The NFL Draft has come and gone, and the Chicago Bears are richer than hell from it. What a weekend!
The Bears landed a steal with each of their first three picks, nabbing LB Roquan Smith, OL James Daniels, and WR Anthony Miller by the end of Day 2 on Friday. Those first three picks alone makes this year’s class a winner.
We as fans should be extremely excited about the upcoming season. GM Ryan Pace found three immediate starters, and at least two others that should compete on a rotational basis right away, too. Pace was having an exceptional offseason before the draft, and then last weekend, at least on paper, he hit it out of the park.
With that, we reach into this week’s, post-draft Bears Mailbag. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions — as always, I appreciate the participation!
As I mentioned above, the Bears should be ecstatic with the draft class they landed. They picked up three immediate starters and at least two others that can contribute on a rotational basis. That’s incredible already. And even the undrafted free agents the Bears signed, such as CBs Kevin Toliver and Michael Joseph, EDGE Elijah Norris, and RB Ryan Nall, all have a solid opportunity to compete and make the Bears’ roster.
So, per your question, what was the “good” from draft weekend?
I’ll start with the fact that Chicago landed not only starters, but steals with each of their first three picks. Roquan Smith, who was one of the top three players in the entire draft and happens to play a position of need, was somehow available at eighth overall. If you recall, it didn’t take Ryan Pace too long to turn in his draft card.
Then they landed James Daniels, who was rated the best C in this draft and an exceptional fit in a heavy zone scheme like the one Matt Nagy employs, in the second round. Again, a steal.
And finally, they traded back into the second round to grab Anthony Miller by forking over one of their fourth rounders this year and next year’s second round pick. But honestly, who cares? Miller was arguably the best WR in this class and was somehow available mid-way through the second round. Pace essentially made next year’s second round pick a year early to take someone who can and should dominate in Matt Nagy’s offense immediately. It was a great move.
The only “bad” thing I can think of is that the Bears’ EDGE position still remains unsettled. Chicago had opportunities to take some of the more well known names in various rounds, such as Harold Landry (who was a personal favorite of mine) and Lorenzo Carter in the second, and Josh Sweat and Dorance Armstrong in the fourth. But Pace clearly valued other players more than those guys at a position of need, and I can’t fault him for that.
So, while Chicago still needs EDGE help, there are still opportunities to add depth, or even a starter, post-draft. More on that in the next question below.
You can absolutely guarantee that Ryan Pace is looking at every and all opportunities to improve the EDGE talent and depth. Sure, it didn’t get addressed during the draft for a variety of reasons. But rest assured that while it’s clear to all of us that EDGE requires help, Pace knows that too and is working to rectify it.
Erik Lambert of SM wrote an article recently about a few avenues that Chicago has to improve their EDGE issues, which I’ve linked you to here. You can read it for more details.
I like the idea of signing Connor Barwin a lot. He’ll be 32 in October, but he has experience in a 3-4 system as an EDGE and is a strong pass rusher. He’d be quality veteran depth at a position that needs it, while certainly capable of making a big impact. If not Barwin, then Lamarr Houston is also still available. Houston made some noise last year, notching four sacks in the final few games, and he certainly knows Vic Fangio’s system well. Re-signing Houston would make a lot of sense, and he could probably be had for cheap.
As far as the trade market is concerned, the likeliest (and best) option is Denver’s Shane Ray. He’s a former first-round pick and great talent, but he finds himself to be a bit of a misfit now that the Broncos have shifted to a 4-3 defense. He would be a tremendous fit in Fangio’s system and likely wouldn’t cost much in terms of trade capital due to the scheme change. Adding Ray would be ideal, because he’d be an instant starter across from Leonard Floyd, allowing Aaron Lynch to provide quality depth pass rushing ability.
Keep your eye on Broncos’ OLB Shaquil Barrett, too, as he also finds himself in a similar situation as Ray there in Denver.
Given the fact that Taylor Gabriel isn’t a slot receiver — he rarely, if at all, played in the slot in Atlanta and has himself refuted the notion of being a slot guy, the answer is Anthony Miller. And he’s an absolutely perfect fit. More on that below.
The reality is that Allen Robinson, Gabriel, and Miller find themselves together on the field quite often. And now, the Bears are suddenly swimming in wide receiver depth, given they also have Kevin White, Bennie Fowler, and Marlon Brown and Josh Bellamy also competing for spots on the roster. Whereas last year’s WR depth chart was a total mess, there is plenty of talent here now.
Couple that with the tight end talent and depth Chicago has accumulated — Adam Shaheen, Trey Burton, and Dion Sims, and we’re left guessing as to how on Earth Matt Nagy will be able to deploy all these pieces. I can’t wait to find out, though.
Honestly, yeah, you can take them seriously. Remember, the comparisons don’t mean that they expect Miller to become Antonio Brown. Brown is arguably the best receiver in football and already one of the best in NFL history. Having similar expectations isn’t fair.
But the comparisons, while lofty on the surface, are actually quite justified. And it’s not just about size.
Longtime NFL writer Bob McGinn said that two scouts told him Miller reminded them of Brown for a variety or reasons. One is Miller’s confidence, which is through the roof. Brown is infamous for having supreme confidence in his abilities and playing with a massive chip on his shoulder. It has paid off quite well for him. Miller, by all accounts, is the same way.
When I watch Miller’s Memphis tape and Brown’s tape from his time in the league, here’s what I see about their receiving traits that are similar:
They’re also both extremely good route runners who know how to get open consistently. They have great feet and quickness and are able to use their leverage to routinely shake off defenders. If you watch Miller’s Memphis tape, his ankle breaking skills and ability to adjust to coverages are extraordinary. That’s why he can be an invaluable weapon at every level on the field.
They can also both play outside and inside, though Miller is projected to be absolutely lethal in the slot.
I can go on, but you get the picture. The traits are similar and if Miller can improve some of the finer details with improved coaching from what he got at Memphis, he can terrorize the NFC for years to come, much like Brown has done to the entire league.
