The Bears 2025 Draft Thread

[justanidiot]

I don’t doubt that they can be beasts, but they aren’t NFL OTs. Campbell and Banks looks more like guards. Simmons can play Guard, but will be LT when he’s 100% and a very good one at that.

This is where character plays into the pick. Accepting this is the NFL and I wont be mauling people like I did in college so I might not be a tackle plays a big part. Someone who is planning for that OT free agent dollars where it seems like just because you are a free agent you deserve to be the highest paid tackle in the NFL is the other part.
I dont know where some of these numbers come from, (because of the QB number), but the ones that have to settle on being a guard is a big hit to the portfolio. This was the same chart AI showed and its from Average NFL Salary & Highest Paid at Every Position - Sports Monetize

• Left Tackle: $10,878,305
• Quarterback: $8,817,067
• Right Tackle: $6,341,105
• Strong Safety: $5,869,242
• Free Safety: $5,437,716
• Outside Linebacker: $5,165,598
• Inside Linebacker : $4,380,468
• Edge: $4,286,780
• Defensive End: $3,797,938
• Defense Tackle: $3,599,440
• Wide Receiver: $3,516,042
• LineBacker: $3,454,206
• Guard: $3,450,727
• Center: $3,098,976
• Kicker: $2,866,872
• Safety; $2,847,342
• Tight End: $2,805,837
• Cornerback: $2,757,388
• Running Back: $2,109,488
• Punter: $1,964,909
• Full Back: $1,961,489
• Long Snapper: $1,167,583

But then you go back to Tunsil, dropping in the draft, having to accept playing guard, ending up to arguably be one of the best if not the best left tackle in football, albeit for a different team than the one that drafted him. There is a guy that character cost alot of money, but he dug in and worked and got to where he is now showed more character than we thought. The chart also kinda also shows why maybe Wright should get a shot at LT.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

This is where character plays into the pick. Accepting this is the NFL and I wont be mauling people like I did in college so I might not be a tackle plays a big part. Someone who is planning for that OT free agent dollars where it seems like just because you are a free agent you deserve to be the highest paid tackle in the NFL is the other part.
I dont know where some of these numbers come from, (because of the QB number), but the ones that have to settle on being a guard is a big hit to the portfolio. This was the same chart AI showed and its from Average NFL Salary & Highest Paid at Every Position - Sports Monetize

• Left Tackle: $10,878,305
• Quarterback: $8,817,067
• Right Tackle: $6,341,105
• Strong Safety: $5,869,242
• Free Safety: $5,437,716
• Outside Linebacker: $5,165,598
• Inside Linebacker : $4,380,468
• Edge: $4,286,780
• Defensive End: $3,797,938
• Defense Tackle: $3,599,440
• Wide Receiver: $3,516,042
• LineBacker: $3,454,206
• Guard: $3,450,727
• Center: $3,098,976
• Kicker: $2,866,872
• Safety; $2,847,342
• Tight End: $2,805,837
• Cornerback: $2,757,388
• Running Back: $2,109,488
• Punter: $1,964,909
• Full Back: $1,961,489
• Long Snapper: $1,167,583

But then you go back to Tunsil, dropping in the draft, having to accept playing guard, ending up to arguably be one of the best if not the best left tackle in football, albeit for a different team than the one that drafted him. There is a guy that character cost alot of money, but he dug in and worked and got to where he is now showed more character than we thought. The chart also kinda also shows why maybe Wright should get a shot at LT.

LT is the hardest spot to fill on the OLine. We might as well grab the most likely LT stud in this draft. Even if Wright becomes the LT, you can still use Simmons anywhere else other than C. The rest of the OTs have short arms and will most likely only play G. I think it would be a mistake and we will kick ourselves for years if we pass up on Simmons for a G.

Does Simmons have character issues?

 

[justanidiot]

LT is the hardest spot to fill on the OLine. We might as well grab the most likely LT stud in this draft. Even if Wright becomes the LT, you can still use Simmons anywhere else other than C. The rest of the OTs have short arms and will most likely only play G. I think it would be a mistake and we will kick ourselves for years if we pass up on Simmons for a G.

Does Simmons have character issues?

I dont know, but my example was even the guy who had the most issues over the past few years I can remember found a way to work them out. Thats how it seems, but Tunsil is going to be starting his 10th season already.
I know Sewell is probably going to change the RT pay scale in the NFL, but those studs were generally looked for when you had a left handed quarterback. But if fits for why Ben Johnson will want to keep Wright there.

