Bears Select Taylor, Booker In Day 3 of NFL Draft
April 28, 2024, 9:38 AM CDT
The Bears have wrapped up their 2024 Draft Class with two selections on Day 3. Originally coming into the day with one pick, the Bears used Pick 122 on Iowa Punter Tory Taylor. Taylor has been described by some as a "generational" punter. Trenton Gill will be released at some point due to this selection, and statistically, he was one of the worst punters in the league last year. Taylor has a special leg and can punt the ball very far while also having the ability to pin teams deep in their own territory. The Bears hopefully won't be punting much this year, but when they do, it's nice to know we have a weapon at punter in Taylor who will give us key positioning for our defense.
The Bears were originally supposed to be done with their 2024 Draft Class after the selection of Taylor, however, they identified Kansas Edge Rusher Austin Booker as a player who fit this team and decided to trade back into the Fifth Round with Buffalo for Pick 144 and select Booker. This was the same pick we gave Buffalo just a few months ago to acquire Ryan Bates. We had to give them a fourth-round pick next year to move back in, likely meaning that the Bears Front Office had a 4th Round Grade or higher on Booker. Last year was the only year Booker really saw any action in college as he got limited snaps in 2022. Booker compiled an 8-sack season for the Jayhawks last year along with 56 total tackles (40 solo) and two forced fumbles. He won't be a surefire starter in Week 1 and definitely won't be the first option with Montez Sweat being such a dominant player, but that is what will help him succeed. Getting to work with Sweat will help unlock him as a player, and thus will unlock the rest of the D-Line. Booker could go down as one of the biggest steals in this draft if he develops properly, as many suggested that if he went back to school for another year, he could have maybe snuck into the first round in the 2025 Draft.
With the selection of Booker, the Bears concluded their 2024 Draft as they did not trade back in for anyone. Here are my grades for what I believe is Ryan Poles' best Draft Class to date.
1-1: QB Caleb Williams - USC: A+
1-9: WR Rome Odunze - Washington: A
3-75: OT Kiran Amegadjie - Yale: B
4-122: P Tory Taylor - Iowa: B
5-144: ED Austin Booker - Kansas: A
Overall: A
The Bears selected Iowa Punter Tory Taylor with Pick 122 and Kansas Edge Austin Booker with Pick 144
Bears Use Day 2 Pick On Yale Tackle Kiran Amegadjie
April 26, 2024, 10:47 PM CDT
The Bears only had one pick in today's portion of the NFL Draft, with their 3rd Round, 75th Pick. Their second-round pick was traded to the Commanders during the season for Montez Sweat, which was a pretty good deal after all. The Bears used that 75th Pick on Yale Tackle Kiran Amegadjie, a local kid from Hinsdale who grew up a Bears fan and has had some tweets from the 2020 season surface among Bears social media, showing how passionate he was about the team and expressing his frustration over some of the teams' struggles that season.
Amegadjie is going to be a stud in the league. At Yale, he was dominant, with the last sack he allowed coming in Week 11 of the 2021 season. His arm length is 36 inches which is long and would project him as a tackle in the league, though he would have competition with Braxton Jones as Amegadjie's primary college position was Left Tackle. Perhaps you could also kick him inside to Guard and he can be a possible Nate Davis replacement in the future after you develop him. Either way, you have a lot of flexibility and a quality depth piece on the line. I'll have a full film breakdown on him in a few weeks like I will with all the picks, but early thoughts on this pick are high!
The Bears will have one more pick tomorrow in the Fourth Round at 122 if they do not make any trades.
New Bears Tackle Kiran Amegadjie grew up a Bears fan from Hinsdale
Bears Leave Round 1 of 2024 Draft With Williams, Odunze
April 25, 2024, 11:05 PM CDT
The Chicago Bears got significantly better today. The expected pick of Caleb Williams happened at number one, which we've known was happening since Justin Fields got traded last month. Williams is a special talent who will hopefully be the answer the Bears have long searched for at QB. Especially with the offensive talent that was built around him with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and now Rome Odunze, who the Bears added with the 9th Pick. Odunze caught for 3,272 yards and 24 touchdowns in his college career, including a career-best 13 TDs last season as he helped Washington get to the National Championship game. Odunze was sandwiched between the two starting QBs of that game, as Michael Penix Jr. was surprisingly taken at 8 by the Falcons and JJ McCarthy was taken by the Vikings at 10 as they moved up one spot with the Jets to get him. The Bears now head into the 2024 NFL season with one of the best, if not the best receiving core in the league and one of the best offenses they've ever assembled on paper. They will have one pick tomorrow at 75 in the Third Round and another pick on Saturday in the Fourth. Ryan Poles said he is comfortable having only four picks, and with the lack of depth past the fourth round, I don't really blame him. Still, we have opportunities to continue improving this team over the next two days, and we should take advantage of them to assemble the best possible team for next season.
