The Blitz: Draft season has started for the Bears, Flus to Dallas, NFL scheduling and the Super Bowl
Get ready for an endless swirl of names for the Chicago Bears to draft at No. 10 overall in April.
Offensive lineman? Edge rusher? Defensive tackle? Trade up? Trade back?
One year, maybe soon (or not), it will be Pro Bowl week and we won’t be talking about a head coach, what went wrong and how to fix it in the draft because there’s one more game to play. Until then, at least the Bears are in the Top 10 where mock draft and prospect tracking is a little more fun.
This year’s draft would seem to fall nicely in line for Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson, too. They might have their pick of offensive linemen if they go that route, and with two early picks in the second round, a deeper interior defensive lineman and edge rusher class would seem to fit one of those picks.
In his first mock draft of the year, ESPN’s Mel Kiper had the Bears taking LSU OT Will Campbell.
Offensive line is the most pressing and sensible need for Chicago to protect Caleb Williams. You’ll hear a lot about Campbell’s length, as Kiper mentions, about whether he’s a guard or tackle. Same with Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. and his height, and Ohio State OT Josh Simmons and his medicals, the latter of which should provide clarity soon enough.
My take on Campbell and Banks is this: If they are atop your board or the position of greatest need, just take them. These guys played at schools and in a conference that is among the tip-top of the college football world, and the career sacks allowed numbers at left tackle are eye-popping in how few there are.
Now, it’s possible Simmons is OT1 in this class and a thumbs up from a doctor is all teams are waiting for to crown him. He doesn’t come with the size or position questions, just the knee.
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly posted a new mock draft today and took a different route for the Bears: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty.
Since the Ben Johnson hire was official, Jeanty has been a name popping up here and there to boost the run game. The Bears were awful all around on offense last year, so a playmaker isn’t a bad pick. Again, if he’s the best on your board … though I’d much prefer to fix the offensive line first. Jeanty is dynamic and would add an element to the run game the Bears don’t currently have.
I’d be really interested to see how his NFL Combine numbers shake out. He’s a top-5 player in this draft, without much doubt, and that could solidify things.
One disappointing trend in both these mock drafts and others is where Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter is going as his stock rises. Kiper has him No. 4 to New England and Kelly No. 2 to Cleveland.
Carter is hands down my favorite prospect in this draft, and barring something unforeseen, will not be in Chicago’s range in April. Considering the state of the roster and the Bears holding three top-41 picks, trading up for Carter at this rate isn’t the prudent move.
Also, just in general, please don’t let Poles touch the second round picks.
Other news and notes
- Matt Eberflus is the new defensive coordinator in Dallas, where he inherits Micah Parsons and some other parts of a talented group. It’s a soft landing spot after becoming the first-ever head coach fired in-season by the Bears. Flus might just be one of those guys who is a coordinator ceiling, and that’s OK.
- The Full Go with Jason Goff talked with former Bears DE Alex Brown about Dennis Allen and Declan Doyle being hired as the defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. Of interest, Brown said the lack of relationship between the coaches and Johnson could create a prove-it culture of sorts that puts their best foot forward. This as opposed to a dynamic where the assistants feel they have a long leash to make mistakes and brush them off because they know the head guy.
- The Athletic previews the Super Bowl, a rematch of two years ago between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. Kansas City, if you haven’t heard, is going for three straight Super Bowl wins. It’s never been done, if you haven’t heard that part either. For the record: I’m taking the Chiefs (and pulling for history to happen).
- Jacksonville’s new head coach Liam Cohen needs to make a Super Bowl. This guy was made for Media Day shenanigans. I hope he’s just a dorky dude and can coach.
https://x.com/CoachspeakIndex/status/1883978850432102612
And finally: A rare miss by the NFL
The folks at the NFL know how to completely dominate just about everything on the calendar. Schedule release day is an event. The draft is a three day event that now moves around. The Combine is a thing. Thanksgiving is the NFL. The league is trying to win Christmas from the NBA. Super Bowl Sunday speaks for itself.
Yet, through all the iterations of the Pro Bowl, the league really just punts on this week.
Which is odd in a sense when you consider all of the above. I’m not complaining or coming to this conversation with a solution. All major leagues struggle with the all-star competitions, but this is the NFL.
I just don’t get the scheduling gap that shifts attention of even hardcore fans for a stretch before the Super Bowl. Casual fans are way out of the NFL this week.
There has to be something (also looking at you, NBA trade deadline) for this week, because I’m not watching flag football.
