Yeah, I don’t watch the Bears much but their DB group seemed to be semi solid unlike most of the team. They need to focus on OL and WR to get as much out of Fields as they can
NFL Draft
I'm not super high on Kyler Gordon tbh, but I still doubt there's even a 1% chance the Bears take Witherspoon.
That being said if he's the highest drafted Illini ever I will he following whatever team he's on except if it's the Packers.
I haven't really looked much into Witherspoon's zone ability but we all know he'll take on any WR in man matchups and not back down.
Jeff George #1, Kevin Hardy #2, also, off the top of my head, both Simeon Rice and Dick Butkus were the 3d pick in their respective years. It would be pretty shocking if Witherspoon was taken higher than George, Hardy, Rice or Butkus.
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How did anyone complete a pass against this defensive backfield? By setting illegal picks.
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Illegal picks and bogus PI calls.
Lions are signing CB Cam Sutton to 3 year deal
#6 pick likely not drafting CB now
#6 pick likely not drafting CB now
If Spoon falls to Bears’ pick, he’s a legit possibility. If they keep up with what they’ve been doing in FA, he might be the best fit.
Definitely will depend who else the Bears add on through FA but looking for more OL and DL help. Great year to have so many QBs drafted high and ton of options at the #9 spot.
Either OT Skoronski or DT Jalen Carter if he would slide would be ideal.
Longshot pick---If Skoronski, Carter, top CB on Bears board are gone and they don't address RB through FA/trade I could see them possibly drafting Bijan Robinson. You would have a #1 QB, WR and RB all in their prime for many years. Majority of Mock Drafts have him going #11 to Titans at this point with the Derrick Henry trade rumors.
The DB group is one of the few places the Bears aren't desperately needy, I can't see them taking him.
This is definitely what I'm anticipating.
I bet someone takes Carter ahead of the Bears though. In the ugly business of pro football, the notion that Carter is going to be singled out for punishment is clearly fading.
There is a path for Jalen Carter to fall to 9. All 4 qbs need to go, Spoon/Gonzales/ Will Anderson. Then just need 1 team to pass him up.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Bears trade down again if for some reason 1-2 guys they have an eye on our gone. Think the Bears GM sees a ton of talent in the 15-40 range and no picks unless they trade down again or trade up from later spots.
I hadn't seen this posted, it contains a lot of pro day results: https://247sports.com/college/illin...ase-Brown-Quan-Martin-206184514/#206184514_13
I had wondered at the end of the season if Kendall Smith wasn't going to find himself drafted at the end of day 3, I think the numbers he put up are good enough along with his stellar production to warrant a 7th round selection.
We're looking at between 4 and 7 draft picks and at least that many UDFAs, we're going to significantly increase our NFL footprint.
I had wondered at the end of the season if Kendall Smith wasn't going to find himself drafted at the end of day 3, I think the numbers he put up are good enough along with his stellar production to warrant a 7th round selection.
We're looking at between 4 and 7 draft picks and at least that many UDFAs, we're going to significantly increase our NFL footprint.
That’s my thought, too. If Spoon goes at #9, it’s probably not the Bears taking him.
In a 3/16 episode with guest Todd McShay, Ryen Russillo calls out Spoon as his "favorite" player in the draft. It's a brief exchange, and probably not worth sitting through the entire episode if you're not already a listener, but it was cool to hear him called out on a popular podcast.
Nice recap.
Thought this was interesting:
Darkangelo and Illinois hoped he could return for another season of eligibility, but his application for a waiver was denied by the NCAA. But Darkangelo, who starred as a core special teamer at Illinois, quickly turned his focus to the NFL.
Joel Goodson
- dawgville
Chase top of the 4th (#105) in their mock
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Fantasy blurb. Chase.
www.theundroppables.com
The Undroppables - Under the Radar | 2023 RB Prospects to Watch %
Sean Tucker Chalk – RB4 ECR – RB12 Sean Tucker is one of the more exciting running backs in this class but still isn’t getting the respect he deserves. A player who has breakaway speed and the ability to take it to the house on any given play. He can become a three-down bell cow… Continue...
www.theundroppables.com
Any chance the bears draft Chase? Seems like their running back room is full with their 2 FA Signings plus herbert.
I'd be surprised if they did unless he falls to a late Day 3 pick and they view him as a developmental project. Plus they still have Trestan Ebner who was their 6th round pick last year.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
2023 NFL Mock Draft: QBs taken with first three picks, Colts make Christian Gonzalez first defender selected | NFL Draft | PFF
A trade in the top three shakes things up in this post-free agency 2023 NFL mock draft.
www.pff.com
14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: CB DEVON WITHERSPOON, ILLINOIS
Witherspoon is as physical a cornerback as you’ll see in today’s game, boasting the ability to jam receivers at the line in press and drop the hammer as an open-field tackler. You better keep your head on a swivel whenever he’s on the field, with his experience in college enabling him to diagnose plays before the ball is even snapped, often blowing up screen passes in the backfield after covering a lot of ground to get to the ball carrier.Witherspoon’s 92.5 coverage grade in 2022 led the FBS, and he also ranked first with 18 forced incompletions. The only thing that may keep him out of the top 10 is weighing in at 181 pounds, but who cares if he plays like he’s the biggest guy on the field.
2023 NFL Draft Big Board: PFF's top 150 prospects | NFL Draft | PFF
The top 150 prospects who will be eligible for selection come April 27.
www.pff.com
7. CB DEVON WITHERSPOON, ILLINOIS
Witherspoon had one of the best seasons we’ve ever graded from a college cornerback. He was targeted 63 times in 2022 and allowed only 22 catches for 206 yards with three picks and 14 pass breakups. That comes out to 3.3 yards per target. He’s one of the feistiest cornerbacks in the class.Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis
68. S SYDNEY BROWN, ILLINOIS
Brown started for the Illini ever since his freshman year in 2018, with 3,168 career snaps to his name. It wasn’t until this past fall, though, that we saw his prodigious physical gifts turn into elite production on the football field. He picked off six passes and broke up six more in primarily a box role this past season.Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis
98. S JARTAVIUS MARTIN, ILLINOIS
Martin manned the slot with authority in 2022. He’s one of the class' best safeties filling around the line of scrimmage against the run. He earned a 91.0 run-defense grade last season.Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis
141. RB CHASE BROWN, ILLINOIS
Brown is an explosive and compact running back. He may struggle to see the field if his fumble issues persist, though. He coughed up five balls this season to tie for the national lead.Click here for advanced stats, grades and a deep-dive analysis
4 Illini players in the top 150 prospects list is such a refreshing and great message to recruits and remaining illini players that BB and staff has elevated the program to a new level of respectability................We are in such good hands with Bret and staff compared to the doomsday past we had with little hope of NFL futures and winning games......
This is one of many NFL mock drafts and prospect's list's that show such great progress......keep it up Illini............
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Several other sites (including ESPN) have Chase at 4 fumbles, not 5. And how about fumbles per carry as a better measure, mock draft boards?