Latest / 2nd City Gridiron / Chicago Draft Room: Dexter Lawrence, Rueben Bain Jr & Why Day 2 Makes or Breaks the Bears

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Chicago Draft Room: Dexter Lawrence, Rueben Bain Jr & Why Day 2 Makes or Breaks the Bears · 2nd City Gridiron

0:01
[SPEAKER_01]: We are back, and we are one week away from the first round of the National Football League draft, what it's going to be a highly anticipated weekend for all NFL fans, certainly for Bears fans.
0:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, along with Jacob and Fonte, I am already tempkin' this.
0:14
[SPEAKER_01]: This is Chicago draft room, 2026 on the clock.
0:18
[SPEAKER_01]: A lot to get to you today, including the latest on Bears News.
0:22
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, what I think is without a doubt, the most important day,
0:29
[SPEAKER_01]: and series, perhaps, for the bears in this draft.
0:32
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll zero in on that.
0:33
[SPEAKER_01]: What's up, Jacob, how are you?
0:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm doing good, man.
0:36
[SPEAKER_00]: It's nuts to think the draft is one week away.
0:40
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, all this preparation and stuff.
0:42
[SPEAKER_00]: It's just around the corner.
0:45
[SPEAKER_00]: You're definitely right.
0:46
[SPEAKER_00]: The anticipation is growing day by day.
0:48
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm pretty stoked as you can imagine.
0:51
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, and it's such a, you know, we've talked throughout in the episodes we've done about like just a weird spot like the bears were used as drafting in the top 10 and then that combined with the clunkiness of this draft class where there's like a lot of NFL ready prospects, but the dropoff between 25 25 57 isn't that significant.
1:11
[SPEAKER_01]: So there's 10, 11 12 players the bears should be and could be interested in.
1:18
[SPEAKER_01]: anywhere between 25 and 57 and everything in between.
1:21
[SPEAKER_01]: So I just think there's so much mystery here.
1:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Too full the the state of the draft and the players and then also the fact the bears are drafting 25th, which is a welcome situation given the bears recent lack of success.
1:34
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, I mean, and it's it's such it's an interesting draft for that reason.
1:40
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you mentioned picking a 25 usually, you know, like last year where you have a tenth overall pick you have an understanding usually of who's going to be there.
1:47
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, okay, some of the first few guys off the board are going to be, you know, it's the consensus guys and maybe there's a one or two wild cards thrown into there, but you have an understanding who's going to be available.
1:59
[SPEAKER_00]: 25 it's
2:01
[SPEAKER_00]: it's anybody's gas really i mean you have the same thing like you know the consensus top ten guys are going to go off the board but from there it's it's you know anybody's game really and it's you know you have so many offensive linemen defensive linemen wide receivers where it's like they're all talented but you know what flavor of player do you like the best you know uh so it's
2:25
[SPEAKER_00]: and makes it interesting for guys like us while we're trying to predict what's going to happen, we're trying to get people prepared for, all right, who's going to be available here?
2:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Who could the bears consider?
2:36
[SPEAKER_00]: We don't even know if they're going to be available at 25, because there's so many factors that play into it in those preceding 24 picks, but I kind of like the chaos, honestly.
2:47
[SPEAKER_00]: It's exciting to, you know, because you have to be prepared for so many different scenarios, so many different situations, it's kind of exciting.
2:54
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, well said.
2:55
[SPEAKER_01]: And for us, you know, both you and I Jacob are big white socks fans.
2:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah.
3:00
[SPEAKER_01]: This is like this draft is like the greatest fireworks we're going to have.
3:04
[SPEAKER_01]: The entire song.
3:06
[SPEAKER_01]: All right.
3:09
[SPEAKER_01]: So let's talk first about the big story, which is Dexter Lawrence.
3:12
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, the latest news surrounding Dexter Lawrence is that he and the giants rated in pass.
3:19
[SPEAKER_01]: He wants a long term deal.
3:20
[SPEAKER_01]: He wants $30 million a year.
3:23
[SPEAKER_01]: And the giants are, they're blocking it that they don't want.
3:28
[SPEAKER_01]: And so, I mean, a similar situation with Max Crosby, I guess, let's start at the front end.
3:36
[SPEAKER_01]: You're feeling on Dexter Lawrence.
3:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Would you want the bears to make a trade for him?
3:42
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that, I mean, I'm certainly on board with Dexter Lawrence for Chicago.
3:48
[SPEAKER_00]: I understand some people can be like, oh, well, he doesn't fit Den Salon's scheme.
3:53
[SPEAKER_00]: I get that he's a bigger defensive tackle and historically Allen likes the, you know, the smaller, more explosive type of guys, but you see such a disruptive interior defender, regardless of size.
4:05
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that, oh, he's too big.
4:08
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think that matters when you haven't a probable caliber defensive tackle hitting the market like Dexter Lawrence and if you don't
4:17
[SPEAKER_00]: there's some people who don't really comprehend that it doesn't really make sense to me why they go down that path.
4:25
[SPEAKER_00]: He's an incredible pass rusher for such a big guy.
4:28
[SPEAKER_00]: He's so big that he's going to generate double teams by default as a pass rusher as a run defender especially though.
4:35
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's going to open up opportunities for you know we're going to it would open up opportunities for a Devin Bush, TJ Edwards, Demarco, Jackson, whoever ends up starting
4:47
[SPEAKER_00]: as well as the defense events to be able to clean up and get those one-on-one opportunities as pass-rushers.
4:53
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm definitely on board with Lawrence and I think in a class like this too, where we keep talking about the drop-off from 25 to 57 and 60 isn't massive.
5:06
[SPEAKER_00]: It's maybe not as big as some of the drop-offs you'd see in years past.
5:12
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think having said that,
5:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Would you rather have a, you know, a younger and cheaper defensive lineman, but one who you look at that tape and it's like, all right, I feel confident he's going to be a solid starter.
5:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how high the ceiling is outside of that or would rather take 25 and turn that into one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, you know, a two time all pro.
5:42
[SPEAKER_00]: I think I know my answer, and you know, considering in a trade, the giants would take half of that existing salary, there's not a massive dead cap hit.
5:56
[SPEAKER_00]: compared to other, you know, big time splash moves that you might make elsewhere.
6:02
[SPEAKER_00]: So Lawrence, I'd be 100% on board with.
6:05
[SPEAKER_01]: For the 25th pick, but also knowing that once you trade for him, you've got to you've got to resign him to a deal that's going to exceed 30 million a year that is not going to be picked up by the job.
6:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
6:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, so I mean, I, I, I'd still be willing to do that.
6:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, you know, I think it depends on the length of the contracts.
6:25
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know exactly how long he's looking into it, but you look at some of the top defensive tackles like Aaron Donald was able to play until he was 30 and played a high level Chris Jones's past 30 and, you know, he's been in all pro for multiple seasons past that age.
6:47
[SPEAKER_00]: they're still able to perform well, Dexter Lawrence is 28 years old.
6:51
[SPEAKER_00]: You're probably looking at a good three, four more years of high level play, potentially.
6:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you know, that's tough to project, I suppose, but I think given his track record, it's pretty fair to assume, because he's been such an impactful player for as long as he has been.
7:10
[SPEAKER_00]: So,
7:11
[SPEAKER_00]: I do understand, you know, the price is going to be cheap or the price is going to be steep, rather, definitely not cheap.
7:18
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think that you look at how weak that bears defensive line has been for so long.
7:26
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's something you at least have to consider and being able to, you know, eat that price.
7:32
[SPEAKER_00]: You can look at it from the perspective of, all right, well, in 2027,
7:39
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, assuming, you know, if they do trade for Lawrence, they, I just assume that have to, you know, restructure a couple contracts, but in 2027 you can cut out a rainbow you can cut Jared you can make some other restructure moves if you have to you can potentially make other cuts.
7:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if they would do it, but guys like Montes, sweat, Jalen Johnson, Jonah Jackson, Cole Comet, TJ Edwards, they all have outs in their contract.
8:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you're not cutting all those guys, obviously, but maybe, you know,
8:10
[SPEAKER_00]: Edwards could make sense.
8:11
[SPEAKER_00]: You're freeing up eight and a half million dollars there.
8:14
[SPEAKER_00]: Great.
8:15
[SPEAKER_00]: You're freeing up 13 and a half million dollars.
8:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Dial you're freeing up 15 million dollars.
8:19
[SPEAKER_00]: It'll be very easy next off season to have a ton of cap space to work with.
8:25
[SPEAKER_00]: And that's not even including what they have right now.
8:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Where they're sitting at over 61 million dollars according to over the cap.
8:34
[SPEAKER_00]: But so I think they have the flexibility financially to do that and, you know, some of that money is going to be used on Darnell right you're going to need to save some money for, you know, the future to extend Caleb Williams obviously, but I think that if you have, you know, a couple.
8:51
[SPEAKER_00]: big money contracts on the book, so that's not going to kill you.
8:55
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think at need as big as defensive line, I think you have to, you know, I think that starts to become, all right, that's a move that we can, you know, we can justify making.
9:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and you know, look, you're, you're starting to talk me and do it a little bit because initially, I was, he's 28, he's coming off, I mean, a season where he played all 17 games, but wasn't great.
9:13
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it was statistically one of his worst seasons.
9:16
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, and then you factor in, you're going to need to pay him at the top end of the market as he's still there.
9:22
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, the other initial thought I had was like, the bears were a very weird spot because like they have a very expensive defensive line that's not very good.
9:31
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's like, you can't don't, you can't keep spending along with the defensive line, like at some point, you're going to have to, you know, eat some of these bad contracts and I think, you know, the point you made about.
9:41
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, Odingbo and and Jared will cost a lot less to dead money if you were able to cut them after next year.
9:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I obviously this is a huge year for our Odingbo.
9:51
[SPEAKER_01]: That looks like a horrible deal.
9:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh yeah.
9:53
[SPEAKER_01]: And then Jared doesn't look much much worse, but certainly a guy that played last year.
9:58
[SPEAKER_01]: So that was at least he was on the field.
10:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
10:01
[SPEAKER_01]: But I mean, look, if I'm getting, if I'm getting Dexter Lawrence for two or three more seasons from what he was in 2024, sign me up.
10:07
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he was one of the best defensive tackles in football in 24, but nine sacks, but played only 12 games.
10:15
[SPEAKER_01]: And he has had some injury history, but but everybody does for the most part.
10:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
10:19
[SPEAKER_01]: So I see your side and honestly, it's, you've talked me further into it than I initially thought because again, like bears have invested a ton on the defensive line.
10:27
[SPEAKER_01]: They have a bad defensive line that has spent a bunch of money.
10:29
[SPEAKER_01]: and I'm worried about 2025 because he wasn't very good, but there are legitimate circumstances and excuses you can make for Dexter Lawrence for why 2025 was bad because the giants were just miserable too.
10:42
[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, football, everything affects everything else and when you're bad in certain areas like that makes it harder to be good, especially as a interior alignment,
10:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, you know, when it comes to the sack numbers, you know, in 2024, they had a better defensive line.
10:57
[SPEAKER_01]: He posted nine sacks.
10:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I also think like you add a guy like Lawrence, that makes sweat that much better.
11:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Like they need a game record, like Lawrence, to make sweat a better player because when when Lawrence demands double teams,
11:10
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, you know, then that I was of opportunities for sweat, who's right now kind of in the face of those double teams.
11:15
[SPEAKER_01]: So, and that's what we saw him be best in Washington going back.
11:19
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, when they had a really good interior line, so that was was the best edge, you know, rushing the edge.
11:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, absolutely.
11:26
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's working with, you know, Jonathan Allen, Daron Paine, you have those guys up the middle, you know, generating attention on those passing downs.
11:34
[SPEAKER_00]: And it's going to make your job a lot easier off the edge.
11:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And Chicago, he hasn't had that.
11:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Where, I mean, Daron Dexter can make splash plays here there, but the consistency hasn't been there.
11:46
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, like you mentioned, Grady Jarrett, I mean, he was healthy all year, but wasn't a massive impact guy.
11:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Andrew Billings didn't do much of anything last year.
11:54
[SPEAKER_00]: It just, and then Schermar Turner only played a couple of games in the interior, played a little bit outside, and he got hurt for the season.
12:02
[SPEAKER_00]: So he hasn't had much to work with.
12:06
[SPEAKER_00]: as far as interior pressure goes.
12:09
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think it's what's been good for the bears.
12:12
[SPEAKER_00]: Don't get me wrong.
12:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that he's, if he's far in a way, they're best defensive line then right now.
12:17
[SPEAKER_00]: It's coming off of year with 10 sacks.
12:20
[SPEAKER_00]: I think, you know, he's a, he's in above average starter, which is incredibly valuable in the NFL, especially for team with that bad of a defensive line.
12:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He hasn't been a star.
12:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd argue maybe they drafted him to be a star or not drafted.
12:35
[SPEAKER_00]: They traded for him.
12:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
12:37
[SPEAKER_00]: They traded the second round or for him to be a star.
12:40
[SPEAKER_00]: It hasn't quite been that, but he's still but an impact player.
12:43
[SPEAKER_00]: I do think part of that though comes down to just he doesn't have much along the defensive line to work with.
12:51
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that whether it is a guy like Lawrence or you use the draft to take a defense attack on the first round, bring another edge with one of those second round picks or a third round or even, I think investments necessary, not just for sweat, but for the whole entire defense as a whole because you're looking at a very similar unit to what you had last year and what you had last year was really bad.
13:16
[SPEAKER_00]: So,
13:17
[SPEAKER_00]: they got to do something.
13:19
[SPEAKER_00]: They got to start taking some swings.
13:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm hopeful that a week from now, we're going to have a way different conversation than what we're having right now.
13:28
[SPEAKER_01]: Well said, no, totally.
13:29
[SPEAKER_01]: And look, I mean, if we want to blame one unit for why the bear's rush defense was so bad, I think it's easy to point to the defense line as being the major reason for it.
13:37
[SPEAKER_01]: It's always, anytime you've got a bad rush defense, it's going to be your line and your linebackers.
13:43
[SPEAKER_01]: It's those things working in tandem that allow a running back to get to that third level.
13:47
[SPEAKER_01]: But it feels like it was more on the defensive line because you just saw the way in which certain offensive lines could absolutely push that defensive line, especially the interior around, which has been grismal we're talking about, why great, Jared, it was maybe not a fit for the bears last year and why arguably the best player along the interior of the defensive line isn't even with the team anymore in Andrew Billings.
14:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, totally agree.
14:15
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see what ends up happening.
14:16
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, look, I think Ryan Poles has been a lot more cautious.
14:21
[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like this year.
14:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Like it's it's
14:25
[SPEAKER_01]: At this point, sort of surprising, they haven't restructured some of these guys and maybe a big part of that is because they do intend on cutting some of these guys when the money opens up and if they extend them and they are not extend them, but if they restructured deals, then now you're logged into them for a longer period of time.
14:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And like, I mean, nobody's going to disagree.
14:46
[SPEAKER_01]: I think with the Kobe Bryant trail, a deal.
14:48
[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's obviously a huge, huge benefit to the bear.
14:51
[SPEAKER_01]: So like, I think polls is at a really good offseason so far.
14:54
[SPEAKER_01]: It's been relatively quiet, but good, and then also very cautious.
14:58
[SPEAKER_01]: And that's why I don't think they're going to do this deal, but the more I think about it, the more I'm okay with it.
15:03
[SPEAKER_01]: The other thing is, at this point, we don't know what the compensation would be.
15:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm with you in terms of like, are you going to get a player at 25 that's more impactful?
15:11
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, maybe, but at least from what we know today, no, and but if it's more than 25, that's where I think that's where I think you can run into some issues.
15:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no.
