Happy Easter to those who celebrate. I’ll be whipping up some mac and cheese this afternoon to complete the family meal. Since there is a high chance of having a ton of leftovers, I’m looking forward to sharing some with friends as the week goes on.
- At the risk of exposing myself, I’ll admit to being one of those guys who has a bajillion tabs open on my laptop. Part of me is trying to reel it in. But part of me thinks it is perfectly normal to have 20+ tabs open as I prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. So in this set of Bullets, we’re going to be draft-heavy because I’m clearing out the tabs. Does that sound good to you?
- Pro Football Focus’ 2023 NFL Draft Guide is OUT. I’ll be spending some time with this in the coming weeks. Same can be said about the updated Daniel Jeremiah top 50 prospects list. We have so much to churn through in the coming weeks.
- ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has the Panthers picking Bryce Young with the first pick of the 2023 NFL Draft:
- Young being the pick would get the ball rolling on what will be a compelling first 10 picks. The Bears won’t pick until ninth (after sending the first pick to Carolina back in March), but we’ll be rooting for all the quarterbacks to go before Chicago goes on the clock.
- One trend I think we’ll continue seeing is the Bears being connected to Jalen Carter in upcoming mock drafts. For instance, ESPN’s Matt Miller shares what he has heard in that the Bears and Seahawks (who pick fifth) as the two teams most likely to choose Carter with a top-10 pick. There is also a belief that Carter won’t fall out of the top 10. Although, there are reports that some teams are dropping him off their board altogether. This all makes for a fascinating follow.
- There is a growing belief that the Bears will target help in the trenches early in the draft. And I feel as if the latest mock draft from Chad Reuter (NFL Media) drives that home. Reuter has the Bears taking the Georgia DT with the ninth pick. Reuter’s explanation is simple: The Bears need playmakers in the middle of their defense, and Carter’s value is too good to pass up at this point. Fair enough. The Bears might be a team that sees the talent, upside, and potential, think the juice is worth the squeeze, and make what might go down as a risky pick anyway.
- The rest of Reuter’s mock has the Bears taking Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson (53rd), SMU WR Rashee Rice (61st), TCU OL Steve Avila (64th), TCU RB Kendre Miller, and Auburn EDGE Colby Wooden. I’ll be in a good place entering the final three rounds the Bears can come out of the four with fresh faces in their secondary, on their offensive and defensive lines, and by adding a running back who rounds out that position group.
- An interesting mock draft from The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner, who has the Bears going with an offensive lineman (Paris Johnson Jr., Ohio State), wide receiver (Tyler Scott, Cincinnati), cornerback (Clark Phillips III, Utah), and defensive tackle (Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern) with their four picks in the first three rounds. I’d totally be into this collection of selections. Particularly the Adebawore selection because I like the idea of getting a potential first-round talent on Day 2 in Round 3. To be clear, I’m not convinced Adebawore is a first-rounder. However, I can see why his draft stock has helium.
- Speaking of DTs with hella draft buzz, the Bears landing Pitt’s Calijah Kancey with the 53rd pick would have some fans doing cartwheels. It seems far-fetched right now, but that is what The 33rd Team predicts in its latest mock draft:
- Add Chris Emma (670 The Score) to the list of NFL insiders predicting Ohio State OT Paris Johnson Jr. to be the pick for the Bears at No. 9.
- This PFF three-round mock has the Bears going with a different offensive tackle. It isn’t PJJ or Georgia’s Broderick Jones. Instead, it is Tennessee’s Darnell Wright. I do like the idea of plugging Wright in at right tackle to help take the run game to another level. Plus, I’m digging LSU EDGE B.J. Ojulari, Auburn EDGE Derick Hall, and Florida DT Gervon Dexter Sr. as the Bears’ other selections. Build out those trenches!
- What if the Bears don’t go offensive or defensive line with their first pick? Patrick explores an alternate path over at BN NFL.
- OK, but what if Poles really went off the board? Adam Rank’s idea of drafting OSU WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba would be wild (especially after the Bears just got D.J. Moore). However, it isn’t all that crazy when you consider Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool will be free agents this time next year if neither gets an extension between now and the start of the 2024 offseason. With that in mind, it would be nice to have JSN as a fall-back option teaming with Moore in 2024.
- Jacob Infante (Windy City Gridiron) tries to peg who Poles’ top prospects are in this class. I love playing the guessing game with a new regime.
- I’d totally stream this on Netflix, NFL+, or whatever service I need to subscribe to:
- Who had Poles as the GM most likely to leave another team in tears:
- What is the football equivalent of throwing a 7-inning no-hitter, but also losing 7-5? Our friends at Baseball is Fun unearthed the wildest box score I’ve ever seen.
- One last set of regular-season Bullets from the Bulls side of things. Starting Monday, we’ve got play-in Bullets as they prepare for
a mid-offan elimination game against the Raptors.
- I can independently confirm that the vibes were immaculate at Wrigley Field during the Cubs’ 10-3 win against the Rangers. Some good baseball stuff from Brett in his set of Bullets at BN Cubs.
- A BN Blackhawks tank watch update: