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Junior Member
My First Mock Draft On This Board (02/02/12)
Round 1) WR, Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (6'3", 220lbs)...The Bears, more than any other team with a franchise QB, need to get WR help NOW!! The days of "Devin Hester is a starting WR" are hopefully over now with a new GM in place. Floyd has a lot to offer as a WR; great hands, good speed, runs good routes, excellent body control, RAC ability and a big target for the redzone. He also had a knack for getting open and coming up with big catches when the team needed to move the chains in college. For a team so WR-challenged like our beloved Bears, drafting Floyd would be a step in the right direction IMHO. Cutler would probably be one "happy camper" come July's training camp...pun intended.
Round 2) CB, Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (6'1" 193lbs)...The Bears desperately need help at CB, with Graham, Bowman and Jennings all scheduled to become free-agents and Tillman another season older. From the scouting reports I have read about this kid, Gilmore excels in zone coverage and would fit right in to a zone scheme and most-likely be able to contribute from day 1. FYI, one draft site that I researched said that Gilmore's NFL comparision is......Charles "Peanut" Tillman of the Chicago Bears. IF the Bears draft him, let's hope that comparison holds true.
Round 3) DE, Cam Johnson, Virginia (6'4", 265lbs)...Of the many big named D-linemen who were at Senior Bowl week (Coples, Ingram, Branch, Curry), there was one kid who continuously stood out during the practices that I watched and also during the game. This is that kid. After watching some of his highlights from college and seeing what he did during the Senior Bowl, I am definately intrigued by this kid. He could be the help that the Bears need at DE and he could also possibly contribute from Day 1. If Idonije is retained, this kid could be the situational pass rusher that the Bears need on passing downs. No matter what role he plays IF he's drafted, the Bears HAVE TO get better production from their DE's...especially with Peppers being double and tripled teamed almost every snap. The Bears defense in general has to get better at getting to the QB.
Round 3) OT, Matt Reynolds, BYU (6'5", 315lbs)...EXCELS IN PASS PROTECTION!! That's really all I needed to read, because our current starting LT (Webb) is beyond horrible in pass protection and gave up 12 sacks and had 15 penalties last season, mostly false starts. Reynolds is a two-time team captain in college and did I happen to mention that he excels in pass protection?? LOL. Watching highlights of him and it's clear that he 1) doesn't stop blocking until the sound of the whistle and 2) he's pretty good at what he does.
Round 4) OLB, Nigel Bradham, Florida State (6'2", 238lbs)...This guy was all over the field at the Senior Bowl and I don't think I seen him miss a tackle. He has good speed and an ability to shed blockers from what I've seen of him, though he is still a bit raw from what I have read. IF the "a bit raw" part is true about him, I could see him falling to the 4th round where a LB depth-starved Chicago Bears team should be ready to run their card up to the podium to announce this selection.
Round 5) TE, Evan Rodriguez, Temple (6'2", 243lbs)...The poor mans Aaron Hernandez is what I've heard him called. I can't say I agree with that comparison because I personally hate comparisons all together...it just creates unreal expectations at times and Aaron Hernandez is a beast!! Nonetheless, the Bears need a versatile pass-catching TE who can line up anywhere and I like what I have seen from this kid. Out of pure boredom last season, I watched a couple of Temple games just to see their RB Bernard Pierce (who I also like BTW) and in those games, Rodriguez played very well. He showed good hands and the ability to break tackles for those tough extra yards. Jay Cutler not only needs help at the WR position, but the entire offense would benefit from a pass-catching TE, whom Cutler could rely on to check the ball down to.
Round 6) RB, Lennon Creer, Louisiana Tech (6'0", 220lbs)...The MVP of the East/West Shrine Game had himself a pretty nice career in college. He's a bigger back, who runs very well between the tackles from what I've read about him. He has good hands and does pretty well in pass protection. I'm pretty sure that the Bears will be releasing Marion Barber before the season starts...he's getting older, he can't stay healthy and I personally want to kick him in the nuts for costing us a win against the Broncos!!!! Lovie Smith also mentioned his disappointment in Barber in his "State of the Bears" presser after the season ended.
Round 7) CB, Tashaun Gipson, Wyoming (6'0", 195lbs)...Again, the Bears are in need of some depth at the CB and safety positions. Gipson is a sure-tackler who could excel on special teams for Dave Toub and his special teams unit.
Free agent wish list...not saying we'll get any or all of these guys, just adding who I'd like to see our beloved Bears bring in:
WR: 1) Dwayne Bowe 2) Vincent Jackson 3) Stevie Johnson 4) Mario Manningham
QB: 1) Chad Henne 2) Jason Campbell 3) Josh Johnson
DE: 1) Mario Williams 2) Kroy Bierrman 3) Cliff Avril
TE: 1) Fred Davis 2) John Carlson (would add Finley, but the Packers aren't letting him go.)
