NEWSLETTER
A surprise from my neighbor two doors down from me came this morning, as he brought me Do-Rite Donuts. If there is a better way to start the week, then I’ve yet to experience it.
• Because time is a flat circle, what happens with the Bears at quarterback could very well rely on what the 49ers do with their pick. The latest from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero:
The #49ers’ focus at No. 3 appears to have narrowed to Mac Jones and Trey Lance, who has spoken to SF again since his second (Kyle Shanahan-influenced) pro day last week. @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/f9mg931lCL
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2021
• It seems as if the Niners are gaining clarity in their situation, narrowing their focus to Mac Jones and Trey Lance when it comes to making the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. I don’t imagine San Francisco trading up to pick three not knowing who it wanted, so this could be one last elaborate smokescreen. But how this pick goes will impact how the rest of the draft board falls, so I’m invested in what happens here.
• If SF picks Mac Jones, it will leave Lance and Justin Fields on the board. Both quarterbacks have the desired potential that make it worth trading up to get. But Atlanta’s rumored interest in Lance could leave a bidding war for Fields — one I’m not sure the Bears can compete in. HOWEVER … if the 49ers select Lance, it pushes Jones and Fields down the board. Perhaps, more importantly, it gives the Bears a slightly better opportunity to move up for one of the remaining top-5 QBs. There are worthwhile rooting interests here, but choose your path wisely.
• Before you start making a photoshopped image of Justin Fields in a Bears uniform your cell phone lock-screen pic, Pelissero reports several teams have been checking in on what it would take to get into the Draft’s top-10. Among them, a New England Patriots team with eyes on Fields. If Fields falls down the board, New England could turn the 15th pick into a gem with a trade up. The Pats re-signed Cam Newton, but his one-year deal puts him in firmly place-holder territory. And with other skill position players brought in on multi-year deals, the Pats should be looking for a long-term solution. But if it was up to me, I’d hope they wait until next year.
• Meanwhile, Carolina – which is already in the top-10 – could have interest in Fields, too. Although, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler points out, the Panthers’ interest could be rooted in drumming up interest in the pick and then trading out to the spot. five
• On this date in Bears Draft history:
Nine years ago today the Bears made this draft blunder by selecting Shea McClellin.
McClellin recorded 7.5 sacks in four seasons with the Bears.
Chandler Jones, who was selected 2 picks later, is a 2-time All-Pro and has had double-digit sack seasons six times in his career. pic.twitter.com/7B9bGzx9ib
— Matt Eurich (@MattEurich) April 26, 2021
• Also on this date in Bears Draft history:
The Bears get a chance to make a first-round pick THIS WEEK. They haven’t made one since this date in 2018. But at least it was good one. pic.twitter.com/F9ROpq2flU
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) April 26, 2021
🎥: @RoquanSmith1
Pick: 8th overall
Year: 2018 #NFLDraft🎞 Comin’ in clutch pic.twitter.com/01pVLBbo5g
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 26, 2021
🎞 Nowhere to hide pic.twitter.com/9sZOa56OXZ
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 26, 2021
• Roquan Smith is easily Ryan Pace’s best first-round pick. A tackling machine with high football IQ, Smith put together an All-Pro caliber season in 2020. And had there been a Pro Bowl, he’d have made it. Instead, Smith ends up settling on second-team All-Pro honors. The Bears are a virtual lock to pick up his fifth-year option. Once that becomes officially official, we’ll start kicking around the idea of an extension. But we’ll leave that there for now, as we have many bridges to cross before we get to that point.
• Some continuity in the MNF booth (at least until Louis Riddick takes a front office gig):
NEWS: The team of Steve Levy, Brian Griese, and Louis Riddick will return to Monday Night Football this fall for ESPN. They will be the broadcast booth again for the 2021 NFL season.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) April 23, 2021
• Our first prominent number change to a single-digit is happening within the NFC North:
New Vikings CB Patrick Peterson (@P2) announces on his podcast @ATCoveredPod he’ll be wearing number 7, his famed college number at LSU. That will be 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/0B6p9HljaC
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 25, 2021
• It was a simpler time:
In 2019, Cara Sager arrived in Nashville to celebrate her bachelorette party.
But she forgot to account for one thing: the NFL Draft.
"The worst."
🎥 @FOXNashville pic.twitter.com/vWdZBMoqw4
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 26, 2021
• Great Deals of the Day at Amazon today, including an excellent Shark vacuum, portable badminton sets, and a monster charging station for those serious about maximizing their charging situations. #ad
• Andrew Shaw hangs ’em up:
Andrew Shaw Officially Announces His Retirementhttps://t.co/08KzIPK55w
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) April 26, 2021
• I’m trying to shoot my shot in 2021 like I was Denzel Valentine:
"Nooo nooo nooo."
Still thinking about this shot by Denzel Valentine last night 😅 pic.twitter.com/JdTQHu8Q54
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2021
