DBBD

  • Colston Loveland, Move TE, Michigan

    USA’s Today best available:

    6. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
    The comparisons to Pat Surtain II – the Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year – are lofty but not outlandish. The 6-2, 194-pounder puts together the size, fluidity and instincts to handle any coverage assignment. Johnson isn’t a true burner and saw his 2024 season go sideways due to a toe injury, but he otherwise projects as a sticky corner who should have excellent ball production.

    13. Mike Green, DE/OLB, Marshall
    The Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks (17 in 2024) employs a far more physical approach than one might expect from a 6-3, 251-pound edge rusher. He risks stalling out if he doesn’t continue to fill out his frame, but his relentless style and elasticity as a rusher should position him to make plenty of plays in the backfield.

    22. Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE/OLB, Boston College
    After notching 16 ½ sacks last season, Ezeiruaku already seems to have a master’s degree in pass-rushing, as he has a full toolkit of moves he is prepared to wield at just the right moment. His 6-3, 248-pound build still will likely result in him being erased by bigger blockers, particularly in the run game, but he compensates for it by leveraging his length, agility and smarts.

    25. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
    If not for a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in September, he might be firmly entrenched as a first-rounder, as the 6-2, 194-pounder marries an ultra-competitive demeanor at the line of scrimmage with impressive recovery speed and improving ball skills. His health outlook will no doubt loom large in his evaluation, but if he can find the right fit with a defensive coordinator patient enough to bring him along – his style of play might make him prone to early penalties, and there will be a significant leap in quality of competition – he could be a highly productive starter.

    28. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
    Despite operating in a spotlight that might blind other passers, Sanders somehow managed to exceed outsized expectations by establishing himself as a precise and poised distributor. How he handles pressure at the next level could be one of the biggest determining factors in the trajectory of his career, but he could be a more than capable starter for an offense that asks him to conduct more often than create.

    30. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
    At a time when other receivers shined, his 2024 season ended up quite turbulent, with the dynamic slot target averaging just 11.1 yards per game. Expanding his route tree in the pros could be the key to whether he remains primarily a threat on quick hitters underneath or becomes a more well-rounded target capable of threatening defenses downfield, though he likely will require a heavy dose of schemed touches early on.

    36. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
    At 6-3 and 220 pounds with the speed of a cornerback, he seems perfectly suited to match up with tight ends and bigger receivers. Emmanwori is a bit wild when working downhill against the run and may lack the fluidity to handle work in the slot, but his excellent ball skills and physical tools should prove plenty alluring to many teams.

    37. Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
    The LSU transfer is the kind of player any offensive tackle hates to see lining up across from him, as the 6-6, 264-pounder boasts daunting length, an impressive arsenal of pass-rush moves and a never-say-die mentality. Jackson might be too big for his own good, however, as his rigidity severely limits him in several phases of the game.

    38. Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi
    Test the 6-1, 195-pound cover man at your own peril, as Amos can close in on any throw in his area in a hurry. He’s better suited for zone work than man coverage right now, but he could become a significant asset in press looks if he improves his ability to recover.

    39. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
    Once he gets to the corner, watch out. The 5-10, 202-pounder can’t always fight his way through to daylight on inside runs, but Henderson has the burst to break long gains whenever he’s given a crease. Already a comfortable pass protector and reliable receiver, he should be a three-down option from Day 1.

    40. Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
    The Senior Bowl standout has given evaluators reason to go back and take a closer look at one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the Seminoles. The 6-2, 197-pounder has a strong claim to be the premier pest of this defensive class, as he regularly smothers receivers at the line of scrimmage with his length and hyperphysical approach. He might not generate a ton of plays on the ball and won’t be a fit for every scheme, but any team looking for an in-your-face coverage presence has to give him strong consideration.

    41. Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M
    The 6-4, 257-pounder can be a load for any lineman to handle, as he embraces contact with active hands, a high-energy approach and plenty of knowhow. Though his hustle and expansive set of pass-rush moves could take him a good distance, he might not have the upside of other edge rushers in the class given his mostly unremarkable physical traits.

    43. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
    Johnson single-handedly invigorated Iowa’s long dormant offense with his smooth running style, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. The 6-0, 225-pounder is patient yet decisive in his approach, snaking around would-be tacklers to find the open field. His limited comfort level in the passing game – particularly in protection – could box him in somewhat during the early portion of his career.

    45. Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
    The walk-on who became an All-American is more than just a feel-good story. Schwesinger’s rapid recognition skills often enable him to find his way to the ball carrier faster than blockers can reach him, though he does have trouble disengaging opponents when they do beat him to the spot.

    46. Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
    The son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor has made a name for himself on the other side of the ball, proving to be a fluid pass catcher comfortable operating both in space and in traffic. He’s not as dynamic as this year’s top tier tight ends and is more likely to be a complementary piece than a go-to target, but he can still be a highly effective weapon for the right offense.

