Maybe it’s just me, but Wednesdays are starting to feel like the new Mondays. Ick.
There are just 8 days until the 2024 NFL Draft. We’re almost there, friends. We’ve almost made it.
The best pre-draft stat you’ll see comes from ESPN analytics writer Seth Wilder, who shares that on person has done 321 simulated drafts as the Chicago Bears over the last five days. There is a part of me that taps into my wildest imagination to envision a Bears staffer going the extra mile to show their boss as many permutations of the draft as humanly possible.
Mock drafts can get stale this time of year. So I appreciate Kevin Fishbain (The Athletic) putting a twist on things by analyzing fans knock drafts in his mailbag. One day, I hope to find someone who loves men as much as fans love trading down for more draft picks. To be clear, I love making trades — it is why my fantasy baseball team has the Trader Lu moniker. But I wonder if the Bears are better off standing pat and snagging whatever top-tier talent falls into their laps.
It’s a shame that more than four quarterbacks won’t go off the board before Chicago’s No. 9 pick. Then again, I shouldn’t be greedy. Four quarterbacks going in the first five picks will help the Bears’ cause.
From the “Game Recognize Game” department, Jed Hoyer gives a nod to Bears General Manager Ryan Poles for his efforts this offseason:
Pretty cool to hear input from one general manager discussing what is happening in another league. It is a different perspective. One I wish we were more privy to as we try to get a greater grasp on everything.
On the one hand, Jed is probably super jealous he can’t freely trade draft picks in MLB. But on the other hand, there are no lies detected in his commentary. Trading the first pick in 2023 landed the Bears DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, Tyrique Stevenson, the 2024 first overall pick, the Eagles’ fourth-rounder this year, and a second-rounder next year. That’s an undeniable haul.
Debating picking a wide receiver or an offensive tackle is far more interesting than the quarterback conversations we had earlier in the offseason. So I’m glad this trio at NBC Sports Chicago chopped it up on the topic:
Speaking of fun conversations surrounding the receive position, 670 The Score’s David Haugh makes a pitch to trade UP in the draft to take Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr.:
“I would love it. I would love it because it would be so un-Bear like to go and get somebody. You end the day with Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. and you would win the draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. is better, just by a shade, than Odunze, than Nabers, and I think that little bit that you see – if you agree with that. If you don’t agree with that, you’re not doing it. But if you think he’s the best player in the draft potentially, you go up and you get him.”
With that being said, if the difference between MHJ and Rome Odunze is “just a shade” then I’d stick at No. 9. But if Odunze doesn’t make it to nine then it’ll look bad. So … maybe trading up is the right idea? At a minimum, I don’t hate it. Fortune favors the bold!
The Bears launched their schedule prediction challenge contest for the chance to win two tickets for each of the team’s regular-season home and away game. In addition to regularly-scheduled road contests against division foes, Chicago’s football team has away games in Houston, San Francisco, Washington, Arizona, and Indianapolis. Perhaps a road trip is in our future.
I love that Bears players are on board with the Chicago Sky’s draft picks:
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars have had preliminary conversations around an extension. But it doesn’t sound like Lawrence is stressing about it. That’s good and very mindful of him. (ESPN)
Jim Harbaugh has gone from coaching at the University of Michigan to living in a RV park in Huntington Beach:
There’s no Huntington Beach in Chicago, so I can understand how he ended up with the Chargers.
Because everything needs a sponsorship: The NFL announced that Applebee’s is the league’s official “grill and bar” sponsor, per reporter Ari Meirov. I don’t even know what that entails or what other grill and bar partners could’ve been an option. But whenever I see news like this, I wonder why cost-savings aren’t passed down to fans. I mean, if you’re getting corporate money from elsewhere then why do things have to be so expensive for fans?
Today’s installment of The Bleacher Nation Newsletter
Jed Hoyer sheds light on Seiya Suzuki’s injury, a timeline for a return, and a tiny bit of optimism. (BN Cubs)
This is tremendous NBA content:
The Chicago Blackhawks lost. Again. But at least they got to spend the night in Vegas. (BN Blackhawks)
NEWSLETTER