My problem last year when we brought Pryor in to play guard at 6'7 was I thought that Caleb had a hard time seeing over him. That is my worry when your guards and tackles are all over 6'6. Guards and tackles being fire hydrants give a clear path to see down field. Can Borom and Kiran be or left and right guards and basically have 4 tackles in the game? Yeah, but having a 6'2 center might help. These are good players that just need to be allowed to eat every once in a while and control a line of scrimmage, not pull and sweep where sometimes they dont even get to block anyone. So drafting tackles to play guards also can create some problems. If caleb is rolling out so he can see over the line, he is not where they are protecting him.
I guess the best answer is get a dominant line in place, and most likely, we are getting 3 new players in free agency where this 10 pick wont even be playing.

 

[BearsWillWin]

This is where character plays into the pick. Accepting this is the NFL and I wont be mauling people like I did in college so I might not be a tackle plays a big part. Someone who is planning for that OT free agent dollars where it seems like just because you are a free agent you deserve to be the highest paid tackle in the NFL is the other part.
I dont know where some of these numbers come from, (because of the QB number), but the ones that have to settle on being a guard is a big hit to the portfolio. This was the same chart AI showed and its from Average NFL Salary & Highest Paid at Every Position - Sports Monetize

• Left Tackle: $10,878,305
• Quarterback: $8,817,067
• Right Tackle: $6,341,105
• Strong Safety: $5,869,242
• Free Safety: $5,437,716
• Outside Linebacker: $5,165,598
• Inside Linebacker : $4,380,468
• Edge: $4,286,780
• Defensive End: $3,797,938
• Defense Tackle: $3,599,440
• Wide Receiver: $3,516,042
• LineBacker: $3,454,206
• Guard: $3,450,727
• Center: $3,098,976
• Kicker: $2,866,872
• Safety; $2,847,342
• Tight End: $2,805,837
• Cornerback: $2,757,388
• Running Back: $2,109,488
• Punter: $1,964,909
• Full Back: $1,961,489
• Long Snapper: $1,167,583

But then you go back to Tunsil, dropping in the draft, having to accept playing guard, ending up to arguably be one of the best if not the best left tackle in football, albeit for a different team than the one that drafted him. There is a guy that character cost alot of money, but he dug in and worked and got to where he is now showed more character than we thought. The chart also kinda also shows why maybe Wright should get a shot at LT.

Tunsil was never a low character guy. His issues were more misunderstanding and just stupid mistakes. But he was never a bad person or any sort of locker room problem. He got arrested for defending his Mom against violence from his step dad. He took money from a coach in school so his Mom could pay rent and keep the lights on. The bong incident was dumb but weed doesn't make anyone a bad person.

There are countless players you could point to and talk about character issues. This guy isn't one of them.

 

[BearsWillWin]

We know Darnell Wright is a good run blocker and on his worst day an average NFL RT with an ability to be way better than that.

We also know he can struggle at times against speed rushers that take a wide angle.

Why would you move him to LT and reboot him when he's doing a good job where he is? It's just dumb.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

LT is the hardest spot to fill on the OLine. We might as well grab the most likely LT stud in this draft. Even if Wright becomes the LT, you can still use Simmons anywhere else other than C. The rest of the OTs have short arms and will most likely only play G. I think it would be a mistake and we will kick ourselves for years if we pass up on Simmons for a G.

Does Simmons have character issues?

Here's a two round draft I spotted in YouTube. This one (at the 8:45 mark in the video) calls for the Bears to take Simmons with the 10th pick:



For the most part Simmons comes away with solid references, including size, wingspan, strong run/pass protection. But he has two potential issues working against him.
1. He suffered a knee injury and missed half of his last season at Ohio State. If he passes all the requisite pre-draft medicals, this might not be much of an issue.
2. He's racked up 25 penalties in his final two seasons and since the last one was cut in half, it increases the avg per game. This bad trait might not be so easy to overcome.

I already knew about the injury, which is why I only have him ranked 3rd on my OL list. Injuries and OL have tended to be a nasty formula for the Bears over the years. What I didn't know was his penchant for penalties. That kinda makes me go hmmmm. But at least there doesn't appear to be any character issues with him. That's always a plus.