15:21
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm with you on that for sure.
15:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't give like I'd give up 25 for Lawrence.
15:25
[SPEAKER_00]: I wouldn't give up anything more.
15:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that that's the peak that I be willing to give up.
15:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd start with being like, hey, we'll give you 57 or 60 and, you know, like a future pick in 2027.
15:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd start with that.
15:38
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, I anticipate New York's going to want a first round pick.
15:42
[SPEAKER_00]: They're going to count to be like, all right, no, you got to give us two first round picks.
15:45
[SPEAKER_00]: Which obviously, not you're not going to do that.
15:49
[SPEAKER_00]: no one would they get it I wouldn't think no no definitely not I think you know it's what Quinn and Williams got a first in a second and he was better you know last year then Lawrence was so I mean I don't think you're getting a first in a second for for Lawrence especially you know considering the fact here that you're gonna have to pay him a ton of money
16:12
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, I mean, I wouldn't give up more than 25 form, especially because you have a handful of other needs on defense where, you know, including defensive tackle.
16:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, you also need some value along the defensive end position, you also need some value at safety, maybe a corner even, you know, as a successor to Tyreech Stevenson.
16:33
[SPEAKER_00]: And then even on offense center, maybe you take a left tackle to the next.
16:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.
16:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Like you have a lot of different directions and a lot of different moves that you need.
16:41
[SPEAKER_00]: If it's a one to one trade with Lawrence, I'd be okay with that.
16:46
[SPEAKER_00]: But if you're starting to eat up into your draft capital this year and, you know, and next year to where it's very early, but that draft classes already getting, you know, talks of, okay, this could be a really, really good class.
16:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know if I'd be on board with that.
17:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, well said, make sure to post your comments on your thoughts on the Dexter Lawrence potential deal with the bears.
17:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Do you love it?
17:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Would you hate it?
17:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Would you love it?
17:09
[SPEAKER_01]: You can post those while we're live here on Chicago draft room via the second city gridiron YouTube channel.
17:16
[SPEAKER_01]: Or you can always get us on social media at Jacob and Fontaine 24.
17:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I am at Ari Sports.
17:22
[SPEAKER_01]: A. R. I.
17:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Sports give us your takes and opinions on Dexter Lawrence.
17:25
[SPEAKER_01]: The bears and why it makes sense or why it doesn't make sense.
17:27
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, if you're listening back to this on the podcast version.
17:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks for checking this out here on the second city grid iron podcast page.
17:34
[SPEAKER_01]: We are Chicago draft room 2026 on the clock.
17:36
[SPEAKER_01]: Jacob and Fontaine Ari.
17:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Temkin live once a week.
17:39
[SPEAKER_01]: For next week, we'll go live on Friday to recap what we saw day one.
17:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And then preview the rest of the weekend and then we'll do another show, what do we say, Monday of the next week, to give so many thoughts and the overall three days of the draft.
17:55
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, and it's it's going to be I'm excited to be able to break that down obviously so, you know, Monday, you know, lock me in.
18:05
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm so for it and it's it's been fun obviously to talk about okay what's going to happen what's going to happen what's going to happen but once you have something concrete to talk about it's like all right now this is the reality of the situation I think that's going to be a ton of fun so make sure you know all you guys listening you know live or you know listening over make sure to keep an eye out for you know for that for sure All right so the big thing that I wanted to talk about today is.
18:31
[SPEAKER_01]: I think day two is the most impactful day of the entire thing for the bears.
18:36
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's even more impactful than what they do at 25.
18:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I also think I'm pretty confident that the bears are going to net out with a different amount of picks coming out of the draft they went in with.
18:50
[SPEAKER_01]: That could mean more picks, it could mean less picks.
18:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm leaning more, I'm open to less, but my guess is that the bears at some point either trade up or trade down, because there's so much uncertainty and, you know, look, if the, you know, Ryan Polls talked with Todd McShay before at the combine, and basically said like they've run through with software, like all these different draft scenarios, like they've done mock drafts to run through all the scenarios that could present itself.
19:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, look,
19:20
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure if you asked Ryan Paul's today, he'd tell you he has no idea whether he's going to trade up or trade down or stay in St. Pad and every pick of this draft.
19:27
[SPEAKER_01]: So much of it depends on the bear's board and then how those players fall.
19:32
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's a totally in the moment situation.
19:35
[SPEAKER_01]: But this is why I think day two is so important.
19:39
[SPEAKER_01]: And look, if you go best player available on day one in some ways because this team is where it is, you need to draft four need in rounds two and three
19:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So I just want to get your thoughts on just big picture like to me day two is the most important day of the drive and then the other part to this too, and you know this, but like after the bear's draft, if they don't move at all after the bear's draft and round four like they're done until the seventh round and so the majority of the damage they're going to be doing is day two.
20:08
[SPEAKER_00]: 100%.
20:08
[SPEAKER_00]: And I will say that, you know, if Ryan pulls is using like outside resources to do mock drafts, I will let him know that the PFS and mock draft simulator now has the Jacob and Fontaine Bigboard as an option that you can choose.
20:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Nice.
20:26
[SPEAKER_00]: So Mr. polls, you know, if you'd be so kind, but I do think, yeah, now I'm with you in that, you know, day two is, you know, can be often where
20:38
[SPEAKER_00]: a lot is one-and-lost for teams and, you know, I point to, you know, the Seahawks in particular where I know we keep looking at them as the blueprint being the most recent Super Bowl champions, but they've done really well in, you know, around one, obviously the last couple of years, but you also look at,
20:59
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, day two, where last year they drafted Nicki Minaj in the second round, he stepped in right away and made a massive impact.
21:07
[SPEAKER_00]: The year before Christian Haynes is a starting guard for them, Derek Hall, starting edgerusher, Zach Sharbinay, impact running back.
21:15
[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be a full-time starter now.
21:17
[SPEAKER_00]: Boy, I'm off A.
21:19
[SPEAKER_00]: Kenneth Walker, Abraham Lucas, though, just the last couple of years, they've drafted incredibly well on day two and, you know, not a ton of star power, but good starters.
21:29
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that's having that such a well-rounded roster, that's what can help propel you to that next level or the bears aren't quite at right now.
21:38
[SPEAKER_00]: So, I've with you in that this is probably where, you know, a lot of the
21:48
[SPEAKER_00]: But, you know, I'm with you too, you know, I think that having such a big gap, like you said, between the fourth round and the seventh round currently, maybe that changes.
21:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I anticipated does in some capacity, but I think a lot of the big swings and a lot of the impacts can be made on day two.
22:05
[SPEAKER_00]: And,
22:06
[SPEAKER_00]: You're coming off the draft where Luther Burton looking like a fantastic second-round pick.
22:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Azita Pillow looked like a really good pick, before he got hurt, we'll see.
22:15
[SPEAKER_00]: Shemar Turner missed most of the year due to injury.
22:19
[SPEAKER_00]: But day two though, polls hasn't been fantastic there.
22:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, the third round's consisted of Karanama Gaji in 2024 hasn't penned out.
22:29
[SPEAKER_00]: Zach Pickens didn't pan out.
22:30
[SPEAKER_00]: They cut him.
22:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Veilis Jones didn't pan out.
22:32
[SPEAKER_00]: They cut him.
22:34
[SPEAKER_00]: And you get like solid, you know, you have solid contributors in the second round with your, you know, Kyler, you know, Dr. Juan Brisker, Dexter Stevenson, but, you know, Brisker's already gone now.
22:45
[SPEAKER_00]: He signed elsewhere.
22:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Stevenson's entering the last, Stevenson and Dexter entering the last year, their deals.
22:52
[SPEAKER_00]: And you don't really know what you have there.
22:54
[SPEAKER_00]: It's, it's, is that a guy that you want to pay big money to either them?
22:58
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know.
22:59
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that if they're going to build, you know, a sustainable, Super Bowl contender, these day two picks, that's where the bread and butter is going to come from.