The Bears (predictably) used their first overall selection on USC QB Caleb Williams
Live 2024 NFL Draft Board
April 25, 2024
Follow along here for Live NFL Draft coverage as the picks get announced.
1. Chicago Bears - QB Caleb Williams (USC)
2. Washington Commanders - QB Jayden Daniels (LSU)
3. New England Patriots - QB Drake Maye (North Carolina)
4. Arizona Cardinals - WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State)
5. Los Angeles Chargers - OT Joe Alt (Notre Dame)
6. New York Giants - WR Malik Nabers (LSU)
7. Tennessee Titans - OT JC Latham (Alabama)
8. Atlanta Falcons - QB Michael Penix Jr. (Washington)
9. Chicago Bears - WR Rome Odunze (Washington)
10. Minnesota Vikings (via NYJ) - QB JJ McCarthy (Michigan)
11. New York Jets (via MIN) - OT Olu Fashanu (Penn State)
12. Denver Broncos - QB Bo Nix (Oregon)
13. Las Vegas Raiders - TE Brock Bowers (Georgia)
14. New Orleans Saints - OT Taliese Fuaga (Oregon State)
15. Indianapolis Colts - ED Laiatu Latu (UCLA)
16. Seattle Seahawks - DL Byron Murphy II (Texas)
17. Minnesota Vikings (via JAX) - ED Dallas Turner (Alabama)
18. Cincinnati Bengals - OT Amarius Mims (Georgia)
19. Los Angeles Rams - ED Jared Verse (Florida State)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Troy Fautanu (Washington)
21. Miami Dolphins - ED Chop Robinson (Penn State)
22. Philadelphia Eagles - CB Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (via MIN) - WR Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU)
24. Detroit Lions (via DAL) - CB Terrion Arnold (Alabama)
25. Green Bay Packers - OT Jordan Morgan (Arizona)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - IOL Graham Barton (Duke)
27. Arizona Cardinals - ED Darius Robinson (Mizzou)
28. Kansas City Chiefs (via BUF) - WR Xavier Worthy (Texas)
29. Dallas Cowboys (via DET) - OT Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma)
30. Baltimore Ravens - CB Nate Wiggins (Clemson)
31. San Francisco 49ers - WR Ricky Pearsall (Florida)
32. Carolina Panthers (via BUF via KC) - Xavier Legette (South Carolina)
Evaluating and Comparing MHJ, Nabers, and Odunze
February 26, 2024, 9:57 PM CST
Over the past week, I have dived deep into the All-22 films for Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr, LSU WR Malik Nabers, and Washington WR Rome Odunze, intending to rank and officially determine who the best WR in this draft class is. As I watched each of them, I was blown away by how special this WR class is. I originally thought it was "Marv or bust" (as some Bears fans make it out to be), but it's not. Each one of them is a top-tier talent in the entire draft class, and would likely be WR1 in any other class. Now, there can only be one WR who is classified as WR1 in the draft, so which of these three is it? Let's take a look at my scouting reports on each of them and see which one comes out on top and how the other two compare.
