First 3 Picks

[dieterbrock]

Stranger things have happened. Neither of them have done shit in the league so nothing would surprise me. Also I said IF not WHEN he's cut.

Sam Darnold brought back a haul, Wentz as well. He'd likely bring back as much as a 2nd rounder. Cut? No chance.

 

[Badfinger]

The Rams are playing themselves out of range to get one of the top LTs, as there are only 2 legit #1's. They WILL be in the spot where there should be options at edge and corner, maybe even WR, but I think the defensive needs win out.

 

[fanotodd]

One could argue that the Panthers could have waited and avoided the costly trade up for Young. Then, in this 2024 draft they would be in position to take Maye. Homestate QB would be big with the fans.

Chicago should take a top QB. Fields is not going to lead that team to a Super Bowl. Trading back would be an option. I think if they stick with Fields then they will want Harrison Jr. They may be like many Bears fans and convincing themselves that Fields just needs more talented weapons. With Fields, that would be a wasted career for Marvin. If the Cards and Bears both want Marvin Harrison, then the Bears are stuck and can’t trade back with that first pick. A trade back could get them a lot to work within picks.

Arizona is stuck with Murray, and I love it. So I could see them going many ways.

This is why I think regardless of where the bears stand with fields, they should grab harrison at #1. Zona is married to murray, no doubt, so they won’t be grabbing a QB at #2. They might even trade out if both williams and maye are still on the board.
If not, you have the cheatriots grabbing one of those guys at #3 and here come the bears again at #4. Then what?
They have their pick at QB (minus either Williams or maye) or a premium OT or Edge. Not a bad spot to be in.

…but again, if I’m zona and harrison is off the board, I trade out for a truckload of picks.

Ultimately, a lotta draft picks isn’t always the answer, unless you treat them like the Rams and use them to acquire established talent. Both the bears and cards can be in that position to both draft AND trade for talent with all of the premium picks they can acquire—if they do this right.

 

[Mackeyser]

I wonder if the Hoodie gets fired in New England after this season and if so, who succeeds him? Often the HC is fired if a team is dreadful enough to be picking that high in the draft. Also, what STUD RB are you thinking of? I think with having Matthew at QB, we need to stack quality Olinemen every year to protect him.

I highly doubt it as he just signed a huge extension. If they fire Darth Hoodie, he’ll have a massive payout and I dunno Kraft want to eat all that

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

This is why I think regardless of where the bears stand with fields, they should grab harrison at #1. Zona is married to murray, no doubt, so they won’t be grabbing a QB at #2. They might even trade out if both williams and maye are still on the board.
If not, you have the cheatriots grabbing one of those guys at #3 and here come the bears again at #4. Then what?
They have their pick at QB (minus either Williams or maye) or a premium OT or Edge. Not a bad spot to be in.

…but again, if I’m zona and harrison is off the board, I trade out for a truckload of picks.

Ultimately, a lotta draft picks isn’t always the answer, unless you treat them like the Rams and use them to acquire established talent. Both the bears and cards can be in that position to both draft AND trade for talent with all of the premium picks they can acquire—if they do this right.

Good analysis. I agree that it makes sense for the Bears to draft Harrison, now that you explained it.

The only way it doesn’t, is if they think one of the other top wide receivers is close enough in talent for them to choose him later and take the extra draft picks.

 

[FrantikRam]

The Rams are playing themselves out of range to get one of the top LTs, as there are only 2 legit #1's. They WILL be in the spot where there should be options at edge and corner, maybe even WR, but I think the defensive needs win out.

I would be shocked if either of our first two draft picks was a defensive player. And I think it's possible that our first four are all offense

 

[Badfinger]

I would be shocked if either of our first two draft picks was a defensive player. And I think it's possible that our first four are all offense

IMO that would be foolhardy in the extreme. We need, in no particular order, a CB, an Edge, an ILB, a FS, and another interior DL. Our offensive needs are...LT. MAYBE, a TE. Our WR and RB rooms are good, if not great, and QB is set, Interior OL is as well.
Feed the D, please.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Because year 2 as a starter he's fallen off dramatically. Turnover prone, inaccurate passer, poor decisions in big moments
I was a big fan going in to this season, and watching most of his games gives a different impression.

Wow. I'm just not getting that from the college football watchers I trust. Half of them have him as better than Williams.

 

[Londoner]

Tankathon has Maye lagging behind his peers:

2025 NFL Draft Big Board | Tankathon

Ranking of the top college prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.

www.tankathon.com

 

[KJD_Ram]

one thing I do know...if there is a guy McSnead really wants, he'll go get him...

 

[Allen2McVay]

Tankathon has Maye lagging behind his peers:

2025 NFL Draft Big Board | Tankathon

Ranking of the top college prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.

www.tankathon.com

How is being the 4th overall prospect ‘lagging’?

The next QBs are 15th, 21st, 27th and 30th.

 

[Malibu]

I watched that Vikings Chicago game Fields was terrible. He literally had one great throw at the end of the Vikings win. Chicagos defense kept them in the game. He holds the ball way too long is very indecisive with where to go those two issuea cause unnecessary penalties of holding, lineman down field etc.

Bears are going to trade him for what they can get and if they can get a 2nd or 3rd they will be happy they are not on the hook like NYG and AZ saddled with huge 2nd contracts.

If Carolina keeps on losing Chicago will take a QB. Due to their record Chicago will get another amazing top 10 player with their pick. Unfortunately they would love to trade the 1st pick and get a huge haul but Fields imo is a flat out bust.