23:07
[SPEAKER_00]: And I do think that the returns in 2025 with those day two picks look more encouraging than years past.
23:15
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think this is going to be something that's going to, I'm not going to say make a break, because I still think they can succeed and build a Super Bowl contender, even if they don't absolutely not day two out of the park, but it's going to make their lives a lot easier if they do.
23:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I want to work through a couple of scenarios that I know we've discussed, certainly one that that I know you'd like.
23:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's talk about gay backers, the past rush or from from Illinois.
23:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I got a, I know I got it early high on.
23:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
23:43
[SPEAKER_01]: Axis at 25, probably not the pick.
23:47
[SPEAKER_01]: It seems too high.
23:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
23:49
[SPEAKER_01]: But he's not going to be available at 57.
23:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And I guess first, give us your report on Axis.
23:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And then second.
23:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Are you willing to move out of 25 for what you might be able to get and move down or to get Accus?
24:05
[SPEAKER_00]: Honestly, honestly, I'd be good with it.
24:08
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, I think that if you move down from 25 and like into the early second rounds, like if you have an opportunity where a team wants to trade for, you know, say, Ty Simpson or they have a number like a receiver or something that they really like that they want to get out in front of, I'd be totally cool with that and then taking him in the, you know, in the early mid late 30s, something like that, 100%.
24:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I mean, so with that,
24:35
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess the question becomes, is there somebody that you think could be able to let 25, whether it's a Parker or a folk or, you know, woods that, or would you rather have Accus and maybe another second round pick or, I mean, it's basically either an Accus.
24:51
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, a future pick, a third-round pick, right?
24:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Like you're going to end up if you trade down with Mark Draft Capital.
24:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Would you rather that, or a TJ Parker, a Zion young, a woods, a folk, some of the guys we've already talked about?
25:06
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd rather move down on honestly.
25:10
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'll mention like I have Parker and young, and you know, guys like the end folk,
25:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Do I have fault?
25:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I do like ever so slightly ahead of Accus, but I do think it's not a big gap at all and if you can move down a couple picks get it like you said an extra third round or an extra second would be incredible, but you know even like an you know an extra third rounder would be tremendous and you're experiencing little to no drop off at edge.
25:37
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd argue you're taking a safer pick with the Accus compared to
25:41
[SPEAKER_00]: uh... you know tj parker where the production dropped off in twenty five sign on young he consistently developed but you know you do have the you know there's a legal history there heldric folk his production dropped off in twenty twenty five as well that wasn't the case of the act as we're looking at a guy is consistently getting better year after year he's refined he's stout his powerful he's got a good short area burst he's not the most you know flexible guy is not going to be a massive
26:10
[SPEAKER_00]: outside speed rush type of threat where he's going to bend and rip and turn the corner and win with flexibility.
26:16
[SPEAKER_00]: But he's going to run through a guys face and he's going to be able to work inside.
26:21
[SPEAKER_00]: He's going to be able to generate pressure consistently off the edge.
26:25
[SPEAKER_00]: And if you can get an extra date to pick and use that on an offensive line and use that on a defensive back, I'd be ecstatic with that.
26:32
[SPEAKER_00]: So he's a guy that I specific for the bear is really like I agree.
26:40
[SPEAKER_00]: But I also don't think he's going to be there at 57 or 60 like you said.
26:45
[SPEAKER_00]: So if you can get if you can move back, still get him and load up on additional draft capital, that would be I'd be hard to argue against that that'd be that'd be a pretty fun outcome for sure.
26:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, for me, when I watch his tape, like he is athletically, I mean, he's able to be tackles pretty consistently.
27:05
[SPEAKER_01]: I guess the question I have is, like, are you okay with a guy that maybe his ceiling may be, you know, not a three down edge?
27:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Not a guy that's going to be great against the run.
27:16
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, and I think that for a guy who's is stowed in actually strong as he is, I think that, you know,
27:21
[SPEAKER_00]: The run still work in progress for 100%, so I think early on you're looking at probably more of a situational past russia type of guy, but at the same time, save the bears draft him.
27:33
[SPEAKER_00]: You can still run with sweat and dial on, you know, run downs in that regard.
27:37
[SPEAKER_00]: And then you start to, you know, factor in Austin Booker, you start to factor in, factor in the Acas there in that regard.
27:43
[SPEAKER_00]: So,
27:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd be okay with that, especially in a class like this, where, I mean, at 25, you're not going to get a fur, a flawless, finished product by any means.
27:54
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think you take the highs with him, and you take the production, you take the consistency on passing downs, and you know, you work with what you have from there.
28:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and look, I mean, we continue to say this, but it's really important to continually reinforce
28:10
[SPEAKER_01]: This draft is really unique from the standpoint of like, you know, it's short on true first round grades at the top, but it's loaded with polished NFL starting caliper prospects and late second early third round and the difference between guys that might be available 25 might be available 35.
28:28
[SPEAKER_01]: It may be available at 45, 55, and so on and so forth.
28:31
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not that much of a distinction, and the reality is all of those guys.
28:35
[SPEAKER_01]: The bearers aren't going to take anybody at 25 that doesn't come with legitimate question marks.
28:39
[SPEAKER_01]: So it almost seems like with that being said, like if unless there's a guy at the bearer's like pulls really loves and he's there at 25, take him, but like I would rather take the risk with the guy later on, I
28:51
[SPEAKER_01]: and move down to pick up an extra pick or extra couple of picks, then I would to not do that, right?
28:57
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it's just always better to have more lines in the water.
29:00
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I just, I'll continue to use them out of form, but like, just throw, you know, you got through a more bait in and try to catch more fish and the more fish you bring home, the more likely you are to get fish that tastes good.
29:13
[SPEAKER_01]: interesting.
29:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I've never thought about that as a, you know, like an analogy before.
29:17
[SPEAKER_00]: So I, I like you.
29:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no 100%.
29:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
29:22
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
29:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
29:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
29:25
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
29:25
[SPEAKER_00]: That's my big takeaways.
29:26
[SPEAKER_00]: I love that analogy, but yeah.
29:28
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm with you though.
29:29
[SPEAKER_00]: I agree for sure.
29:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, the other part.
29:32
[SPEAKER_01]: So okay.
29:33
[SPEAKER_01]: So let me ask you this question in terms of like trading down.
29:36
[SPEAKER_01]: If, if you, if the bears trade back from 60, does it feel like
29:44
[SPEAKER_00]: Not necessarily, I think that, you know, you can look at that as a building block to make more moves, more so than, okay, you know, you traded for the 60th overall pick you have to make a pick there, whether it's moving up, whether it's moving down, I see it as a means to are you're using this 60th overall pick even if you're not selecting there, you're using it as a means to.
30:08
[SPEAKER_00]: upgrade your roster in some other way.
30:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Whether it's trading up and finding, oh, this is a guy we think can be an impact player or trading down to be like, hey, we want to take multiple swings of the bat.
30:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I think, you know, I don't think you can go wrong one way or the other, especially, you know, in a class like this will be keep saying that there's not going to be a massive drop off from guys at 25 compared to guys at 57 or 60.
30:33
[SPEAKER_00]: And also speaking to, you know, some of the
30:38
[SPEAKER_00]: value that you're going to be getting in round three as well.
30:41
[SPEAKER_00]: So even if you trade back out of 60, you still get a really talented player.
30:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I love the potential value you can get in round three in this class.
30:49
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
30:50
[SPEAKER_00]: So.
30:51
[SPEAKER_00]: If you, you know, if you move that or, you know, even if you include that in a, you know, a trade for a guy like Dexter Lawrence even circling back to that, I'm good with it.
31:01
[SPEAKER_00]: So I mean, obviously it's it'd be fun to compare one to one like, oh, you know, they traded DJ more for I don't know trading stukes or something like that, but, you know,
31:13
[SPEAKER_00]: you can go to so many different directions with it.
31:15
[SPEAKER_00]: And I wouldn't be as disappointed, I wouldn't be disappointed necessarily if they don't pick it 60.