Marvin Harrison Jr. - Ohio State
- 6’4”
- 2023 Stats: 67 catches, 1,211 yards, 14 touchdowns
- 2023 Biletnikoff Award Winner - 2022 Finalist
- 2023 Heisman Trophy Finalist
- Rumored 4.38 Speed
- Pro Comp: AJ Green
- Film Report:
- Blocks with a purpose and doesn’t let go easily
- Threat both vertically and RAC with speed and frame
- Quick acceleration, explosive, and paces himself well off the line
- Great at faking out DBs and possesses elite ball-tracking skills
- Excellent route runner and beats defenders to get open frequently
- Above Average hands that can make most catches
- Often taken down on first contact after the catch/not someone who will get extra yards after contact
- Can still make defenders miss in the open field, where his speed is most dangerous
- Sometimes plays a little too high, though his body control remains elite
- Works the sideline exceptionally well
- Prospect Grade: Top 5 Talent
For the longest time, people have considered Marvin Harrison Jr. to be the top WR in the draft class. It's not hard to see why. He's arguably been the best college football receiver the last two years, dominating Big 10 opponents and putting up big numbers in big games, such as his 11 catch, 162 yard game vs #7 Penn State earlier this season. His size and speed are elite and will make him a really dangerous threat to opposing DBs as soon as he steps onto an NFL field. He is, in fact, one of the best receivers to come out of the draft in a long time. If teams at the top of the draft after the Bears didn't need QBs, he'd be a lock for a Top 3 selection. I see his ceiling as a better AJ Green. Remember, AJ Green was one of the best receivers in the NFL when he was in his prime. Marvin being a better version of him would easily make him a Top 3 receiver in the game, likely behind only Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill. I don't see anything concerning with Marv coming into the league unless he has some underlying medicals that we don't know about. His game can translate immediately, and he could have a similar season to 2021 Ja'Marr Chase next year depending on the team he gets set up with.
Best Fits: New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears
Projected Selection: 4th Overall to Arizona Cardinals
Malik Nabers - LSU
- 6’0”
- Estimated 4.4 40-yard Dash
- 2023 Stats: 89 catches, 1,569 yards, 14 touchdowns
- 2023 Biletnikoff Award Finalist
- Pro Comp: DJ Moore
- Film Report:
- Elite speed and separation
- Elite Explosiveness
- Great eye for the ball
- Great route-running
- Not a great contested catch target with his smaller size
- Good ball-tracking skills
- Top-tier YAC threat, Top 3 potential in this area
- Release can, at times, be inconsistent
- Pretty solid run blocker
- Good at the catch point
- Prospect Grade: Top 5 Talent
As much as I praised Marv, I don't think he's the runaway WR1 in this draft class. Malik Nabers is in serious contention for that spot, with some teams rumored to have him higher on their draft boards than they have Marv. I still rank Marv higher, mostly because of one disadvantage Malik has. That being, Marvin Harrison is an elite contested catch threat, while Nabers' smaller size brings him down a bit. Where he makes up for it, though, is his YAC and explosiveness. He's got Top 5-Top 3 potential in the entire NFL in those areas. This is why I see him as similar to DJ Moore because while Moore isn't necessarily the best jump ball threat being the same size as Nabers, he makes up for it with his YAC and separation abilities. Nabers, in time, has the potential to become better than DJ in these areas, and he would make for a dangerous threat that DBs need to guard very closely. And if these two pair up on the same team with a guy like Caleb Williams? Oh man, watch out because this will easily be a Top 5 receiving duo by the end of next season.
Best Fits: Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Chicago Bears
Projected Selection: 6th Overall to the New York Giants
Rome Odunze - Washington
- 6’3”
- 4.34 40-Yard dash
- 2023 Stats: 92 catches, 1,640 yards, 13 touchdowns
- 2x First Team PAC-12
- 2023 Biletnikoff Award Finalist
- Pro Comp: Chris Godwin
- Film Report:
- Elite Ball Tracking Skills, great at the catch point
- Pure Speed is elite
- Moves quickly to RAC
- Above-average route running with physical YAC ability but average explosiveness
- Great hands
- Bad at basically nothing, but not many elite traits; mostly above-average
- Prospect Grade: Top 5 Talent
Finally, we arrive at Rome Odunze. The Washington wideout was draft-eligible in 2023, however, he decided to return for his senior season to help the Huskies reach the National Championship. He also put up arguably the best stats for a wideout in the country, with more catches and yards than both Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, but one less touchdown. It could be argued that he was robbed of the 2023 Biletnikoff Award, similar to how Marv was arguably robbed in 2022. Anyways, with Rome, I don't really see a weakness in his game. But I also don't think he's elite in any category except his ball-tracking skills and pure speed. He's mostly above average, which will still work in the league, especially with his 6'4 frame and 4.34 speed, which is slightly faster than Marvin Harrison Jr's estimated time. His ceiling isn't quite as high as Marvin's or Malik's ceiling, but he's still a Top 5 talent in this draft class (at least, for now). He could even be a guy who, with a good combine, rises above Nabers and potentially Marv on some teams' boards, especially with those two not planning to work out at the event.