For those who don't feel like watching the entire clip, they have the Bears taking Toledo DT Darious Alexander at 39, and Ohio St RB Kaleb Johnson at 41. Alexander seems to be a reach at the 39th spot. If the Bears are hot on grabbing a DT with one of our two 2nd rounds picks, I'd prefer Ole Miss's Walter Nolen or Michigan's Kenneth Grant. That's assuming either or both will still be on the board then, which is not a given at all.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Interesting little nugget here:

MSN

There are sufficient reasons to criticize the actions Poles has taken since he was given the GM reins. But I suppose he should get some credit for this.

 

[averagejoe]

Interesting little nugget here:

MSN

There are sufficient reasons to criticize the actions Poles has taken since he was given the GM reins. But I suppose he should get some credit for this.

Thanks for sharing.

Love this since i am a not a fan of rookies for the exact reasons the article mentions. Reminded me of this 10-year dive into rookie success:

NFL Draft Pick Bust Rate Remains Very High

More analytics haven’t increased the success rate

www.dailynorseman.com

 

[justanidiot]

There are alot of draft misses, but once a decade you get a David Montgomery in the third round or Brock Purdy as mr insignificant. So far the biggest differences with Poles and Pace was pace was a magician in the middle rounds. Thats part of what I mean about these OT's that will play guard or drafting an OLB to play DE because of the player they were in their college system. Our system is basically what Texas A&M ran, and they have 2 285 defensive ends in the top 8 or 9 on most rankings. That is a rookie that can make an impact, someone todays coordinators dont have to change much. Otherwise its Kevin White, a man who dominated in college with his NFL size, just to learn that he basically ran 3 routes his entire career, so he was really good at those routes. Get to the NFL and multiply that by 20 with deciding how the route changes if you have inside vs outside press coverage. Did they ever let him get back to running 3 plays? Nope, just called him a bust.

I vaguely remember the Brian Urlacher draft pick. I remember wondering why we were drafting a safety so high, well, just because he was listed as a safety by the people who were ranking them and thought that was where he would play. Biggest difference with Urlacher was he had his college career, played thru his senior season. That rarely happens anymore since the money is too much to pass up or risk a career ending injury in school, even though NIL money changes things. Changed things for Josh Simmons, being one of the paid players at Ohio States highest salaried college football team ever. Opted out of the playoffs due to injury, but declared for the NFL draft the same day. One year as SD state, 2 at Ohio state, at least he was a junior?

 

[BearsWillWin]

No one ever thought Urlacher was gonna be an NFL safety. He was a LB coming out of HS. He played Lobo back at New Mexico, which was just a hybrid position in their 3-3-5 defense.

Every NFL scout and GM saw him as a LB coming out of college. The only debate was if he was better off inside or outside.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

No one ever thought Urlacher was gonna be an NFL safety. He was a LB coming out of HS. He played Lobo back at New Mexico, which was just a hybrid position in their 3-3-5 defense.

Every NFL scout and GM saw him as a LB coming out of college. The only debate was if he was better off inside or outside.

Exactly. From the first rumors of Urlacher possibly being a Bears draft target, it was always understood he'd be a linebacker. And as you said, the only debate was whether he'd play inside or out. His first season they tried him at the Will if I recall and he didn't fare too well in that spot. As soon as they moved him to the middle, that's where he shined and of course that's where he played for the rest of his HOF career.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

For those interested in the Combine timelines:

2025 NFL Combine - NFL Network | NFL.com

Looking forward to it, especially the DL on Thursday and the OL on Sunday.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

The Athletic has us taking ladder climbing DE/Edge Mike Green with the 10th pick:

Mocking the Mocks: The Athletic has the Bears taking Mike Green

So far we’ve seen the usual suspects being mocked to the Chicago Bears at ten overall, but this latest mock from The Athletic takes things in a new direction. It’s their first beat writer mock...

www.windycitygridiron.com

Personally, I think that's a bit too early for him, but then again, he's one of the fastest rising Edge rushers in the draft. Regardless, here's what gave me pause in the article:

With the top two tackles off the board, the Bears use a first-round pick on defense for the first time since 2018.

Guess I haven't been keeping a draft scorecard, because it blew my mind that we've gone six consecutive drafts taking an offensive player with our first pick. And yet our offense still blows.