31:21
[SPEAKER_00]: Because, you know, at the end of the day, you're using that to try and improve your team no matter what.
31:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Right.
31:26
[SPEAKER_01]: They got 60 for DJ more.
31:28
[SPEAKER_01]: If they move down, they're going to add, you know, more opportunities to go fishing.
31:31
[SPEAKER_01]: And so, right, like at the end of the day, it's not like the one, like you said, not the one to
31:38
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, three names that I'd like to see the bears potentially add day two, talked about one of them in Accus and maybe that's, you know, through a trade down at 25.
31:49
[SPEAKER_01]: So we're talking about one, three players if they do that.
31:52
[SPEAKER_01]: But AJ Halsy, the safety from LSU, who transferred from Houston after being a dominant safety for Houston a couple of years ago.
32:00
[SPEAKER_01]: And then Sam Hacked, the Center from Kansas State, which is a really strong program in developing offensive linemen.
32:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Obviously the Bears are familiar with centers from K-State, Cody White here's a name that stands out.
32:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, heck to me is a guy that I really like if the bears are looking for offensive line help in this draft, you know, a guy that was basically completely non recruited, uh, came in through Chris Climan and Connor Riley, who's, I think, one of the most highly thought of offensive line coaches.
32:29
[SPEAKER_01]: He's now with the Dallas Cowboys after spending,
32:31
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, multiple years of Chris climate north to go to state and Kansas state.
32:34
[SPEAKER_01]: And this is a guy in Hect who started every game, at the last two seasons at center.
32:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And last year in 2025 did not allow a sack and did not have a penalty at the center position.
32:44
[SPEAKER_01]: And I got that, I mean, again, has limitations.
32:46
[SPEAKER_01]: There's a reason why he's probably not going to go higher than the third round.
32:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I think his arms, his length, they think that his arms is certainly an issue.
32:52
[SPEAKER_01]: But for me, like, if you're going up against
32:56
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, legitimate defensive lines like you was consistently a case state and you have these short arms, but you're not penalized.
33:03
[SPEAKER_01]: That's a lot about your your technique and and how good you are up front.
33:08
[SPEAKER_00]: 100% and I saw Jordan Reed from ESPN tweeted out that he thought Sam had to be a really good value for the Bears and Round 3.
33:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I was looking at, it's like, I'd be totally happy with him at 57 or 60.
33:23
[SPEAKER_00]: So now you're getting my hopes up.
33:24
[SPEAKER_00]: It's like, oh, if you can take him without, you know, and you can wait an extra round, I'm like, sign me up.
33:30
[SPEAKER_00]: So, but yeah,
33:38
[SPEAKER_00]: You know, not allowing any sex, not having any penalties, even with those shorter arms.
33:41
[SPEAKER_00]: It speaks to how refined of a technician he is, how well he uses those hands and gets, you know, good placement, good timing behind his strikes.
33:49
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, and he's a fluid mover too.
33:52
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, they're, I think they're a more explosive raw athletes in this class, but I think how well he can block on the move, how
34:02
[SPEAKER_00]: coordinated and how calculated his angles are as as a reach blocker.
34:07
[SPEAKER_00]: I think are you know really impressive in the run game and I know they say, you know, don't scout the helmet, but I think when you have, you know, can't stay bringing in.
34:26
[SPEAKER_00]: I think you got to look at Hecton be like, all right.
34:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you know, there's ESA similar caliber prospect to a lot of those guys.
34:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So ESA on I'd be ecstatic with and then to your point on Halsey too.
34:38
[SPEAKER_00]: He's another guy where I think that They're going to love his playmaking mentality and coverage where, you know, the
34:48
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think they're going to be able to do it, but they're going to try their best to replicate those turnover numbers to the best of their ability.
34:54
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, they have Kobe Bryant in there.
34:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's going to be in long term, a good upgrade for the secondary, but you have that other secondary is about open.
35:03
[SPEAKER_00]: And Halsey's a guy.
35:04
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he plays with that aggressive mentality when the ball's in the air where he can break on a route well and he knows how to track the ball down, whether whenever he's defending like a deeper route covering up high.
35:15
[SPEAKER_00]: but he's also super muscular, super thickly built and he hates really hard.
35:22
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think he's someone where you can move him in the box and he'd be comfortable there.
35:26
[SPEAKER_00]: Like he's, I know he, I think he lost a little bit of weight going into the combine, but he was listed over 220 at LSU to start the year on their website.
35:34
[SPEAKER_00]: So he's someone I feel comfortable with, you know, you can have him as a, you know, you can have him in the box playing a decent amount of snaps every single game.
35:44
[SPEAKER_00]: These are other guys where I'm with you in that in round two, I think he'd be a really good value.
35:51
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd honestly, I'd rather take him in round two than a manual McNeil Warren in round one.
35:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Wow.
35:57
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's my, I guess my hot take from the comparison standpoint.
36:02
[SPEAKER_01]: No, I love that.
36:03
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm totally with you.
36:04
[SPEAKER_01]: The stat that just isn't saying to me as we just talked about Sam hack zero penalties on 702 defensive snaps in 2025 in the SEC.
36:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean,
36:14
[SPEAKER_01]: players in the second area called for holding passenger clearance, especially ones that are as physical as Halsey is to not have a penalty call on him in the SEC H-25 is insane literally, I mean, I mean, that's not that's a disciplined style of aggression right there.
36:39
[SPEAKER_00]: And something where it's
36:42
[SPEAKER_00]: you're absolutely right to be able to do that in the SEC is crazy and to not never get called for a penalty the entire season especially with how hard he hits how aggressive he is is as a tackler and playing in coverage that's nuts.
36:57
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, and the other thing is, he transfers to LSU from Houston.
37:00
[SPEAKER_01]: He's from the Houston area.
37:01
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I live in Dallas, Grove, Chicago, but I'm a huge fan of Texas high school football.
37:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's the best in the country.
37:07
[SPEAKER_01]: And, and Halsey on a bad Houston team a couple of years ago was like, they hadn't in elite defense simply because of Halsey.
37:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, there was certainly some guys up front that were good.
37:18
[SPEAKER_01]: But like, for me, the reason that they were so good was because of Halsey.
37:21
[SPEAKER_01]: And he just, he just was like a rover.
37:23
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he kind of just played where he wanted to.
37:25
[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, and I mean, he was fun to watch and you could just tell that he was on a bad team that didn't have a lot of resources where he was going to leave and he became a huge priority for LSU team with a ton of money, so I just think that says a lot and it didn't.
37:40
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, like, I think one of the things that teams have to now evaluate is how money and college can change some of these kids, because we see that in the pros, where guys have paid and, you know, they're not as motivated.
37:49
[SPEAKER_01]: And the fact that he got paid and still went out there and put up the season that he had shows the type that he how much he loves football and how motivated he is to get better.
37:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely.
37:59
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think that that's why I love as an evaluator, but you know, I say more as, you know,
38:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Like a fan of a team I love watching the bears or in just in general draft those high motor prospects, you know, yes, where it's like I need this dude is going to be able to run through a guys face he's going to need to chase down harder than anybody else in pursuit.
38:27
[SPEAKER_00]: Because I feel like those guys, I mean, because you're absolutely right, once you get the bag, you do see some guys drop off where they don't care as much.
38:36
[SPEAKER_00]: But if they play with this relentlessness, like every single down, it's like, all right, well, that's your bread and butter.
38:43
[SPEAKER_00]: I feel like that's what can be woven into you to an extent.
38:46
[SPEAKER_00]: Even if you get paid, you're not gonna be like, all right, well, I'm just gonna jog and do whatever now.
38:51
[SPEAKER_00]: This is how I play football.
38:55
[SPEAKER_00]: That's the way I know how to play football.
38:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Let me ask you something.
38:59
[SPEAKER_01]: How do you think he would compliment Kobe Bryant?
39:03
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, well, I think he would.
