soulman Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2019/02/14/chicago-bears-2018-nfl-draft-grades-roquan-smith-anthony-miller-james-daniels-bilal-nichols/ Few clubs reaped a better haul from the first two rounds of the 2018 draft than Chicago. After sweating out a testy and lengthy holdout with Smith over some restrictive contract language, the two sides made up and wreaked havoc on the NFC. Smith completed a nasty linebacking corps featuring Danny Trevathan and edge rushers Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd, leading the team in tackles (121) and making himself an obvious PFWA All-Rookie honoree. https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/26/chicago-bears-nfl-draft-picks-selections-grades Round 1, Pick 8 (No. 8 overall): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia Andy Benoit's grade: A- Vic Fangio is one of the game’s smartest, most nuanced schemers, and two things define a Fangio defense: Blurry zone coverages and nickel packages (almost never dime). A team needs great inside linebackers to do this. Zone disguises start at safety—Fangio likes to keep two back deep—but they’re perfected at linebacker, a position where many defenses don’t think to employ subtle disguises. By playing nickel every snap, even if there are four wide receivers on the field, Fangio places tall orders on his linebackers in coverage. When you have the right ones, it can be great (Remember what Fangio did in San Francisco with Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman?), and Smith, one of the most dynamic all-around stack linebackers in this draft, should fill this role successfully. Scouting Report: He’s undersized, but Smith is also fast and instinctive (which allows him to play even faster). He’ll need to be covered up by a big defensive line, but brings star potential as a 4–3 WILL or 3–4 ILB. Round 2, Pick 7 (No. 39 overall): James Daniels, C, Iowa Andy Benoit's grade: A- Quietly, the Bears have built their offensive line over the years. Daniels, like incumbent Bears center Cody Whitehair, can play any of the interior three positions, and the hope is that he’ll start ahead of free-agent pickup Earl Watford, who would be a so-so starter but comforting backup. Mitchell Trubisky has escapability, but his success will ultimately come from timing and rhythm passing, as well as zone play-action. A nimble interior O-line is crucial for that. Round 2, Pick 19 (No. 51 overall, via Patriots): Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis Andy Benoit's grade: B+ This is the tacit declaration that Kevin White is done. He’ll get a chance to compete in 2018, but it’s likely that 2015 first-rounder doesn’t have anything left after three injury-plagued seasons. The Bears, who had no quality wide receivers healthy for much of last season, needed to get a third newcomer after signing Jacksonville’s Allen Robinson and Atlanta’s Taylor Gabriel in free agency. Stylistically, these three wideouts complement each other well. Round 4, Pick 15 (No. 115 overall): Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB, Western Kentucky NFL Matt Nagy on His Plans to Make Mitch Trubisky Great Round 5, Pick 8 (No. 145 overall): Billy Nichols, DT, Delaware Round 6, Pick 6 (No. 181 overall): Kylie Fits, LB, Utah Round 7, Pick 6 (No. 224 overall): Javon Wims, WR, Georgia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 Tough to find a much better draft class across the board than this one. No cuts and all but Fitts contributed when asked. Nichols appears to be a real "find" and from what we've seen all Wims needs is more playing time. With White gone he'll get that. Iggy made his mark on ST as expected and his a guy we could be grooming to eventually replace Trevathan. Smith became everything that was expected of him once he got some game time in and both Daniels and Miller played well enough to make me feel they can only get better. I like these top three picks really well and each fit a very specific need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagabears Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I am really excited about how Nichols will integrate into the front 3 with RRH providing depth. I think he has enough strength to individually disrupt the run. If he can learn to pressure then by all accounts our front 3 is the best in the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulman Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 Mornin' Jim..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dll2000 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Smith and Daniels alone would have made it a very good draft for any team. Also adding Miller, Nichols, Tolliver and Wims makes its a great draft. 2 impact perennial pro bowl level players and 4 players who can be or are good rotational or permanent starters. Joel and Kylie are still unknowns at his point. Both are good athletes with potential. I think one big negative about last season was Smith's holdout. I think 1st GB game was so close him not practicing/playing was probably the difference between a win and a loss. Cascading effect that probably resulted in us not getting a first round bye and a deeper playoff run and who knows what was possible from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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