NEWSLETTER
I’ve got the run-time for “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” at 1 hour, 46 minutes, and 32 seconds. Just in case you were curious about time planning purposes.
• Good morning to everyone, but ESPECIALLY Darnell Mooney:
https://twitter.com/Darnell_M1/status/1380341210095714307
• I was under the assumption that Mooney was going to see an up-tick in looks this season anyway. But with Anthony Miller on the trade block and uncertainty elsewhere among pass-catchers, The Mooney Show is just getting started.
• Speaking of Miller, Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon offers up some guesses about potential trade destinations for the 2018 second-round pick. The Ravens, Chargers, Lions, Seahawks, and Titans pop up as fits. Miller’s salary is less than $2 million for 2021, so that could make for a desirable flier for some team to take. I don’t see the Bears trading Miller within the division, but if they are hell-bent on making a deal, then I can’t rule out anyone.
• I’m sure you folks will have some thoughts on the Bears’ 2021 NFL Draft gear. Have at it:
The #Bears 2021 NFL Draft gear has been revealed. pic.twitter.com/x50GR6cud6
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) April 9, 2021
• While you try to get a grip on whether you like the new gear or not, I’ll continue trying to get a grasp on the players who will be rocking it on Draft night. Andrew Erickson (PFF) helps us get closer to finding that understanding with his latest mock draft. In the wake of the Panthers trade for Sam Darnold, we’re starting to find clarity regarding who is in the hunt for a quarterback. And in that vein, Erickson predicts five quarterbacks go in the top-10 — with four going with the first four picks.
• Unfortunately, the Bears are left on the outside looking in. That’s because Erickson predicts the Falcons will trade the fourth pick to Washington. With the pick, WFT takes North Dakota State’s Trey Lance. A few picks later, he has the Patriots moving up and swapping with the Panthers to take Ohio State’s Justin Fields eighth overall. Erickson doesn’t list what the trade haul is for either pick, but it doesn’t matter because it serves as an example of how difficult it will be for the Bears to move up.
• For what it’s worth, it’s not a total loss for the Bears. This mock draft has them taking Oklahoma State offensive tackle Teven Jenkins. Erickson views Jenkins as a clear upgrade from Germain Ifedi and Elijah Wilkinson. Adding a player who put up a 92.0 grade that made him the third-highest-graded tackle in college football last season will soften the blow of not getting a first-round QB.
• If the Bears wanted to get extra risky, they could punt on drafting a quarterback (again) altogether. In fact, I don’t think that would get much of an argument in some circles, especially if Chicago used its draft capital to load up on the offensive line. I can be talked into doubling down on the tackle position. Perhaps Brady Christensen (BYU) is a player of interest:
If you’re looking for a high-upside, underrated tackle in this draft class, I recommend BYU’s Brady Christensen. Ran a 4.9 at 302 pounds, and his speed and mobility stand out on tape.
With his athletic profile, I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he goes Round 2. pic.twitter.com/xuSEYzLhP8
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 8, 2021
• Christensen stands out while watching Zach Wilson tape. He is effective in pass protection. And as you can tell in the video above, Christensen gets after it in the running game. I suppose the rub on Christensen – and why we’re not seeing him high in mock drafts – is his age. Christensen left BYU as a redshirt junior, but will play this year in his age 24 season. In other words, he’ll be the same age as Bears offensive lineman James Daniels, who already has three professional seasons under his belt. This might turn people off from Christensen. But getting a potential plug-and-play tackle on Day 2 of the NFL Draft has me willing to look past the red flag of being an “older” prospect.
• One of my favorite things about Allen Robinson II is his ability to catch everything in traffic. Not every receiver is built to make those tough catches. So my interest in LSU’s Terrace Marshall grew when I saw his 82 percent catch rate on contested throws was the third best in college football last year, per PFF.
• Some highlights for your viewing pleasure:
OH BABY!!
Terrace Marshall Jr. comes up with an awesome catch. pic.twitter.com/06ilYCM5TC— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 26, 2020
Terrace Marshall Jr. basically lives in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/sk6BPlgooB
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 26, 2020
2021 WR Terrace Marshall Jr. has an obvious strength when you turn on the film – adjusting his body to the catchpoint to finish explosive plays pic.twitter.com/EezZrSACGx
— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) March 26, 2020
• Oh, dear. Lovie Smith will have linebackers covering slot receivers, won’t he?
uh oh pic.twitter.com/C0u23KtvKt
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) April 8, 2021