RB: 1) Mike Tolbert 2) BenJarvis Green-Ellis
CB: 1) Brent Grimes 2) Brandon Carr
FS/SS: 1) LaRon Landry 2) Tyvon Branch
ILB: 1) Johnathan Goff (depth) 2) Blake Costanzo (special teams purposes)
OLB: 1) Phillip Wheeler (depth) 2) Chris Chamberlain (special teams purposes)
OT: 1) Anthony Collins 2) Barry Richardson
OG: 1) Carl Nicks 2) Ben Grubbs
C: 1) Samson Satele 2) Scott Wells
THOUGHTS??????
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Well, for starters, I would go after a WR in free agency. I think there are too many bad things that could happen with picking Michael Floyd. The guy is a lush and there is no guarantee that he won't turn out to be like another Cedric Benson who stays in trouble with the law and thus with Roger Goodell, or worse, like Lawrence Phillips, and play himself right out of the league early in this career because of legal issues. I would personally go after a LT or a DE in the first round. I do like how you mentioned going after a tall CB in the second in Stephen Gilmore, and I could potentially see going after Cam Johnson in the third. I have heard of Nigel Bradham's name before, the OLB out of Florida State, and if memory serves me correct, WindyCity has had him go with one of the third round picks. I don't think the Bears will draft a TE because we have several of those alrighty, plus I think that the Bears will want to give Kellen Davis a chance to become something big in this offense.
I think the most likely approach the Bears will take with the WR's is to sign someone like Bowe or Colston. I think that Jackson will come too expensively and with his rap sheet, the Bears won't want to deal with him. Colston has been the most consistent of the free agents on the market, having only one season in his six year career dating back to 2006 in which he failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark. We might go after Robert Mathis in free agency, but I think getting Cliff Avril is highly unlikely at this point see as how the Lions will probably franchise him.
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Junior Member

Originally Posted by
Dagan81
Well, for starters, I would go after a WR in free agency. I think there are too many bad things that could happen with picking Michael Floyd. The guy is a lush and there is no guarantee that he won't turn out to be like another Cedric Benson who stays in trouble with the law and thus with Roger Goodell, or worse, like Lawrence Phillips, and play himself right out of the league early in this career because of legal issues. I would personally go after a LT or a DE in the first round. I do like how you mentioned going after a tall CB in the second in Stephen Gilmore, and I could potentially see going after Cam Johnson in the third. I have heard of Nigel Bradham's name before, the OLB out of Florida State, and if memory serves me correct, WindyCity has had him go with one of the third round picks. I don't think the Bears will draft a TE because we have several of those alrighty, plus I think that the Bears will want to give Kellen Davis a chance to become something big in this offense. Nicely put and I agree with what you are saying. I think that Bears fans around the world are pretty much all in agreement on our top needs with this team...WR, OL, DE, CB, backup QB and not necessarily in that order. I think that the best OL targets will all be gone by the time we pick at #19. As far as DE goes, it seems to be a pretty thin group this year, with only a few 4-3 DE's that could possibly get picked in the 1st round. That leaves WR and CB and with the Lovie scheme, shutdown CB's aren't a big need, so taking one in the 1st round most-likely isn't going to happen, so that leaves WR as our best option and at #19, it's pretty much Floyd, Jeffrey's and Wright. Floyd has the character concerns...Jeffrey's draft slot depends on his 40 time pretty much...Wright is under 6 foot tall, but a burner. Man, I love offseason speculation!!
I think the most likely approach the Bears will take with the WR's is to sign someone like Bowe or Colston. I think that Jackson will come too expensively and with his rap sheet, the Bears won't want to deal with him. Colston has been the most consistent of the free agents on the market, having only one season in his six year career dating back to 2006 in which he failed to reach the 1,000 yard mark. We might go after Robert Mathis in free agency, but I think getting Cliff Avril is highly unlikely at this point see as how the Lions will probably franchise him. My concern with Colston is the question of is he a product of a great system in New Orleans or could he do what he does in another offensive scheme? If I'm Phil Emery, I don't want to take that chance on Colston if I'm looking to bring in a #1 WR via free agency, especially being my first year on the job. I'm looking for a guy who has had success in other systems...a guy who has played in 2 or 3 different systems and been successful, that being Dwayne Bowe. The guy has played with some terrible QB situations in KC and he's produced. He's had 2 or 3 different OC's with different schemes and he's produced. I'm not that high on Vincent Jackson personally...I wouldn't complain if he was brought in or anything, but I think that not only his off the field issues, but also his attitude about wanting big money is just too much to handle. He's talented, but I do believe that his best overall season, he had only 64 catches...granted his yards per reception was something like 18.5 yards per, but if I'm going to spend big money on a WR, then I'm wanting a guy who does more than just runs deep routes. Plus, Jackson is getting close to 30 years old....how many years and how much money do you pay a guy who could start to lose a step real soon? Another name that really intrigues me is the Bills' Stevie Johnson. He has made some dumb plays on the field and is an idiot with his TD dances that he knows are going to cost his team 15 yards...but nonetheless, he's a very talented, young WR who still has upside. As far as DE, Mathis could be an option for a couple of years at least, but I don't think Avril will be an option. Either the Lions will tag him, or some other team will overpay for him...I'd rather that NOT be our beloved Bears. Avril's a good player, but his attitude stinks...probably because that's the attitude of his sore-loser HC Schwartz.
