Simmering Ryan Poles Big Board. Not to be overcooked. Chicago Bears News. The draft is finally here, and Ryan Poles seems to have his big board locked up.
I'm convinced he goes defense with the first pick. Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus have preached building this team from the trenches out from the jump and proved just as much in showing his hand hours into free agency on how vital the three-tech is to this defense when they took a swing for Ogunjobi.
His replacement, Justin Jones, is only on a two-year deal. There’s room to add another starter or a long-term option. Oklahoma’s Perrion Winfrey will be an option Friday night. Winfrey needs to improve his pad level and play discipline, but his size, energy, and the power in his hands help him terrorize blockers, and he has NFL starting-level traits. Another trench digger getting a lot of attention across lake Michigan Is Edge Rusher Logan Hall. Someone like Logan Hall could be a No. 3 situational edge rusher. Hall lacks consistency, but he can be a matchup weapon with additional coaching, thanks to his athletic versatility, body length, and disruptive nature. He projects as a starting edge rusher who can slide inside in sub-packages. Versatility that can be used similar to how coach Flus deployed DeForest Buckner in Indianapolis.
Top receivers to be on the board at 39 include Skyy Moore, who some believe might have trouble creating sizable passing windows vs. NFL coverage. Still, he has outstanding hands and reflexes with the detail-oriented mindset to grow into a three-level threat and projects best in the slot. George Pickins is an Option.
Christian Watson. Watson is unpolished as a route runner and must improve his consistency at the catch point, but he is an intriguing size/speed athlete with the explosiveness to win vertically. He projects as a WR4 as a rookie with WR2 upside and offers kick-return experience.
Chattanooga’s Cole Strange and Nebraska’s Cam Jurgens. Strange struggles to recover once defenders gain the upper hand, but he works hard to stay balanced with his quick feet, strong hands, and competitive toughness. He will be ready to compete for an NFL starting job at guard in year one.
Darrian Kinnard Kinnard’s NFL ceiling will hinge on his ability to refine his sloppy tendencies. Still, he has the physical tools and bully mentality into being a dominant, scheme-diverse run blocker. Scouts are split between guard and right tackle as his best NFL position.
The infamous Left Tackle. Larry Borom lined up as the first-team left tackle during minicamp, and there’s an opportunity to bring in competition for him in this draft. As a former tight end, Bernhard Raimann’s athleticism could be intriguing. Raimann is still developing his strength and technique, but he is a fluid, balanced athlete with the reactionary skills and awareness to match up against NFL speed. He is older at 25 than ideal for a rookie, but he should compete for starting reps in Year 1.
Tyler Smith. In my opinion, Smith is incredibly raw and better suited at guard, but he has the play strength and physical traits to get significantly better with technical and mental development. There is a sizable gap between where he is now and his ceiling as a potential NFL starter and will require a patient coaching staff ready for a project.
The duo of Roquan Smith and Nicholas Morrow is obviously solid, but Morrow is on a one-year deal, and while it’s likely that Smith will get a long-term extension eventually, he doesn’t have it yet as he enters the final year of his deal. A former linebacker and linebackers coach, Matt Eberflus, may have some influence here. Wyoming’s Troy Andersen could be a third linebacker who stands out on special teams. Andersen can have some sloppy tackling/take-on habits and shows a marginal feel in coverage. Still, he is a toolsy size/speed athlete with the competitive toughness and versatility that give him legitimate NFL upside (on offense, defense, and special teams).
Day 3 depth could include Tyquan Thornton. There is a lot to like about Thornton's game, including his instincts, long speed, and ability to create separation on the move. He's a vertical threat with the speed and poise to win deep and has an excellent feel for maintaining spacing when working against zone coverage.
Offensive Tackle Kellen Diesch. Diesch is highly athletic with the initial quickness and fluidity to stand out on reach blocks, second-level cut-offs, and long pulls in space. If he can add the necessary strength and mass, he'll have a chance to find snaps in a heavily move-oriented offense.
Where do the chips fall, and when will a trade back occur that shakes it all up. Ryan Poles mentioned multiple times in the right position, and for the right return, he's open to moving back to add to his collection of six picks. Get your picks in, guys. Thanks, Be good.