NEWSLETTER
Bears receivers Allen Robinson II and Darnell Mooney were bestowed a pretty rad honor, earning the team’s Brian Piccolo Award. The award is given to a rookie and veteran who show the type of courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication, and sense of humor like Piccolo, a Bears running back who died at age 26 from embryonal cell carcinoma. You might be familiar with Piccolo’s story from the movie Brian’s Song. If you haven’t watched Brian’s Song, I’d strongly recommend it. But bring a box of tissues.
• I find it hard to believe that San Francisco made a move up in the draft not knowing who it wanted. But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that’s precisely what happened:
"As much as the 49ers love Mac Jones, and they do, I believe that the gap between Mac Jones and the other QBs like Trey Lance has been narrowed considerably … I can tell you over the weekend they did not know who they were going to take."
—@AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/DzTOoxKV8F
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 28, 2021
• I’d bet a dollar to a donut that San Fran has known who it was taking all along, but was willing to let someone sway its decision. Going into a pick with a closed mind because you have a hyper focus on one prospect is how you end up drafting Solomon Thomas or Mitchell Trubisky when Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are still on the board.
• As was the case in 2017, the Bears’ 2021 Draft future could very well hang in the balance until the 49ers make their pick. If it’s Mac Jones, then it might lead the Falcons to take Trey Lance — a toolsy quarterback who could use a year to learn under Matt Ryan the way Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith in 2017. But if Lance happens to be the pick, then we could see a scenario in which Mac Jones and Justin Fields tumble down the draft board. And if Fields is the pick, I’ll be mildly annoyed for allowing myself to dream that big dream of the Bears trading up for him.
• There’s a reason Justin Fields is a highly touted draft prospect:
.@OhioStateFB QB @justnfields has made a difference on and off the field.
📺: 2021 #NFLDraft — Thursday 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/UEHZM2xTOY
— NFL (@NFL) April 27, 2021
• An informative (and sobering) read:
Justin Fields and the double standard of Black quarterback prospects — The Undefeated https://t.co/rCIF0n0o4x
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) April 27, 2021
• To answer the question posed below — NO:
Ryan Pace talks QB draft strategy – can the Bears afford to miss out? https://t.co/E2SyQtbJKk
— The Athletic Chicago (@TheAthleticCHI) April 27, 2021
• We’ll circle back to Ryan Pace’s press conference in due time this morning. But one thing I want to highlight here is that Pace talked about the depth of the quarterback class. It’s been a while since we’ve heard Pace discuss a QB class, so that caught my ear. If this class is truly deep, then Pace should make a pick and give the Bears some home for the future at the position. Because with all due respect to Andy Dalton, he isn’t the future for this franchise. A place-holder? Sure. But the long-term future of this franchise at the most important position in professional sports isn’t on this roster just yet.
• Chris Roling (Bleacher Report) has a fun read, providing a 2021- draft-day trade that makes sense for each of the NFL’s 32 teams. Unfortunately, we won’t see the 2021 NFL Draft turn into one big-ole swap meet. Wouldn’t that be fun? Who doesn’t love chaos? But hey, I’ll settle for Roling’s Bears-centric proposal of sending the 20th and 83rd picks in this draft, plus a 2022 first-rounder to move up with Carolina to snag the eighth pick. It’s obviously a risky deal to get who could be QB4 or QB5 in this class. But it’s in line with what Kansas City or Houston dealt away in 2017 to get their guys. And if you land a great QB in the process, no one will think twice about your decision.
• Wallets, watches, bags, monitors, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
• Lance Briggs remembers Geno Hayes, a former Bears linebacker who passed away at age 33 because of a liver disease:
One time for Geno Hayes! Had a lifetime of fun in just a few years sharing our LB room together, competing together, pissing off Bullet Bob together 😂, representing BITL (BestInTheLeague) together. We lost a great one. #RIP 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/KSan6OZbuQ
— Lance Briggs (@LanceBriggs) April 27, 2021
• A blast from the past:
"When they say speak it into existence? That's real, man."@TarikCohen | #BearsDraft pic.twitter.com/wrwYgSI54U
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 28, 2021
• Here’s hoping the numbers tell them to not take a quarterback, and instead deal with the Bears:
Broncos GM George Paton: "We value analytics here. Big time."
Check out our latest look "Behind the Broncos" and find out how the team uses data: https://t.co/cSeccwZsgE pic.twitter.com/jpXylE3egp
— Phil Milani (@philmilani) April 28, 2021