AZ will have a tough decision so they go for the big haul and they will get it if they want and pass on Harrison I would depending on the teams directly behind if all need QBs (NE, TB, Indy etc ) might take a shot and move back 2/3 spots and still get Harrison maybe.

NE has to pray that Carolina wins a couple games they need a QB and getting rid of Jones will cost them nothing.

 

[Londoner]

How is being the 4th overall prospect ‘lagging’?

The next QBs are 15th, 21st, 27th and 30th.

Look at his rating, compared to the others.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Look at his rating, compared to the others.

OK but you posted that 'Tankathon has Maye lagging behind his peers'. That's just Not accurate.

Tankathon (the Draft site) currently rates Maye well above Daniels, Penix, McCarthy and Nix.

The Quarterback Rating you reference is Not a Tankathon Rating. It's a generic QB Rating Formula that has been around for years; and relies heavily on three factors ... Completion Percentage, Yards-per-Pass-Attempt and TD-to-Interception ratio.

This season, Nix, McCarthy and Daniels all had ridiculous completion percentages of well-over 70%; and Penix had an absurd 10-to-1 Touchdown-to-Interception ratio. So their Ratings under this particular Formula would certainly be much higher than Maye. However, this particular Draft site still rates Maye as the better prospect ... at this very early point in time.

 

[muggmeister]

Wait? Wut? Why is Maye dropping out of top 10, let alone top 2?

Why is everyone so high on him? I have to admit I don't watch his games but his stats don't warrant a top 10 pick, hell maybe not even a first round grade. Has anybody on this forum actually watched Maye play and can convince me otherwise? I also don't give credit to 2 or 3 splash plays a game when the rest of the game is filled with poor decisions and mediocre play.

 

[Merlin]

Tankathon has Maye lagging behind his peers:

2025 NFL Draft Big Board | Tankathon

Ranking of the top college prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.

www.tankathon.com

I don't think Tankathon knows dick about evaluation. Great site to find out who drafts where though.

 

[Merlin]

Why is everyone so high on him? I have to admit I don't watch his games but his stats don't warrant a top 10 pick, hell maybe not even a first round grade. Has anybody on this forum actually watched Maye play and can convince me otherwise? I also don't give credit to 2 or 3 splash plays a game when the rest of the game is filled with poor decisions and mediocre play.

He's done a lot in a short time. Kid just turned 21. Not a great team around him either. I don't think he's the guy who goes 1 overall but he's probably the guy who won't fall because there are no knocks on him. He's got good size, has the arm, no red flags, etc.

That aside I do admit he has a Herbert vibe. But I can't imagine him falling too far. Teams get stupid sometimes but usually that requires a weird personality, or partyboy background, or idiot red flag behavior, etc.

 

[FrantikRam]

IMO that would be foolhardy in the extreme. We need, in no particular order, a CB, an Edge, an ILB, a FS, and another interior DL. Our offensive needs are...LT. MAYBE, a TE. Our WR and RB rooms are good, if not great, and QB is set, Interior OL is as well.
Feed the D, please.

We do have needs at some of those positions (not ILB or DL - we have never prioritized that second ILB position, and we won't need DL unless Donald retires - everyone on the DL currently is coming back next year save for Murchison).

We have young CBs, Safeties and Edge rushers - we don't need more young unproven guys there. We need to spend our cap dollars there.

It's the opposite on offense - next year we will have everyone returning on offense except Dotson, who I imagine we will try pretty hard to re-sign.

But Stafford, Kupp and Higbee are all older and have injury histories. Tutu and Sko will be a FAs after next year and really doubt they will be with the team beyond that. An explosive RB would be nice.

This all adds up to signing a CB and Edge in FA (biggest priorities by far), signing an OL or Dotson - and then focusing on OL/QB/WR/RB in the draft, possibly TE as well.

Or put more succinctly:

Spend FA dollars on the defense because we have a TON of young guys with potential who should be supplemented with proven players.

Spend draft capital on the offense because we have a TON of experienced players who we will need to replace in the coming years.

 

[Rambitious1]

As Londoner pointed-out, Chicago has the Panthers' first round draft choice but you also have to consider the potential VALUE of the pick.

There are 6-8 Teams that are going to REALLY WANT a Quarterback come late-April. If a team has a high #1 AND there is a highly-coveted-QB available, that pick becomes Hugely Valuable.

Say Williams goes to Chicago at #1, with Arizona picking at #2; and say Harrison is Universally Regarded as the best non-QB-prospect. Further assume, AZ wants to stick with Murray and absolutely loves Harrison.

Harrison is the The Obvious Pick!
Not So Fast!!!
Three teams drafting between 7-10 really WANT the 2nd-rated-QB ... whoever that may be. They each make offers; and are trying to out-bid the other two teams.

How does three #1s, including a pick high enough to get Arizona the 2nd best WR, and three #2s sound? Marvin Harrison better be Jerry Rice if the Cardinals are going to pass-up that type of haul.

IMHO if Chicago picks Williams number one overall, that’s going to get somebody fired.

 

[OldSchool]

Sam Darnold brought back a haul, Wentz as well. He'd likely bring back as much as a 2nd rounder. Cut? No chance.

Darnold was a 6th round and future 2nd and 4th. He'd also played better than Fields and Wentz had played much better than him. Both also were traded in weak QB drafts which got a better return. This year seems loaded with QBs which will likely drive down any value Fields has. Also I never said he would be cut I said if he's cut. I'm not trading for him I'd draft a qb or sign Wentz.