Thread: Andrew Brandt Analyses Free Agent Prospects; Wide Receivers..............

Originally Posted by soulman

Then you'll have to trade for DeSean so what pick will you use for that and if it costs us a first what would you use to draft Floyd? If we were to do that you what I think would happen? Instead of one underacheiver with an attitude we'd have two. JMO

That's the dream to have both. I think you're wrong about the "underachiever" role for both, because, outside of Clausen, Floyd's had garbage throwing to him, and you'll notice he has to adjust to the ball a lot. With DeSean, he's gotta split time with Jeremy Maclin, and with a receiver in a RB like LeSean McCoy, he's not gonna get the touches he's supposed to. As far as picks go, If we gave up a second this year or a first next, I'd consider it, only if we fix other things with FA (not patchwork, actually fix). DeSean's got the speed and Floyd's got the size to give a more diverse look to this WR group.

Originally Posted by WindyCity

Let me start by saying that I agree we cannot read for a WR and we need to get appropriate value. If Michael Floyd runs a 4.6 I do not want to take him at 19 because of need I would take him at 25. Plus if we follow the value model than my man Cordy Glenn might be a BEAR.
(If all Floyd, Jeffery or Sanu can put up is 4.5 to 4.6 I don't want them in the first round period Windy. Drafting him at #25 isn't gonna make him any faster than at #19 and it isn't gonna make him any more effective at beating press coverage which are the two biggest black marks he has against him as a #1)The counter arguement is that in year 1 Randle may be a complimentary piece and no better than Meachem, but in year 2 might be a Pro Bowl WR. (If that's the case we don't need Meachem. Meachem is only 27 and Royal is 25 and both have been in the league long enough to have reached vet stage. They're over the hump. Meachem may never be a true number and if you think Randle can be you pass on Meachem and draft Randle but we don't need both. Two new guys will do and to me the one who should not be an option is Royal. He was bucking for the #1 spot in Denver before McDumb traded Cutler. His performance dropped and he's not an expensive option. Best value signing out there when you have Cutler at QB.)

I know you think we can develop a 2nd or 3rd round WR into a #1 guy down the road, but every pick that goes by it gets to be a riskier proposition. In the 2nd round we will probably be looking at players like Sanu and Jeffery and I do not think either will ever be a #1 WR. I can see Randle being a #1 WR for the Bears. (That's just totally false Windy. Greg Jennings was a 2nd round pick, VJax was a 2nd round pick, Colston was a 7th round pick, Eddie Royal was a 2nd round pick, Hakeem Nicks was a 2nd round pick, Bowe, Meachem, and Wayne were all late (23rd or greater) 1st round picks). Roy Williams was drafted 7th overall. I rest my case. Seems to me there are times when you take less risk as you wait it out not necessarily more. Your thoughts on this are inaccurate.)

At some point we need to get a WR into the system that has DOMINANT potential and the best way to do that is in the 1st round. The Bears are never going to be drafting high enough to take a Calvin Johnson type prospect. They need to bring someone in who may take a year or two to become dominant. (I agree but if you want to be certain of getting that guy you need to get him early. Top ten, no later. There's no way to ever know if the Bear will draft top ten again so you take a guy farther on down the line but from what I've shown you we can be just as successful with that later than the first round as we can in the first. This is one of those years where the value gets better and the risk less the more we wait (to a point).

This is another problem as McNutt, Toon and Quick are ranked lower because many in the scouting community are not conivinced they can be impact players. I am not saying they cannot be, but it is more of a risk hoping for Toon to develop into a #1 than Floyd. (I have a different idea surrounding this and I address in in my summary)

Also Darryl Drake is a terrible coach and I worry about him developing anyone, that is why I like the idea od adding Reggie Wayne who can coach the young guys up. (Better than Roy Williams)

Okay, in summary. You can all hang me for this but others have agreed. We need to just upgrade what we have more than we need a dominant WR. We tried to resurrect a guy last year that has that potential but it didn't work. Not even with TWO of his former coaches trying to do it. Top NFL WR's tend to be high priced prima donnas but guy like Earl Bennet can sometimes be almost as effective for far less $$$. He may not be a #1 but he's a valuable #2 and Cutler trusts him and when he's healthy he's proven he'll go to him. If Davis can get open and catch Cutler will use him to since he likes to throw to his TE's. And lastly if we sign Eddie Royal you put one more guy on the field that Cutler trusts and has had a lot of success with.