Best Fits: New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears
Projected Selection: 9th Overall to Chicago Bears
So What About The Final Rankings?
After watching through each of the top three wide receivers, here are my final rankings:
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.
2. Malik Nabers
'3. Rome Odunze
So, my rankings have not changed since before I took a deeper dive into their film, as this was my pre-film rankings of the three. However, I have come to realize that they are closer to each other than I previously thought. To be honest, I don't think you can say Marvin Harrison Jr. is generational without also considering Malik Nabers in the realm of generational status. If Marvin Harrison Jr. was the only generational WR in this class, then I wouldn't be considering Malik Nabers for WR1 in this draft. This is why I think there are two generational wideouts in this class. Saying there are three would be a stretch, even though Rome Odunze is still really good and Top 5 in this class (he just lacks those really elite traits to take his ceiling over the top). The Bears should be doing everything in their power to land one of these guys, either at the 9th Pick or moving up to get one. They would greatly impact whichever Quarterback Ryan Poles and co. decide to roll with, whether it be Williams or Fields. Coming out of this draft without one of these three would be a future "what if?" question as all three I expect to have excellent careers in the league.
BONUS: Current Top 10 Wide Receiver Rankings For 2024 NFL Draft
1. Marvin Harrison Jr. - Ohio State
2. Malik Nabers - LSU
3. Rome Odunze - Washington
4. Keon Coleman - Florida State
5. Troy Franklin - Oregon
6. Xavier Legette - South Carolina
7. Brian Thomas Jr. - LSU
8. Adonai Mitchell - Texas
9. Ladd McConkey - Georgia
10. Xavier Worthy - Texas
Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze are all likely Top 10 picks this year
Pre-Combine Mock Draft #1: Pats Pass on QB, JJ to LA?
February 19, 2024, 7:56 PM CST
It's time for my first Pre-Combine Mock Draft. Well, at least a mock I write about. I've already posted numerous mocks on my Instagram, but as the draft order is finally set after the Chiefs win over the 49ers last week in the Super Bowl, I decided this would be the first mock of 2024 published on the website. We've got 32 picks to go over, so let's dive right into it.
1. Bears: QB Caleb Williams - USC
It seems like it's a lock at this point. Despite Justin Fields showing flashes of greatness, the Bears decide to move on from the fourth-year QB in favor of resetting the rookie contract with one of the best QB prospects in recent years. I won't go into detail considering how tired people are of hearing about how good Caleb is, so we'll move on.
2. Commanders: QB Drake Maye - North Carolina
Now if you think prospect fatigue for Williams is bad, it's even worse for Maye. Maye is QB2, much better than Jayden Daniels in my opinion. Some people think the Commanders go with Daniels, though I see new OC Kliff Kingsbury getting a guy who has already played in the air-raid offense before.
3. Patriots: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. - Ohio State
The Pats pull out the first wild card of the mock and select MHJ with the third pick. I see them looking to land a veteran at QB this offseason, like a Kirk Cousins or Russell Wilson, and then either trading down or selecting Harrison, the best non-QB in the class and arguably most talented player, to be their WR1.
4. Cardinals: T Olu Fashanu - Penn State
With Marvin off the board, the Cardinals move to solidify their Left Tackle position with Olu Fashanu. Olu could've been a candidate to be selected by Arizona last year had he entered the draft instead of returning to Penn State for his senior season. This will give them a nice young tackle duo of Fashanu and Paris Johnson Jr. to help protect Kyler Murray in his first full season after his ACL tear.
5. Chargers: TE Brock Bowers - Georgia
I thought about WR here, though the hire of Greg Roman as OC screams running the ball. So why not take the best TE available? Bowers can do it all, both in the blocking and catching games. He can play both at TE and slot receiver, giving a great weapon for Justin Herbert to use in his first year under Jim Harbaugh.
6. Giants: QB Jayden Daniels - LSU
The Giants capitalize on the Pats passing on Daniels to find their successor to Daniel Jones. While people may question why the Giants would take a QB just a year after signing Jones to a big four-year extension, they have an out on DJ's contract after next season. If Daniels goes to New England (or another team that trades up), look for New York to draft a receiver and see what they can get out of Jones this next season.
