The draft is almost one week away. Everyone is eager to see what moves GM Ryan Poles has in mind for the Chicago Bears. The first is obvious. He will take a quarterback at #1 overall. From there, debates continue about the plans for #9. Most experts continue to believe Poles will grab one of the top wide receivers at that spot if one reaches that spot. It seems like a simple decision. Keenan Allen will be 32 this year and isn’t signed beyond 2024. Adding a blue-chip receiver would give the team more firepower for their young QB and long-term insurance.
However, Greg Gabriel isn’t so sure about that. The former Bears scouting director has followed the team for a long time and understands how NFL front offices think. It is easy for fans to make such decisions because they don’t have to face the consequences. Teams must look at the entire board, not just the given pick. Chicago has other pressing needs on the roster. Adding a wide receiver is plausible, but it could come at a more significant cost to other areas since they may be unable to find help later.
“A majority of Bears fans want the team to select a wide receiver with that ninth pick. Fans almost always are in favor of grabbing the skill positions. Team decision-makers don’t always think like that. They have to know the strengths and weaknesses of the Draft and know where the drop off is on players at each position. That helps them determine a strategy. In this Draft, the edge position is weak as far as depth while the wide receiver position is very deep.”
The Chicago Bears have to weigh the odds.
As of now, they have four picks in the top 150. According to most draft outlets, there are 18 edge rushers ranked in that range. Keep in mind a few of those names won’t fit the Bears’ 4-3 scheme due to size or length issues. There are 25 wide receivers considered top 150 talents. Poles has to answer the difficult question. Does he stand a better chance of getting a starting-caliber edge rusher with his 3rd round pick or a wide receiver? Some notable names in recent years have been drafted in the range that the Bears select.
- Nico Collins (Texans)
- Terry McLaurin (Commanders)
- Michael Gallup (Cowboys)
- Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
- Kenny Golladay (Lions)
- Keenan Allen (Chargers)
- Mohamed Sanu (Bengals)
- TY Hilton (Colts)
By contrast, it hasn’t been the most fertile ground for pass rushers.
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There is a chance the Chicago Bears can gamble on finding a pass rusher later on, but the odds are clearly more favorable if they opt to wait at wide receiver instead. Then again, if Poles thinks one of the guys at the top is a can’t-miss future superstar, logic must go out the window.
I think Gabriel is the media “insider” that Bears sources talk to when they want to spread BS. His ties with the organization are from a long time ago…
Gabriel is a tool. He predicted the Fields thing pretty well didn’t he, even with all his inside sources. Unfortunately, I agree with him here though. I believe Alt, Turner, and the 3 WRs are gone by 9. 3 QBs only in the top 8, but that is an opportunity for the Bears. We can trade out with a QB needy team who wants that 4th guy, likely JJ. You can pit Minnesota, Denver, Vegas, maybe New Orleans, and a wild card of Seattle against each other and get a higher return than you likely would have if the 4th… Read more »
No offense to GG but he’s been wrong more often than right recently. He has no ties to the current Bears regime and he just goes off of his opinion, which we all have.
So instead of drafting the ninth best player in the entire draft we should forget about that rare opportunity and settle for a position of need. Sounds like Gabriel. Whatever happened to the people screaming you can’t do everything in one offseason? It’s almost impossible for next years draft to be so weak at defensive linemen. Latu is the best pass rusher in this draft and he shouldn’t even be drafted in the first round because of his medical history.
Read some really good points here. Have to agree that no matter what’s available the trenches need bolstering. Intentional chaos in the middle of the DL and OL are what we are lacking. And not the kind of chaos that leaves us scratching our heads every snap, but the kind that gives the other team a case of the red ass. 3T/Edge, Tomaytos/Tomahtos, make the QB keep moving his feet and uncomfortable. Or, a center like JPJ to match the snarl of the other teams 3T. LOL. We need the BIG MEAN NASTIES! Or at least a concrete and steel… Read more »