NEWSLETTER
On the one hand, I’m disappointed the Cubs sent Nico Hoerner down. I think he’s the team’s best long-term option at second base. He’s a quality defender at a position that figures to be valuable for a staff that doesn’t generate a ton of whiffs. But on the other hand, save for this spring, every extended stretch of Hoerner’s career has shown me the bat (most specifically, the approach) needs work. The last thing I’d want for Hoerner’s development is to stall because of mismanagement with developing the bat. Cubs fans have seen that far too often from young prospects.
But if this was the plan all along, the front office should’ve strived for better than Eric Sogard during the offseason.
• Admittedly, I’d feel better about the Bears offense if the quarterback had more upside. And even though Andy Dalton has #QB1 status right now, it’s not stopping me from drooling over QB pro days:
It’s hard to imagine a Pro Day throw that would make me blush, and yet:pic.twitter.com/0NnXwzgNgd
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) March 26, 2021
• The Jets have been connected to BYU’s Zach Wilson for quite some time. And the Pro Day fodder won’t change things. Wilson’s in-season rise to the top of draft boards was unexpected, but fun to watch. Assuming there aren’t any holdups, the consolation here is that at least he won’t be in the NFC. Unless he drops to the Niners at No. 3.
• San Francisco’s trade up to pick No. 3 from No. 12 is a reminder of how expensive it will be to trade up to a spot to take a quarterback. And it reminds me that the 49ers are also paying the price of passing on Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes for Solomon Thomas. If it wasn’t for the 49ers injury plagued 2020 season, you’d wonder if they’d even been a position to trade up in this fashion. Ah, well, nevertheless. Here’s a snap shot of what San Fran might be thinking:
Re: Mac Jones to 49ers
Shanahan gave this quote after the Niners got absolutely waxed by Josh Allen (https://t.co/WHBfmMINO7) and it's stuck with me ever since.
Sounds to me like a guy who's ready to move on from the Ryan/Garoppolo archetype. pic.twitter.com/SJZ86fLz3c
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) March 26, 2021
Kyle Shanahan had success with Matt Ryan and he and Mike Shanahan had a love for Kirk Cousins.
Agree with Simms here.
I see @MacJones_10 as the 49ers' pick and @treylance09 as the fallback.
That is mocking Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson as the first two picks. https://t.co/AMPs42OTLD— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/MikeSilver/status/1375513219205238786
• All of this leaves the Bears on the outside looking in at the quarterback picture, and it stinks. No Russell Wilson (not yet at least). I doubt anyone is comfortable trading for DeShaun Watson at this moment. The avenues to trade up are being closed off at each turn, so trading up seems less possible today than it did at this time yesterday. And maybe that’s a good thing? Because, on the bright side, the potential of all these quarterbacks going early should leave the Bears with ample options at wide receiver, offensive line, and cornerback when they go on the clock with the 20th pick.
• And if you’re going to be a team that draft a QB, thenthen it better be someone you have strong conviction on (with the tape to back it up). Otherwise, it’s going to be a rough situation on the developmental scale. I still need my own clarity on this draft class. But as things currently stand, the best the Bears can do right now is trade up for this class’ QB4. On paper, that’s an awful risk. One that could be well worth it. But also, it’s one that could lead to a front office house-cleaning that leaves the next-GM-up with little draft capital to work with. Gulp!
• But … if Ohio State’s Josh Fields falls down draft boards, consider me interested:
You don't like to run boots into double edge pressure but Fields ends up beating 3 off the edge here including a DB (albeit not the greatest angles here)
Flat covered, so he goes to his next read: TE crosser
TE probably should have gotten more depth here. Spacing not ideal. pic.twitter.com/hXRvkM1bEi
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) March 25, 2021
• The Bears made the Damien Williams signing officially official, and I’m starting to see where his fit is on this roster. In Williams, the Bears have a running back who can slot between David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen. More than that, Williams provides an option who can take on a bulk of the carries in case Montgomery can’t. In other words, no worrying about needing to call up Lamar Miller midway through the season when he hasn’t played in more than a year. No browsing the waiver wire in search of a warm body who can fill a role. Having built-in depth is a good thing.
• Adding Williams also frees the Bears to do all sorts of different things with Tarik Cohen. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see this?
• Chicago’s offense was at its best in 2018 when Cohen was deployed in a variety of ways. As a rusher, pass-catcher out of the backfield, and slot receiver. Getting back to that should help matters. Having a player who makes opponents defend on multiple levels is something that should help the cause.
• Trying to figure out what the Dolphins are doing? Josh Tolentino of The Athletic has you covered:
By trading down from third overall to 12th, then back up to sixth, the #Dolphins:
– Re-affirmed confidence in Tua
– Assured they’ll still have selection of top offensive prospects
– Prioritized draft capital with five first-rounders over next three years
https://t.co/wOojnMezYh— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) March 26, 2021
• I wish Tommy Harris would’ve had a healthier Bears career:
#UTTERLYGRATFULL #Football #NFL #OUDNA #BearDown pic.twitter.com/Mg40hfXtfm
— Tommie Harris (@Tommieharris90) March 26, 2021