I love talking the offseasons!!
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Mock Drafts make no sense before the Free Agents are signed. I've done it myself but it was wrong ;)
If we sign Manningham/Johnson/VJax, we won't go WR in the 1st round
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A DE in the 3rd? Oh no...im having Angelo flashbacks..AHH!! GET IT OUT!!
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Gotta respect anyone willing to go to so much trouble to post up their ideas. I honestly don't have the time to hit each point brought up, but
for being so detailed. Here is what I do have time for (I'm at work, lol):
1) I hate drafting WR's in the first round, I don't care who it is. I recognize that a FEW are actually worth it, but I only gamble with house money.
2) That's a schload of F/A moves, though I realize that you aren't advocating all of them. In general, aside from signing about a half dozen of our own, we will likely only sign 4 at the most.
3) I'm a BPA draft guy, but I'll shade that a LITTLE bit for need. #19 is such a crap shoot, it's hard to talk realistically about who will/won't be available.
4) I love F/A & the draft. It keeps the ball rolling when there is nothing to do!

Winston Churchill:
"Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
"If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain."
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Great read for the first mock draft post, I am not educated enough on the college game (damn BCS) to talk about the players as I don't really follow it, but I love reading about the players and the breakdowns. Great contribution to the site for sure.
I will say it's not a Bears draft unless they select a safety at some point so you missed there 
I'm just excited to see how it plays out funny thing about mock drafts are that you find yourself getting a little bit excited about each pick because they are all painted with rose colored glasses.
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![36 1 55[1]](http://www.dabears.com/images/smilies/Praise/36_1_55[1].gif)
Well done 247. Mine would likely look a little different ( yea, I know FA has a bearing on everything right now, but we's jus havn fun anyways), but I would not be upset if the draft went this way. I've said before that my opinion of Floyd changes daily, so one day I may agree with your draft and the next day I might not.
The guy I specifically like is Matt Reynolds. The scouting reports I've seen are all over the board on this kid, but I saw TWO different 2011 reports that had him being a 1st rounder if he had come out early last year. Now, he seems to have been lost in the shuffle. Lets wait and see what he does at the combine. His name may start becoming more recognizable soon. Matt McCants seems to be rocketing up boards as well, and he might be a nice replacement for Mr. Webb also.
The Greatest form of revenge is MASSIVE success.
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Junior Member

Originally Posted by
Bear Goggles
Great read for the first mock draft post, I am not educated enough on the college game (damn BCS) to talk about the players as I don't really follow it, but I love reading about the players and the breakdowns. Great contribution to the site for sure.
I will say it's not a Bears draft unless they select a safety at some point so you missed there
I'm just excited to see how it plays out funny thing about mock drafts are that you find yourself getting a little bit excited about each pick because they are all painted with rose colored glasses.
Well let's hope that Emery does his drafts a little differently than Angelo did...OK, A LOT differently than Angelo did!!
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Junior Member

Originally Posted by
4DaBERS
Well done 247. Mine would likely look a little different ( yea, I know FA has a bearing on everything right now, but we's jus havn fun anyways), but I would not be upset if the draft went this way. I've said before that my opinion of Floyd changes daily, so one day I may agree with your draft and the next day I might not.
The guy I specifically like is Matt Reynolds. The scouting reports I've seen are all over the board on this kid, but I saw TWO different 2011 reports that had him being a 1st rounder if he had come out early last year. Now, he seems to have been lost in the shuffle. Lets wait and see what he does at the combine. His name may start becoming more recognizable soon. Matt McCants seems to be rocketing up boards as well, and he might be a nice replacement for Mr. Webb also.
Mr. Webb? You mean that front gate at LT actually has a name??