7. Titans: T Joe Alt - Notre Dame
The Titans need O-Lineman badly, which is why they end up selecting Alt with their first-round draft choice. Alt is arguably the best Tackle in this class, and the Titans would be very fortunate to land him to help build around Will Levis and give him protection on the O-Line.
8. Falcons: WR Rome Odunze - Washington
While I do have this as Pre-Combine, this is a thing I believe we will start to see more after the combine. Rome Odunze going above Malik Nabers. His measurables are projected to be a bit better than Nabers, especially him being a few inches taller and projected to run a slightly faster 40. Odunze would bring a second first-round WR (Drake London being the other) to Atlanta to help whoever their QB is next season as they look to finally get their talent together and push for the NFC South division crown in 2024.
9. Bears: WR Malik Nabers - LSU
The Bears capitalize on having two Top 10 picks in this draft by taking Nabers at 9. Getting Malik Nabers is like getting another DJ Moore, and having two DJ Moore's for Caleb Williams to throw to in his rookie season will make his life a lot easier.
10. Jets: DL Jer'Zhan Newton - Illinois
Another wild card pick here as I did consider Fuaga and Latham. I decided to go with Newton as the Jets would pair him and Quinnen Williams to form a dangerous pairing on the Interior D-Line as they continue loading up on quality defensive talent.
11. Vikings: ED Dallas Turner - Alabama
I considered JJ McCarthy and Corner here, however, it looks like Danielle Hunter might leave Minnesota in free agency. If that's the case, they'll need to replace him, and they land the most athletic edge in the class in Dallas Turner. While I don't necessarily think he's the most talented, Turner's athleticism is insane and he would terrorize opposing Quarterbacks under Brian Flores' blitz-heavy scheme.
12. Broncos: CB Cooper DeJean - Iowa
Another spot where I considered a QB like JJ or Bo Nix, though I think Bo may fall to Round 2 where the Broncos can get him there. Instead, I have Denver taking DeJean, who is my top CB in this class. Pairing him with Pat Surtain would give the Broncos a top-tier Corner duo in the league.
13. Raiders: CB Terrion Arnold - Alabama
Another potential McCarthy landing spot, I have the Raiders taking Arnold over a QB. The Raiders need to fill a lot of positions with talent, including corner. Arnold is like 1B in my corner rankings this year and has been mocked as high as 8th to Atlanta by other people. He's a guy that could rise even higher at the combine, so don't be surprised if he's off the board by the time the Raiders get ready to make their selection.
14. Saints: ED Jared Verse - Florida State
The Saints are in a weird spot right now where they aren't contenders yet they aren't ready to tank. Cam Jordan isn't getting any younger, so they get Verse to pair with him and eventually take over as their premium edge rusher. While Verse wasn't as productive this year as he was last year, he still performed at a good enough level and showed the capabilities of being selected in the middle of the first round.
15. Colts: CB Kool-Aid McKinstry - Alabama
The Colts need a corner in this draft. Nate Wiggins and Kool-Aid are the two best options after DeJean and Arnold, and I have them taking Kool-Aid with their pick. It's a great corner class for the middle of the first round, so they should be able to come away from this draft with a guy who can be an impact player in their secondary.
16. Seahawks: ED Laiatu Latu - UCLA
In my eyes, Latu is the most talented edge rusher in this draft class. However, his medical concerns will be a problem, which is why I have him dropping to Seattle at 16. If they can land Latu, it would be a steal if he can remain healthy as he would return to Washington state and be part of the next great Seahawks defense.
17. Jaguars: CB Nate Wiggins - Clemson
The Jags land Wiggins at Pick 17 to help bolster their secondary, which finished in the bottom 10 teams in passing yards per game allowed last season. As they look to rebound from a disappointing 2023, Wiggins should help cut those numbers down and improve the defense to make life a little easier for Trevor Lawrence.
18. Bengals: T Taliese Fuaga - Oregon State
With the Bengals and Jonah Williams expected to part ways this offseason, the team immediately finds their replacement with Fuaga, arguably the best RT in the class. He'll protect Joe Burrow as he returns from injury next season with the team looking to get back into the playoffs after falling just short this year.
19. Rams: QB JJ McCarthy - Michigan
The Rams could use a lot of players here, but I have them taking Matthew Stafford's successor with JJ McCarthy. Stafford is entering his age 36 season, and the Rams could use next year and potentially the year after to have McCarthy sit and develop behind him. Sean McVay is the best coach in football, and McCarthy developing under him would probably give him the highest chance of success in the NFL.
