I haven't had a chance to really study every one of the prospects yet but a few do stand out, so i'll list a few. We certainly have a lot of needs, without a doubt, and Pace seems like he wants to build this team through the draft, however with a lot of needs and money to spend, free agency and what we do with our money will play a huge role on draft day, will we fill all or at least most our needs in free agency leaving us to be able to draft the best player at each pick, I certainly hope so, but I don't know if thats completely realistic right now. Anyway here goes....
1) Miles Jack, ILB - I am very intrigued by Jack, I know he was injured, but this kid has so much talent and athletic ability, with proper coaching and some experience this kid will be an impact player.
2) Reggie Ragland, ILB - We have a need at ILB, and this guy would certainly fit the bill. From what I have seen and read up on about the kid he could be a very good piece to add to our defense. Like I said we have a major need there right now, barring free agency, and this guy can step in day one and be a starter for us for the forseeable future.
3) Noah Spence, OLB- I really like this kid a lot. I'm definitely not a fan of the 3-4 defense, but reality is this is what we're working with under this regime, and in the 3-4 we need pass rushers. We have McPhee and Young and Houston, and I really like them all, but I don't see us having all these guys next season. McPhee is a mainstay, but Young and Houston could be moved, I fully expect one of them to go, so we'll need some talent added to the OLB/pass rush types. Spence to me is a one man wrecking crew, and like Jack is a impact type player. I don't know if he'd be there in the second round when we pick, and I wouldn't hate it if we got jack with our pick, then traded back into the bottom of the second round to grab Spence. those two would dramatically upgrade the defense and with experience would become all pro type players. I really want Spence to be a Bear this coming season, he and McPhee would be devastating together, add Young coming off the bench to give either a rest in a rotation and these three could wreak complete havoc.
4) A'Shawn Robinson, DE/DT - At some point we need to grab some help for the DLine, be it free agency, the draft, or both. If we add a player, maybe two, in free agency, the need here goes down and we likely won't draft anyone for the DLine until later in the draft, unless someone drops and we get good value in picking them. Anyway, this kid looks like a man among boys on the field. He may not be that impact player so to speak, but he is solid across the board and would be a nice piece to add next to Goldman. These two would be a very solid, and strong duo, hopefully combined with another equally strong DL guy. He's stout against the run, and can push the pocket/rush the passer. He's not gonna be a big sack numbers guy, but he'll get his fair share. But whether we'd draft him within the first 2 rounds depends on what we do in free agency.
5) C. Wentz, QB - we need to get a QB of the future and start grooming him behind Cutler. I like this kid, although his level of competition isn't what you'd like. He has the size, arm strength, vision, and smarts to be a very good QB in the pro's, the real question is will he be there when we pick, and does Pace wanna use our first pick on a QB that will sit for at least a year, when there's clearly gonna be some impact defensive talent on the board when we pick?
6) DeForrest Buckner, DE - This is a big man, with a lot of ability. I don't think he's a game changer though, but he'd be a very solid pick for us if he is the pick. IDK if I'd take him over some of the other guys on this little list. I mean if we could get Jack with our first pick, and Robinson with our second pick, I'd go that route. I wouldn't hate it if Buckner was our first pick though, he will be a solid, strong player for whomever picks him for years to come, but I'd rather have Jack with our first round pick.
A lot of people seem to like Jaylon Smith, I don't really like the guy, but admittedly I'm not a Irish fan so I didn't get to see anything on him but some highlights. His injury seems too serious to me, and I don't think there's anyway at all Pace will take him with our first pick. Not after he drafted White with our first rounder last year and he didn't play a down, I think Pace will stay away from that situation for sure....Now I'm not a professional draft expert by any means and what I posted here is only my impressions, I don't expect everyone will agree with them, and that's fine by me....Truth be told I want us to load up in free agency with Trevathan and Wilkinson, and then add players from there. Then go into the draft with most of our needs covered. Then with our first pick I want us to take Jack, then I want to see Pace get aggressive and trade next years 1st rounder and a third from this year, along with maybe Lamar Houston, and get back into the late first round and draft Spence. in the second draft Robinson, Then just grab the best available guy at each pick regardless of position.
That would be a good offseason to me, adding Wilkinson and Robinson to the DLine, Trevathan and Jack at ILB, Spence to the OLB, plus whomever Pace signs for the secondary. Those five guys alone added to the defense lifts it into a very good, possibly top 10 defense as soon as this coming season.
