Thread: Chicago bear Draft grades and analysis

Originally Posted by 4th and 26

I would not give any of these guys a grade until they complete their rookie year in the NFL. How many times has a guy drafted get such a high grade only later to be either cut or just plain awful?

We're just grading the choice 4th and his prospects for meeting our needs. Ability grades are based on whether or not they've done what
we're gonna ask them to do in college, and done it successfully. But you're right. The actual grades for this draft won't come for at least another one to two years.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

OL Boling? OL Cannon? DL Ballard? WR Gates, WR Doss? Just to name five

Well Benji let's start with the cross of the list guys. Cannon; may not even survive cancer and even if he does won't play in 2011 and maybe not 2012. Ballard; not better than Paea, we already had our DT, and flunks drug test just as he preps for combine and draft. (yeah real strong pick here). These two wouldn't merit consideration in my book.

Boling; I could see but we all agree we'd be better off with FA OG who can start now. Gates and Doss; same as Boling, and doubtful starters until 2012 0r 2013. The arguement for an OG and Boling is strongest but not 100% convincing.

One year ago we we're all bitching about the need for a FS and none of any merit were available in the third round. Morgan Burnett was a possiblity but the Pack got to him before we did and we took Wright who definitely is more a SS than a FS. We got lucky in getting Chris Harris back and he turned in a pro-bowl level performance (even if he wasn't chosen) and he's still better as a SS and only has one more year left on his contract.

So.................a FS with Conte's upside may have been a lot better pick than most think. We'll know sooner than later because I think he'll see playing time before the year is out.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Did not know that about Cannon, thank you.

Boling and the two WR may not be impact players in 2011, but will Conte? Is he as much of a gamble as the others?

I just love these debates about who's a bigger risk. Not talking about this post Benji, you asked a question, but to others the bigger risk is always the player you don't want or drafting the position you don't think we need.

LMAO, but I'm as guilty of it as others.

Originally Posted by motownbear

we need a development guy behind Kreutz since they dont want to let him go. We need another guard. We have only two LBs under contract. Jennings got exposed.

bolstering the special teams was the right move right? bad pick no matter how you want to swing it. I stick with my grade A and A for first two rounds and FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF for the 3 round. I have been right about every safety we have drafted except Manning and it took him 5 fricken years to develop into something. While you guys were parading Payne as a pro bowler I told everyone he stunk and now is barely in the league. I think I know wtf Im talking about

Sorry mo but the ST thing is where I gotta disagree with both you and 4th. We have the best ST's in football because we draft and sign guys who are excellent ST players and good for little else. Reference, Wolfe, R. Davis, Graham, Iwuh (?), etc. and in the past Shaw, Ayanbadejo. A lot of our starters and core backup began on ST's.

We do have three developmental guys behind Kruetz and Garza now (Louis, Williams, and Johnson). We don't know that any of them can play at an NFL level yet but the same would be true of just about anybody else we'd pick in the third or later. If any of the guys at OG they liked were on the board they may have gone that route but I'm guessing they weren't.

Like I've been saying. Last year we were all bitching about a FS and we couldn't get one. This year we do an everybody is still bitching about the pick. I think Conte has the tools to be more then just a ST guy and I'll bet he sees the field defensively before the year is out. I may be dead as wrong but I think Conte may be a lot better pick than we think right now.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Ballard goes 9th pick in the 4th to the Vikes

ROTFLMFAO!!!! That's a sure fit. Where's Henry and his take Ballard in the first or second now, LOL.

Originally Posted by JustWinBaby

I remember the Hester pick "sucking" too on this board back when he was drafted. Everyone is an expert before players actually take the field.

You can include another former 3rd round pick on the list too. The little guy who plays WLB to the right of Urlacher.

I love all this bitching that's going on in here. The gods honest truth is that there were no really good players available in the draft past a certain point. Would I have picked a QB instead of waiting for the UDFA period to arrive? Probably not. Would I have picked a S in the third round instead of going for a CB or WR? Probably not. We did make a good pick with J.T. Thomas, who could see time in ST as well as backing up Pisa Timoisamoa at ROLB. So, three-fifths of our draft were good to solid, while two of the picks were at "meh" at best. At least we picked well at the top for a change.