GREAT NEWS: Prepare to celebrate a grand slam of a Bears draft.
We have one week until the Bears celebration.
Gather with friends and family as Ryan Poles transforms his squad into a long-term contender with top-10 home run picks. That’s the hope. And hope is a potent athletic drug.
You witnessed what it accomplished for the Chicago Sky a few days ago when it drafted Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese.
Now magnify that three times, because these are the Bears. The team is in Chicago. This is the role in professional sports. And this franchise has never been in a good position in the modern period.
I’m just glad there’s no drama with the first pick. We’ve had enough queries dating back to January.
Who will the Bears take at No. 1? Will the Bears trade Justin Fields? Should Ryan Poles take the haul and trade out of the first pick? Does Caleb Williams want to play in Chicago? Will Bears fans accept a QB who paints his nails?
Months of silliness, debates and sports radio fights have been silenced. Bears fans are ready for the for the draft to commence in a week with the announcement that Williams is officially a Bear.
That’s not the case with the ninth overall pick, and the possibilities are endless.
In a normal draft, this pick would’ve had a large spotlight, instead, it has suffered from second child syndrome.
The truth is that if the Bears take another top-tier talent at number nine, this offseason will move from a home run to a grand slam, despite having only four picks. Keep in mind that Poles used his second-round pick on Montez Sweat, his fourth-round pick on Keenan Allen, and his fifth-round pick on Ryan Bates, an offensive tackle.
That’s why I don’t like the idea of trading down for more options. Depth is excellent, but drafting another star is more crucial. When Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian helped the Bears hire Poles, he appeared on the Waddle and Silvy program and stated that the Bears require 10-12 blue-chip players to compete. Sweat, Allen, DJ Moore, and Jaylon Johnson are among these players. Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker could be on their way. Poles hopes Williams and Darnell Wright become one.
The point is, the Bears need more stars.
And while we all like a great draft day party, let’s hope this is the last time the Bears are drafting in the top 10 for at least the next 10 years. Build a winner, draft in the 20s, and let’s throw playoff parties or dare to dream about a Bears Super Bowl party.
To get there, the Poles must add another star at nine and avoid trading back if outstanding players remain on the board.
Here are my top hopes for the Bears at nine, with the proviso that I am neither Mel Kiper Jr. nor an NFL scout.
If my ideas fail, I shall request that this column be removed from the internet or claim that my computer has been hacked.
1. Run to the podium with either Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers if either is available. This was the dream scenario when the season ended and it should continue to be viewed as such. Do not overanalyze this. You can never have enough weapons and either of these two are projected to be studs. Poles has not done well when searching for a receiver when it’s not a slam dunk like Moore or Allen.
Chase Claypool, Velus Jones and Tyler Scott are good examples. And speaking of Allen, he is only signed for another year even if you do extend him, he will be 32 at the end of the month.
2. Draft Joe Alt or Dallas Turner and continue to build up front. It is my belief that these two players are better than the rest of their positions. Alt would look fantastic with Darnell Wright protecting Williams. This could make Braxton Jones a draft-day trade chip. Turner would be perfect on the other side of Sweat. Both of the players have high ceilings and fill needs. The problem is, most believe Alt could go to Tennessee at seven and Turner to Atlanta at eight.
3. Trade up for Marvin Harrison Jr. Imagine selecting one of the best quarterback and wide receiver prospects in years in the same draft. I don’t like handing away more draft capital for the following year’s draft and would typically oppose it for most prospects. Harrison is unlike most prospects. You’re fully removing the risk from this pick, since he might be a generational player, and you’re making things simpler for Williams.
Harrison is one of those things in life that is well worth the cost. Williams and Harrison would collaborate on exquisite music for five years while still under rookie contracts. This is not a premium item. Scoring points in the NFL is essential. With the defense already poised to be a top-10 unit, imagine the offense with Williams, Harrison, Moore, Allen, Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and D’Andre Swift. Keep your first-round pick next year, exchange Carolina’s second-round pick for your own second, and never look back.
4. If none of the three alternatives listed above come up, trade back and get the best defensive or offensive lineman available. Troy Fautanu, JC Latham, Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Taliese Fuaga, Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse, and Byron Murphy are all viable options.
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