug25]

I would throw Kyle Long and probably Slauson on there too. The NFL is a bit different from the NBA. Throwing out good players to get draft assets can hurt people. If the FO wants to rebuild, that's great. But you don't trade away good pieces that can stretch into the next era. Jeffery, Long, Slauson, and the recent draft picks should all stay. Gutting the O line for a few draft picks is something no GM in their right mind would do. Remember how bad those O lines were Cutty's first few years in Chicago? The Bears don't want to see their next QB subjected too that sort of treatment. I'm not saying keep everyone and go forward with this core. I'm saying that the Bears need to keep the players that will still be useful to them to proceed with their next core and should be the leaders/stars of the team for the next 5-8 years.

I think we may be saying the same thing, but differently. I doubt anyone is going to give us high first round picks for guys like Jeffery, Long and Slauson. So while my "everyone has a pricetag" comment stand for them too, nobody is going to pay the price.

The current core of stars are the ones I listed. In my opinion, every one of them is tradeable. While those guys listed our the current "core" of this team. We have guys like Long, Slauson, Fuller and Bostic that can make up a new core. Plus, the guys I listed all have big contracts. Moving them would allow us to be a player in the FA market.