39:06
[SPEAKER_00]: And like, look, I think Bryant's definitely the rangeier of the two where I don't think you're going to have policy very often playing as a single high safety, you know, in that center field or kind of role.
39:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I just don't think that.
39:20
[SPEAKER_00]: Athletically, that's the best fit for him.
39:22
[SPEAKER_00]: But I mean, he can cover underneath very well.
39:25
[SPEAKER_00]: He can cover in this law.
39:26
[SPEAKER_00]: He can cover in the box.
39:29
[SPEAKER_00]: He can play too high as well.
39:31
[SPEAKER_00]: And he's athletic enough to wear, you know, if you throw his way and cover two or cover four, he can, you know, he can shoot towards the sidelines and make plays on the ball and break in that regard.
39:41
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that
39:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, maybe it's a little bit traditional in that regard of, okay, you'd like to have one safety is really good in coverage and one who can be really hard.
39:53
[SPEAKER_00]: I think you'd have that in this case in Chicago, but I think that Halsey, you know, compared to Bursker, it perfectly capable, perfectly solid player.
40:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I think Halsey has more of that playmaking ability in coverage, where, you know, maybe it's a ball tracking thing, maybe it's, you know,
40:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's what it is, honestly, because Britsker had the instincts, he just wasn't, you know, he wasn't aiming out to it.
40:19
[SPEAKER_00]: catch the ball.
40:20
[SPEAKER_00]: He wasn't aiming out to make plays on the ball.
40:22
[SPEAKER_00]: He was aiming to just rubbed to his aiming to hit more so than anything.
40:25
[SPEAKER_00]: I think the whole city does a little bit of both.
40:28
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
40:28
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that having two safeties with that playmaking mentality would go a long way for Chicago.
40:33
[SPEAKER_00]: And I do think that, well, yeah, I'd expect Bryant to be better and coverage here one.
40:40
[SPEAKER_00]: I do expect that whole city's physicality would really compliment
40:45
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I, I think you hit the nail in that there like brisker a lot of times was it I mean sometimes he was in a position but a lot of times he was in position And yet they still made a plays over him because he just didn't have those ball hockey instincts and that's like to me the greatest strength of policy I read that he started his mom's son number for football when he was four years old, which is insane to me, but that's part of the culture here in Texas, you know
41:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, but like like that I think like just his experience of playing the game and he does like I think when you look at some of the weaknesses that people talk about with all see like I'm fine with some of those weaknesses, you know, I think those are one things you can help to teach him out of but too, but like I don't have an issue with overgression and some of these other things that that there are maybe parts of what people prefer to as his weakness.
41:31
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no 100% and I think that you point to the penalties piece like you said earlier where he's not getting penalized for, you know, the even through the super aggressive way that he plays, I think that says a lot about him as, you know, as his football IQ and his technique as a tackler as a defender in coverage.
41:51
[SPEAKER_00]: So yes, I mean, he's not a flawless prospect by any means.
41:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Again, anyone you're taking in second in the second round is going to have like a glaring weakness or two probably.
42:01
[SPEAKER_00]: But still, I think, you know, there are a lot of things that you can improve within that that are able to be taught where I think the fundamentals are there with him.
42:12
[SPEAKER_00]: I think if you can get a little bit more crisp with this lateral movement.
42:16
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think, you know, I don't think you're going to play in the ton and man coverage in this lot.
42:22
[SPEAKER_00]: And again, like I said, I don't think that as a center fielder type of single high safety.
42:26
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't think you're going to play him there at time either, but I think that, you know, if you work on that lateral quickness a little bit, you know, I think you could have something special there.
42:36
[SPEAKER_00]: And even if he just stays the same and those strengths and weaknesses, like they carry on to the NFL level to the same extent that they have in college, I think you're still getting a good starter out of him.
42:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, no, and I'm totally with you.
42:50
[SPEAKER_01]: We've talked a lot about, you know, the phenomenon or McNeil Warren at 25.
42:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I would rather pass rush defensive line at 25 and then a hall sea at 57 than I would McNeil Warren or the phenomenon at 25 and then pass rush defensive line at 57.
43:07
[SPEAKER_01]: For me, there's more upside at defensive line at 25.
43:12
[SPEAKER_01]: And I just, I'm a big hall sea fan.
43:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Like I,
43:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Sign me up for him more so than making a war or a theme, and especially again, given if he's available at 57.
43:24
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'd love that.
43:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and I'm with you every step of the way.
43:27
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that the value in day two at safety is really good in this class, especially, you know, if you do consider guys like trading stugs or kante Scott, if you do project them as safety's
43:42
[SPEAKER_00]: I think that's, you just adds to the depth and the talent that you can get into in this class, where, you know, even if it's, is a key Wheatly and round three out of Penn State, Jalen Killgore out of South Carolina, I think would really fit that mold as well.
44:06
[SPEAKER_00]: Halsey, Stooks, Wheatley, Scott, any of those guys on day two, I love.
44:11
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that if you miss out on, like the End of It's Fantastic, obviously.
44:17
[SPEAKER_00]: And I think if you can get him at 25, that's a win, because I think he's better than the 25th overall prospect in this class.
44:25
[SPEAKER_00]: But if not, then if they take McNeil Warren, I'd be fine with it at 25.
44:31
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think the better plays defensive line that,
44:36
[SPEAKER_00]: There are a couple other positions where it's like, all right, well, if you think the value is really that good, then you could talk, you could talk me into offensive tackle or even cornerback or something like that.
44:47
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think defensive lines the play and then safety on day two, especially if a guy like Halls who's there, I'd be really happy with that.
44:56
[SPEAKER_01]: This is Chicago draft room with 2026 on the clock along with Jacob and Fonte.
45:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I am Ari Temkin or coming to you on the second city gridiron YouTube channel.
45:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Make sure to like and subscribe there.
45:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, if you listen back on the podcast, we appreciate you checking this out and make sure to like and subscribe there as well.
45:13
[SPEAKER_01]: For other great content, you can get across the second city gridiron YouTube and podcast channel.
45:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, make sure to check out Wendy City gridiron where Jacob and many other great bears writers.
45:24
[SPEAKER_01]: Provide incredible context and content throughout the week and especially in lead it to this draft.
45:28
[SPEAKER_01]: This most important few days for the Chicago Bears 2026 2027 season that the bears are going to make a Super Bowl run which if we had said a year ago What have sounded absolutely crazy more likely than ever before The draft is going to go a long way in helping the bears to get there.
45:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Their defense was just not good enough last year
45:51
[SPEAKER_01]: and they need to see improvements there and hope that there isn't any regression for anybody else that was really good this past year.
45:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm looking at obviously Caleb and Lovelin and Luther Burton and many of the guys who emerged last year.
46:02
[SPEAKER_01]: My non-guy that made the offense what it was.
46:06
[SPEAKER_01]: Let me ask you this.
46:07
[SPEAKER_01]: So just to set up what this show will look like over the next week.
46:12
[SPEAKER_01]: So we are going to do a show on Friday to recap what happened Thursday and then we will do another show on Monday to recap what happened over the weekend, of course, over under three picks for the bears on day two.
46:27
[SPEAKER_01]: We know that they currently have three picks.
46:30
[SPEAKER_01]: Would you take, I guess, yeah, over under or push three picks.
46:34
[SPEAKER_03]: Hmm.
46:35
[SPEAKER_01]: So this means do they make a trade at 25 and trade down and add more picks?
46:42
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, do they package 57, 60 to move up in this draft take a guy that really like that.
46:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe fell out of the top 10 that they feel like they can be in position to get.
46:49
[SPEAKER_01]: What's your gut feeling here on where the bears go day two in terms of the amount of picks they have?
46:56
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm going to go over.
46:57
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they find a way to trade, you know, trade down with one of those picks and
47:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they'll try and make up for the comp pick that they didn't get with the inconic hand, and I think they're going to try and get a late third round pick with one of those moves where I don't know if it's going to be they moved down it from in the first round or they moved down to the second round and then pick up a late third rounder, but that's what I think they're going to try and do.