So in this offense where we'll spread the ball around a lot much like the Giants did in winning the SB we're in less dire need of a 100 catch guy in Tice's offense than Martz was convinced he needed in his. Don't get me wrong because we do need to upgrade but will these guys be as good in the cold outdoors of Chitown in the winter as they are in San Diego (VJax) or New Orleans (Colston/Meachem) and even Reggie Wayne (Indy)? All of these guy are warm weather or dome receivers who haven't had to catch a pass in 15 degree weather in a 35 mph wind. So......if we're gonna upgrade let's do it with one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and struggles to catch even half that many passes in Chicago. This is the Chicago Bears and we're not exactly known for our passing game.

I would maintain that if we just upgraded who we have now with some competiton for the starting slots, stay healthy and spread the ball around as NY did, we'll have as good as passing game as we'll need to challenge for a championship and we'll have far better depth and experience is our receiving core and I truly believe this.

So go ahead and hang me for thinking outside of the box but if we're gonna fill holes in the most efficient an value based methods as possible I believe this is what we should be doing.

I know you think we can develop a 2nd or 3rd round WR into a #1 guy down the road, but every pick that goes by it gets to be a riskier proposition. In the 2nd round we will probably be looking at players like Sanu and Jeffery and I do not think either will ever be a #1 WR. I can see Randle being a #1 WR for the Bears. (That's just totally false Windy. Greg Jennings was a 2nd round pick, VJax was a 2nd round pick, Colston was a 7th round pick, Eddie Royal was a 2nd round pick, Hakeem Nicks was a 2nd round pick, Bowe, Meachem, and Wayne were all late (23rd or greater) 1st round picks). Roy Williams was drafted 7th overall. I rest my case. Seems to me there are times when you take less risk as you wait it out not necessarily more. Your thoughts on this are inaccurate.)

In the last 6 drafts, not including 2011, the 1st round has been a much safer place to get an impact WR compared to the other rounds.

Impact Player
Total Bust
Starting Calibre/Nothing Special WR

2010 NFL Draft

1st Round

Demaruyius Thomas
Dez Bryant

2nd Round

Arrelius Benn
Golden Tate

3rd Round

Damien Williams
Brandon LaFell
Emmanuel Sanders
Eric Decker
Jordan Shipley
Armanti Edwards
Andre Roberts
Taylor Price

2009 NFL Draft

1st Round

DHB
Michael Crabtree
Jeremy Maclin
Percy Harvin
Hakeem Nicks
Kenny Britt

2nd Round

Brian Robiske
Mohammed Masouqia

3rd Round

Derrick Williams
Brandon Tate
Mike Wallace
Ramses Barden
Patrick Turner
Dean Butler

2008 Draft

1st Round

None

2nd Round

Donnie Avery
Devin Thomas
Jordy Nelson
James Hardy
Eddie Royal
Jerome Simpson
DeSean Jackson
Limas Sweed
Dexter Jackson

3rd Round

Earl Bennett
Early Doucet
Harry Dougles
Mario Manningham

2007 Draft

1st Round

Calvin Johnson
Tedd Ginn
Dwayne Bowe
Robert Meachem
Craig Davis
Anthony Gonzalez

2nd Round

Sidney Rice
Dwayne Jarrett
Steve Smith

3rd Round

Jacoby Jones
Yamon Figurs
Laurent Robinson
Jason Hill
Mike Sims-Walker
Paul Williams
Johnnie Lee Higgins

2006 NFL Draft

1st Round

Santonio Holmes

2nd Round

Chad Jackson
Sinorice Moss
Greg Jennings

3rd Round

Travis Wilson
Derek Hagan
Brandon Williams
Maurive Stovall
Willie Ried

2005 NFL Draft

1st Round

Braylon Edwards
Tory Williamson
Mike Williams
Matt Jones
Roddy White

2nd Round

Reggie Brown
Mark Bradley
Roscoe Parrish
Terrence Murphy
Vincent Jackson

3rd Round

Courtney Roby
Chris Henry
Brandon Jones


Outside of Brandon Marshall can you name me a #1/Impact NFL WR that was drafted in the 4th round in the last 6 years?

