HappyDays

The Bears are looking to trade down from #9 if anyone wants to get some early offers in.

I would like one of the McConkey fans to tell me, who is the comp player for his ceiling? Legette I can say it's AJ Brown. McConkey I can't think of anyone with his skill set that became a truly elite WR. Maybe Stefon Diggs but if that's the ceiling it's not good enough. We need someone that has the potential to dominate in the playoffs.

If the rumor about his low intelligence is true, it makes sense that we wouldn't be high on him. Our offensive system requires smart WRs that know how to read a defense and get to where they're supposed to be. It's why I think Beane will do everything he can to trade up for Odunze if he gets past pick #7 or so. He fits the type of prospect this regime has drafted in the 1st round, and happens to have some elite traits that you don't find at the bottom of the 1st round.

Not sure what he'll do but I think sticking at 28 is the least likely scenario. If one of the top 3 WRs makes it to 8ish I think he will try to make a blockbuster trade up. If someone with a 1st round grade is sticking out on his board in the 20s he is going to trade up for them using one of our 4ths. If all the 1st round grades are wiped out by then I predict a trade back with Washington to recoup our 3rd round pick. So it just depends on how the board falls.

The complimentary stuff is just that his size and speed means he has a high ceiling. Which is definitely true, but man I just can't get past his lack of edge. I really think someone with his skill set needs that. It's like if he doesn't win the release and separate vertically, the play is dead on arrival. And I don't think that alpha mentality is something you ever develop.

Bruce Feldman published his annual draft confidential article: https://theathletic.com/5431528/2024/04/23/nfl-draft-2024-confidential-nabers-harrison-williams?source=user-shared-article Here are the most interesting nuggets on the top WRs:

Great read, thanks. Here's some of the more interesting nuggets on top WRs: -Malik Nabers is apparently the consensus #1 over Marvin Harrison Jr. This echoes what I heard Chris Simms say the other day. Harrison is the higher floor but Nabers' explosiveness gives him a higher ceiling. Nabers comes with less discipline though. I wouldn't be surprised if Arizona still picks Harrison first just because he is such a safe pick. -The feedback on Brian Thomas Jr is surprisingly poor. Coaches talking about his lack of a route tree, lack of ball skills, lack of physicality, lack of that edge that WRs need to be elite. FWIW these are the same exact concerns I have about him. -On Xavier Worthy, a couple coaches specifically point out that he is NOT John Ross as a prospect, specifically that his route running is better. One coach says "he's really impressive to talk to" and praised his mentality. This sounds like a player Brandon Beane would love, although I doubt he makes it to #28.

Could also be Beane just setting the stage for a trade if someone falls. I still think if Odunze makes it down to #9 he's the guy Beane will go up for. Gotta make those calls in advance so the parameters are in place.

No thanks, we're picking Trojan. With the 1st pick the Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams, QB, USC. The Washington Whatchamacallits @mrags are on the clock. This pick was turned in months ago. All that's left is for Roger Goodell to give him a big hug and pose with his jersey. Ryan Poles was an executive with the Chiefs until 2022. It was never a doubt that he would draft the QB with comparable traits to the last superstar QB he had a hand in drafting. Williams has his flaws but they are similar to Mahomes' flaws coming out of Texas Tech. This pick is a no-brainer. The real draft starts now.

With the caveat that I know very little about hockey, this seems like the type of move a sports franchise makes when it has lost all confidence in its abilities to make good decisions. I'm not surprised Pegula did it.

My blockbuster trade prediction is: Bills receive: Justin Jefferson 2025 4th Vikings receive: 2024 1st 2025 2nd

I heard Simms a few weeks ago say that Brian Thomas Jr doesn't have a "squeaky clean" character profile. Doesn't sound like anything real bad but enough to be a concern. But if any character and/or injury concern pushes him down the board the Bills won't be the team to stop his fall.

Yeah teams say that to players just to gauge their reactions, it doesn't really mean anything.

It isn't just about completing a pass. You have to execute a snap, try to read the defense, throw the ball with the right timing and accuracy and touch/power. Nobody on here could complete a pass unless maybe you got lucky and the WR you were looking at first got open on a blown coverage immediately, and you manage to throw the ball fast enough to avoid one of the defensive linemen tipping it. And hopefully you get this lucky on one of your first 2-3 throws because eventually you're getting crushed by a defensive player and being taken off the field in a body cast, possibly with your leg hanging in the wrong direction.

If it makes you feel better, Charlie Campbell just tweeted out the same article. I'm guessing it's his info published by a different writer for whatever reason.

The thing that gets NFL teams excited about McCarthy is a lot of those passes came in high leverage situations. 3rd and long gotta have it moments, etc. There is a projection there for sure but 3rd down success rate is something NFL scouts and executives value much more than the general public, because that's what wins championships.

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No, Charlie Campbell consistently gets good info and as a result is usually one of the most accurate mock drafters every year.

A few nuggets from Charlie Campbell:

Correct. Samuel is the best outside WR we have which is more a testament to the state of the room than his own ability. I want us to add two WRs early that can play outside.

No I don't think Kincaid has that kind of physicality. He has excellent hip fluidity which allows for sharp cuts and immediate RAC. But I think he will always get pushed around a bit off the line. He'll mostly be in the slot though so his skill set won't be erased. For an outside WR it isn't that easy to make up for a lack of physicality.

We need a big physical WR out of this draft. Coleman, Legette, Polk. I'm sick of our WRs getting pushed around in the playoffs year after year. Shakir and Kincaid aren't that type of talent. It has to come from the draft.