    47. Bradyn Swinson, DE, LSU
    He hasn’t enjoyed the widespread recognition of some other edge rushers in this draft class, but he deserves a higher profile. The 6-4, 250-pounder is extremely explosive, with the speed-to-power move to jolt offensive linemen when he’s not simply dipping past them.

    48. Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
    The appeal of trotting out a 6-4, 214-pound wideout doesn’t require explanation. Higgins poses a major problem in the red zone and contested-catch scenarios, though he might be relegated to a big slot role until he refines his game a little further.

    49. JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
    His impact at the next level is likely to be measured more in pressures than sacks, but his disruption still comes in handy. The 6-5, 269-pound Tuimoloau lacks diversity as an edge rusher who relies almost entirely on his ability to push back opposing linemen, but his one trick is plenty good.

    50. Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
    At 6-6 and 331 pounds, Ersery is nimble enough to corral speedy edge threats yet strong enough to lock down anyone who tries to engage him. Things can get dicey when he has to recover or face a counter move, but his tools are worth developing.

    51. Tre Harris, WR, Mississippi

    53. Princely Umanmielen, DE, Mississippi

    54. Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

    55. Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia

    56. Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

    57. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

    58. Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

    59. Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona

    60. Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

    61. Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

    62. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

    63. Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

    63. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

    64. Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon

    65. Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma

    66. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

    67. Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College

    68. Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State

    69. Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State

    70. Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue

    71. Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo

    72. T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

    73. Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State

    74. Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

    75. Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

    76. Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

    77. Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

    78. Oluwafemi Oladejo, DE, UCLA

    79. Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

    80. Jack Bech, WR, TCU

    81. Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (Fla.)

    82. Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary

    83. Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (Fla.)

    84. Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

    85. Nohl Williams, CB, Cal

    86. Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia

    87. Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

    88. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

    89. Ashton Gillotte, DE, Louisville

    90. Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

    91. Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

    92. Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

    93. Anthony Belton, OT, North Carolina State

    94. Wyatt Milum, G, West Virginia

    95. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

    96. Sai’vion Jones, DE, LSU

    97. Josaiah Stewart, OLB, Michigan

    98. Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon

    99. Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

    100. Miles Frazier, G, LSU

    101. Jared Ivey, DE, Mississippi

    102. Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon

    103. Cameron Williams, OT, Texas

    104. Dylan Fairchild, G, Georgia

    105. Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

    106. RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

    107. Emery Jones Jr., G, LSU

    108. C.J. West, DT, Indiana

    109. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

    110. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

    111. Logan Brown, OT, Kansas

    112. Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska

    113. D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State

    114. Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas

    115. Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia

    116. Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State

    117. Chris Paul Jr., LB, Mississippi

    118. Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech

    119. Barryn Sorrell, DE, Texas

    120. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

    121. Jalen Rivers, G, Miami (Fla.)

    122. Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech

    123. David Walker, DE, Central Arkansas

    124. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

    125. Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon

    126. Elijah Roberts, DE, SMU

    127. Ty Hamilton, DT, Ohio State

    128. Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane

    129. Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas

    130. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

    131. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

    132. Tai Felton, WR, Maryland

    133. Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

    134. Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

    135. Cam Jackson, DT, Florida

    136. JJ Pegues, DT, Mississippi

    137. Savion Williams, WR, TCU

    138. Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio State

    139. Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

    140. Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State

    141. Craig Woodson, S, Cal

    142. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

    143. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DE, Georgia

    144. Kyle Kennard, DE, South Carolina

    145. Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

    146. Chase Lundt, OT, UConn

    147. Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State

    148. Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky

    149. Malachi Moore, S, Alabama

    150. Brashard Smith, RB, SMU

    151. LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse

    152. Drew Kendall, C, Boston College

    153. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

    154. Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State

    155. Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M

    156. Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

    157. Que Robinson, DE/OLB, Alabama

    158. Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

    159. Antwaun Powell-Ryland, DE, Virginia Tech

    160. Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse

    161. Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee

    162. Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

    163. Teddye Buchanan, LB, Cal

    164. Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA

    165. Jordan James, RB, Oregon

    166. Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois

    167. Yahya Black, DT, Iowa

    168. Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

    169. Will Howard, QB, Ohio State

    170. Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska

    171. Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

    172. Fadil Diggs, DE, Syracuse

    173. Caleb Rogers, G, Texas Tech

    174. Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska

    175. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

    176. Ricky White III, WR, UNLV

    177. Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame

    178. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona

    179. Jonah Monheim, C, USC

    180. Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame

    181. Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers

    182. Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State

    183. Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn

    184. Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (Fla.)