20. Steelers: CB Quinyon Mitchell - Toledo
The Steelers are expecting to move on from Patrick Peterson this offseason, so they'll immediately find his replacement with Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo. He's a tier below the other corners that I've already selected in this mock, but he's still good enough to be a first-round pick for a team that could use some help in the corner room.
21. Dolphins: C Jackson Powers-Johnson - Oregon
The Dolphins are losing Connor Williams to free agency, so they'll need a new Center. Powers-Johnson is the best Center in the class, and his stock took a huge rise during the Senior Bowl as he's now projected to go in the first round.
22. Eagles: CB Kamari Lassiter - Georgia
The Eagles continue to try and form the National Champion Georgia defense by selecting Kamari Lassiter. They need a corner, and it just so happens that Lassiter was the best corner still available at Pick 22. He'll join Darius Slay and former Georgia teammate Kelee Ringo, among others, in the Eagles corner room.
23. Texans: WR Brian Thomas Jr. - LSU
Thomas had a great season at LSU this past year, and while Keon Coleman has more upside I still took BTJ over him. Under the right situation, Thomas will thrive. The Texans allow him to not be forced into a scenario where he's the main option, as they already have Nico Collins and Tank Dell. If Noah Brown leaves, Thomas could be the pick as they load up to make a run for the AFC next season.
24. Cowboys: DL T'Vondre Sweat - Texas
I'll say it, I think Sweat is the better Texas DT than Byron Murphy. Both should go in Round 1, and I have the Cowboys taking Sweat at Pick 24. Mazi Smith hasn't quite panned out how they thought he would, and Dallas is looking to improve on their run defense which ranked about middle of the pack last season.
25. Packers: S Tyler Nubin - Minnesota
The Packers need to add another Safety to their secondary. Nubin is the best one in the draft, and it looks as though he may be the only Round 1 Safety as Kam Kinchens has reportedly dropped on many teams' draft boards. They could also look to add a Left Tackle with David Bakhtiari expected to be a cap causality this offseason.
26. Buccaneers: ED Chop Robinson - Penn State
The Bucs could use another edge next season, as Joe Tryon-Shoyinka hasn't produced like they thought he would when they drafted him, and Shaq Barrett has declined over the last few years and is about to hit age 32 during next season. Chop is the best edge still on the board, so they'll take him to either insert him into the starting defense immediately or let him be the backup to Barrett while also getting meaningful snaps in his rookie season.
27. Cardinals: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. - Missouri
The Cardinals need a corner, like a lot of teams this season. Rakestraw is the only one left that I would take in the first round, so I'll send him to Arizona as they prepare to address their need for a Wide Receiver in the second round.
28. Bills: WR Keon Coleman - Florida State
Coleman is a high-risk/high-reward player. Buffalo would be an incredible spot for him, especially if they keep Stefon Diggs and let Gabe Davis walk. The Bills would enter next season with Diggs, Coleman, and Shakir as their Top 3 WRs, along with Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid at Tight End. And of course, Josh Allen is still their Quarterback. Their window isn't closed yet, they still have the talent to push for the Super Bowl next season. And if Coleman works out, then they will have no problem when it does come time to move on from Stefon Diggs.
29. Lions: DL Byron Murphy II - Texas
With no corners left for Detroit, they decide to go after another need and select Byron Murphy. The Lions defense ranked second in Rushing Defense last year with Alim McNeill having a breakout season. Pair him with Murphy and the Lions will have a dominant young D-Line for years to come.
30. Ravens: WR Adonai Mitchell - Texas
The Ravens finally got a receiver to work out with Zay Flowers last year, however, that can't be the only guy Lamar Jackson has to throw to at wideout. Rashod Bateman hasn't become the stud many people expected him to be when Baltimore drafted him in 2021, and the Ravens should probably get a taller, contested-catch wide receiver for Jackson. Mitchell and Troy Franklin would both be great options here, along with Xavier Legette. In the end, though, I have the Ravens taking Mitchell.
31. 49ers: T JC Latham - Alabama
The Niners count their blessings here as Latham falls all the way down to 31. The Niners need a Right Tackle, and Latham would fill that spot and play opposite Trent Williams as they look to hold up the O-Line to protect Brock Purdy.
