NME wrote:
Nas wrote:
Clawmaster wrote:
Nas wrote:
I prefer addressing the center position in free agency. I see no reason to invest a 2nd on a center when you have a rookie quarterback.
Thought the same, but Connor Williams hurt his knee and will be out for the start of the year, Andre James will be there, but your gonna have to pay a premium, you're taking one at some point in the draft, you are zero guys that are NFL starter level on the roster at the position right now.
I didn't realize Connor had torn his knee. I think the Bears will go after a James. From what I can gather, Caleb isn't football dumb, but he's never been under center, and expecting 2 rookies to call out protections can be disastrous. You think they'll go get one in the draft? Who would be your top 3 targets?
Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) is the guy I like. He’s huge (but very athletic) for a center too -dude weighed in around 330 at the senior bowl.
Cedrick Van-Pran (Georgia) and Zach Frazier (West Virginia) are highly projected too.
Kid from Oregon might go at the end of the 1st tho. But if I’m the Bears I’m drafting one of these kids. Free agency isn’t very deep at this position and I’d rather go young anyway and let them grow together. Build thru the draft as much as possible.
Van-Pran has been the dude I have been watching, fits in a zone scheme, he seems to be slipping a bit, so could be there in the third round along with Frazier, Powers-Johnson is the guy that is climbing the boards, highly doubt they get him unless they pick up extra picks, you also have some late round guys with size and/or movement ability, the Arkansas kid Limmer should still be there in the 5th round, think they sign a vet and draft one, a fourth or fifth round pick is an upgrade over Patrick.
It will be interesting to see where they spend FA paper, Johnson will not be cheap, you get some relief when you release Whitehair and Eddie Jackson, but you have to find a pass rusher, a veteran FS that can QB your defense and lead your talented young secondary, a veteran C, and upgrade your WR and TE rooms. Not sure you want to throw paper at Chris Jones and Ravens are supposedly franchising Madubuike, so you have to hope they can coach up Dexter to fill the crucial three tech spot.