    185. Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State

    186. Nazir Stackhouse, DT, Georgia

    187. Mac McWilliams, CB, UCF

    188. Chimere Dike, WR, Florida

    189. Joshua Gray, C, Oregon State

    190. Kobe King, LB, Penn State

    191. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

    192. Arian Smith, WR, Georgia

    193. Shemar James, LB, Florida

    194. Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota

    195. Jah Joyner, DE, Minnesota

    196. Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech

    197. Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin

    198. Collin Oliver, OLB, Oklahoma State

    199. Hunter Wohler, S, Wisconsin

    200. Tyler Baron, DE, Miami (Fla.)

  • Draft ’25: Day 1 Open Thread

    Friendly reminder. Don’t tip picks!

    R.I.P. Mongo

    … as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns—the ones we don’t know we don’t know.

    -Rumsfeld Buddha Socrates

    1. Known knowns. Not replacing any time soon
      QB, WR1, WR2, C, LE, CB1, Nickle, K/P

    That’s about all we THINK we know

    1. Known Unknowns. Could see upgrading for various reason [age, cap, talent, INJ…]

    TE1? HB1? IOL? LT? WR3? SS? FS? RDE? DT? NT? SAM?

    Obviously, this list is long, and all those positions could easily get upgraded or solidified; then it just becomes a matter of choosing wisely

    1. Unknown Unknowns. Wild cards we are blind to

    You can dust off your tinfoil hat and create nearly any narrative

    -Maybe new regime doesn’t like the effort DJ gave last season, so WR1 is not so ‘known’.
    -Maybe they think Stevenson is beyond redemption and CB2 suddenly becomes a priority
    -Maybe Braxton is more INJed than let on, etc etc

    I mean, who predicted Poles would let Walker go and extend Edwards?
    Hell, Jeff deemed Gordon a JAG, then Poles made him the highest paid NB!

    Now expand Unknown Unknowns to nearly every team outside the first 4 picks, and nearly every prospect from 5-50, and voila

    Welcome to the ‘25 draft

    Little will shock me

    Don’t be surprised IF:

    1. Jeanty goes before Raiders/or falls to #10
    2. Graham makes it to Bears, and they pass
    3. Anything about Shadeur. Dart may go first
    4. Loveland drafted before Warren
    5. Bears ‘reach’ for a player like Simmons

    Really, about the only scenario that will upset me is if Poles trades UP [unless it’s for Abdul] cuz the board screams to stay put or trade down, and I don’t know about y’all, but I’m done with Halas Hall believing they’re smarter than the entire league, logic and reality itself

    So for all our sanity, FFS, Poles

    STAY THE COURSE

    Bear Down.

  • Draft Eve ’25

    Mock Draft! [J/K]

    I need another mock like I need another app to download.

    This ain’t my first rodeo, and I was much more invested in the draft before. I even bought hardcopies of Hub Arkush’s “Pro Football Weekly.”

    Later I would print-out pages of the top 300 or so, thumb through them, use different colored highlighters for the guys I liked, cross them out as the draft unfolded. I was into it. I’ve always loved puzzles, and the draft is a puzzle, soap opera and competition all-in-one; it offers a little bit for everyone, from the casual fan to the analytic nerd.

    However, now I’m not as into it. I got tired of screaming at my TV, “Trade up for Aaron Donald!” [new blog, same gripe], “Why are we drafting a 230 pound LB who doesn’t fit into Lovie’s scheme!”, “Trubisky – Trubisky?”

    Years and years of bitter disappointment sucked my draft enthusiasm. I’m an optimist by nature, but boy come draft time, Bears always find a way to really test that.

    Nevertheless, I still enjoy it. I find myself every March/April looking at way too much college tape, mock drafts, and combine. Old habits die hard.

    So how is this Bears’ draft any different than the previous?

    It’s not, really. Or – that is to say, we won’t know until about 3 yrs, but that’s no fun.

    So live a little.

    What makes this draft more fun for us:

    1. Bears finally roster a franchise QB. Whether Caleb is a HOFer, or better than Jayden, Stroud, Mahomes, who knows? But we know what he’s not.
      Caleb is NOT McNown, Trubisky, Fields or the trainwreck of others like Dalton, Glennon, Barkley…other teams may take a starting lvl QB for granted but NOT us, and that in itself distinguishes the ’25 draft.
    2. Bears MIGHT finally employ a REAL offensive oriented HC in Ben Johnson. Again, try to remember the last time the Bears could boast that. Yeah, exactly.

    These two factors should bring more hope to us Bear fans in this draft.

    And as Emily Dickenson once wrote, “Hope is a thing with feathers…and trade downs.”

  • DBB2.0 has risen!

    Welcome back, Jabrones.

    This is a VERY Spartan version of DaBlog2.0 for now. I’ll get jiggy with it as it goes, but I decided to post this ASAP b4 Jeff’s final thread breaks.

    As soon as this luddite figures out how to blog properly, fancier Bears content will follow. So bookmark this site.

    Meanwhile, you know the deal. Skip the author, shoot straight to the comments.

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