26 were drafted

Can you name me a #1/Impact WR that was drafted in the 5th round in the last 6 years?

18 were drafted

Can you name a #1/Impact WR that was drafted in the 6th round in the last 6 years?

26 were drafted

Outside of Marques Colston and Stevie Johnson can you name me a #1/Impact WR drafted in the 7th round in the last 6 years?

37 were drafted

You can get good receiving talent anywhere in the draft, but the safest place to get it is in the 1st round. And before you dismiss this somehow the numbers speak for themselves.

Impact WR by Draft Round

1st Round: 10/19 [52%]

2nd Round: 5/22 [22%]

3rd Round: 2/34 [5%]

4th Round: 1/26 [3%]

5th Round: 0/18 [0%]

6th Round: 0/26 [0%]

7th Round: 2/37 [5%]

Again I am not advocating reaching for a player that does not have a 1st round grade, but if you want an impact player your best chance of getting one is in the 1st round.

Originally Posted by soulman

Okay, in summary. You can all hang me for this but others have agreed. We need to just upgrade what we have more than we need a dominant WR. We tried to resurrect a guy last year that has that potential but it didn't work. Not even with TWO of his former coaches trying to do it. Top NFL WR's tend to be high priced prima donnas but guy like Earl Bennet can sometimes be almost as effective for far less $$$. He may not be a #1 but he's a valuable #2 and Cutler trusts him and when he's healthy he's proven he'll go to him. If Davis can get open and catch Cutler will use him to since he likes to throw to his TE's. And lastly if we sign Eddie Royal you put one more guy on the field that Cutler trusts and has had a lot of success with.

So in this offense where we'll spread the ball around a lot much like the Giants did in winning the SB we're in less dire need of a 100 catch guy in Tice's offense than Martz was convinced he needed in his. Don't get me wrong because we do need to upgrade but will these guys be as good in the cold outdoors of Chitown in the winter as they are in San Diego (VJax) or New Orleans (Colston/Meachem) and even Reggie Wayne (Indy)? All of these guy are warm weather or dome receivers who haven't had to catch a pass in 15 degree weather in a 35 mph wind. So......if we're gonna upgrade let's do it with one that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and struggles to catch even half that many passes in Chicago. This is the Chicago Bears and we're not exactly known for our passing game.

I would maintain that if we just upgraded who we have now with some competiton for the starting slots, stay healthy and spread the ball around as NY did, we'll have as good as passing game as we'll need to challenge for a championship and we'll have far better depth and experience is our receiving core and I truly believe this.

So go ahead and hang me for thinking outside of the box but if we're gonna fill holes in the most efficient an value based methods as possible I believe this is what we should be doing.

I am starting to agree with Soul that WR will not be the Bears #1 draft priority, but we will have to wait and see what happens with free agency.


Realisticly the Bears should be looking at LT in the 1st round as we have lost the last 2 seasons because Cutler has been hurt. While the 1st round is where to look for a safer WR pick, we need our QB to be safe.

The free agent WR class is awesome and we should be able to get a #1 or at least a couple of #2 guys.

The free agent OT class is garbage and will not be able to upgrade.

Mike Adams and Robert Meachem

is a better option than

Khalif Barnes and Michael Floyd

I'd be very happy with those 4 guys WC. But we still need a LT.

Originally Posted by motownbear

would anyone be against trying to sign wallace from pitts even though it would cost us a first rounder

It would be a vet impact player. I think he could do well w/Bates and I believe he could actually catch Rwills 80 balls lol.