32. Chiefs: WR Troy Franklin - Oregon
While the Chiefs just won back-to-back Super Bowls without a star receiver, they shouldn't bank on this strategy to keep them in the big game moving forward. Travis Kelce is going to turn 35 in October, and who knows how many more years he has left in him. The Chiefs should get a true WR1 for Patrick Mahomes as they look to load up for a three-peat next season.
Next 5 Picks:
33. Panthers: WR Xavier Legette - South Carolina
34. Patriots: T Troy Fautanu - Washington
35. Cardinals: WR Ladd McConkey - Georgia
36. Commanders: T Amarius Mims - Georgia
37. Chargers: DL Braden Fiske - Florida State
Caleb Williams is expected to be the first overall pick in this years draft
Could Georgia's Javon Bullard Be The Successor To BoJack?
January 23, 2024, 1:26 PM CST
Long-time Bears Safety Eddie Jackson is entering the final year of a big contract that at the time was a record-breaking deal for a Free Safety. He is currently the only player remaining from the #1 ranked 2018 defense, but his time could be coming to an end. With his big cap hit and a somewhat disappointing 2023 campaign, in which he only had one interception after resurging with four in 2022, many have pegged him to be a cap casualty this offseason. While I don't think they end up cutting him, the Bears need to start looking ahead to the future for the 2017 Fourth Round Pick's long-term successor. Georgia's Javon Bullard could easily be that guy, as he recently declared for the NFL Draft.
Critical Traits
To start, what does Javon Bullard do well and what do the Bears look for in safeties? You may remember that the Bears posted a YouTube video towards the end of the 2022 season giving some kids from the Chicago area a look at the behind-the-scenes of how they scout. They ended up showing a brief clip in that video of Critical Traits that they look for in each player. The traits they look for in safeties are: Key and Diagnose, Ball Skills, Range, and Open Field Tackling. Bullard is pretty good at all of these.
Key and Diagnose
Key and Diagnose, for those unfamiliar, means a defender's ability to read his initial key and diagnose the offense's play as a result. Taking a quote from Bleacher Report's Scouting Report on Bullard, "Good Football IQ and play recognition in both run and pass game. Plays the quarterback's eyes well and has a quick reaction to what he sees." Using his IQ and play recognition, Bullard has turned himself into one of the better coverage safeties in the draft class. He also defends the run really well as a result. His style of play would compliment Brisker well and is a little similar to prime Eddie, albeit a little more physical as I'll get to later on.
Ball Skills
Bullard has really good ball skills that a Free Safety should have. He snagged four interceptions across the last two seasons with UGA, and when he goes to make a play on the ball, he tracks it very well and can get to it. And if he can't haul it in, he can at least knock it down with 8 PBU's in his college career.
Range
Bullard has a very good range being a coverage safety. He plays the whole field well, being able to move fluidly between the sideline and the hash marks. This allows him to get chances to make plays on the ball, which as mentioned just above, is a critical trait that the Bears scouting department looks at when evaluating safeties. Pass Coverage is more of a strength for Bullard than run defending, kind of like 2018 Eddie Jackson when he had 6 interceptions but wasn't in the backfield for TFLs or Sacks much at all.
Open-Field Tackling
Probably the weakest of the four traits, Bullard is still a very good tackler, better than current-day Eddie Jackson for sure. He's very physical making hits, even when it isn't a tackle as evidenced by his massive hit on Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2022 College Football Semifinal game vs Ohio State. His biggest issue with tackling is that he can sometimes allow extra yards to get by. That doesn't mean he misses tackles, just that he's pretty inconsistent when wrapping up a receiver, especially when it comes to the legs or the ankles. Outside of that, he can make big hits in tough open-field areas that some players wouldn't be able to do.
Final Thoughts
Bullard is one of my early draft crushes and I would love to see the Bears land him. They may have to make a trade to move up and get him (perhaps that pick comes from a potential Justin Fields or Pick 1 trade package), but he would be perfect to succeed Eddie Jackson in our secondary. He is an all-around safety who can make plays and excels defending the pass while also remaining very physical on tackles and run defense. I need him on the Bears after the draft concludes on April 27th.
Draft Grade: Round 2
Georgia Safety Javon Bullard would be a home-run selection on Day 2