The Chicago Bears are usually careful not to mention names they are interested in going into a draft, but they’ve developed a reputation for dropping hints. They always come on their annual series, 1920 Football Drive. Last year, GM Ryan Poles was filmed mentioning, “I love this kid.” Through careful detective work, it was believed he was speaking about Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze. We later learned that Poles really wanted to draft him, and ended up doing so. This year, cameras caught a conversation between Poles and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen at the scouting combine. They spoke animatedly about a player they both like. It was speculated that the topic of discussion was Mason Graham.
Most experts believe the Michigan defensive tackle is the best at his position in the draft. For several weeks, the belief was he wouldn’t get past the Jacksonville Jaguars at #5 overall. They need interior pass rush help. It’s a natural fit. However, Adam Schefter of ESPN just poured cold water on that idea. He is hearing the Jaguars may go in a different direction.
Many mock drafts have pegged the Jaguars to select Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5 overall. As the venerable Lee Corso says, however — not so fast, my friends. New GM James Gladstone — who has 10 picks to work with, including four in the top 90 — might not be that predictable. As one league executive said recently: “Jacksonville is a wild card — watch.”
Jaguars coach Liam Coen has long had a soft spot for wide receivers in the draft, and the top-rated wideout in this class, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, has drawn comparisons to … the Bucs’ Mike Evans.
Mason Graham would be a great fit for the Bears.
Allen’s defense has long preferred having an interior pass rush presence. During his run with the New Orleans Saints, they drafted both Sheldon Rankins and Bryan Bresee in the 1st round. Chicago just signed Grady Jarrett to a large contract in free agency. It is pretty clear Allen has a type, and Graham fits it. While he isn’t known for great size or length, he’s quick, violent, and has a non-stop motor. Interior offensive linemen will learn to hate him because he is such a pest to deal with.
Smart defensive coordinators, like Allen, will find the worst athlete of the three interior spots of every opponent and line Mason Graham up against. If he gets past Jacksonville at #5, the odds go up significantly for him reaching Chicago at #10. Las Vegas already has Christian Wilkins as its interior pass rusher. New York has Quinnen Williams. Carolina could take him at #8, but they seem focused on finding an edge rusher. New Orleans at #9? They have Bresee. While one of those teams may take him anyway, it feels like there is a serious path for him to reach Chicago.
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Old thread, giving a bump.
Prediction for tonight – Graham falls to 8th pick, and the Bears trade up with Carolina to take him, giving up their third round pick and 1.10, and getting back a fourth from Carolina.
Prediction for tomorrow – Bears trade down with one of their second round picks to move back into the third round.
Prediction for the rest of the year – multiple Poles haters on this site pan the draft no matter what the Bears do.
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@Dr. Melhus – I %100 agree Graham over Jeanty. For me if Graham is there at 10 (odds at 1% chance) you run to the podium! I honestly feel Mason would be our 1 tech. And if Mason Graham is gone I’m still submitting his name just to see if we could get lucky on a technicality!
For me, getting Graham would be a better result than getting Jeanty. Graham and 1.10 and any running back worth picking at 2.39 or 2.41 would be IMO a better result than Jeanty and any second round DT. Draft pundits have comped Graham to Tommy Harris. I remember watching him play. He was a beast when healthy. Sadly, that wasn’t too often. In Lovie Smith’s Super Bowl, Harris was out injured. I think the Bears might have beaten the Colts if Harris was healthy. Chris Harris had a pick in the first quarter; there might have been another if Tommie… Read more »
Jags are going CB or OL at 5. Book it.