47:24
[SPEAKER_00]: I think naturally,
47:27
[SPEAKER_00]: If that happens, that's something you try and prepare for as a general manager, I'm sure they've run through this scenario, so it's like, all right, well, if we're going to be picking at pick 99 or pick 100 or whatever it would end up being what we have done here, I think that they've probably done enough research in that regard to.
47:50
[SPEAKER_00]: We're, you know, they'd feel comfortable if they do end up finding a way to pick late in the third round.
47:56
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that's something where, you know, you talk about the depth of this class, too.
48:00
[SPEAKER_00]: I think they moved down with one of those picks.
48:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I can't say which ones I don't know, but try and pick up a late third rounder, you know.
48:09
[SPEAKER_00]: So you have in essence that comp pick that you should have gotten for Ian Cunningham and, you know, you still get to stick
48:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So, okay, let me, I'm gonna bring up a name here that we haven't really heard much about.
48:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
48:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Sorry, we haven't talked a bunch about.
48:27
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure we've heard a ton about Rubin' Bane.
48:30
[SPEAKER_01]: But we haven't talked about Rubin' Bane because we haven't thought that that's a likely scenario for the bears, what with him probably being a top 10, and top 15 picked.
48:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Let's just, let's just play this out because to me, David Bailey is going to be gone in the top five.
48:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I have no doubt about it.
48:42
[SPEAKER_01]: But I think there's some momentum for the potential to Bane for Bane to be available
48:46
[SPEAKER_01]: do you package some picks to move up for Bane?
48:48
[SPEAKER_01]: So, give me your scouting report on Bane.
48:52
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, as a player, I mean, I think Bane's fantastic.
48:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I think his power element of his game is exactly what Chicago should want in an ad russia.
49:02
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, he's super, you know, he's excuse me, he's explosive coming off the ball, but it's really in how refined his skill set is, how well he uses his hands
49:15
[SPEAKER_00]: That really impresses me and it's like, all right, this guy is an NFL ready edge Russia.
49:20
[SPEAKER_00]: He has such a deep arsenal as a past Russia too.
49:23
[SPEAKER_00]: So, and he's got the good spatial awareness is a run defender setting the edge and he's got a strong anchor.
49:29
[SPEAKER_00]: He can work through blocks well.
49:32
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's just going to be a really good starter for a long time.
49:35
[SPEAKER_00]: Maybe he's never going to be like the flashiest sack artist where he's okay.
49:40
[SPEAKER_00]: He's getting 15 sacks in a season, but I think he'll consistently get in that 8 to 12 range pretty consistently in the NFL.
49:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Obviously, there's a caveat with the short arms, but I think the biggest thing now is, all right, with this, you know, the reckless driving sort of situation, what does that look like, you know, do you feel comfortable taking a chance on that?
50:03
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd say with
50:05
[SPEAKER_00]: with the character concerns, I wouldn't trade up for them.
50:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Especially like I said with the depth of this class on day two and how many needs you have on your roster.
50:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I think there's too much risk attached to trading up for them.
50:24
[SPEAKER_00]: Hell of a performer, hell of a football player.
50:26
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he's gonna be really good for a long time.
50:32
[SPEAKER_00]: if the driving situation didn't exist and he just happened to fall into the teens anyway I'd say absolutely do what you got to do but I think now you factor in the off the field stuff I don't I think that's too big of a risk to take personally so I'm curious what you think but that's just where I stand no I mean because I was thinking through like what would be a scenario which the bears want to trade up
50:55
[SPEAKER_01]: And as we've discussed, like, maybe it's RVL Reese, maybe it's Bane.
51:01
[SPEAKER_01]: It feels like both Reese and Bailey.
51:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Like, I think Bailey could go his eyes too.
51:06
[SPEAKER_01]: I just, I see no way he slips out of the top five.
51:09
[SPEAKER_01]: I feel the same way about Reese for the top 10.
51:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I think with some of the stuff we were just talking about the driving, like there's the possibility that Bane could fall out.
51:17
[SPEAKER_01]: I like Bane a lot.
51:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I think he played his best against the best competition they saw.
51:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, against Ohio State, against Indiana.
51:24
[SPEAKER_01]: mean in the playoff, the dude was incredible, and that's like those are NFL offensive linemen he's going to battle with in terms of the show he owns.
51:32
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, I mean to your point, is it worth the risk in a deep draft?
51:40
[SPEAKER_01]: to maybe because I mean I'm trying to think through like what would it take is it going to take fifty seven and sixty would it take a twenty twenty seven first rompick you know and and you keep fifty seven sixty twenty twenty seven as most people have said and and just being a fan of college football is both you and I are like that's going to be a better draft so if you're drafting later.
51:58
[SPEAKER_01]: Drafting 30 second in the 2020 draft, it's a deeper draft, you know, is it too much to give up?
52:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So because I'm with you, like when I asked the question over under three, my initial thought was over, again, I don't think the bears are going to stamp hat and all their picks.
52:14
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're going to make some trades.
52:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I think this is going to be a draft with tons of trades.
52:18
[SPEAKER_01]: So I think the bears end up with more picks than they started with than they have today.
52:23
[SPEAKER_01]: But I
52:24
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, again, if I don't think there's a guy beyond vain that the bears should or would draft a trade up to get.
52:32
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, and I see more situations playing out where somebody falls in love with Ty Simpson or another quarterback in this draft that they really want to get in the first round because that extra year, the fifth year that you get is a first round pick that will allow the bears to move down five six seven spots into the early second round and now, you know, suddenly you've got four or five, you know, five picks on day two.
52:55
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, so I, you know, I'm with you in terms of agreeing on I think they end up with more than three picks on day two.
53:01
[SPEAKER_01]: But I mean, I also wanted to entertain the idea that they end up with less, and maybe that's because Rubin Bain has slid and maybe they like what they see from Bain.
53:11
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, and I think as far as potential trade-up options go,
53:16
[SPEAKER_00]: You could maybe talk me into Caleb Downs just because he's such a good player, such a well-rounded player, but again, you know, that's moving up for a safety.
53:23
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't know how good the optics are on that unless it's like, you know, four or five picks, but Downs isn't going to be there around 19 or 20 just in this type of class and with how good he is he's not going to fall.
53:35
[SPEAKER_01]: But I mean, how to to me, I think it was was the Ravens I think might be as low as he goes.
53:42
[SPEAKER_01]: And I thought of when talking through this, but that's a great point.
53:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I probably would, I probably rather trade up for downs than I would for Rubin' Bane.
53:52
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, there's not what we did.
53:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I just involved in that to me.
53:56
[SPEAKER_00]: Absolutely, I mean, even factoring in the, you know, okay, ad russia is, you know, perceived as a more valuable, you know, it's a pretty me imposition compared to safety, but the bears have a needed safety, down just one of the best safety prospects and, you know, recent years, such a well-rounded player.
54:13
[SPEAKER_00]: I think he could realistically fit in any scheme at the NFL level.
54:18
[SPEAKER_00]: I consider it.
54:19
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd consider it.
54:21
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a chance he falls out of the top 10.
54:22
[SPEAKER_00]: I think, you know, moving up to like 11 or 12 is too steep.
54:26
[SPEAKER_00]: But if somehow he falls to 15, 16, 17, that's when I'd start to consider it.
54:32
[SPEAKER_00]: But even then, there'd be a little bit of caution moving up for a safety, but I think if I agree with you where I'd rather trade up for downs than bang.
54:43
[SPEAKER_00]: And if there's
54:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and it's funny, because we just talked about how much we both love Halsey who, you know, I mean, you wouldn't have to trade up to get him and very well be available at 57.
54:56
[SPEAKER_01]: And, you know, but despite the love we have for Halsey, like, downs is just that much of a difference maker.
55:02
[SPEAKER_01]: He's that versatile.
55:03
[SPEAKER_01]: He's that much.
55:04
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, there's just, it feels like there's some players that have become elite defense players, Kyle Hamilton, it fits a very similar profile to, uh, to downs and like, yeah, signed me up
55:17
[SPEAKER_01]: I love that.
55:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
55:20
[SPEAKER_00]: So yeah, but no, and that's no knock to, you know, the whole sea or any of the day two guys like, you know, we're in agreement.
55:25
[SPEAKER_00]: There's a lot of really good value there, but Downs is just he's a different level man.
55:30
[SPEAKER_00]: He's a different type of prospect.
55:31
[SPEAKER_00]: He's just he's
55:33
[SPEAKER_00]: really really good.
55:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, it almost feels like calling him a safety is disingenuous, you know, because I mean, yes, that's the position he plays, but like he's so versatile and, you know, I mean, he's lineback or safety is cornered like he's he's and that's so like on the one hand, the depth of the safety class may cause him to fall on the other hand.
55:53
[SPEAKER_01]: It's the, even R.A. versus versatile safety is that blueprint that all these teams are looking for right now and making a mistake about it.
56:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Like teams follow teams blueprint that are successful.
56:05
[SPEAKER_01]: And there's there's very much an aspect to the defense that Seattle just designed in one with.
56:11
[SPEAKER_00]: 100% and you know, having those type of versatile defense of backs who are, you know, who have those physical tools, but more than that are intelligent enough to play in a lot of different positions to understand their assignments and, you know, different alignments like there's, there's definitely a lot of value to that and like you said, the NFL's a copycat league, I think that you're going to see a lot more teams start looking for that next team and worry where, okay, even if he's not the best defensive back, he's still an impact player in his presence,
56:41
[SPEAKER_00]: played such a big role in why Seattle's defense was as good as it was.
56:46
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm with you a hundred percent on that.
56:49
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, so you know, in the final thoughts here before the end of today's show, this is our last show before the first round.
56:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Again, we'll be on Friday following the first round.
57:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Just give me your final thoughts, you've been on a long journey.
57:04
[SPEAKER_01]: We both have, but certainly you in terms of the evaluations, you do you do such incredible job.
57:08
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, for me, for people to cover the bears, like there's nobody better at the draft than you.
57:12
[SPEAKER_01]: So, thank you.
57:14
[SPEAKER_01]: This is the end of a long road for you of all your evaluations, all the talk.
57:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Any final thoughts before the first round here?
57:23
[SPEAKER_00]: I mean, well, one, I'm just excited for it to finally start and to see it had like I said have the that that concrete of this guy is playing for this team here's how they project I'm super excited for that aspect of it, because you know, we've been projecting until the cows come home and being like, oh, who's going to go here.
57:42
[SPEAKER_02]: You've got this so many scenarios, like, I saw something chat and it was like, who are the top three guys at 25 and I'm like, we've felt like four or five episodes of that.
57:51
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
57:53
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, no, literally.
57:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah.
57:54
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, you know, shout out, yeah, Brooski Baron in the YouTube chat, but yeah, you know, it's like, we've covered it from all from all angles, what could go on at 25.
58:05
[SPEAKER_00]: So it's definitely, it's going to be refreshing to have new subject matter to talk about for sure.
58:13
[SPEAKER_00]: But I think this is potentially like I said, a really good opportunity for the bears to,
58:18
[SPEAKER_00]: Establish themselves as, you know, true Super Bowl contenders if they do well, not, you know, not just in round one, but especially round two and round three where you have these two second round picks and you have a third rounder where historically polls hasn't drafted very well, but I think there's a, you know, good chance in this class with how deep it is to Directify that and to turn things around so
58:44
[SPEAKER_00]: I, I mean, especially on defense where you have such a, you know, a weak, I mean, I don't want to say weak, but there are some glaring needs still in, you know, in all levels on the defense of line in the secondary, too.
58:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Uh, and this is a really good opportunity for polls to load up to stock up on talent there.
59:03
[SPEAKER_00]: And I mean, maybe they throw in an early offensive pick here and there with an offensive line, and maybe there's a skill position player.
59:09
[SPEAKER_00]: They really like I wouldn't rule that out either.
59:12
[SPEAKER_00]: The defense especially I think is such a big work in progress, but this is as good of a draft is any for them to change that.
59:19
[SPEAKER_00]: So I think that's, you know, it's always fun seeing, oh, the bears enter the draft with this need, but it's a really good draft class for that position.
59:29
[SPEAKER_00]: So that's always fun to see how polls kind of maneuvers that.
59:33
[SPEAKER_00]: So I'm excited for it.
59:34
[SPEAKER_00]: I know you're excited for it as well.
59:38
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, we'll just have to wait.
59:39
[SPEAKER_00]: Bring it on.
59:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, here we go.
59:41
[SPEAKER_01]: And look, I mean, if the bears are going to be super bowl again, and February of 2027, a big reason for it will be what they do Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of next week.
59:52
[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't think there's any question about that, especially because of some of the misses they've had on defense.
59:57
[SPEAKER_01]: So we shall see some buckle up.
59:59
[SPEAKER_01]: All right, again, we're going to be live on Friday following the first round next week.
1:00:03
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we'll do another show a week from Monday.
1:00:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So can't wait for that.
1:00:07
[SPEAKER_01]: Make sure to check out WendyCityGridiron.com and all the great content at Jacob and every else.
1:00:13
[SPEAKER_01]: And WendyCityGridiron's producing.
1:00:14
[SPEAKER_01]: And of course, the second city gridiron page we've got profiles and so much going on both on YouTube and on the podcast.
1:00:21
[SPEAKER_01]: There's tons of great content.
1:00:23
[SPEAKER_01]: So make sure to check it all out.
1:00:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Of course, thanks to the great Jacob and Fontamix to follow along.
1:00:28
[SPEAKER_01]: with his great draft insights and hilarious nuggets, including, what was it your friend in Cancun, who, who found you on a V-son?
1:00:36
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, yeah, just totally random where he was out in Cancun and I showed up on TV and he's like, what the, yeah, so he had to take a picture.
1:00:45
[SPEAKER_00]: That was, that was nuts.
1:00:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, and I love doing that spot and being on the show with those guys, but it just see the text to and being like, what am I doing on TV in Mexico right now?
1:00:57
[SPEAKER_00]: Like, that's nuts.
1:00:59
[SPEAKER_00]: I, I was totally thrown for a loop.
1:01:01
[SPEAKER_00]: I got that text in the middle of the show.
1:01:02
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm like, I have to try so hard to like, look, you know, like, if you watch it back, there's clearly one answer where I'm like, I kind of lose like a posture a little bit and I kind of, like, I give an answer, but it's like kind of a non-answer, just because I'm so thrown off of, oh my god, this guy's in Mexico and he just sees me on TV.
1:01:20
[SPEAKER_00]: And I'm trying to, like,
1:01:23
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, you're face would be at a bar in Mexico and maybe the funniest part is the screen shot that he took like the picture he took and the your face is just Yeah, I know like I got a couple of replies.
1:01:40
[SPEAKER_00]: There's like, oh look at the stash, you know, and it's like, all right.
1:01:43
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah sure.
1:01:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I guess
1:01:45
[SPEAKER_00]: I was like, I know that clock.
1:01:48
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah.
1:01:50
[SPEAKER_00]: Yeah, the patented Jacob and Fonte clock.
1:01:53
[SPEAKER_00]: I need to get some more stuff in the background.
1:01:55
[SPEAKER_00]: I need to figure something out.
1:01:56
[SPEAKER_00]: But yeah, the clock is the main stage.
1:01:58
[SPEAKER_00]: That's the... That's the...
1:02:00
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just you, a white wall, and a clock.
1:02:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I love it.
1:02:04
[SPEAKER_01]: No, it's great, because I mean, everybody is the same background.
1:02:06
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's cool to have someone unique, you know?
1:02:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, yeah.
1:02:08
[SPEAKER_01]: But yeah, again, make sure to subscribe and like the channel on YouTube and the podcast form.
1:02:13
[SPEAKER_01]: We're back next Friday, but for now, we are out piece.